During a panel discussion on Wednesday, it came to light that 60% of passenger vehicles travelling during peak hours in Cape Town are single occupancy vehicles.
The Western Cape Mobility Department invited industry partners to the launch of Mobility Month, hoping to find solutions to the congestion crisis in the Mother City.
According to the latest INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard, Cape Town was ranked the ninth-most congested city in the world.
Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku said Cape Town’s traffic jams have not just become an irritation for Capetonians, but a serious economic drag.
“Congestion has a very real impact on livelihoods, businesses, and the environment,” Sileku said in his keynote address on Wednesday.
“Our focus must be to expanding and improving public transport, so that it becomes the preferred choice for commuting.”
The event brought key transport stakeholders together. These included the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS), SANTACO as well as academics.
The panel agreed that while congestion cannot be completely eliminated, it can be better managed through collective action.
“We aim to move one million passengers a day, as passenger rail needs to be the backbone of public transport while being supported and complemented by the other modes,” added Raymond Maseko, Regional Manager of PRASA.
What is causing Cape Town’s congestion crisis?
Urbanisation and semigration have added to Cape Town’s traffic woes, but the roots of the problem go far deeper.
- Rising private car use, with car ownership nearly doubling since 2003.
- Unreliable public transport, which has driven many residents to use private cars.
- Concentration of jobs in a few central areas.
- Historic spatial planning, which has left many communities far from economic opportunities.
During the discussions, UCT’s Professor Lester Davids pointed to the health and economic benefits of cycling and walking, while SANTACO provincial chair Mandla Hermanus revealed that taxi operators are gradually shifting to higher-capacity vehicles.
Solutions in the pipeline
In conclusion, government and partners agreed to continue working on the following interventions to ease traffic congestion:
- Rail recovery: roll out of new trains, restoring services on the Central Line, deploying a Rail Enforcement Unit, and expanding park-and-ride facilities.
- Bus services: Golden Arrow already carries over 230 000 passengers daily; expansion of MyCiTi services and the N2 bus lane.
- Minibus taxis: transporting 75% of commuters, with various initiatives to improve safety and efficiency.
- Non-motorised transport: safe walking and cycling projects and the distribution of over 400 bicycles per year.
