COP29 MOBILITY PROJECT
At the beginning of 2024 Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) acknowledged receipt of my proposal and request for the 25-year concession it offered last year for the use of the permanent public way between Knysna and George; which is to allow the public full daily use of this ecological gem for mobility: be it walking, jogging; or cycling for recreation, commuting or touring.
TFR has yet to publicly reveal the beneficiary of the 25-year concession. Will TFR run counter to the environmental, human and economic requirements of the region and opt for the reinstatement of the meandering and uneconomic old branch line? Or will it relinquish its eighteen year embargo and let the public make full use this environmental treasure as a Rail Trail?
The extremely disastrous weather events worldwide between COP28 and COP29 further highlight the importance and urgency to tackle global climate change and migrate faster from fossil fuels to sustainable sources of power.
The global task is enormous, requiring trillions of US$. Governments and individuals everywhere are investing more in solar power, be it photovoltaics or wind at macro and micro scale. Domestic photovoltaics and solar water heaters definitely contribute to the objective, but mobility remains heavily committed to fossil fuels.
We know that the bicycle is renown as a non-polluting, highly energy efficient and economical form of personal transportation capable of transporting light loads. We know that there is a desire to explore and experience outdoor places of natural beauty; that a high percentage of the population would like to cycle daily because these activities promote physical and mental health. We have shown that cycling stimulates economic activity via the production and sale of equipment as well as luring tourists to safe and enjoyable opportunities to ride.
We have also proved that the perceived and very real dangers of cycling on our road system inhibits most cyclists and motivates others to ride off-road. Ideally, these facilities ought to be on one’s doorstep but we’ve known for half a century that retro-fitting safe, attractive and direct bicycle paths into existing urban areas is extremely difficult.
So, when an incredible opportunity presents itself, offering an array of much needed benefits for the residents and the region, why has it taken eighteen years to respond? Small communities in other parts of the world have, for decades, effectively introduced structural changes as COP projects to counter climate change. We could, and certainly should, initiate this Rail Trail as a COP29 Mobility Project for completion before COP30, and with the objective of it reaching Gueberha, 350 km away, within the decade.
John Stegmann 4 November 2024