The City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron, has urged motorists to reconsider their transport and mobility habits so as to minimise the impact of the substantial fuel price increase. The price of petrol rose by 84c/litre, and the price of diesel by 78c/litre on Wednesday, 3 July 2013.
Councillor Herron recommended the use of public transport and walking or cycling as cost effective and efficient alternatives to the use of private transportation.
The cost of travelling on public transport is a fraction of the cost of running a private vehicle. Another consideration is that public transport costs increase only once a year, and not whenever there is a rise in the price of fuel.
The City is committed to providing an integrated multi-modal public transport network which provides a seamless, convenient, affordable, and safe public transport service to all Capetonians. Whilst it is still some way from achieving these objectives, and while using current public transport may not yet be desirable for all residents, it has appealed to residents to use this time of massive fuel price hikes to consider how they can minimise their reliance on private vehicle usage or minimise their consumption of fuel.
Increasing private vehicle ownership and usage (particularly single occupancy vehicles) in Cape Town is not sustainable, says Councillor Herron, and it is for this reason that the City, in partnership with National and Provinicial Government, is implementing the integrated rapid transit project.
The City has also launched its Travel SMART initiative to reinforce public uptake of any means of transport with a low impact on the environment. It includes:
- public transport-oriented walking, cycling and skateboarding
- lift-clubbing
- low-emission vehicles
- promotion of healthy lifestyles; and
- building or protecting urban transport systems that are fuel-efficient, inclusive, and space-saving
The capacity of Cape Town’s current road and transport infrastructure is under increasing pressure, resulting in longer peak periods, worsening congestion, and wasting valuable time in traffic – not to mention the ever-increasing cost on the pocket of the commuter. Further details of the Travel SMART programme are available here.
Where use of existing public transport is not possible, the City asks that residents consider lift-clubbing.
The MyCiTi bus system has been operating since June 2010 with more than 6,5 million passenger trips recorded to date. With the new planned routes, the City hopes to see more people catching the bus and leaving their vehicles at home. The service has proven immensely popular, and the City is hard at work to extend it across the entire city. MyCiTi buses can be used by people with disabilities.
The myconnect card, which will eventually be able to be used to pay for all public transport fares across the country, helps make day-to-day travel more convenient for commuters, allowing for monthly budgeting ahead of time – along with a myriad of other benefits. Next month MyCiTi will switch to a distance-based fare system, meaning passengers only pay for the kilometres travelled. Benefits such as travel packages will offer discounted travel at certain times of the day.
The City is also working with Metrorail to improve the quality of the current train service.
“Public transport really is the way of the future: it is much cheaper, less stressful, and more environmentally friendly than travelling by car. It is a crucial factor in building a sustainable Cape Town, and helping to increase the liveability of the city,” says Councillor Herron.
“We would like everyone in the city to have fun investigating all of the public transport options close to their homes, and start taking the train or bus wherever possible – for commuting to work and school, as well as for going out to visit friends.
“Let’s do all that we can to grow a public transport culture in Cape Town.”
