GO GEORGE concludes Transport Month programme at Bethesda
Issued 4 Nov 2020
GO GEORGE’s targeted awareness programme on public transport matters annually focuses on both passengers and the public during Public Transport Month in October. This year’s educational programme was concluded at a high note with a visit to the Bethesda Child and Youth Care Centre in George last week.
Adhering to strict Covid safety measures, the youngsters at Bethesda had the opportunity to approach the popular GO GEORGE mascot, Georgie, who shared tips with them in a fun manner about the safe use of the bus service. This topic linked in perfectly with a current independent living programme conducted at Bethesda.
Georgie specifically touched on the Covid safety measures that all GO GEORGE passengers need to adhere to such as the proper wearing of masks, hand sanitising, how to safely board the bus, the rules of carriage and behaviour expected of passengers while on the bus, and especially how to safely cross the street in the vicinity of the bus.
The visit was concluded with Georgie’s vivacious rendition of the Jerusalema dance, with the youngsters eagerly participating.
Passenger safety remains priority
Although there was a heightened focus on passenger education and experience during National Transport Month, the recurring theme of passenger safety cannot be emphasised enough, says GO GEORGE Manager, James Robb.
“The Covid-19 safety restrictions prohibited the usual round of educational visits to pre-schools this year and taking the pre-schoolers and primary school classes on bus trips was a safety risk too. We look forward to exposing the learners to public transport as a concept and our local bus service again as soon as the risk level allows,” Robb says.
An ongoing passenger safety programme in collaboration with several stakeholders has been launched during Transport Month. As part of an educational tool kit, a pamphlet focusing on passenger safety while walking to the bus stop, boarding, travelling and disembarking has been developed and will be used to instil good habits amongst passengers, pedestrians and other road users.
Any institution interested in being included in GO GEORGE’s safety programme is invited to send an email to info@gogeorge.org.za or call 0800 044 044.
CAPTION:
The youngsters at the Bethesda Child and Youth Care Centre enjoyed Georgie’s visit and participated in his cheerful Jerusalema dance. Each one received a GO GEORGE drawstring bag and sun visor cap.
GO GEORGE sluit Vervoermaand-program by Bethesda af
Uitgereik 4 Nov 2020
GO GEORGE se geteikende bewusmakingsprogram oor openbare vervoersake fokus jaarliks op beide passasiers en die publiek gedurende Openbare Vervoermaand in Oktober. Vanjaar se opvoedkundige program is verlede week op ‘n hoë noot afgesluit met ‘n besoek aan die Bethesda Kinder- en Jeugsorgsentrum in George.
Onder streng nakoming van Covid-veiligheidsmaatreëls het die jongspan by Bethesda die geleentheid gehad om die gewilde GO GEORGE-gelukbringer, Georgie, van nader te beskou terwyl hy op ‘n prettige manier inligting gedeel het oor die veilige gebruik van die busdiens. Hierdie onderwerp het perfek ingeskakel by ‘n program oor hoe om onafhanklik te leef wat Bethesda tans vir hul jong inwoners aanbied.
Georgie het spesifiek gepraat oor die Covid-veiligheidsmaatreëls wat alle GO GEORGE-passasiers moet nakom, soos die behoorlike dra van maskers, handreiniging, hoe om veilig op die bus te klim, die reëls van vervoer en gedrag wat van passasiers verwag word terwyl hulle op die bus is, en veral hoe om die straat in die omgewing van die bus veilig oor te steek.
Die besoek is afgesluit met Georgie se lewenslustige aanbieding van die Jerusalema-dans waaraan die jongmense geesdriftig deelgeneem het.
Passasiersveiligheid bly prioriteit
Hoewel daar ‘n verhoogde fokus op passasiersopvoeding en -ervaring gedurende Nasionale Vervoermaand was, kan die tema van passasiersveiligheid nie genoeg beklemtoon word nie, sê GO GEORGE-bestuurder, James Robb.
“Die Covid-19-veiligheidsbeperkings het vanjaar die gewone ronde opvoedkundige besoeke aan kleuterskole uitgeskakel en om die voorskoolse groepe en laerskoolklasse op busritte te neem, was ook ‘n risiko. Ons sien daarna uit om die leerders weer bloot te stel aan ons plaaslike busdiens en openbare vervoer as ‘n konsep sodra die risikovlak dit moontlik maak,” sê Robb.
‘n Deurlopende passasiersveiligheidsprogram in samewerking met verskeie belanghebbendes is gedurende Vervoermaand van stapel gestuur. As deel van ‘n stel opvoedkundige hulpmiddels is ‘n pamflet ontwikkel wat op passasiersveiligheid fokus terwyl jy na die bushalte loop, op die bus klim, ry en weer afklim, om goeie gewoontes onder passasiers, voetgangers en ander padgebruikers in te skerp.
Enige instelling wat daarin belangstel om by GO GEORGE se veiligheidsprogram ingesluit te word, word uitgenooi om ‘n e-pos aan info@gogeorge.org.za te stuur of 0800 044 044 te skakel.
ONDERSKRIF:
Die jongklomp by die Bethesda Kinder- en Jeugsorgsentrum het Georgie se besoek terdeë geniet en die geesdriftig deelgeneem aan sy vrolike Jerusalema-dans. Elkeen het ‘n GO GEORGE-toerygsakkie en sonskermpet ontvang.