The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Councillor Rob Quintas, visited the non-motorised transport facilities in Edgemead and Bothasig this morning as part of his Transport Month visits.
Statistics South Africa’s latest National Household Travel Survey that was released in March this year states that about 17,4 million South Africans walked to their destinations in 2020; this statistic includes 10,1 million learners who walked to school.
‘These numbers support the City’s dedication and commitment to improving non-motorised transport (NMT) across Cape Town. NMT refers to walking lanes and cycling facilities, as well as universally accessible facilities for those with special needs, the elderly, and other vulnerable users. In Transport Month in particular, it is important that the City informs the public of what we are doing to improve NMT and pedestrian safety,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Councillor Rob Quintas.
The facilities in Edgemead and Bothasig cover about 17 kilometres of new sidewalks, which can be shared by pedestrians and cyclists, and nearly seven kilometres of sidewalks that have been upgraded with universally accessible features to make it easier for those with special needs to move around.
The project included numerous roads from Monte Vista Boulevard, Montague Road, and Edgemead Drive, as well as roads in the Bothasig area.
‘Improving road safety and making the city accessible to as many people as possible is at the centre of our service delivery priorities. The project features safer pedestrian crossings, universal access for those with special needs, and improved infrastructure in general. With most of us having to adapt our mobility patterns due to Covid-19, I want to encourage our residents to take full advantage of such facilities,’ said Councillor Quintas.
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‘In addition, our Cycling Strategy aims to increase the percentage of commuter trips made by bicycle from the current 1% to 8% by 2030. We have committed substantial resources over the past eight years in pursuing the vision of a cycling-friendly city. Currently cyclists have access to at least 450 km of cycle lanes across the city, some of which are separate from the road.
‘Although some of these lanes are popular for recreational cycling, we want to see substantial growth in commuter cycling, which is required to have a noticeable impact on traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and to improve mobility in the lower-income areas,’ said Councillor Quintas.
Some of the key strategies identified in the Cycling Strategy are as follows:
- Improved access to bicycles for lower-income communities is pivotal
- Road safety (traffic) and personal security (crime prevention) along cycling routes must be improved
- The planning, design and provision of cycling lanes must be location-specific, i.e. what works in one area does not necessarily apply in another
