#GiveUsReaVaya and get to work faster

Imagine getting to Joburg in half an hour every morning?

It could happen. But only if there was so little traffic on the road to the city as there is on Sunday mornings.

Over the past few weeks, Mitchell McKinnley has knocked on doors all over the West Rand to try and introduce Rea Vaya buses in the area to try and make faster transport possible. The Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) provides a fast, safe and affordable transport system in the City of Johannesburg, but not yet in the West Rand.

Mitchell takes almost two hours to get to the University of the Witwatersrand from his home in Wilro Park every morning and afternoon.

“I am so exhausted when I get to university and when I get back home. It really is tiring,” he said.

The News met with the physiotherapy student and found that he had a big idea to tame the traffic monster.

“If we have Rea Vaya buses transporting people all the way to the West Rand, traffic congestion would reduce. The bus lanes that are specially built for these buses allow no traffic congestion and you might actually halve your travelling time every day,” Mitchell explained.

Mitchell said Rea Vaya needs to know that there is a need for their service in the area and a petition is a perfect way to show that there is.

Follow these instructions to sign the petition to bring Rea Vaya to the West Rand:

1. Go to www.change.org on your PC or cell phone

2. Go to the search button and type in Rea Vaya

3. Click on Petitioning Reavaya management and Gauteng transport ministry: Proposed Rea Vaya extension down Ontdekkers to the Westrand to reduce traffic volumes.

4. Fill in the necessary details and sign.

Mitchell said that he has an overwhelmingly positive response from people he talks to about the petition. One West Rand resident, Tessa Maier, explained when signing the petition that it will be much easier to travel with Rea Vaya buses and that it will leave a positive environmental impact if more people travel with one transport system.

“It will make the lives of commuting students, scholars, pensioners and ordinary working class citizens more convenient, without compromising luxury,” Mitchell said.

And according to the 21-year-old, using this transport system will make it easier for people to travel to the West Rand, which would speed up economic growth for small businesses in the area.

Do you agree with Mitchell and would you want Rea Vaya to implement its routes in the West Rand? Tell us by leaving your comment below or like us on Facebook or tweet us @krugersdorpnews.

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