About Car-free Jo'burg

This little project has been percolating in my mind for a while now. Last night when a very cool American woman -- from NYC, no less! -- told me that she drives two blocks to the Killarney Mall, I knew I wanted to bring this project to life. I don't think of my walking experiences in Jo'burg as terribly exceptional until peers remind me that maybe they are.

This blog is dedicated to chronicling a car-free life in Johannesburg. It's certainly not dictating that we all throw away our car keys and pound the pavement. But I'm happy to show that another way exists, whether it's changing the way we get to work or feeling empowered to take a neighborhood stroll. I'm less interested in creating a soapbox or pulpit than a place to inspire, vent and swap stories. It just so happens that I don't have a car now, so I happily rely on my trusty feet, public transport, private taxis and lifts from generous friends to get around. It also helps that most of the areas that I (and most my friends) frequent in Jo'burg are actually within a 10km (6 mile) radius of my flat in Killarney, despite Jo'burg's (deserved) reputation as widely-sprawled. I may even end up getting a car when my employment situation changes, but my attitudes about getting around in Jo'burg without one won't.

Jo'burg just relished its role on the world stage during the World Cup and proved itself as a fantastic city to visit and live. What keeps it from being a truly world class city is its lack of pedestrian amenities, like safe crosswalks, consistent pavement and street-level shops and restaurants, as well as the lack of reliable public transportation. The Gautrain and BRT are welcome additions to the mix of public transport options, but there still is much room for improvement.

I hope to offer encouragement that you don't always have to rely on a car in Jo'burg. It doesn't help that when I did a Google search for "car-free Johannesburg," the first link that appeared was for a car sales company (sigh). Or that Jo'burg just ranked third-worst in the world (behind Beijing and Mexico City) for commuting. People sure do cling tightly to their cars, but other ways are possible.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I'm a born walker. In my high school yearbook in sleepy North Carolina, a friend even noted that I was a fast walker. Old friends will certainly confirm that I'm a better walker than driver. I've lived in NYC, London, New Orleans, and San Francisco and learned long ago the pleasure and practicality of walking miles and miles around those cities. Walking (or hopping on a bus or train) is how I learn about cities, take care of business, find new excitement, stay fit, pick myself up when I'm blue, or kill time when I'm bored. I love Jo'burg and I wouldn't be able to love it if I wasn't able to live here the way that I want to, which means free to be out and about.

I hope that people will join me on this little adventure and possibly share stories and experiences that may inspire others to hit the pavement and try out Jo'burg car-free.