The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron has announced that the City is extending the trial phase of the prohibition on the use of bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades on the Sea Point Promenade, until the end of summer, 31 March 2013.
The trial was implemented for Transport Month (October)as part of the City’s efforts to build an ‘Inclusive City.’ As part of the extension of this trial the City’s Share the Space signage will be enhanced, to create awareness amongst all users of the promenade.
“The City’s Active Mobility experts monitored the situation very closely during the trial phase and these on-site observations by City staff doing surveys reflected courteous behaviour from all users,” Councillor Herron says.
“It is a source of great pride for me that new promenade users answered our call to remain courteous and considerate, especially towards more vulnerable users. Cyclists, skateboarders and roller-bladders heeded our request that they give right of way to pedestrians, prams and wheelchair users and travel at a sensible, safe and prudent pace.”
The extension of the lifting of the prohibition will continue to affect the full length of the promenade, from Mouille Point to Queen’s Beach.
“I would like to thank local representatives of the various types of non-motorised transport for launching extensive Twitter and Facebook campaigns to remind their members of the basic rules of etiquette expected from Active Mobility users on the promenade,” says Herron.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely during this next phase.”
Councillor Beverley Schafer, ward councillor for the Atlantic Seaboard, has agreed to the extension. “The true impact of the introduction of new types of Active Mobility to the Sea Point Promenade can only be ascertained if we extend it through the busy summer season.”
Herron says the initiative is “a logical extension” of the Share the Road Campaign, which encourages all road users including cyclists, pedestrians and motorists to share roads courteously and safely.
