12 OCTOBER 2017
Officers deployed to patrol cycle lane between CBD and
Table View -
The City’s Transport and Urban Development Authority
recently deployed 10 dedicated officers on motorcycles to patrol the cycle lane
between the CBD and Table View. The officers are deployed as part of the
Transport Enforcement Unit contingent to address safety hotspots along non-motorised
transport routes. Read more below:
The City of Cape Town has embarked on an initiative – the first of its kind – to help safeguard the cycle lane that runs along the red MyCiTi bus lane between the Cape Town central business district and the MyCiTi station in Table View. This cycle lane is very popular among cyclists, and the officers have been deployed to improve the general safety of cyclists – in particular those who prefer to cycle alone or have to use the lane after hours.
The officers are permanently deployed and work two
shifts per day. They work in close collaboration with internal role-players
like the Graffiti Unit, Anti- land Invasion Unit, Displaced Peoples Unit, Metro
Police, Social Development Department, and Traffic Service as well as external
role-players like the South African Police Service and the Immigration
Department.
The cycle lane is patrolled on a daily basis from
05:30 until 21:30. Some of the officers are deployed in vehicles and
others patrol the cycle lane on motorcycles.
Part of their functions involve inspecting the MyCiTi
stations and acting as brand ambassadors by educating passengers and making
them aware of the rules applicable to those making use of the service.
The officers use two-way radios and have direct access
to the control room, camera response unit, and the vehicle operating centre.
They can also communicate with each other.
‘Before the deployment of the officers, some members
of the public complained about being targeted by opportunistic criminals along
certain sections of the route, in particular in those areas which are deserted
after hours. I am happy to say that we have seen an increase in the number of
cyclists using the cycle lane since the officers have started patrolling,’ said
the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development,
Councillor Brett Herron.
To date the officers have arrested suspects for
mugging, pick-pocketing and theft. They have also issued fines to motorists and
motorcyclists caught using the red road (BRT lane) illegally.
‘Our Cycling Strategy aims to increase the percentage
of commuter trips made by bicycle from the current 1% to 8% by 2030. We have
committed substantial resources over the past eight years in pursuing the
vision of a cycling-friendly city. Currently cyclists have access to at least
450 km of cycle lanes across the city, some of which are separate from the
road. ‘Although some of these lanes are popular for recreational cycling, we
want to see substantial growth in commuter cycling which is required to have a
noticeable impact on traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and to
improve mobility in the lower-income areas,’ said Councillor Herron.
Some of the key strategies identified in the Cycling
Strategy are as follows:
·
Improved access to bicycles for
lower-income communities is pivotal
· Road safety (traffic) and personal
security (crime prevention) along cycling routes must be improved
· The planning, design and provision of
cycling lanes must be location-specific, i.e. what works in one area does not
necessarily apply in another
· Cycling infrastructure such as cycle
lanes, bicycle parking facilities, and storage facilities must be maintained
‘The deployment of the officers along this popular
cycle route will assist us in growing the number of commuter cyclists. In so doing,
we are also improving the safety of cyclists and MyCiTi commuters. This is one
of the priorities identified in the City’s Organisational Development and
Transformation Plan, which aims to promote the use of public transport, walking
and cycling among commuters,’ said Councillor Herron.
