- The BikeBus initiative, led by Katta Ludynia, faced an interruption due to heavy rains and flooding in the Western Cape.
- The tunnels used by learners to cycle to school were flooded, prompting the City of Cape Town to work on clearing them.
- The BikeBus programme, introduced by Active Mobility Forum, aims to create safer, accessible streets for children.
The BikeBus initiative by Katta Ludynia for primary school learners from Rondebosch to cycle to school came to an abrupt interruption when the Western Cape was hit by heavy rains and storms.
This resulted in subways being flooded and no thoroughfare was possible.
The tunnel which the learners frequent are Lower Burg Road, below St. Josephs-Marist College and Ludynia from the BikeBus was enquiring if and when the tunnel will be pumped for the learners to access it.
“We usually cycle on a Friday and in the past the City pumped the tunnels but only the tunnel at the station is clear, while the other tunnels are still flooded. BikeBus would like to inform the learners when they can cycle again as we are dependent on weather conditions,” she says.
Response
An enquiry was sent to the City of Cape Town for assistance in clearing the flooded tunnels and Rob Quintas, mayco member for urban mobility, replied by saying the City is working on it.
“Our Roads Infrastructure Management team is waiting for the electricity department to re-instate the power, once done, the pumps will be installed by our colleagues from water and sanitation. The operation includes several City departments, such as law enforcement, electricity, water and sanitation, solid waste and urban mobility. I would like to thank members of the public for their patience during the course of this collaborative project. We are trying our best to resolve this as soon as practically possible,” he says.
The BikeBus programme, an initiative spearheaded by Active Mobility Forum (AMF), is a community-driven campaign to secure a safer Cape Town by creating safer, more accessible streets for children and the community.
The BikeBus initiative was introduced on Friday 20 October by inviting primary school learners, to cycle to school on a route with fellow walkers of rollerbladers escorted by adults for their safe passage.
