The City of Cape Town has noted complaints from the cycling fraternity and media reports about motorists parking or driving in the green lanes that are for the exclusive use of cyclists.
Steps will be taken during the course of the next few weeks to address the lawlessness and general disregard along cycle lanes including those within the CBD and in Salt River.
During the past five financial years, Transport for Cape Town (TCT), the City’s transport authority, has spent approximately R300 million on non-motorised transport (NMT) projects such as installing cycle lanes and walking paths in an effort to create a universally accessible, cycle-friendly city that also promotes walking and cycling to get around.
With city roads having become heavily congested, the purpose of this strategy is to lure motorists away from private vehicles and to convince them to rather cycle or walk to where they need to be when it is practical to do so. The only sustainable way to reduce congestion is to reduce the number of vehicle trips on our roads.
Says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron: “The more cyclists who make use of the cycling lanes that are being provided by the City, the better the chances are that cycling will become an accepted norm – and not the exception – of transport in Cape Town for visitors and residents alike. This will create awareness among other road users, and motorists in particular, that cyclists are also rightful road users and not a nuisance. It has become clear, however, that the City will have to step in to improve cyclists’ safety along the cycle lanes. As such, we will be implementing some measures to ensure that motorists stay out of the green cycle lanes at all times.”
This is very good news says Tasso Evangelinos, chief operating officer of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District: “We receive complaints daily from cyclists and Central City stakeholders who regularly find cars parked in bicycle lanes, and we applaud the City for taking action. These lanes are vital to establishing a non-motorised option for transportation.”
During the course of the next few weeks, measures will be taken to promote cyclists’ safety along the green cycle lanes, says Herron: “Drivers who double-park and obstruct the cycle lane can be towed away in terms of the National Road Traffic Act. The City’s Traffic Service will assist as a matter of urgency in towing away any vehicle that is parked in the cycle lanes along Albert Road and along the streets in the Cape Town CBD. Apart from having to pay a release fee for the impounded vehicle, the owner of the vehicle will be fined as well.
“We do, however, also need our cyclists’ assistance with this campaign. We would like them to take ownership of the cycle lanes and to be our eyes and ears on the road. I therefore want to appeal to the cycling fraternity to please report transgressors to the City. I can assure them that the City’s Traffic Service will take action and enforce all illegal parking and stopping in the cycle lanes.”
Cyclists wishing to report any illegal activity on the cycle lane may do so to the Safety and Security Directorate on 021 596 1999. Cyclists can also report transgressors to the Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63.