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The City of Tshwane created a temporary car-free zone in the heart of Hatfield in Pretoria on Friday.
The Burnette Street closure, which formed part of Transport Month, is in line with global policies to move cities toward a more sustainable and carbon-free future.
This idea is not only aimed at limiting the use of private cars in the long term but is aimed at encouraging the use of non-motorised transport within high-movement zones.
A clear majority of people that News24 spoke to were very supportive of the concept. They singled out enhanced pedestrian safety and noise pollution as primary benefits. Interestingly, both private and professional drivers accepted the potential loss of convenience permanent street closures would create.
Speaking to News24, Tshwane MMC for Roads and Transport, Sheila Lynn Senkubuge, explained that, even though the concept was piloted for just one day, it would be rolled out once a month in different zones around the city in the future.
"This year, we had input from the Tshwane Metro Police Department, business owners, the University of Pretoria (UP) and other stakeholders in implementing today's car-free zone," Senkubuge said.
"For example, UP is currently piloting a bike-sharing scheme for students that ties in nicely with this programme."
"It will be a number of years before any permanent zones are established at high-movement zones throughout the city," she said.
"We are learning every year to implement the concept better in the long term by comparing data to see the impact within these zones."
Church Square in the Pretoria CBD is tipped to become the first permanent car-free zone in the city, where walkways and cycling lanes will replace all motorised transport within the precinct.
