The EcoMobility World festival to be staged in Sandton in October this year is set to create many opportunities for companies in Sandton as well as the rest of Johannesburg says the municipality.

According to the City of Johannesburg the EcoMobility World Festival in October 2015 seeks to promote a car-free environment that combines the use of non-motorised means of transport with the use of public transport.

During this month long festival certain streets in the Sandton Central Business District (CBD) will be closed off and instead additional public transport and opportunities for people to walk and cycle to Sandton will be arranged.

Business must get involved

The city is encouraging companies and organisations to take advantage of the street space being made available to arrange events, which preferably should have a link to EcoMobility.

Examples of such events could be a healthy food festival, public art with a focus on EcoMobility and sustainability, outdoor gyms, fun runs, music or spoken word festivals.

“We are calling on businesses in Sandton and the surrounding areas including Alexandra to come forward with proposals on how they can partner with us on the EcoMobility Festival”, says Christine Walters, MMC for Transport.

“There are opportunities to provide transport, to exhibit different forms of transport options, to sell products and to arrange events”, she adds.

Buses, taxis and tuk-tuks

The City is going to develop a plan to provide more buses and mini bus taxis as well as possibly arrange for pop up cycle paths so that people could cycle more safely.

It is also seeking companies who run tuk-tuks and similar services (especially those that are eco-friendly) to transport people from nearby park and rides and within the Sandton area.

The City would also like to see companies arrange for bike share schemes or establish an employee bike scheme.

Opportunity to partner

Organisations and businesses which are interested to take up any opportunities during the EcoMobility World Festival are urged to complete a form entitled “Opportunity to Partner Form” so that the City can find out more about the opportunities they interested in and make necessary logistical arrangements to accommodate such companies.

The City says it will then organise a meeting with all those who have come forward on the 3rd of June 2015 at the IDC Conference Centre in Sandton.