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J’burg halts South Africa cycle lanes to build roads
Johannesburg's new Mayor has halted the construction of the South African city's ambitious cycle lanes project.
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It was rolled out in part of the city in 2014 by the African National Congress (ANC) to encourage people to cycle.
Opposition parties have criticised the ANC, saying the money should be used to provide services for poor people.
Mayor Herman Mashaba says the project would only be looked at once all the city's roads had been tarred, a BBC report has said.
He is from the Democratic Alliance which won control of the city in the August elections, with the support of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The EFF had marched to former mayor Parks Tau's office, unhappy that the city had set aside 70 million rand ($490,000; £370,000) for cycle lanes in rich areas of the city while residents in Alexandra township still lived in squalid conditions.
The news of the cycle lanes received a mixed reaction when it was announced in 2014.
While some felt it was a vanity project for the city's growing elite, others welcomed the vision of encouraging more residents to get out of their cars and cycle instead.
However, the move to halt the project has largely been welcomed.
The decision seems to show the influence of firebrand Julius Malema, whose EFF was merciless in its criticism of the lanes during its election campaign.
The EFF joined forces with the DA, which now runs Johannesburg.
The debate about infrastructure versus the needs of the poor is a longstanding one Johannesbur and it is a difficult balancing act.
Johannesburg fancies itself a world class city and meeting that ambition comes with a hefty price. But its managers also have to wrestle with the reality that many residents are still without basic services such as housing, water or proper sanitation, or proper roads.
While it would take a lot more than would have been spent on the lanes to relieve poverty in the city, this gesture may help to send the message that those who live on the fringes of Johannesburg's skyscrapers have not been forgotten.
Credit: BBC