The City of Cape Town\u2019s lifting of the bicycle, skateboard and rollerblade prohibition on the Sea Point Promenade over the summer season has been a resounding success, according to City\u2019s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron.<\/p>\n
As part of the City\u2019s efforts to build an inclusive city, and to mark Transport Month, Herron announced the experimental lifting of the prohibition on the use of bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades on the Sea Point Promenade. The initiative enjoyed the full backing of the Sea Point Residents\u2019 Association and affected the entire promenade, from Mouille Point to Queen\u2019s Beach.<\/p>\n
The trial period saw the City\u2019s \u201cShare the Space\u201d signage being enhanced to boost tolerance and consideration amongst all users of the promenade, while the City\u2019s active mobility experts monitored the situation closely and City staff conducted on-site observations and surveys which reflected courteous behaviour from all users. The success of the trial period resulted in the lift being extended until\u00a0until the end of March.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a source of great pride for me that the lifting of the prohibition has resulted not only in increased inclusivity on the promenade, but also increased access, diversity and tolerance amongst those enjoying the amenity. It is precisely this kind of respect for each other that we as a City are working to instil in our residents,\u201d says Cllr Herron.<\/p>\n
The lifting of the prohibition has also brought communities together. Councillor Herron relayed the inspirational stories told via the social networks and from officials and businesses on the ground. <\/p>\n
\u201cJared Chaitowitz, co-owner of Up Cycles, a bicycle rental company based at the Sea Point Pavilion, told me that local visitors from Khayelitsha, Mitchell\u2019s Plain, Sea Point and Grassy Park, amongst many other areas, had hired bicycles \u2013 along with international visitors from more than 50 countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarlier this year, Chaitowitz taught a 46-year-old local visitor to the promenade to ride a bicycle for the first time and after they started talking it turned out that they were first cousins,\u201d says Cllr Herron.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a regular visitor from the United Kingdom wrote Up Cycles a letter, saying that he had not ridden a bicycle since 1970. He wrote the following about the pleasure of riding a bicycle along the promenade: \u201c\u2026gentle exercise, at my pace, clean ocean air, a pause to admire the seascapes and a stop for coffee or a light meal. Pure, simple pleasures and at the end\u2026 a lovely feeling of achievement\u201d.<\/p>\n
Herron adds: \u201cI also received the following tweet from Chaitowitz on 10 February 2013: \u2018We were a part of a five-year-old’s first ride without fairy wheels today. Took the wheels off ourselves. Proud dad watching. Kid’s a natural \ud83d\ude42 -Up Cycles\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
He says these stories confirm the prediction of active mobility experts that the high volume of pedestrian traffic on the promenade would ensure that new visitors using other forms of non-motorised transport would visit the promenade for leisurely rides, rather than sport. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is clear that the opening of the Sea Point Promenade to other forms of active mobility has also led to a surge in the use of bicycles, rollerblades and skateboards,\u201d concluded Cllr Herron. <\/p>\n
The decision to permanently lift the prohibition on bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades will be announced before the end of March 2013.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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