TRAFFIC COVER STORY

Is Cape Beating the Town on the right traffic track?

Traffic problems are a huge challenge for many in , not least because of the legacy of apartheid spatial planning. Zanine Wolf reports on what’s been done, what’s in the pipeline and what some of the sticking points are.

ike most developing cities at a time, “should be the backbone of across the world, Cape Town has its fair There were public transport in the city,” said Herron. Lshare of traffic woes to contend with. “The apartheid government and our Just ask anyone who hits the in 1 571 393 new democratic national government from the eastern townships – from 6am neglected passenger rail for decades and to 9am it’s jam-packed. The from the it will take at least another five to seven south is also notorious for a crush at rush passenger years or so before we will see the benefits hour, as are the R27 and . of ’s new rolling stock in Cape But the daily trip into work is journeys on Town,” he said. particularly dire for low-income households, There is a new rail link in the pipeline, which spend, on average, 45% of their MyCiti buses with the city and the Passenger Rail salary on transport, according to the City’s Service of (Prasa) discussing Transport Development Index. a rail line, to link the metro People in this bracket have to travel in July south-east with the northern suburbs. It’s between 45km and 70km a day for work hoped this will “ease the huge demand for opportunities. travel in this direction,” said Herron. Prasa That’s because during apartheid, cities Public transport had appointed a project management team were designed to keep black people out Both Brett Herron, the City’s Mayoral and the design of this rail line was under of commercial centres and white suburbs. Committee member for transport, and way, he said. The unfortunate consequences persist Ryan Ravens, CEO of Accelerate, a Cape But the all-too frequent disruption to today. Most of these commuters travel in Town business leadership organisation, Metrorail services has a major knock-on from and Mitchell’s Plain, says concur that to get private cars off the road effect, affecting productivity, and many the study. and more people using public transport, commuters have been forced back on to The City has ambitious plans to help safe and reliable alternatives need to be in the road – which doesn’t help congestion. build an integrated city and transport place. How is this being tackled? To try to protect its infrastructure, system to make commuting easier for Metrorail is key to the solution but – Metrorail has placed guards in critical everyone. But there is a lot of work to currently blighted by theft and vandalism hotspots, designed cages to lock off be done. Whether it’s snaking through – is unable to offer a reliable service. Since equipment and apparatus, ensured gridlocked traffic, negotiating foul weather 2014, damage to trains has cost Metrorail equipment is micro-chipped and CCTV and unruly taxis, or waiting for trains that about R198 million. cameras installed, and worked closely never arrive, it’s not always plain sailing for Passenger rail, with its ability to with the City’s Metal Theft Unit to bring Capetonians to get where they need to be. transport thousands of commuters criminals to book. »

All photos: Kevin Gray New Routes The city has identified 10 additional MyCiTi trunk routes (red roads) to meet the commuter demand by 2032. These include several services that will connect with the northern suburbs, but the roll-out can only happen as fast as the City receives grant funding from the National Government, says Herron. The proposed additional 10 trunk routes to be added to the five existing MyCiTi trunk routes are:

• Retreat to the Strand and Gordon’s Bay • to • Westlake to Bellville • Strandfontein to the Civic Centre • to Big Bay • Khayelitsha to Century City • Century City to • Mitchells Plain to the Civic Centre • Khayelitsha to Wynberg and Mitchells Plain to Claremont (these last two trunk routes being the next phase – Phase 2A – of the proposed roll-out of the MyCiTi service).

A bus and a » But, as Richard Walker, the regional But, Herron cautions, “the idea that manager of Metrorail points out, the we can build roads to solve the congestion taxi to work issue of cable theft is rooted in broader problem is something we have to dispel socio-economic ills such as poverty, quite quickly”. Not only is there finite Hazel Koopman, 44, unemployment, and, in the Western Cape, space, he points out, because we’re lives in Mitchells Plain the drug scourge. hemmed in by the sea and the mountains, and gets up at 4am to It’s not a battle Metrorail can win on but as quickly as we build roads, cars will catch a taxi and then its own. There are plans to modernise be there to fill them. a bus to the Southern Metrorail’s central line but as Walker says, What’s needed, Herron maintains, Suburbs, where she works in a hotel. It’s a short “We can’t just be reactive. We need to is “a shift in behaviour. We need people walk from home to the bus station, but a walk partner with others – the police, the City to move from single occupancy private she doesn’t feel comfortable doing, despite and civil society – to help change people’s vehicles into shared mobility – using having lived in the area for 35 years. mindsets.” public transport or sharing your own car, “It can be very dangerous to walk as a Commenting on rail, Professor Roger with more than one person travelling in it.” lady alone. Some people don’t work and they Behrens director of the University of Cape Ravens agrees and adds that corporates have these bad habits so they try to rob me. Town’s Centre for Transport Studies, said also have a role to play in helping shift Sometimes I’ve had to run back home – luckily “some devolution of regulatory authority behaviour, “whether it’s introducing my managers are very understanding if I’m late.” to the City will be necessary to enable a flexi-time or allowing employers to work Hazel leaves work at 4pm and arrives more integrated public transport network”. remotely or to hot-desk”; meaning people home at 6:45pm – a nearly three-hour journey could travel to work at different times, and that would be much shorter if she caught the Will more roads help? not all at rush hour. first available bus. But she waits it out, hoping The City has committed R750 million to Some have suggested congestion fines for a bus that takes a safe route. “I don’t want to develop road infrastructure. Cape Town’s for coming to the inner city, as is the travel via Hanover Park because they’ve tried three major road congestion points – Kuils practice in cities like London, but the City to rob us on the bus before – luckily some of River, and Blouberg – have would not consider this, said Herron, as the passengers managed to chase them off the been prioritised. it was unrealistic to do so before public bus. So I prefer to wait for a bus that doesn’t go Rush hour lasts three hours in these transport options improved significantly. through that area.” areas as opposed to two hours elsewhere, “We are working as fast as we can to COST and to ease gridlock, existing roads will provide real alternatives but it will take R1 090/month (R590 bus be upgraded, extra lanes added and traffic some years to get there,” he added. fare + R500 taxi fare). signals modified to improve traffic flow. Charging users might be the best way »

12 | The Big Issue | 25 SEPTEMBER - 24 OCTOBER 2016 TRAFFIC COVER STORY

Dreaded taxi queues

Violet Manda, 28, moved to Cape Town from Malawi seven years ago. Until very recently, she lived in Delft and commuted to Constantia, where she worked as a domestic cleaner. To make it to work by » to dramatically change behaviour, said province, and Metrorail is run by national 8:30am, Violet would get up at 4am. Much of Professor Behrens, but it would likely government through Prasa, which is that time was spent queuing for taxis. “You wait meet with consumer resistance, as had currently embroiled in an investigation up to an hour for a taxi. Delft is very crowded happened with e-tolls. into irregularly awarded tenders. – even though there are buses, people prefer And the routes aren’t co-ordinated, to take taxis as they’re much quicker, so the An interconnected system making it difficult to switch between queues are very long.” The City has been working on having one transport modes. The City hopes to Violet has just moved to inter-connected network in Cape Town, change this and make public transport less with her husband and baby. “We moved explained Herron, where all land-based fragmented. because they rob you in Delft.” She recounts networks would be under the City’s The uptake on MyCiTi buses has been how she was held up at gunpoint by two authority. good, said Herron. Since the launch in men when walking back from church with her Right now there are three different May 2010, to July this year, approximately family. “But we also moved because of the taxis authorities involved in transport – 49,9 million passenger journeys were – it’s much easier now. I catch a taxi at 8am MyCiTi is managed by the City, Golden made on the service, he said. A total and I get to Claremont at 8:20am,” she adds. Arrow Bus Service is contracted by the of 1 571 393 passenger journeys were » COST R600/month (R30 taxi fare return from to Claremont). From Delft to Constantia, it was R72 return per day, i.e. R1 440 for 20 days.

GETTING TO COLLEGE View from the train Chante April,18, lives Naomi Jansen, 56, lives off.” Not long ago, Naomi lost her first-class with a carer in a safe in Retreat, in the Southern monthly ticket and replaced it with a third- house, where she helps Suburbs. She drives 10 class ticket to save money. She hasn’t looked look after three younger minutes from her home back. “In first class, people don’t make eye boys who live there too. to Heathfield station, contact. They’re on their phones, listening to In her fourth year of a hairdressing course, as it’s less busy than Retreat station, parks her music or reading. In third class, people talk to Chante takes two taxis to college on her own – car free of charge and catches a 45-minute each other – the conversations are fascinating! something she’s been doing since she was 14. train ride into town. Travelling by train can be It’s friendly with a lot of laughing, there’s a “I walk the boys to the local school down the unpredictable, Naomi says. “Trains seldom pleasant feeling. In first class, you’re scared to road, then I walk to the corner and wait for a arrive on time, are often cancelled without cough in case you inconvenience someone taxi. I should be at college at 8am – I’m usually notice or are delayed due to faulty signals. And who’s paid more for their ticket.” late, but it’s my last year, so it’s okay.” there’s never anyone around to ask – if there is, they don’t have the information you need! COST Some of the trains are in a terrible condition R150/month for a third-class train COST from vandalism – the rails and seats are ripped ticket (first class costs R280/month). R560/month (R28 per ay).

25 SEPTEMBER - 24 OCTOBER 2016 | The Big Issue | 13 » recorded in July and a total of 61 681 passenger journeys were recorded on each weekday during July. There are plans to integrate Golden Arrow and MyCiTi. But one of the delays, according to Herron, “is the National Minister of Transport’s failure to assign the contracting authority function to the ”. “Once we have the contracting authority, the City will integrate the Golden Arrow Bus Service (GABS) routes with the MyCiTi footprint, instead of replacing GABS routes as was the case in Phase 1 of the MyCiTi service. “It is crucial that this assignment is resolved urgently and we have now declared an inter-governmental dispute with the Minister over her failure or refusal to assign the function to us,” he added. A single transport authority, it’s hoped, will make public transport seamless – with one payment and View from ticketing system and integrated routes, to 105 cyclists used the cycle lane along the commuters can more easily hop between R27 between Cape Town and . a bike bus, rail and minibus taxis. On the cycle lane along Old Paarl Road, Dave Choveaux, 33, , the number recorded was 182. a keen cyclist, often Cycling The City was “satisfied that these lanes bikes 19km to work – a The City’s vision is to get a sizeable portion are an important addition to our non- 45-minute trip along the of commuters ditching their cars and motorised transport strategy,” said Herron. West Coast cycle lane. A cycling into work. To this end, 400 cycle But getting people to cycle will require flexible start time at UCT, lanes have been built, with more lanes a change in mindset. As Ravens says, “we plus showers and safe storage for his bike at being added every year. need to shift the perception of cycling as a the university, make cycling an option. In a period of two and a half hours, in sport to an actual mode of transport”. Dave is enthusiastic about the benefits of the morning rush-hour during winter, up Cycling figures were low, said Professor » biking. It saves him time and petrol money, keeps him fit, and is a fantastic way to explore and get to know the city more intimately. But cycling is not without its risks. “The southeaster is by far the most challenging thing to deal with on a bicycle. I’ve swerved quite heavily into traffic because of it. You also need to be vigilant because taxis do pull into the cycle lane – I wear bright clothing to make myself as visible as possible.” Safety is a concern, too: “Mostly it’s cool, but there is a section under a bridge where lots of cyclists have been bike-jacked. I’ve tried a lot of routes to try to find the safest one. I leave my wallet at home and just carry my medical aid card. And I use a cheap bike as I don’t want to attract attention to myself.” Dave encounters people from all walks of life on his bike and is keenly aware of the differences between “middle-income people who cycle because they want to and those, without helmets or protective clothing, who cycle because it’s their only form of transport”.

14 | The Big Issue | 25 SEPTEMBER - 24 OCTOBER 2016 TRAFFIC COVER STORY

mages:Town City of Cape

I Above left and above: An artist’s impression of what an interchange at Philippi could » Behrens, adding that the key would be to which includes Athlone, , look like if the Metro South East Corridor is developed. The image top right shows the join up lanes to create network effects. (See Khayelitsha, Langa, Mitchells Plain, same site as it is now. Below left: An artist’s “View from a bike” on facing page.) Nyanga, Philippi and Woodstock. rough impression of what the Voortrekker Already anchored by public transport, Road corridor could look like. Reimagining the city the goal is to develop these corridors The City isn’t just tackling congestion by into a thriving mix of business, retail improving road infrastructure and beefing and residential areas. App gives you the up public transport. There’s also a drive Private sector buy-in will be critical to transform our urban spaces by putting to help revitalise these areas. It will spur info you need people close to transport links – and to use economic activity but also, it’s hoped, A Transport for Cape Town (TCT) app allows these as a catalyst for other development. get us one step closer to realising, as commuters to view one public transport Two areas have been earmarked Herron puts it, “an integrated city where network that connects the different modes for development and densification: the people are living, working and playing in a user-friendly way. Voortrekker Road Corridor, which in close proximity to each other”. The system maps all the scheduled includes suburbs such as Bellville, Elsies Hopefully, the City’s various public transport services across the city. These River, Goodwood, Maitland, initiatives will be game-changers that include the MyCiTi bus service, Metrorail, the and Parow, and the Metro South East, make getting from A to B a lot simpler. TBI Golden Arrow Bus Service, the Jammie shuttle service and the city sightseeing buses. These maps specify each service provider’s routes, stations and stops. All departure and arrival times, estimated cumulative journey costs, and the duration of the trip are also accessible through the app. The app will tell commuters which mode of transport to use to get to their destination whether it be bus, rail, or a combination of the two. Commuters can also use the app to log a service-delivery complaint related to any transport or road issue. The TCT app is available for the following smartphones: Windows Phone, iPhone, Android and Blackberry. mage: Future Cape Town Cape mage: Future I

25 SEPTEMBER - 24 OCTOBER 2016 | The Big Issue | 15