but do you have weather protecting shelters while waiting for the tram or are you expected to stand in the rain like a does?

the stop have what id call token shelters. during peak times they're not adequate enough to keep everyone under cover.

but at least its better than a pole with a myciti sign and a timetable stuck to it offering Zero protection

^^ Which are only temporary.

been temp for a very long time, so they spend all this money on something they gonna trash?
doesent make sence

I can't imagine a couple of concrete blocks with a pole and a map attached to them being too expensive. It makes sense that they would want to determine where the best locations for MyCiTi stops are before putting permanent shelters in place.

There's no reason why they have to trash the temporary markers, either. With numerous new routes set to come online soon, I can imagine the city re-using them elsewhere.

We've gotten to the point where shelters won't be of paramount importance for quite some time anyway, due to the warming and drying of the weather.

but at least its better than a pole with a myciti sign and a timetable stuck to it offering Zero protection

Well I was only referring to the trams. The majority of bus stops would only be unprotected polls. That would be the case in most cities. It would be non-viable to have sheltered bus stops for every stop.

MyCiTi a boon for Table View on the whole

http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/resource/myciti_new.jpg

Residents who live along the Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) route in Table View say they have already seen positive changes in their suburbs – more people are leaving their cars at home and more cyclists are training there.

They are also delighted that people from other parts of the city are coming to the area for "joyrides".

The Table View Ratepayers' Association says the character of the area has been positively affected by the MyCiTi buses.

Cycle and pedestrian paths were added as part of the nonmotorised transport part of the IRT, says Brett Herron, mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater.

Traffic intersections were altered slightly, with a new layout that gives right of way to buses when they need to cross. They also cater for partially sighted and hard-of-hearing pedestrians.

The Table View association's Eric Joffe said more people were walking to the bus , rather than only from their front doors to their cars.

Herron said the feeder stops had purposely been placed within walking distance of people's homes. "A culture of leaving the car at home and taking a brisk walk to and from the station at either end of the journey is being encouraged."

Even those initially opposed to having the trunk station near their homes were now excited about the possibility of new feeder routes, he added.

Steven Hayward, of the Pedal Power Association, said a positive spin-off was the significant decrease in the number of cyclists being knocked down on the Table View stretch.

"If this starts saving lives, it's wonderful," he said.

At the weekends, Hayward explained, more cyclists, including top riders, were now using the area for training, thanks to its new safety factor.

Previously if they were caught in sudden rain, which could be particularly dangerous since it affected visibility, they could do nothing but keep pedalling. Now they had the choice of boarding a bus, taking along their bicycles.

Discussing the feedback received to date, Herron said 80 percent was positive.

Heather Brenner, Blaauwberg sub-council chairwoman, said problems included insufficient park-and-ride facilities near the stations, and the fact that some of the feeder buses were routinely caught up in the traffic congestion. But on the whole, residents were "chuffed" about the service.

Herron said buses were not only for transport to work, but could be be used recreationally.

Families were already taking trips from Table View to the V&A Waterfront at weekends, or up the coast to Big Bay. Many in the CBD went for drinks at the Waterfront on weekends, without the worry of drinking and driving on their way home.

Brenner added that many people from other parts of the Peninsula had been making the trip to Table View just to try out the buses.

"People are taking joyrides just to enjoy the view of the mountains, sea and other natural areas," she said, adding that an area previously viewed as a "backwater" had been transformed into a place of impressive significance thanks to the construction of the roads and non-motorised transport lanes.

In addition, people who had not previously thought of moving to the area were nowconsidering settling there, thanks to its proximity to the IRT system.

Herron said that since its launch in May, there had been no reports of vandalism on the MyCiTi buses or at the stations, a situation he attributed to the good security measures.

Lanes were monitored by CCTV cameras and offenders could be fined, he said.

Cape Argus

Source: IOL Property (http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/myciti_a_boon_for_table)

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_1615.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_1618.jpg

^^ Hopefully!

The Thibault Square station is just about done. They seem to be cleaning up the site.

Awesome! There are two more on on Kloof Street - one at the entrance to the cable car and another further into Camps Bay which I didnt manage to get pics of. The Gardens station seems to be steaming along, but still just a whole in the ground at the moment...

YAY! Hopefully the Camps Bay station will be up and running by year end. Camps bay is too far to drive to!

Cape Town ready to roll out Myciti Dunoon link
Tuesday Oct 18, 2011


Dunoon residents - who currently rely on minibus taxis or walk long distances to get to work - are set to benefit when construction of the area's Integrated Rapid Transit route gets under way in March.

The mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater, Brett Herron, said the Dunoon MyCiTi bus service would link Potsdam Road to the R27, Montague Gardens, Paarden Eiland and Blouberg.

An appeal filed against the R27 construction tender process had been resolved and construction was expected to begin shortly.

MyCiTi operates between Table View, Cape Town International Airport and the CBD, including the V&A Waterfront.

The MyCiTi service is to be extended to the Cape Flats over the next few years.

-Cape Argus

YAY! Hopefully the Camps Bay station will be up and running by year end. Camps bay is too far to drive to!

I walked there over Kloof Nek last summer. Just once and never again.

In the news

MyCiTi on 'fast-track' to Atlantis, Dunoon

Cape Town's mayoral committee has given the green light to "fast-track" the next phase of Cape Town's Integrated Rapid Transit system in Dunoon and Atlantis. And the city's transport department is already discussing the design of stations, along with detailed routes.

Brett Herron, city mayoral committee member for transport, told the committee yesterday that plans to launch the system in 2013 were on track. He said the department was acquiring land, discussing station design and conducting route research.

A department report requested the authority to proceed with projects to "fasttrack" the implementation of the system along parts of the West Coast.

"This will take us toward rolling out in 2013," said Herron, who earlier this month said the trunk stations at Atlantis and Dunoon would be complete by mid-2013.

The MyCiTi route between Table View and the city centre was launched in May, followed shortly afterwards by the feeder services in Table View and the inner city.

On average, about 9 000 passengers use the service daily, and this month the service welcomed its millionth passenger. Apart from the services in Atlantis and Dunoon, Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha express routes are also expected to start operating in 2013.

The transport department will give the city council regular updates on the progress of the roll-out.

Herron also said that the compensation model for minibus operators along MyCiTi routes was also on track, after a minor change to its business plan.

The compensation model previously stated that the payout would be measured according to "average" profits. It will now be measured according to "fare revenue".

He said the change would provide for more "accurate" market share.

Herron added that the national Department of Transport had also studied the city's compensation model, describing it as "an example for the rest of the country".

The taxi operators will be compensated for loss of business as a result of the introduction of the MyCiTi service.

It is estimated that about 700 individual taxi operators were affected during Phase 1a of the system.

Some of those include the Peninsula, Vredehoek/Devils Peak and Central Unity taxi associations.

Final compensation offers are due to be presented to the taxi associations in December.

Anyone know what went wrong on the stretch past Bayside towards Atlantis? The new red road has been hacked up :(

Edit: pics added

http://i51.tinypic.com/n16scl.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2z9mmoh.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2q08s9t.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/2rxwt9y.jpg

MyCiTi Thibault Square Station officially opened on Monday, 31 October 2011

MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 821 / 2011
28 OCTOBER 2011


The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron, will officially open the MyCiTi Thibault Square Station on Monday 31 October.

This station will serve as a link for the current Gardens-Civic-Waterfront feeder service to the Civic Centre Station, where commuters can catch buses to either Table View or to the Airport.

All media are welcome to attend.

Date: Monday 31 October

Time: 10:00 – 12:00

Venue/programme: All those attending are asked to gather on the square outside the Civic Centre from 09:30. The bus to Thibault Square Station will depart from the Civic Centre Station at 10:00.

Councillor Herron will deliver a short address at the opening, before cutting the ribbon. Tea/coffee will be served and delegates will board a bus back to the Civic Centre Station.


END

ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
COUNCILLOR BRETT HERRON
MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT, ROADS AND STORMWATER
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
TEL: 021 400 1298 CELL: 082 518 3264

^^ That's great. Hope people will make use of the service.

Still waiting for a stop by Cape Town station.

I was in Long Street yesterday - at around 4 there was a Golden Arrow bus doing the MyCiti route..was quite funny seeing the look of disgust on the passangers faces. ;-) From then until around 6.30 there were rather large crowds waiting for each bus so the service is still looking popular on the Inner City routes.

Rye, gimme a shout next time you’re on Long Street after work!

Buses are never full on the Gardens-Civic route in the mornings, but there is a steady increase in passenger numbers every day – that’s for sure.

I used Thibault Square station for the first time today. At first I was little annoyed that they removed the Prestwich stops without telling anyone, but soon got over that because it’s such a pleasure to wait in the station. Han Strydom Street is fast becoming one of my favourite spots in the city. It has a real downtown feel – a fountain on one end, a bus station on the median, a piazza on either side, and views of almost all the city’s most significant high-rises. Plus, it’s buzzing around lunchtime. Can’t wait for Portside to complete the picture … and a renaming of the road.

Btw, are GA buses and tour buses allowed to use MyCiTi lanes in the CBD?

I used Thibault Square station for the first time today. At first I was little annoyed that they removed the Prestwich stops without telling anyone...

I used the Waterfront route for the first time today since the changes were implemented and I'm quite annoyed.

Every day without fail, the majority of the people on the bus with me in the morning would get off at the stop on Buitengracht Street - including me. I work in The Foundry, and it's far quicker to walk from Buitengracht Street to work than from Stadium Station to work.

They could at least set up a temporary stop at Portside, because there's a big gap between stops at Thibault Square and Stadium Station.

This was just the cherry on top of the terrible week cake :)

Urban - Im not there often during the week, but when I am, I will let ya know. Hopefully you will be IN the city this time :nuts:

I have seen many golden arrow busses along the Myciti routes actually. Perhaps its just a temporary shortage of busses. On a side note, some of the busses are sounding a little worse for wear, dunno if anyone else noticed?

WRT your suggestions about the temp stop, email the team, Im sure they will look into it.

Any advances on the smart card system?

WRT your suggestions about the temp stop, email the team, Im sure they will look into it.

My previous suggestion for something as simple as bins on the station platforms has gone unheard, so I doubt they're going to change the route for me :D

Changes to the MyCiTi Gardens – Civic-Waterfront Route as Thibault Station opens (http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/ChangesMyCiTiGardensCivicWaterfrontRouteasThibaultStationopens.aspx)
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/PublishingImages/News%20Images/Newmycr2.jpg


The change means that the travel time between the Gardens / Civic Centre and the Waterfront is reduced by 10 minutes. This is part of the improvements made to the MyCiTi service, as it enters its sixth month of full operation.

The change to F1 means that the Buitengragt, Convention Centre, Foreshore and Prestwich stops will temporarily fall away and will be replaced by the Thibault Square station. Research conducted along this route indicated that these four stops, which are a short walk from the Thibault Square station, were not widely used.

I highly question said research.

I would too. Ive seen many people getting off to get to Somerset Road.

I can understand that many people are destined for the V&A, but many people work on Somerset Road too. So now, in order to save V&A folk 10 minutes, they add 10 minutes walking to those working along Somerset Road? Hmm....okay.

Anyways, the Hout Bay route, whenever that happens, should resolve this.

I just had to laugh when I saw the road being dug up on Geneva Drive in Camps Bay, I cannot begin to image what the NIMBYs had to say. Whatever it was, it must not have worked....:lol:

I highly question said research.

We have tested it and it does reduce the time between City and Waterfront.

We have tested it and it does reduce the time between City and Waterfront.

That's logical, but that's not what I'm questioning.

My beef is that every time I used the old route in the morning, which was on a daily basis, at least half of the people on the bus got off at either the Convention Centre, Thibault Square or Buitengracht Street stops. Now most of these people have to walk further. My walk to work takes double the time it used to, rendering the service near useless to me.

I can understand that during the day these stops may not be used often, but they've given a big F you to those who use(d) the service for work purposes.

It’s cuts the journey time by ten minutes because the bus used to stop to pick up and drop off passengers, who now have to walk extra far. The CTICC is not a short walk from Thibault Square as stated. Nor is Buitengracht when you consider how difficult it is to cross on foot. The only stops I can justify them removing are the Prestwich stops on Long and Loop, which were indeed a short walk from Thibault Square.

I highly question said research.

Hi
The reserarch the CoCT conducted was done by surveying every trip passing the stops for a full week. Out of 143 trips that run past the stop per day the maximum passengers, per day, alighting at the Buitengracht stop was 15. Thats 0.10 passengers utilizing the stop per trip.

The most people I’ve seen alight at a single stop on a journey was four at Castle on Loop at rush hour (not counting stations). When you consider that, 0.1 passengers at Buitengracht is not too bad. The current inner city route is completely geared towards the V&A anyway. If it weren’t, it would go via Somerset Road and not the freeway.

The most people I’ve seen alight at a single stop on a journey was four at Castle on Loop at rush hour (not counting stations). When you consider that, 0.1 passengers at Buitengracht is not too bad. The current inner city route is completely geared towards the V&A anyway. If it weren’t, it would go via Somerset Road and not the freeway.

Exactly.

Without fail - in my experience - the most passengers would get off at Buitengracht in the morning. MyCiTi management need to realise that people are going to be using the service to get to and from work. During the day by all means run the new route to the V&A, but run a more extensive service during peak time.

I don't see how this is going to be beneficial to the MyCiTi system in any way. They've no doubt rendered their service useless to many who used to get off at the old stops, as well as those who could potentially have started using said stops. I doubt we're suddenly going to see an increase in ridership on the route now that the journey between the Civic Centre and the V&A is quicker, with little in the light of useful stops along the way.

How is removing stops going to increase the obviously already low ridership figure?

Exactly.

Without fail - in my experience - the most passengers would get off at Buitengracht in the morning. MyCiTi management need to realise that people are going to be using the service to get to and from work. During the day by all means run the new route to the V&A, but run a more extensive service during peak time.

I don't see how this is going to be beneficial to the MyCiTi system in any way. They've no doubt rendered their service useless to many who used to get off at the old stops, as well as those who could potentially have started using said stops. I doubt we're suddenly going to see an increase in ridership on the route now that the journey between the Civic Centre and the V&A is quicker, with little in the light of useful stops along the way.

How is removing stops going to increase the obviously already low ridership figure?


The V&A, which is already served by very frequent Golden Arrow busses and Taxis. Not that I doubt the city has done research, but its another thing which makes me question the cities priorities - tourists or long term travel solutions for locals.

What is 10 minutes to someone travelling to the V&A compared to someone walking across a busy highway in traffic to get to GP? Why not rather attempt to increase awareness for those working in Somerset Road about the Buitengracht stop?

What is 10 minutes to someone travelling to the V&A compared to someone walking across a busy highway in traffic to get to GP? Why not rather attempt to increase awareness for those working in Somerset Road about the Buitengracht stop?
Yeah, instead of giving up and removing the stop they should have done a bit of marketing. Then again, that has been the weak link of the system since it was conceived.

It’s pretty much a trunk route between Thibault Square and the V&A now – no more stops on the pavement. Stadium and Granger Bay stations are difficult for most, so sidewalk stops are necessary – at very least on Buitengracht.

I’ll concede that the Foreshore stop was absolutely useless.

On a side note, why does the city insist on spelling it Buitengragt when most of its citizens spell it correctly?

Yeah, instead of giving up and removing the stop they should have done a bit of marketing. Then again, that has been the weak link of the system since it was conceived.

It’s pretty much a trunk route between Thibault Square and the V&A now – no more stops on the pavement. Stadium and Granger Bay stations are difficult for most, so sidewalk stops are necessary – at very least on Buitengracht.

I’ll concede that the Foreshore stop was absolutely useless.

I never saw anyone use the Foreshore stop either.

On the other hand, I'm completely amazed that they have removed the stop in front of the Convention Centre. It had the potential to pull huge numbers - not taking future expansion plans into account. The fact that it wasn't pulling the numbers is perhaps an indication that MyCiTi marketing/management is the issue, rather than the route itself, which - apart from the Foreshore stop - was perfect as it was.

I was under the impression that the idea behind the system is to provide safe and reliable public transport to all Capetonians. What MyCiTi management have demonstrated by implementing this change is that they consider some of their customers more important than others. I as a loyal customer have now been royally screwed over in exchange for other customers gaining 10 minutes when they take a trip to the Waterfront. Said trip is hardly a lengthy one, so it's beyond me where the big push towards shortening the trip originates from. I highly doubt there was any significant number of people refusing to use MyCiTi between the Civic Centre and the Waterfront because they thought the trip would take too long. Sure, not many people may have been using the stops that have been removed, but removing options isn't a wise move at all.

I never saw anyone use the Foreshore stop either.

On the other hand, I'm completely amazed that they have removed the stop in front of the Convention Centre. It had the potential to pull huge numbers - not taking future expansion plans into account. The fact that it wasn't pulling the numbers is perhaps an indication that MyCiTi marketing/management is the issue, rather than the route itself, which - apart from the Foreshore stop - was perfect as it was.

I was under the impression that the idea behind the system is to provide safe and reliable public transport to all Capetonians. What MyCiTi management have demonstrated by implementing this change is that they consider some of their customers more important than others. I as a loyal customer have now been royally screwed over in exchange for other customers gaining 10 minutes when they take a trip to the Waterfront. Said trip is hardly a lengthy one, so it's beyond me where the big push towards shortening the trip originates from. I highly doubt there was any significant number of people refusing to use MyCiTi between the Civic Centre and the Waterfront because they thought the trip would take too long. Sure, not many people may have been using the stops that have been removed, but removing options isn't a wise move at all.
Dont forget the current routing in the inner city is temporary. There are another 9 routes being rolled out early next year which will include the CTCC and buitengracht street. the route between the civic and the waterfront is a trunk route, hence the red roads and stations. A fleet of smaller (9 metre) buses will serve the inner city as soon as they arrive

My previous suggestion for something as simple as bins on the station platforms has gone unheard, so I doubt they're going to change the route for me :D

no bins are needed as no eating drinking or smoking is allowed on the stations.

Dont forget the current routing in the inner city is temporary. There are another 9 routes being rolled out early next year which will include the CTCC and buitengracht street. the route between the civic and the waterfront is a trunk route, hence the red roads and stations. A fleet of smaller (9 metre) buses will serve the inner city as soon as they arrive

I know, and that's why I'm questioning the decision.

Wouldn't it have been wiser if the old Waterfront route was left in place until the new routes are rolled out next year? I completely support reducing the travel time on the Waterfront route, but it doesn't make sense doing so whilst some commuters - however small in number they may be - don't have another option.

It just seems like management have opted to increase the convenience for one group of people and completely remove all convenience for another, when up until now both groups have met half way without kicking up any fuss. As one of the pioneering customers on said route, I feel like I've been given the finger and been told that my needs are only important if I'm travelling to the Waterfront.

The only redeeming factor is that the weather has at least warmed up, so the walk isn't as potentially traumatic as it could have been a couple of months ago.

no bins are needed as no eating drinking or smoking is allowed on the stations.

The reason I suggested it was because I've noticed plastic bottles left on the floor in the station :) It'd be nice if we had an extra place to throw away unused tickets and other litter we may have been carrying around, though. You can't have too many bins IMHO!

I think we may be losing sight of the bigger picture with the F1 route change:

The route is only interim to begin with, and this is an even more interim change to it. My suspicion is that the reason for the change has little to do with the shorter commuting time (although that is a side benefit) and even less to do with benefiting some (V & A) commuters over other (Somerset Rd), but simply about ensuring that Thibault Square station is utilised.

I can only imagine that there would have been much greater unhappiness if they let the newly finished station stand empty for six months or more with the buses zigzagging around it to serve the Convention Centre, Buitengracht, etc.

A single bus line through a wide built-up area will never be everything to everyone, and a change to improve it for some will necessarily render it useless for someone else. That is inevitable.

The real complaint should therefore not be why the line is going here and not going there, but rather why is it taking so long before the permanent routes (which will cover all the areas left out by this change, and much more) are not implemented sooner.

no bins are needed as no eating drinking or smoking is allowed on the stations.

Oh, and I would think this is a very good reason for HAVING bins - to rid of whatever you have left of your snack when you enter the station! :)

Looking at a map of CPT, I dont think keeping the Buitengracht Stop (at least) would have made the bus zig zag through much of CPT and the parts that it would zig zag through would be parts where people would need to get to and from work. Thibault Square station would still be utilised Im sure.

The point is they chose to bypass a stop which gave many people access to Somerset Street and their place of work in order reduce the trip to the V&A by 10 mins, interim or not. :ohno:

The other routes 'may' be online sometime at the beginning/mid or end of next year....even these timelines are rarely stuck to.

Looking at it another way though - it is likely that by the end of next year, the system will cover a MUCH wider section of the city, which is VERY exciting!

Why don't you send all the questions to the MyCiTi team or Mayco member Brett Herron

Not really related to MyCiTi but maybe someone can help. What's the rule regarding cycling through Company Gardens? My bike map has it as a route but I often get yelled at by business people who are much more important than lowly me.

Really? I cycle through the gardens all the time and dont get anything. Maybe you just ran into a few grumpy folk.. I checked and I didnt see any signage against cycling and security dont stop me either.

It's happened about three times, but come to think of it the security do just ignore me. Also, the cycle lane at the north side pretty much leads in to the gardens. Cool. I shall continue on my cycling quest. Next stop, the Argus.

I think we may be losing sight of the bigger picture with the F1 route change:

The route is only interim to begin with, and this is an even more interim change to it. My suspicion is that the reason for the change has little to do with the shorter commuting time (although that is a side benefit) and even less to do with benefiting some (V & A) commuters over other (Somerset Rd), but simply about ensuring that Thibault Square station is utilised.

I can only imagine that there would have been much greater unhappiness if they let the newly finished station stand empty for six months or more with the buses zigzagging around it to serve the Convention Centre, Buitengracht, etc.

A single bus line through a wide built-up area will never be everything to everyone, and a change to improve it for some will necessarily render it useless for someone else. That is inevitable.

The real complaint should therefore not be why the line is going here and not going there, but rather why is it taking so long before the permanent routes (which will cover all the areas left out by this change, and much more) are not implemented sooner.
Bravo ! you are quite right the city has built the red road and the station and buses must use it straight away.
There is a lag in rolling out the rest of the feeders as there was some complication with the vehicle tender for the smaller buses which apparantly has now been resolved.
So now they must build them, deliver them and paint them and off we go !

Are they ever going to start with the Adderley and Queens Beach feeder stations? One would think that they would have learned out of their history of no being able to make deadlines, to speed up the work. The new F2 route's (Clock Tower-Camps Bay) stops are coming along pretty well, but why don't they start with a few other routes at the so long? I highly doubt they'll reach their deadline of June/July. I think I'm just a bit frustrated because I really can't wait for the inner city routes to start!

Last I heard about the Adderley station it was held up because they had to do a heritage assessment because of the War memorial that needs to be moved to make way for the station.

Not sure what the story is with Queen's Beach.

The August 2011 progress report, the most recent one on the website, has the following:

INTEGRATED RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM - PHASE 1A
ATLANTIS CORRIDOR & INNER CITY - CONTRACT PROGRESS SUMMARY
1 Report date 31-Aug-11
Planned Actual NOTE
2 Overall Progress - Design of new contracts 87% 68%
3 Overall Progress - Awarded Contracts 36% 30%
PROGRESS ON AVERAGE
CONTRACT CONTRACT EOT PLANNED CURRENT WORK DAYS
MILESTONE START END PENDING PROGRESS PROGRESS AHEAD/BEHIND
DESIGN & TENDER
BALANCE OF THE ATLANTIS CORRIDOR CONTRACTS
> R27 North - Sandown & Sunningdale (112Q) HHO 3 ► COMPLETE 100% 100%
> Racecourse Road - Montague Gardens (128 Q) HHO 2 ► COMPLETE 100% 100%
> Atlantis & Melkbos (262 Q) HHO 3 ► APPEAL 100% 85% -34
> Potsdam Road HHO 4 ► DESIGN IN PROGRESS 38% 92%
> Blaauwberg Road HHO 4 ► TENDER 38% 69%
INNER CITY CONTRACTS
> Thibault Square (Hans Strijdom & Heerengracht) (86 Q) GIBB 1 ► COMPLETE 100% 100%
> Adderley Street GIBB 1 ► PRE-TENDER(HIA) 100% 8% -448
> Gardens Centre GIBB 1 ► COMPLETE 100% 100%
> V&A Waterfront GIBB 1 ► PRE- TENDER(EIA?) 92% 0% -376
> Queens Beach GIBB 1 ► PLANNING APPLICATION 92% 0% -355

The -448 and -355 are work days behind schedule. Not very good.

On the upside, the feeder services are supposed to start with or without the stations being complete, they'll just use temporary stops in those places in the mean time, so the real wait is for the buses.

I completely forget about those statues! Well call me "outyds" but then I think the station should rather be scrapped. Think about it...the location is not that far from the Civic station. So why have two junctions so close to each other?

I completely forget about those statues! Well call me "outyds" but then I don't think the station should rather be scrapped ten. Think about it...the location is not that far from the Civic station. So why have two junctions so close to each other?

You need to move straight from train to bus.

True, but why then not just make a normal bus stop.

How the hell are they going to get permission to move the war memorial?! Perhaps they could move it just a little further up, closer to Strand Street.

True, but why then not just make a normal bus stop.

I think it will be too busy for a normal stop, and it will also be a feeder-to-feeder transfer point, for which an enclosed station is best.


How the hell are they going to get permission to move the war memorial?! Perhaps they could move it just a little further up, closer to Strand Street.

No idea what the permission process would be, but hopefully that is what they will do.

Why not just use Cape Town Station Square. imagine leaving train terminal, walking 10 steps into bus terminal.

^^
That would be convenient. It could have a similar set up to Airport Station.

That is actually a really brilliant idea Mo!

Why not just use Cape Town Station Square. imagine leaving train terminal, walking 10 steps into bus terminal.

Good idea! But it would result in too much southbound bus traffic and congestion along Adderley Street. Buses going the opposite direction would have to turn into Strand and then down onto Loop, or whatever, whereas a median bus station could have buses going both ways on Adderley. That bus stop in front of the station before Riebeek Street is already a complete mess.

Agree, :)

The alternate being removing the taxi rank above and creating an IRT terminal there :)

OR FFS start integrating the Civic Station with the Train station

It'd be great if they could mirror the airport set up, though the traffic would be a nightmare. And truth be told I'd be sad to see a part of station square removed. I like the current set up...once all of the stores are occupied it's going to be even better.

Gardens Station

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_2099.jpg

Thibault Square Station

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_2144.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_2143.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_2145.jpg

Thibault Square Station.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/6343203073_6eaf903bc3_z.jpg
There is one security guard and one station attendant.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6240/6343950538_e8e5f62fa5_z.jpg
Station was quite empty, however there were a lot of people walking around and making use of the new crossings (in front of the station).
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6343954204_9aa45eb785_z.jpg
Currently only one pod is in use. Both pods are open and complete.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6094/6343948626_bc3bca8f10_z.jpg
While waiting +/- 15 minutes for the bus, about 6 others arrived at the station.

Thanks for the photos guys :)

Feeder Buses tender awarded. Cost :R660 million.

Took some images while they were testing a bus. Will upload to blog.

Thibault to Stadium: 6 mins
to Granger Bay: 8 mins
to Waterfront: 10 mins

Feeder Buses tender awarded. Cost :R660 million.

Took some images while they were testing a bus. Will upload to blog.
One thing that is obvious on the interim inner-city feeder route is that these big buses have NO place in the CBD. Glad they had the foresight to order smaller buses for feeder routes. Can't wait for the new services to go live in 2012!

The "testing" feeder bus was smaller in length but not exactly narrow. I prefer something more tram like.

Random pic of bus on Strand St

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/CItyBus.jpg

Testing a bus of the winning firm.

http://www.futurecapetown.com

Testing a bus of the winning firm.

http://www.futurecapetown.com

It looks quite sexy! It's amazing to finally see this sort of thing happen. I remember about ten years ago seeing the first low floor buses being tested between Cape Town and Retreat, and feeling very excited when there was news that in inner city bus service would be introduced by 2003. Then there was the whole debâcle about those buses being sent back by the ANC municipality for being blue and yellow, the colours of the then Democratic Party. The project never came off the ground. Power shifte from ANC to National Party, to ANC to DA... we all know the story. So finally we have low floor Golden Arrow buses in the city, MyCiti buses, and now the prospect of these. It's taken way too long, but it is very pleasing to finally have made this much progress.

News from Last week
MyCiTi proves it’s the way to go
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/PublishingImages/News%20Images/Mycitipr.jpg
Since its launch in May 2010, just over 1.7 million passenger journeys have been made on Cape Town’s MyCiTi public transport system, mainly using its rapid bus service on the dedicated bus lanes that have been built for this purpose. This includes nearly 370 000 passengers who used MyCiTi buses during events at the Cape Town Stadium and 100 000 who used event services offered with chartered buses.

A ‘passenger journey’ is defined as: a journey a passenger makes traveling on one or more MyCiTi services from their origin to their destination, irrespective of how many times they transfer. For example, a passenger who travels on a feeder bus in Table View, then transfers to a MyCiTitrunk bus to the Civic Centre Station, and then to a feeder bus to the Waterfront is counted as only one passenger journey. Excluded from other passenger journeys are event services and trips on the Airport route.

A total of 1.4 million passenger journeys were made from May to October 2011, 70 000 of whom made use of event services.

From May to October this year the trunk route between Table View and the CBD has carried approximately 700 000 passengers, the majority of whom have also used feeder services as part of their journeys.

In October about 285 000 used regular services (excluding the airport and event services), with an average of 10 900 passenger journeys on a week day. This represents an increase on the September travel figures of 8%. About 10 900 passengers travelled on the Airport route in October 2011.

“We are extremely pleased with the response to the MyCiTi services by the public. The daily increase in the numbers of passengers is a testament not only to how wonderful the service is, but how sorely needed it was in that area. We recognise that there are similar needs across Cape Town and are working to extend the services so that others may benefit from these clean, comfortable and well- run buses,” says Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater.

Great, really great news actually! It is what we thought would happen, but to see this weight of passengers is brilliant . This is a core driver, I feel, to bringing the city infrastructure in general up to fully developed (shiny) levels!

Testing a bus of the winning firm.

http://www.futurecapetown.com

Looks quite nice. But God, the voice artist!

those feeder busses are very small? i know im probably way out on a limb here but what if the demand for the feeder busses starts outstripping the capacity of such small busses?

There are different length feeder buses.

190 to be ordered just in Phase 1A which is tons of buses.

There are different length feeder buses.

190 to be ordered just in Phase 1A which is tons of buses.

Especially when you consider they're running the current service on 42!

Will they be called MyCiTi Solow buses?

Solo is the name by the bus producer. So I think Solo will be used but will still be called "feeder service"

And what's this I hear about a smart card now being available?

MyConneCT: get at Civic and Table View. Paper tickets phased out over 2 months. Launch in Jan, but you can get the card now, with paper tickets as testing takes place.

Oh good! :cheers:

This morning I literally went out of my way to buy a card. It’s essentially an Absa debit card with a chip. Currently you can only “touch in” at the Civic Centre. Not sure if it’s only for the Table View route or if you can use it to access the Gardens-Waterfront route.

Could you perhaps post a photo of it when you get a chance?

MyConneCT: get at Civic and Table View. Paper tickets phased out over 2 months. Launch in Jan, but you can get the card now, with paper tickets as testing takes place.

Will they have a special card for tourists?

Cannot be used for airport yet.

^^
How about its compatibility with Rea Vaya cards? Will the card work on all BRT systems in SA and will the pricing schemes be the same?

Also, will the cards only be available with bank cards or separately too? I still think some sort of special card should be introduced for tourists, even if they cannot use it from the airport.

Could you perhaps post a photo of it when you get a chance?

Here's a pic:

http://www.okcid.co.za/AdvHTML_Upload/card_3_1.jpg

(From: OK GP City Improvement District website - http://www.gpcid.co.za/newsDetail.asp?intNewsID=241)

Thanks!

I have many issues with the branding decisions being made by Switch Design.

I have many issues with the branding decisions being made by Switch Design.
Just out of interest, what are the branding issues you have ? What is it you dont like ?

Cllr Herron and Marvin demonstrate the new myconnect fare system


The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron, and Marvin the MyCiTi mascot were at the Civic Centre Station this week to demonstrate how the new myconnect card will provide commuters with a faster and more convenient way to use the MyCiTi service.

“This is the first step of a gradual implementation that will be rolled out over the next two months. Further phases will come into effect in mid-2012. This incremental roll-out is to ensure that the systems are in full working order before introducing another aspect of the system,” said Councillor Herron.

The myconnect card will eliminate the need for passengers to use cash to pay for transport on a daily basis, and allow the City to avoid the problems of fare evasion.
Although the card is now available, paper tickets will continue to be sold for two months creating an overlap period during the transition phase from a paper-based system to a smartcard system.

This process will be completed by the end of January 2012.

How the myconnect card works

Loading value on your myconnect card is as easy as topping up your cellphone airtime or loading your pre-paid electricity. Simply get a myconnect card from the station kiosk, pay the issuing fee, load value onto the e-purse, and tap the card against a validator that automatically deducts the correct fare from your balance.

As part of the first step in this incremental roll-out, passengers have been buying myconnect cards from Saturday 26 November to Friday 9 December as part of an initial trial period. The trial services are available at the Civic Centre and Table View stations (but not at the stations in-between until 9 December 2011) and on all feeder buses.

Passengers who choose to use their cards to pay for their fares during this trial do so at their own risk, since the system is still in a test phase during the trial. During the trial period some of the card’s functions will not be available (such as the special ‘beep’ when the balance of value on the card is low) and there may be times when validators are not available for use. After the trial period, when a passenger’s card is running low on funds, a ‘low balance’ indicator notifies them that they will soon need to top up their card. This is indicated on the validator by a special ‘beep’.

There is an introductory issuing fee of R20 charged for each card. This will increase to R22 from 1 January 2012. The City recommends that users load a minimum of R65 onto the card at any time, although smaller amounts can be loaded. In order to make your journeys using the card easier, users may want to consider loading enough money at a time for a week’s travel at the station kiosks.

The myconnect card is a bank card, issued by ABSA. As with other banking products, bank fees are charged. In this case the bank fees are 2.5%, or R1.50 minimum, of the total value loaded. No additional fee is charged when the card is used to pay for fares on the MyCiTi system. The use of a banking product will save the City and passengers money in the long run. If the City paid for all of the back-office facilities for these transactions, it would have cost much more than 2.5% bank charge. This is one of the reasons why the use of a banking card is prescribed by the National Department of Transport for all electronic fare systems implemented from June 2011.

The maximum you can load onto the card at any one time is R1 500. You may not load more than R3 000 in total in any 30-day period. The maximum transaction amount is R200 per transaction.

During 2012, ‘transit products’ will become available which will benefit regular commuters and provide other concessions for other users. When commuters purchase these ‘transit products’ they will not be charged a bank fee.

When you get your card and have it activated you will have to select a PIN to activate the card. Be sure that you remember your PIN because without it, you cannot load value or monitor your balance in future. The default PIN is 1111, but when you buy the card you can choose to change the PIN.

Once this is done you can load travel value on to the e-purse on your card. It’s a good way to budget for the month – but remember to keep your myconnect card safe because if you lose it, you can’t be refunded.

The cards can also be used to pay for trips to the airport for adult passengers. However, if a passenger wishes to buy bulk tickets, or if children aged 11 or under are to ride the airport bus, they will still need to purchase paper tickets.

As an added bonus, you can use the myconnect card to pay for purchases under R200 at shops and other vendors where the PayPass symbol is displayed – provided you have sufficient value on your card.

For more information about MyCiTi services, click here www.capetown.gov.za/myciti or call the Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63.

The Netherlands involved in Cape Town's public transport

The Dutch government has been asked to help fund a R550 million project to roll out the Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system to Khayelitsha and surrounding areas.

The City of Cape Town's plan for Khayelitsha includes a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system trunk route, a feeder system with bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways and five public transport interchanges.

The project is part of the city's IRT plan and will be partly funded by the Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry's Facility for Infrastructure Development (Orio), if the city's application for grant funding is successful.

Mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater Brett Herron said the funding was expected to speed up the delivery of the IRT system in Khayelitsha and the Metro South East, which have not benefited from the system servicing the west coast and the inner city.

A report outlining the funding application notes that the total estimated project cost is R550m of which the Dutch would provide R195m. An application to the government will be made for the rest.

Cape Times

Source: IOL Property (http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/the_netherlands_involved_in_cape)

The Netherlands involved in Cape Town's public transport

The Dutch government has been asked to help fund a R550 million project to roll out the Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) system to Khayelitsha and surrounding areas.

The City of Cape Town's plan for Khayelitsha includes a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system trunk route, a feeder system with bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways and five public transport interchanges.

The project is part of the city's IRT plan and will be partly funded by the Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry's Facility for Infrastructure Development (Orio), if the city's application for grant funding is successful.

Mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater Brett Herron said the funding was expected to speed up the delivery of the IRT system in Khayelitsha and the Metro South East, which have not benefited from the system servicing the west coast and the inner city.

A report outlining the funding application notes that the total estimated project cost is R550m of which the Dutch would provide R195m. An application to the government will be made for the rest.

Cape Times

Source: IOL Property (http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/the_netherlands_involved_in_cape)

great news. this service needs to spread out to the people who need it! now all thats needed is for an overhaul of the rail system and cape town would end up having a very attractive public transport system.

If the myconnect card is a debit card, does that mean I can use it at Pick n Pay? In the UK, one of the banks (Barclays, I think) produced a chip and pin Oyster/debit card hybrid you could use in shops and on the tube. I hope something like that happens in Cape Town. Then again, judging by the comments of some commuters, most people aren’t very happy with having to buy a myconnect card, so the thought of using their actual debit cards to pay for bus fare would be potentially devastating to them.

As usual, short-sighted complaints about bank charges etc have prevented them from seeing the benefits of a cash-free system. We complain about slow change in South Africa, but it’s actually our resistance to progress that keeps us back.

If the myconnect card is a debit card, does that mean I can use it at Pick n Pay?

I bought a gift card from Cavendish recently and it seems they are now using debit cards too. You have to show your ID/drivers license when you buy one. The instructions says that you don't get charged bank fees if you use it at Cavendish, but if you use it anywhere else, you have to pay (R10 per use, if I remember right.) Perhaps the myconnect works on the same principle?

The smart card in Asia that is used for public transport can purchase at covenient stores like 7-11 and vending machines without a pin, and the card system is operated by a independent company. I think the city of Cape Town should consider doing that for convenience

Where can I find out when the F08 feeder route (Vredehoek) is expected to start operating? I mailed myCiti but all I got was "in 2012"

Cape Town's MyCiti upbeat about December figures

The City of Cape Town's MyCiti bus service experienced "positive growth" in December, recording an average 11 000 commuters a week.

The city said its figures for December 2011 showed that "ridership" continues to experience positive growth and that more people are using MyCiti to connect to Cape Town.

"The ridership figures for the MyCiti buses over the festive season are both surprising and pleasing. The average daily ridership on weekdays on all the services totalled approximately 11 497 a week, compared to approximately 11 248 in November," said Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater.

He said passenger trips - where one trip is counted as one person's complete journey, regardless of how many times they change from feeder to trunk buses and vice versa (excluding airport services) were as follows:

Week one: 11 093
Week two: 10 063
Week three: 10 119
Week four (10 days): 9 142.
"The passenger figures for the month of December are very encouraging and exciting. During a month when many people take leave from work we could have expected a decline in passenger numbers from previous months - as is experienced by other scheduled bus services in the city. The fact that our passenger numbers have shown growth from November is good news and is a clear indication that the service is taking root as a public transport service with substantial off-peak travel."

He said it was increasingly clear that there is a "good appetite" for the service.

"We also saw many visitors to the city using the service, including the airport service which continues also to see a slow but continuous steady increase in the numbers."

Over 2 000 MyConnect cards were sold in December.

Cape Times

http://www.iolproperty.co.za/roller/news/entry/cape_town_s_myciti_upbeat

I occasionally use the airport link, and I have to concur that it seems to be picking up as more and more people start using it. I'm yet to use the innercity buses, but it's good to see that people are actually using those buses too. This past Saturday when I arrived by Metrorail at Cape Town Station, I was hoping to catch the bus to the Waterfront, but the Golden Arrow bus was there first. So I paid R8 instead of R5 for the trip, but I must commend Golden Arrow. Their new low-floor buses are brilliantly airconditioned. It was such a treat!

I occasionally use the airport link, and I have to concur that it seems to be picking up as more and more people start using it. I'm yet to use the innercity buses, but it's good to see that people are actually using those buses too. This past Saturday when I arrived by Metrorail at Cape Town Station, I was hoping to catch the bus to the Waterfront, but the Golden Arrow bus was there first. So I paid R8 instead of R5 for the trip, but I must commend Golden Arrow. Their new low-floor buses are brilliantly airconditioned. It was such a treat!

But terribly maintained! Most of them are more scratched up and thus looking worse-for-wear than the standard MAN buses they're using.

It will be interesting to see ridership figures once the smart card system is implemented. Spoke to some of the myciti ground staff about the new system. They said they've had mixed reactions, and that while many were excited and for the change, people are now unhappy and are against it.

Hopefully, this 'upgrade' won't put people off from trying out or using the myciti service.

^^ It's progress. I cannot stand the fact that many Saffers moan when things become more efficient (simply because they're not used to it). A cashless card system is the ONLY way and is international best-practice.

I think that people are just complaining about the initial schlep of getting the card registered, loaded with cash etc.

In the long run it's far more convenient than buying paper tickets every time you need to take a trip, or a booklet once every couple of trips.

I don't think this is about people not liking change, rather people opting for simplicity and what works best for their pocket.

While the BRT service is similar to other international cities, the people using it, differ. Yes it is a good idea to implement the smart card system, but the once off paper ticketing system should not have been phased out so soon.

Construction begins on permanent MyCiTi feeder station in Table View


Construction began this week, Monday 16 January, on the new, permanent Table View feeder station in Blaauwberg Road for the MyCiTi bus service.

The construction of this station is part of the phased rollout of feeder stations along Blaauwberg Road. It also symbolizes the continued rollout of the project along the West Coast, to eventually link areas up to Atlantis with the CBD.

The Table View feeder station is being built to accommodate the nine-metre buses that will soon be introduced to replace the 12m buses currently running the MyCiTi feeder services in Table View, Parklands and Blaauwberg.

It signals a milestone in extending the MyCiTi service: the feeder stations on Blaauwberg Road will cater for the expansion of the service eastwards. Future buses to Atlantis and Mamre will dock at the station that was previously used for feeder services in Table View, Parklands and Blaauwberg.

There will be minimal traffic disruption, as no general traffic lanes will be closed during the construction of station. However, one of two red MyCiTi bus lanes will be closed during the construction. This lane will be used as a ramp for pedestrians needing to access the trunk station from the Pentz/Blaauwberg Road intersection. This is necessary as the ramp on the station will be closed during the construction.

Directional signage will be erected to assist road users and pedestrians. The safety of pedestrians is paramount. This will be ensured through the erection of a concrete barrier between the new walkway and the bus lane still in operation, and a fence between the walkway and the construction area.

The construction of the feeder station is expected to take between four and six months. The City apologises to commuters for any inconvenience or delays the construction may cause.

For more information residents can contact myciti@capetown.gov.za or 0800 65 64 63 for more information.

Where can I find out when the F08 feeder route (Vredehoek) is expected to start operating? I mailed myCiti but all I got was "in 2012"

Trust me, it won't be ready this year. They've been working on F2 ( The route from the clock tower to Camps Bay) since October and they're still not done - that's almost 4 months on one route. That's one down 8 to go. They'll probablly start working on the route to Hout Bay next seeing as it's the longest route.Though I must say the feeder bus stops look pretty great, I just wished they'de pick up the paste!

I think that people are just complaining about the initial schlep of getting the card registered, loaded with cash etc.

In the long run it's far more convenient than buying paper tickets every time you need to take a trip, or a booklet once every couple of trips.

But what if you're a tourist or someone who just wishes to try out the system once off?

Someone noted yesterday in The Cape Argus that even in Brittain and Asia where they have world class transport systems, they give the option of paper tickets as well as the smart card. It's much more logical in terms of tourists using the system.

But what if you're a tourist or someone who just wishes to try out the system once off?

Someone noted yesterday in The Cape Argus that even in Brittain and Asia where they have world class transport systems, they give the option of paper tickets as well as the smart card. It's much more logical in terms of tourists using the system.

Yeah I completely agree. If they can do it on the airport route, I don't see why they can't do it on all routes.

Im not sure if these were posted, but this is the Du Noon Depot as of November 2011

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/Table_Race_20.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/Table_Race_17.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/Table_Race_2.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/Table_Race_1.jpg

The newest project report (http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/irt/Pages/MonthlyProjectReports.aspx) is October 2011. Any idea why they've stopped appearing?

because. I give up. Eish.

THIS IS INTERESTING

Queens Beach Station: The concept layout plan showing two low floor platforms and closed feeder stations on the LHS side of Beach Road outside the Peninsula Hotel has been approved by the CoCT. A number of meetings have been held together with representatives from the Peninsula Hotel and a number of design amendments which included the lowering of the roof, repositioning of the platforms, incorporation of planter boxes, the use of non-reflective roof paint and the use of Mosaic tiles along the station wall all contribute to softening the view of the station from the hotel patio. Subsequent to meetings with the Hotel, our consultant, @ Planning, has received a letter from Peninsula confirming that they have no objection

Good bits about the open Feeder stations/shelter on page 28/29 too

So, I’m not really stoked with myconnect, I have to say. It was one of the aspects of the IRT system that I looked forward to most, but the implementation has been bad, to say the least. I don’t know why they didn’t just go to a city with a functioning and efficient contactless card system and steal it.

In London, you tap your Oyster card, your money is instantly deducted, and you get an easy to read balance on the screen.

In Cape Town, you tap your myconnect card, nothing happens for three seconds, you hear one of three different beeps (am I meant to memorise what each means?), you ask the conductor if it worked, they say: “I don’t know, try again”, you do, it beeps again, and god knows how much has been deducted.

To have no ticketing alternative in the implementation phase of such a buggy and frustrating system is annoying. I’d still use my card, but I can see why so many refuse.

I think management seriously need to eat some humble pie and perhaps take the system back to the drawing board. It can't be too hard to re-introduce paper tickets and run the MyConnect system alongside it for a while.

So, I’m not really stoked with myconnect, I have to say. It was one of the aspects of the IRT system that I looked forward to most, but the implementation has been bad, to say the least. I don’t know why they didn’t just go to a city with a functioning and efficient contactless card system and steal it.

In London, you tap your Oyster card, your money is instantly deducted, and you get an easy to read balance on the screen.

In Cape Town, you tap your myconnect card, nothing happens for three seconds, you hear one of three different beeps (am I meant to memorise what each means?), you ask the conductor if it worked, they say: “I don’t know, try again”, you do, it beeps again, and god knows how much has been deducted.

To have no ticketing alternative in the implementation phase of such a buggy and frustrating system is annoying. I’d still use my card, but I can see why so many refuse.

the card does sound like a big confusing mess from what i've heard. dublin has just introduced something along the lines of the oyster card for travelling across all transport nodes (the trams used to be the only form of transport with a touch on card). why would it be so hard for myciti to use a similar system? i mean, if you're trying to build world class transport infrastructure shouldn't you be using equally as good ticketing systems? below is the link for dublin's leap card.

https://www.leapcard.ie/

Heard today from an insider at the City that the Queens Beach closed feeder has been postponed for at least 3 years. Anyone know anything about this?

I heard it's going ahead with a reduced height or something like that. The "hotel" has agreed.

Queens Beach Station:
The concept layout plan showing two low fioor platforms and closed feeder stations
on the LHS side of Beach Road outside the Peninsula Hotel has been approved by the CoCT. The City Town Planners have waived the advertisement of the application, and the plans for the Queens Beach Closed Station

Feeder Station were approved in terms of Section 15 of the Land Use and Planning Ordinance, as of 19 Oct 2011. Detail design is in progress and as soon as information is available for construction the works can commence on site.

The newest project report (http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/irt/Pages/MonthlyProjectReports.aspx) is October 2011. Any idea why they've stopped appearing?

I see they're now updated to December 2011. That means they haven't stopped, they're just permanently a few months behind. ;)

F2 is coming along pretty well. They've already erected 7 permanent bus stops. Will try and upload photos over the weekend.

Looks like the war memorial on Adderley Street will be relocated to the Parade to make way for the feeder station.

Absa’s contactless card technology is shite! So tired of standing in the front of the bus and touching the reader with my card about six times before it works.

I haven't had any issues with my card, but truth be told it seems a little unnecessary. It takes longer for the reader to validate your card than for a person to tear a paper ticket. The fact that you have people standing around with the electronic validators and not turnstiles is quite silly as well.

Regarding the non-existent paper tickets: if they can offer you two "emergency" paper tickets when you buy your MyConnect card, why on earth can't they sell them to first-time users/those who rarely use the system? When I bought my card there were two highly confused tourists who couldn't speak English very well and didn't understand why they needed to buy the card. If they could have just been sold normal paper tickets their lives would have been so much easier...

True. But at the airport the other day I saw a tourist being sold a paper ticket when he specifically stated he was going to the Waterfront. That means he had to buy a card anyway when he got to the Civic so he could make his connection. Thought that was a bit stupid.

I’m all for the card system, but currently it sucks. And it doesn’t help that the drivers appear to have never been taught how to deal with customers. They just rudely prompt you to keep trying your card. You can take the driver out of Golden Arrow, but you can’t take Golden Arrow out of the driver.

You can take the driver out of Golden Arrow, but you can’t take Golden Arrow out of the driver.

:hilarious Too true!

I'm in support of the system itself, but the implementation has been rather strange. All they needed to do was place self-service machines in the stations for easy loading of funds on the cards, install turnstiles at the Civic Centre station so you don't have people standing around like fools and keep the paper ticketing system in existence alongside the electronic system. By providing incentives to use the MyConnect card instead, they could have had most people making the switch with far less of an outcry over fees etc.

Decyphering the beeps and flashes of the current machines they're using is so unnecessarily complicated :nuts:

:hilarious Too true!

I'm in support of the system itself, but the implementation has been rather strange. All they needed to do was place self-service machines in the stations for easy loading of funds on the cards, install turnstiles at the Civic Centre station so you don't have people standing around like fools and keep the paper ticketing system in existence alongside the electronic system. By providing incentives to use the MyConnect card instead, they could have had most people making the switch with far less of an outcry over fees etc.

Decyphering the beeps and flashes of the current machines they're using is so unnecessarily complicated :nuts:Exactly! Spot on. In London, you can still buy paper tickets but the Oyster card fares are significantly cheaper, so people choose to use it.

everywhere i've been in the world offers you both paper tickets and a smart card system. it seems like the powers that be really cocked this one up!

Quoting MyCiTi - Cape Town's brilliant new bus service on Facebook:

Please note that as of March 1, 2012 you will no longer be able to acquire a myconnect card on one of our feeder buses. The cards are currently available in this way, if you then activate them and load money at the next open MyCiTi station kiosk. But as of March 1, this option falls away and cards will only be available at open kiosks.

Cards are available currently at our Table View and Civic Center stations, and soon also at retail outlets and other open station kiosks. ABSA clients can top up online, and anyone who has a TAP-i-FARE card can also use our system. Commercials banks are also updating their payment systems, to either soon introduce their own version of the myconnect card, or to upgrade their debit cards to make it compatible with our payment systen.

:bash:

I had a nice little rant on their Facebook page over that!

Lol yes. I enjoyed that. And the page’s admin (I think it’s Martin Slabbert) chose to ignore both our comments. They’re really doing a poor job of engaging with us about our concerns. It’s like we should just shut up and accept that they have some grand idea that we are too stupid to understand.:bash:

Never used the system, but using different beeps seems stupid. What if you have a hearing problem. Its not MiCiti if they don't listen to its citizens.

Cenotaph faces move to accommodate MyCiTi bus station

The City of Cape Town is calling for public comment on a proposal to move the Cenotaph (pictured right) on Adderley Street in central Cape Town in order to make way for a MyCiTi bus station.

The war memorial is situated on the site where soldiers marched away in World War I.

However, given its strategic location immediately opposite the Cape Town Station, the site is now being considered for a MyCiTi bus station.

The City has commissioned a heritage statement to evaluate alternative sites for this important war memorial.

Three possible new locations for the memorial were assessed:

The median of Heerengracht

The Memorial Garden in the Company Gardens

The Grand Parade
The recommended reassembly site for the Cenotaph is the western side of the Grand Parade. This location was extensively upgraded ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, and has long associations with the military.

Moving the Cenotaph here will also make it easier to access the memorial, especially for the annual Remembrance Day events.

Initial comments have been received from interested civic and professional organisations, but other interested organisations and members of the public have been invited to comment on the proposed move by 31 March 2012.

These comments will be included in the final report, which will be submitted to Heritage Western Cape.

Click here for the full heritage report.



Comments can be sent to:

Bridget O'Donoghue

Cell: 071 1090900

Tel: 021 789 0222

Fax: 086 511 0389

E-mail: bodonoghue@telkomsa.net

P O Box 1753 Sun Valley 7985

I got two free rides on Thursday. In the morning the validator in the bus was off. In the afternoon my card was declined due to insufficient funds. This was at the Waterfront, and I asked the driver what I should do. He didn’t even acknowledge me, so I simply walked in the bus and sat down. Then on Friday a friend of mine was asked to get off the bus because he had no credit. There’s absolutely no consistency.

remind me again why the cant incorporate the memorial as it stands into the island that the station will inhabit/create in the first place?

^^ I think the median is too narrow. Lower Adderley doesn't have the size of median Heerengracht has. Anyways, we probably should move it, as with station construction, this beautiful monument will get lost behind it.

Is anyone else feeling like this is becoming a bit like Golden Arrow 2.0? When I first started using the system last June, the staff were all friendly and bordering on excited to see you, suggestions felt like they were going noticed, and things were running smoothly. Now the staff seem blasé, we may as well be sending suggestions to brick walls, and stupid things like staff not being ready with the remote to open the doors upon docking in stations is getting annoying...

Send an email to Mike Marsden: Mike.Marsden@capetown.gov.za

Is anyone else feeling like this is becoming a bit like Golden Arrow 2.0?

Yes. Mediocrity is the Cape Town way.

As for the monument, I don’t care for it or what it stands for but it brings some diversity to Adderley Street, so I’d prefer it to stay where it is. The MyCiTi station could be built on the median closer to Strand Street.

I think it is a great idea to move to the parade, actually, it is like that is where it belongs, the obvious choice.
Like they say, much better for remembrance day. And the parade needs some other strings in its bow.

how about some fricken fountains!? lol - anyways, if the median is wide enough for the station in the first place, then its wide enough to hold the station AND the monument FFS. - although a monument of this stature, should be in the Parade ultimately - but LOOKED AFTER. not neglected.

Well maybe if its moved, it will be looked after. The middle of a road is not the best spot for it to begin with.

Personally, regarding the actual monument - I dont think nearly enough respect or attention is given to our wartime contribution and the lives lost.
Probably because our history is so rich, and we have had many wars, and because of apartheid and our current state of affairs, it kind of slips into the background.

But man, from defeating the Germans in WW1 in German South West Africa, to East Africa, to the Battle of Delville Wood, and our famous fighter squadron in Korea - South Africa has a proud history in combat outside our borders, and it should be remembered here at home.

Yes. Mediocrity is the Cape Town way.

As for the monument, I don’t care for it or what it stands for but it brings some diversity to Adderley Street, so I’d prefer it to stay where it is. The MyCiTi station could be built on the median closer to Strand Street.

Why? Nobody can enjoy it or marvel at in the middle of a busy street... Would it not be better placed and more admired in a pedestrian-friendly street or square?

Why? Nobody can enjoy it or marvel at in the middle of a busy street... Would it not be better placed and more admired in a pedestrian-friendly street or square?

My problem with the new location is that the Grand Parade isn't exactly pedestrian friendly. It's dirty and run down, and the memorial will likely sooner be the target of urine rather than admiration from the crowd that tend to hang around there.

I think this would be a great opportunity to incorporate the memorial into the station somehow. With a little imagination, everyone can win. Used as the centrepiece or as an entrance to a busy station, it'll catch the sight of far more eyes that may appreciate it.

...stupid things like staff not being ready with the remote to open the doors upon docking in stations is getting annoying...
What happened to “station doors automatically open, when bus and station doors are aligned.”

While the war memorial does add some character to Adderley Street, moving it to the Grand Parade gives an opportunity to make proper use of the space. Improved security amongst other things, will allow people to visit the parade and get a true sense of history.

It is important that they examine the precise location at the parade, so that it causes minimal obstruction should the space be used for large events.

^^ Are they not planning on addressing these issues on the Grand Parade and giving it some TLC and implementing the bylaws to clean it up? If the Grand Parade is looked after and turned into a true pedestrianised space, I'd love to have the Cenotaph as the centrepiece.

Why? Nobody can enjoy it or marvel at in the middle of a busy street... Would it not be better placed and more admired in a pedestrian-friendly street or square?

I don’t disagree with this. I just think it looks cool on Adderley Street. Lol. And it’s nice to have monuments and statues scattered around the city.

I added a poll to http://www.futurecapetown.com about the operation of rail services moving to cities. Please vote :)

I vote: F**k PRASA... there was no F**k PRASA option?!? I'm disappointed. HEHE :naughty:

Know I'm being a bit crass, but holy crap, PRASA actually defending themselves and saying they should not surrender control... I mean, what anemic, broken leg do they possibly have to stand on. How can you argue in favour when you use their track-record of management, when you argue in favour of a non-consolidated urban transit system?

Inner City routes have changed. http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/MyCiti/Documents/Phase1AInnerCity030912.pdf

Only 2 routes will now be making use of the Gardens Centre station which seems like such a waste to me. It would make sense spending all that money to build a station of that capacity if 3,4 or 5 routes were going to be making use of it. Now they're going to be building a closed feeder station in Hout Bay of all places! Where as the closed feeder station at the Waterfront has been scrapped even though 3 routes go there. I don't see any logic in any of this or maybe I'm just being over dramatic and ranting about something pivotal...

Has Granger Bay station officially been shut down?

I don't think the MyCiTi people know their asses from a hole in the ground.

Top up your myconnect card close to home, MyCiTi stops & stations

As part of the further roll-out of the myconnect card MyCiTi passengers can now top up their myconnect cards at shops, garages and restaurants in and around the Table View area.

myconnect cards can be bought and loaded with money at kiosks at MyCiTi stations. The top-up facility at retail outlets is aimed at providing a service to MyCiTi passengers who cannot easily get to a MyCiTi station, or as a top-up point when a station kiosk may be closed.

The cards can now be loaded with value at following retail outlets.
myconnect cards will also be available from these outlets soon:

Wimpy, Paddocks Shopping Centre, Milnerton

Engen Rietvlei, Table View Centre, Table View

Wimpy, West Coast Village, Sunningdale

Sasol, Parklands (corner of Raats Drive and Parklands Main Road)

Total, Parklands (corner of Wood Drive and Parklands Main Road)

Total, Paarden Eiland (Section Street)

Spar, Table View (Flamingo Square)

Sunset Beach Convenience Store, Sunset Beach (corner of Otto du Plessis Drive and Ocean Way)

Table View Butcher, Table View (264 Blaauwberg Road)


Most of these outlets are open after normal business hours, and service stations are open 24 hours a day.

More retail outlets will make this facility available as time progresses, and the cards themselves will also be available at these outlets in the near future.

The myconnect card costs R22 from MyCiTi station kiosks and independent retailers, but an extra 1% is charged for loading value onto the card at a retailer (3.5% total), while 2.5% is charged at the MyCiTi station kiosks. The 1% covers the retailers cost for providing the service.

Another added benefit for customers is that Absa clients can load money onto their myconnect card online through internet banking. There is no extra fee. You only pay the 2.5% load fee, with a R1.50 minimum as per the standard fees.

The introduction of retailers for the myconnect card is part of extending the MyCiTi service, which will become increasingly more convenient and accessible as each new element of the smartcard system is added.

Inner City routes have changed. http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/MyCiti/Documents/Phase1AInnerCity030912.pdf

Only 2 routes will now be making use of the Gardens Centre station which seems like such a waste to me. It would make sense spending all that money to build a station of that capacity if 3,4 or 5 routes were going to be making use of it. Now they're going to be building a closed feeder station in Hout Bay of all places! Where as the closed feeder station at the Waterfront has been scrapped even though 3 routes go there. I don't see any logic in any of this or maybe I'm just being over dramatic and ranting about something pivotal...

I agree, the new station at Gardens is quite big and could accommodate more routes. I have no doubt that more will be added in the future. It seems like Adderley St is about to get a WHOLE lot busier though... :nuts:

I think Hout Bay definately needs at least one closer station as there aren't many places to hide from the elements, whereas somewhere like the V&A already has undercover stops and areas you can stand unaffected by the weather.

MyCITI civic centre hub construction images 22/03/2012:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/6859434036_ff10484e06_b.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6048/7005553681_a6467a3ac1_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7005553851_114c612fed_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/6859434540_6197b7ea7f_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6859434712_1e61ea952f_b.jpg

MyCITI civic centre hub construction images 22/03/2012:


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/6859434712_1e61ea952f_b.jpg

Love this. Looks similar to Airport Station. Hope to see some red paint to brighten up the place.

pretty cool! - so is the Civic Centre building finnished its repaint? - it look like more of a beige now than the pink colour it had before. what your opinion ?

pretty cool! - so is the Civic Centre building finnished its repaint? - it look like more of a beige now than the pink colour it had before. what your opinion ?

There's a thread for it :D

Nowhere near complete, but they're progressing nicely and it looks much better!

Guys, I know we whine and moan about some things in Cape Town, and things can move slowly etc etc BUT honestly, I think we are seriously in danger of becoming a World City!

And actually, the Civic Centre in its new paint job, with it's new IRT stop and it's pasta drainer, will be quite at home when Cape Town is WORLD design capital in 2014!

Bud, seriously if this is the most intellectual response you can come with you're an idiot. Do you even know what MyCiTi is all about. Do some reading, that is if if you know how to read, or shut up, you are embarrassing the rest of us, if you can't do that go find another forum for imbeciles.

Bud, seriously if this is the most intellectual response you can come with you're an idiot. Do you even know what MyCiTi is all about. Do some reading, that is if if you know how to read, or shut up, you are embarrassing the rest of us, if you can't do that go find another forum for imbeciles.

huh? who is that in response to? a bit harsh no?

Guys, I know we whine and moan about some things in Cape Town, and things can move slowly etc etc BUT honestly, I think we are seriously in danger of becoming a World City!

And actually, the Civic Centre in its new paint job, with it's new IRT stop and it's pasta drainer, will be quite at home when Cape Town is WORLD design capital in 2014!

Pasta drainer...heh heh that is so funny. :lol: I'll never look at that building in quite the same way.

Earthrider, who is your response meant for?

hey all, not sure if this is the right place to post this but i thought you guys might like it. its a Dutch tv ad shot in Cape Town featuring the stadium station. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4a4tMZTuDU

enjoy

The city have updated their "routes" section! :-D They now give detailed maps of the future routes. There are detailed maps of Table View, the City Bowl, Sea Point, Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Melkbos and even Atlantis. Now I really can't wait till the end of the year!

http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/cape-argus-1.831612!/image/4114118017.jpg_gen/derivatives/absolute/4114118017.jpg

Now IRT heads for the Flats

March 29 2012 at 11:17am

Bronwynne Jooste

Metro Writer

THE N2 is to play a major part in the City of Cape Town’s plan to expand its Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) bus network system to Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, where the construction of new transport hubs has been earmarked for the middle of next year.

And more than R1 billion will be pumped into the expanded network of bus lanes set to benefit hundreds of thousands of commuters.

The city has said the routes will service between 75 and 80 percent of the city’s public transport users.

Mayor Patricia de Lille announced the draft budget for the next financial year during a full council meeting yesterday.

The operating budget is put at R24 billion, with just over R5bn to spend on capital projects.

The transport, roads and stormwater department was allocated R1.7bn, with R1.2 million earmarked for IRT.

In the next few weeks, the city will call for tenders for business consultants to complete detailed planning for these routes.

It is mooted that the “express service” will travel from these two areas along the N2 and into the city centre.

Mayoral committee member for transport Brett Herron said detailed planning of the routes would start in June. For now, it was suggested that the buses leave from Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, link up with the N2 and head towards the city centre.

Once it hits the N2, the “express service” would travel along the dedicated bus and minibus taxi (BMT) lane. From the city centre, commuters would be able to link up to other areas in the network, such as Montague Gardens and Camps Bay.

The Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha routes fall into phase 2 of the system. Phase 1a is the network operating in the inner city and along the West Coast. In between these two phases is phase 1b, which connects the two phases.

Herron said advertisements for consultants would be placed soon. They would be appointed by June. From this point, there would be input about exactly which areas the buses would drive along on the trip towards the city centre.

The city has already racked up more than 2.5 million passenger trips on the existing network, which has been in operation since 2010.

“They will look to the detailed planning, including the exact routes the buses will travel,” said Herron.

By December 2013, an interim service in phase two would be operating.

He said the city had met the national government last Friday. Allocations from the national government still needed to be included in the city’s final budget.

“Once we have that confirmation, this should provide for further construction for phase 2 and phase 1 B.”

Herron explained that phase 1 B was the “integration between” the first and second phases.

This phase included feeder routes in parts of Table View and Bothasig.

The transport hub at the Town Centre in Mitchells Plain would also be upgraded in the next financial year.

And work would also continue on the projects known as Phase 1a. This phase included the routes in the city centre, travelling along the West Coast.

Funding would also go towards completing infrastructure along the West Coast, such as trunk stations and feeder stops. The Atlantis and Potsdam depots will also be completed.

The city pointed to examples in South America, Asia and Europe where well-run and affordable rapid transit systems had been launched.

Herron said the concept of the Bus Rapid Transit system was first mooted by the national government a few years ago. The city had also decided to look at an integrated rapid transport system, where all kinds of public transport were linked.

“While commuter rail is the backbone of our public transport network and MyCiTi is the new mode we are implementing, every mode has its role to play in ensuring a high-quality… affordable public transport network that ensures mobility and inclusion for all our residents.”

Plans for non-motorised transport included R83 million allocated to pedestrian lanes and expanding the cycle network.

For other projects in the transport, roads and stormwater department, R66m is set to be spent on reconstructing city roads.

In her speech yesterday, De Lille also announced R20m for the mayoral special job creation project. This will be for jobs under the expanded public works programme.

The city is also proposing R41m to buy land on which to build more houses. In total, the human settlements budget is just over R730m.

For health, a R6m clinic will be built in Site B in Khayelitsha, while another R25m goes towards a library in Bloekombos.

Property owners can expect an 8 percent increase in rates. Residents who cannot afford to pay will benefit from a R1.2bn rates rebate.

A 15 percent hike in water and sanitation tariffs is also proposed, while the free water service receives R111m.

De Lille said the city was also proposing that R120m be spent on broadband projects over the next three years.

This draft budget will now go to subcouncils, portfolio committees, the city and residents for public comment before being debated in council in May. The new financial year starts in July.

bronwynne.jooste@inl.co.za

cant wait for them to come to the southern surbs. but the flats make alot of sense probably get the highest number of commuters with the people living in blouberg etc.

cant wait for them to come to the southern surbs. but the flats make alot of sense probably get the highest number of commuters with the people living in blouberg etc.

if they could link it to an UPGRADED rail service in the southern suburbs it'd be perfect. saying that it'll be many years before any of that happens.. assuming it even does happen!

Metro Rail should privatise the Southern Suburbs line - the new operater could get new train sets ( but much less than if the whole city network was privatised ) and run the service with more class and comfort - there's at least 50 - 100 000 who'd use it regularly up and down the line. They could make Platform 1-4 at Cape Town Station for designated area for arrivals + departures

Where's Tony Ehrenreich now?

Where's Tony Ehrenreich now?

Finding a way to claim the IRT to the Flats is CoCT-colonisation and has imperialistic-tendencies. :lol:

Politics aside. It is of utmost importance to deliver a safe, efficient transit system to the city's poor. A really hope it not only makes commuting safer and easier, but also uplifts the Cape Flats.

Went to the meeting for the public yesterday evening.

Ai. So much potential but a bunch of old boring people designing it so I'm never surprised at the lack of broader flexible thinking.

they need diversity of thought, academic background, race, culture,

Heck even thrown in some actual public transport users into the project team.

^^ Tweet it, broadcast it Mo. If we're going to build a successful province, we need to get these inadequacies out in the open. Let the CoCT, WC-EDP and CTP know the thoughts of the public on these matters. :)

Metro Rail should privatise the Southern Suburbs line - the new operater could get new train sets ( but much less than if the whole city network was privatised ) and run the service with more class and comfort - there's at least 50 - 100 000 who'd use it regularly up and down the line. They could make Platform 1-4 at Cape Town Station for designated area for arrivals + departures

can you imagine how that'd go down with certain politicians? pandering to the white middle classes again they'd say! i dont think us souties should be given preferential treatment at all.. i think the whole city deserves to be saved from the tyranny of metrorail. and if myciti can branch out and become a truly world class bus system cape town will be a shining example for public transport in SA.

Metro Rail should privatise the Southern Suburbs line - the new operater could get new train sets ( but much less than if the whole city network was privatised ) and run the service with more class and comfort - there's at least 50 - 100 000 who'd use it regularly up and down the line. They could make Platform 1-4 at Cape Town Station for designated area for arrivals + departures

Disagree as an outsider. Privatisation is normally a disaster as far as transportation goes, one only needs to look at the UK public transport system to see how deregulation and privatisation has killed off mass transit across many UK cities and why the UK (outside of London) has some of the worst modal splits of all European cities.

As far as privatisation models in Asia (Japan and Hong Kong), well, they're very different. Japan has a history of high rail usage and actually once you get out of the four big cities, railway service becomes more patchy and doesn't always match up to the publicly-owned transport systems in other cities of a similar size in terms of provision and quality. Hong Kong MTR is actually mostly government owned (76%) and raises massive revenues through property sales and development on MTR property surrounding stations, thus allowing them to continually invest.

As you can see, privatisation is a messy business and needs to be properly managed. I honestly don't think it would work when it comes to the Southern Suburbs line.

Feeder Station Construction images, upper Adderley str:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6888914280_3b05300478_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/6888915788_1e088bc3b2_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/6888917418_2f2b237125_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7270/7035012701_a30ef476f7_b.jpg

Disagree as an outsider. Privatisation is normally a disaster as far as transportation goes, one only needs to look at the UK public transport system to see how deregulation and privatisation has killed off mass transit across many UK cities and why the UK (outside of London) has some of the worst modal splits of all European cities.

As far as privatisation models in Asia (Japan and Hong Kong), well, they're very different. Japan has a history of high rail usage and actually once you get out of the four big cities, railway service becomes more patchy and doesn't always match up to the publicly-owned transport systems in other cities of a similar size in terms of provision and quality. Hong Kong MTR is actually mostly government owned (76%) and raises massive revenues through property sales and development on MTR property surrounding stations, thus allowing them to continually invest.

As you can see, privatisation is a messy business and needs to be properly managed. I honestly don't think it would work when it comes to the Southern Suburbs line.

I so agree on that one.

Just came back after a week spent in Centurion and I must say, I was highly impressed with the Gautrain. Here are some things (IMO) that MyCiTi can learn from the Gautrain:
1. Passengers should constantly be made aware of the the next station. The monitor on the inside of the bus should rather show the name of the next station (trunk) or stop (feeder) instead of the final destination or route name. It would work more effectively for for first time users.
2. Security and staff need to get a uniform ASAP! It makes such a big difference to the class of the system.
3. MyCiti should also become much more strict in terms of eating and drinking in stations and on busses. Both MyCiti and Gautrain have no eating or drinking policies, but the difference is that the Gautrain staff actually remember that rule exists. My friend wanted to enter Centurion Gautrain station with a bubblegum in his mouth and they would not allow him to enter. MyCiTi should most certainly adopt this policy.
4. MyConnect should also become a system which deducts money based on the distance you have travelled.

MyCiTi update at futurecapetown.com today

MyCiTi Civic Centre images:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/6914233604_970895794d_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/7060319115_48b1dee538_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7060319487_8cb4d39267_b.jpg

MyCiTi Thibault Square images:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5080/6914235252_b8c30356e7_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5118/6914234562_7c8f360a33_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5040/6914234920_8c040ffd17_b.jpg

Adderley Street MyCiti Station construction seemingly imminent:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/6914259734_91c88eefe2_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5040/6914233244_18aae7ebd5_b.jpg

You never invite me on your photo tours :( #sadness

^^ Spur of the moment type of thing. :(

3. MyCiti should also become much more strict in terms of eating and drinking in stations and on busses. Both MyCiti and Gautrain have no eating or drinking policies, but the difference is that the Gautrain staff actually remember that rule exists. My friend wanted to enter Centurion Gautrain station with a bubblegum in his mouth and they would not allow him to enter. MyCiTi should most certainly adopt this policy.


actually last night a my citi employee told me im not allowed to eat on the bus as i was waiting for a bus at the cbd station .... of course i was eating a sandwich while i was waiting

I used the bus from the airport to the civic and then to Greenpoint last week. Most people I spoke to beforehand noted that the airport bus would be EMPTY because they NEVER carry any people. How wrong they were! Granted, it was Friday. But there were quite a few people with me on the bus (I think 9 going in to CT and more about 15 coming out). Also, taking into account that this bus charges 10 times more than the others, it effectively puts 10 times more people on the bus - very crude argument, I know - but it somehow makes sense?

Love the central station. Can't wait to see the final refurb for the civic center and the theatre.

Busses were clean - like the Rea Vaya it is a bit yuck that we don't have aircon. Easy system to understand and easy to get around the city bowl now, without a car.

Snags? Not a lot.
1. I wish they would give a time indication at the station regarding the next bus.
2. I did at least 2 free rides, because I didn't realize I had to go to the front to swipe my card. No-one informed me otherwise, and only later did I wake up to this system. Surely a card machine at each door, or at the station entry is an option (like with Rea Vaya?). I owe Ms Zille R10.

All in all, an amazing system. Hope it gets expanded, but just having it in the city bowl is already of amazing utility (obviously I didn't use the line beyond the city bowl).

A move in the right direction.

1. I wish they would give a time indication at the station regarding the next bus.

Agreed! You can ask the conductor waiting at the platform (if there is one) in the Civic Centre Station, but it'd make sense for them to just stick another screen underneath the screens they have depicting the time on each platform.

I owe Ms Zille R10.


She said you don't. She says Ms. de Lille asked for the R10 though! :lol:

She said you don't. She says Ms. de Lille asked for the R10 though! :lol:

Hehe. I think apart from the display of bustimes (and yes, the platform guys did keep me updated when one bus ran late due to traffic) - the ticketing is one of the big issues. How does this current system work during rush hour? I saw guys walking around with little ticket machines, but it made no sense. Surely it is easy to gippo this system?

Hehe. I think apart from the display of bustimes (and yes, the platform guys did keep me updated when one bus ran late due to traffic) - the ticketing is one of the big issues. How does this current system work during rush hour? I saw guys walking around with little ticket machines, but it made no sense. Surely it is easy to gippo this system?

That's one of my major gripes with the system. It makes no sense. I don't know why they can't just install access gantries at stations so that we don't have people standing around with machines like idiots, apart from maybe one or two being available to help people new to the system.

Hello everyone! I hope I can post this here...

I'm a Belgian landscape architecture student that has been doing an internship with Planning Partners in Cape Town. They are responsible for the design of the hard and soft landscaping around the IRT.
As I have to write an extensive report for university, I chose the IRT project as my subject. the information I've found in this thread has been extremely helpful, so thanks you very much for that!

I'm currently composing a SWOT analysis (Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities - Threats), and it would be very interesting to get some feedback from people that use it on a daily basis, or that have been following the project since the very beginning. I've extracted many SWOT's from this thread already (yes, I did read all 110 pages :nuts: ) but I could've missed some or you might have more to add. They can touch any subject that has to do with the IRT (landscape, urban design, irrigation, implementation, construction, planning, service, ticketting, you name it).

Baje dankie/Thank you very much in advance!

Construction work on Riebeeck Street feeder station:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7121130637_90da010402_b.jpg

What to do, what to do

Chamber knocks MyCiti plans

THE expansion of the MyCiti bus service to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain doesn’t make economic sense – and it’s only being done for political reasons, says the Cape Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber also believes the taxi organisations in the area will not easily be convinced to make way for the city’s integrated rapid transport system, which already functions along the West Coast and in the inner city.

“The idea of a quality MyCiti bus service to the Cape Flats might be politically attractive – but how much will it cost and where will the subsidies come from? Conditions are right for a rapid bus service on the West Coast. The distance is relatively short, there is no rail competition and the population is affluent enough to pay economic fares,” chamber president Michael Bagraim told a meeting between the city and the chamber yesterday.

He said a similar service to the Cape Flats would “double trip lengths”.

“There would be no dedicated roadway and the population cannot afford economic fares. We are trying to model our rapid transport services on some highly successful public transport services in two compact South American cities.

“The difference is this: the average trip length in the model cities is 7km. In Cape Town the average bus trip is 20km. In London the average public transport trip is just 8km,” said Bagraim.

He said this meant buses would be less productive here.

“Many of them will be able to make just one return trip in peak commuting times,” said Bagraim.

Mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater Brett Herron said he failed to understand why the chamber was not in support of integrated transport.

He said employees would benefit most when the service started at the end of 2013.

“We will also be engaging with taxi associations in the coming months. We understand it’s going to be complex, but our track record on the West Coast is going to assist us,” said Herron.

He told the meeting that the Metro South East had some of the highest densities in the City of Cape Town and there was an opportunity to provide important links between high-density areas through an integrated public transport service.

“As can be seen from the 2008 analysis, the Metro South East rail corridor is operating over capacity.

“We believe there is a definite need for a complementary trunk to the rail,” said Herron.

^^ Some good points. I think BRT starts losing it's viability as distance and frequency increases. It just can't compete with rapid or metro rail when these two variables start to increase

^^ I actually disagree with the Chamber's assessment. If Metrorail was efficient and safe, then yes! But, it isn't... trains are more often than not, late, delayed, signals are down, electrical cables are stolen etc. In the absence of an effective rail authority, what other option does the City of Cape Town have?

Yeah it's easy to preach "taxi!" when you're not the one being forced to use them.

People must exist in reality.

Rail is and remains the backbone. MyCiTi is the interim support service while rail takes 7 years to sort itself out.

Rail up West Coast also WONDERFUL. but when?

Also need to shift mindset from Metro South East as a link to CBD, to Metro South East AS the Transport Hub, from which Public Transport needs to originate.

Chamber must first read. The model can be interrogated from a viability perspective, but transport is not a profit making business.

Chamber must first read. The model can be interrogated from a viability perspective, but transport is not a profit making business.

Was about to say the same thing. Its a bus SERVICE and since the majority of the funding is coming from taxation, I don't see why the service should be run as a profit making entity.

Also, would it not be replacing many of the existing taxi and bus operations from the area by forming partnerships with GA and taxi operators? Surely this would mean that they wouldn't be making a huge loss, if any?

Celebrating one year!

MyCiti buses running at a loss

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town has spent R175m running the Myciti bus service since the 2010 Soccer World Cup, compared to an income of R35m, the Cape Times reported on Monday.

The city said that despite the huge deficit, the service was a "social project that will benefit the poor and improve the quality of life for all citizens".

Transport mayoral committee member Brett Herron said the national transport department supported the project and its funding relieved the burden on ratepayers.

From 2010, the projected cost for managing and maintaining the stations, including revenue collection and insurance, was R55m. The next biggest costs were the direct running costs of buses at R43m, and overhead costs at R39m.

"All services, both public and private, have to first invest substantially before they are able to break even," Herron said.

"The percentage of cost recovery has increased from month to month as passengers have increased."

Source: http://www.fin24.com/Economy/MyCiti-buses-running-at-a-loss-20120528

Why exactly must the MyCiti thing run at a profit?.. its a public transport service, it should be ok to run at a loss... as long as the loss is justifiable via operating costs etc etc...

I replied to that article on News24. Really... to pass judgment on MyCiti after only 1 year of operation, painting a picture that running at a profit is important and doing so when all feeder routes are still under construction... Really? Totally opportunistic journalism!!! :ohno:

City launches first branded 9metre MyCiTi feeder buses

MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 439/ 2012
28 MAY 2012


The City of Cape Town will on Wednesday 30 May 2012 introduce its first custom-built nine-metre feeder bus in its special MyCiTi livery. The buses will augment the existing MyCiTi fleet and allow the City to add more routes to its unfolding service.

The bus is one of 190 being assembled locally in Epping, by Busmark 2000. The nine-metre bus – the Optare Solo – is a low floor bus and is shorter than the existing buses in the MyCiTi fleet, to make it easier to manoeuvre in residential areas.

Busmark started kitting out its new factory just two months ago, and work is progressing fast. The first few buses have just been finished and 30 are planned to be assembled by end of June. Approximately 20 buses will be assembled per month until all the buses are available.

Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron, and representatives from Busmark will inspect the buses and members of the media are invited to join Councillor Herron.

Date: Wednesday 30 May 2012

Time: 09:30

Venue: Busmark 2000, Unit 16B, Colliers International Business Park.
Corner of 8th Avenue and 21st Street, Elsies River.

[DIRECTIONS TO VENUE: Coming from the North: turn South on Vanguard, left into Voortrekker, right into Halt, left into 8th Avenue. From South: travel North on Vanguard N7 from N2, Right into Viking, Left into Halt, Right into 8th Avenue.]

All media are invited to attend.


END

ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
COUNCILLOR BRETT HERRON, MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT, ROADS AND STORMWATER, CITY OF CAPE TOWN,
TEL: 021 400 1298 CELL: 082 518 3264, E-MAIL: BRETT.HERRON@CAPETOWN.GOV.ZA

KYLIE HATTON,
MANAGER: MEDIA,
CITY OF CAPE TOWN,
TEL: 021 400 4684 CELL: 082 874 4605, E-MAIL: KYLIE.HATTON@CAPETOWN.GOV.ZA

I saw the photos of the buses in "The New Age" newspaper this morning! I am impressed! Very nice buses!

Already pics of them up on futurecapetown:
http://futurecapetown.com/post/24060991738/photos-video-cape-towns-new-buses

Already pics of them up on futurecapetown:
http://futurecapetown.com/post/24060991738/photos-video-cape-towns-new-buses

they are quick. :)

I just don't understand some people! 3 Bus shelters have already been vandalized with graffiti!

No CCTV for the shelters?

Official article from the City

First MyCiTi buses roll off Epping production line

MyCiTi is helping to boost local industry and create jobs, as the first buses for the upcoming central city services roll off the production line at the Busmark factory in Epping.

Busmark 2000 won the R660 million tender to produce the first 190 nine-metre buses that will be needed for the upcoming MyCiTi services. The company started kitting out its new factory just two months ago, and work is progressing fast.
“The first buses have just been finished and 30 will be produced by the end of June. Approximately 20 more will be finished each month thereafter until all the buses are available”, said Malcolm Wilken, general manager of Busmark Western Cape.
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/PublishingImages/News%20Images/NMyCiti2.jpg

“We are extremely pleased that a local company won this contract. They are producing buses of an outstanding quality. We believe this is the beginning of this industry, as many such buses will be needed as Bus Rapid Transport systems expand in cities across South Africa,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron.

“The buses are Optare Solos, assembled from kits that are imported from Leeds, in the UK, as they are not available locally. About 80 workers are currently employed at the Epping factory and the number will rise to 120 next month, when production is in full swing”, said Wilken.

“Busmark is sourcing tyres, batteries, windscreens, paint, seats and as many other parts as possible from local suppliers, indirectly boosting other local businesses. We believe we could export components back to the UK, if we can have them produced at competitive prices here. When the UK company had some supply problems recently, they sourced parts from South Africa,” Wilken added.
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/PublishingImages/News%20Images/NMyCiti1.jpg

Busmark is based in Randfontein, and set up the Elsies River factory when it was awarded the MyCiTi contract. Now there are rows of buses, in various stages of completion, along the factory floor. Spraypainters, mechanics, body shapers and welders are hard at work, along with many unskilled and semi-skilled workers.

The Optare Solos are considerably smaller than the MyCiTi buses currently in use, and better able to navigate the roads and corners in residential areas. They are low-floor vehicles with boarding bridges and no steps, to create level boarding at pavement level, allowing the disabled, elderly and others with limited mobility to use the service. They have air suspension, like the MyCiTi buses currently in service, and meet stringent Euro 5 emission standards.

Busmark’s other clients include Golden Arrow Bus Service, eThekwini municipality, the Tanzanian government and the Maputo municipality. It also produced the feeder buses for the Gautrain service.
“As a company, we’re particularly proud to be associated with MyCiTi because if you look at BRT services in South Africa, this is the flagship of them all,” Wilken said.

Upper Loop Street feeder station:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7228/7172186653_cef548f3f9_b.jpg

No CCTV for the shelters?

Official article from the City

First MyCiTi buses roll off Epping production line

MyCiTi is helping to boost local industry and create jobs, as the first buses for the upcoming central city services roll off the production line at the Busmark factory in Epping.

Busmark 2000 won the R660 million tender to produce the first 190 nine-metre buses that will be needed for the upcoming MyCiTi services. The company started kitting out its new factory just two months ago, and work is progressing fast.
“The first buses have just been finished and 30 will be produced by the end of June. Approximately 20 more will be finished each month thereafter until all the buses are available”, said Malcolm Wilken, general manager of Busmark Western Cape.
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/PublishingImages/News%20Images/NMyCiti2.jpg

“We are extremely pleased that a local company won this contract. They are producing buses of an outstanding quality. We believe this is the beginning of this industry, as many such buses will be needed as Bus Rapid Transport systems expand in cities across South Africa,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron.

“The buses are Optare Solos, assembled from kits that are imported from Leeds, in the UK, as they are not available locally. About 80 workers are currently employed at the Epping factory and the number will rise to 120 next month, when production is in full swing”, said Wilken.

“Busmark is sourcing tyres, batteries, windscreens, paint, seats and as many other parts as possible from local suppliers, indirectly boosting other local businesses. We believe we could export components back to the UK, if we can have them produced at competitive prices here. When the UK company had some supply problems recently, they sourced parts from South Africa,” Wilken added.
http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/PublishingImages/News%20Images/NMyCiti1.jpg

Busmark is based in Randfontein, and set up the Elsies River factory when it was awarded the MyCiTi contract. Now there are rows of buses, in various stages of completion, along the factory floor. Spraypainters, mechanics, body shapers and welders are hard at work, along with many unskilled and semi-skilled workers.

The Optare Solos are considerably smaller than the MyCiTi buses currently in use, and better able to navigate the roads and corners in residential areas. They are low-floor vehicles with boarding bridges and no steps, to create level boarding at pavement level, allowing the disabled, elderly and others with limited mobility to use the service. They have air suspension, like the MyCiTi buses currently in service, and meet stringent Euro 5 emission standards.

Busmark’s other clients include Golden Arrow Bus Service, eThekwini municipality, the Tanzanian government and the Maputo municipality. It also produced the feeder buses for the Gautrain service.
“As a company, we’re particularly proud to be associated with MyCiTi because if you look at BRT services in South Africa, this is the flagship of them all,” Wilken said.

I like the design.

Gardens Station almost done...

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4028.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4029.jpg

Nice :) Thanks for the update!

Just as a side comment: I was driving through Brooklyn the other day, and was quite pleased to see a lot of directional signage pointing at the various MyCiti stations (Vrystaat, Zoar Vlei), as well as the walking distances to them.

Gardens Station entrance...looks so nice n neat!

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4065.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4064.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4066.jpg

Nice! Thanks for the photos. Let's hope it stays that way ;)

Nice! Thanks for the photos. Let's hope it stays that way ;)

Not to be a negative Nancy, but COCT don't have the best record when it comes to maintenance. I wouldn't hold my breath L...

It does make the whole area under the bridge look a lot better than it used to though, so as long as its well lit and has security, its a good change for the area.

Looks great! - they should allow for a dedicated "street art" wall to attract the more skilled members of the infrastructure-defiling bregade...oh, and maps! - and stuff to look at when you are bored and waiting for the bus ie posters for CID/2014 City of Culture and what the city is doing - events calender etc

Not to be a negative Nancy, but COCT don't have the best record when it comes to maintenance. I wouldn't hold my breath L...

It does make the whole area under the bridge look a lot better than it used to though, so as long as its well lit and has security, its a good change for the area.

Really? It is infinitely better than CoJ's track record, I don't even think they do any maintenance these days.

Station looking awesome.

Not to be a negative Nancy, but COCT don't have the best record when it comes to maintenance. I wouldn't hold my breath L...

Can't say I've had any problems with them! I emailed them asking them to pull weeds and they did so a couple of days later :lol:

Really? It is infinitely better than CoJ's track record, I don't even think they do any maintenance these days.

Station looking awesome.

:lol: Sure, when you put it THAT way and compare, COCT are shining stars.

On another note, I noticed a few of the smaller busses passing through Roedebloem road this week. Each time they were empty so I wonder what they are testing...

The station looks nice - good use of space under the flyover there. Just a question regarding security, though. Do people believe that such a station will be safe or are they all regularly patrolled? In the UK, for example, I certainly wouldn't consider hanging around under a flyover for any extended period of time.

The station looks nice - good use of space under the flyover there. Just a question regarding security, though. Do people believe that such a station will be safe or are they all regularly patrolled? In the UK, for example, I certainly wouldn't consider hanging around under a flyover for any extended period of time.

I drove past last night and it was perfectly well-lit and didn't look unsafe at all. With staff manning/patrolling the station I don't see why it would be unsafe either. It's definitely a major step-up from what it used to look like, when I wouldn't have considered hanging around under the flyover for any period of time at all! I think it's a great use of space, personally :)

GABS must really just go and drown in a lake. They have been putting CPT citizens in danger for far too long and now they want to hinder the progress made.

Golden Arrow aims at MyCiti
2012-06-21 21:31

Cape Town - Golden Arrow Buses said on Thursday it had filed legal action against the City of Cape Town over its plans to introduce extended MyCiti bus services.

"The matter was lodged with the {Western Cape] High Court on Wednesday," Golden Arrow Bus Services spokesperson Bronwen Dyke said.

The MyCiti bus was the city's own rapid bus service, introduced in 2010 and planned for extension to other areas that Gabs already serviced.

Gabs and its predecessors had been operating road-based public transport in Cape Town for over 150 years.

Dyke said the two, along with Sibanye Bus Services and minibus taxi operators, had been in negotiation for a few years over how to operate the routes fairly and distribute market share equally.

"We are not in agreement with the methodology used by the city to allocate MyCiti operations between the three companies, which will be entering into the negotiated contract," Dyke said.

"The city has refused to refer the deadlock in negotiations to mediation and arbitration."

According to Gabs' lawyers in court papers, the city was working out the market share of each bus company by multiplying the total number of passengers with the fares collected, excluding any government subsidies.

The bus services were asking that the city look instead at the "economic sacrifice" being made in exchange for an integrated transport service, or at the total turnover of each service.

City disappointed


"[All we are asking is] that the city embark on a process that is fair and equitable to all operators, based on a sound financial formula," Dyke said.

The city, in a statement, said it was "deeply disappointed" to hear litigation was being pursued.

"The city has always been committed to open and fair negotiations with all public transport operators in the spirit of achieving this quality public transport service. We respect Gabs' right to protect their business interests, but we will not allow them to confuse their vested interests with the interest of the city and our residents."

The city said it would respond in due course to the court papers. It announced on Thursday it intended launching a transport authority in October 2012, a single body that would ideally manage all commuter-based services.

Transport mayoral committee member Brett Herron said the body would be an administrative, planning, regulating, contracting and monitoring municipal entity, to spearhead the full roll-out of integrated road and rail-based public transport.

"It will set the operational, technical and mobility standards of the road and rail network, as well as how the modes of transport work together for the benefit of commuters in the city.

"One timetable and one ticket for all public transport will be the first priority of the transport authority, under a single brand."

Herron said the focus would also be to bring into its jurisdiction the management of subsidised bus contracts, like Gabs and Sibanye.

The city would hold a series of public meetings to get input on the body. It was expected to be fully functional in July 2013.


- SAPA

They can go jump off of a cliff. They have NO interest in the needs of commuters but merely lining their pockets. They can't even remotely keep their buses clean.

^^ Agreed. Have absolute ZERO empathy for Golden Arrow. Love how SA companies often decry any competition, especially monopolistic, poorly-performing ones. You don't deliver a quality service to customers, you have no business operating and deserve being squeezed out of the market... period!

Cape transport set for major overhaul

June 22 2012 at 10:49am
By Clayton Barnes

Cape Town’s public transport system is set for a major overhaul during the next year, with the emphasis on a “commuter-focused” approach at the heart of the plan.

The city is to set up a single integrated transport network, one commuter timetable and one ticket system for all modes of public transport.

Announcing this and the launch of the city’s Transport Authority on Thursday, Brett Herron, the city’s mayoral committee member for transport, said the aim was to achieve an integrated and inter-operable transport system in Cape Town.

The authority, which will manage all public transport-related functions in the city, is to be launched in October. The plan is to have it fully functional by July next year.

Herron said the main aim of the authority, which is based on models implemented in other major cities including Paris, London and Hong Kong, was to be “commuter-focused”.

Herron said the authority would have planning, financial, regulatory and operational management oversight powers over the city’s entire public transport system.

This means the MyCiTi service, Metrorail, Golden Arrow Bus Services and the taxi industry would be managed by a single authority under the city, Herron said. He said the city had the support of Metrorail, MyCiTi operators and Golden Arrow, but were still negotiating with the taxi industry.

The focus of the authority will be the management of the finance, governance and administration of public transport in Cape Town, which includes:

- Planning the authority, monitoring service delivery and creating an integrated timetable for all modes of transport.

- Establishing a municipal land transport fund (where funds and grants from the national and provincial government will be deposited).

- Setting up a regulating authority, focused on regulations, compliance and enforcement.

- Setting up a contracting authority, focused on the management of operators for all modes of public transport.

- Ensuring inter-operability, focusing on the roll-out of the MyConnect card (one ticket for all modes of public transport).

- Ensuring one brand across all public transport services.

Herron said the authority’s first task would be to develop and implement an integrated timetable for all public transport services in the city.

Asked whether taxi operators were on board, Herron said: “We are engaging with them, but the impact on the minibus taxi industry will be minimal for now.”

Mvuyisi Mente, spokesman for the Western Cape National Taxi Alliance, welcomed the establishment of an authority yesterday, saying it would “do the entire public transport industry good”. - Cape Argus

I think we are understating this somewhat...this is a world away from what it was! Cape Town is just thriving...it is things like this that show the way...we aren't just sticking tall shiny buildings up and pretending everything is ok at street level...we are actually making sure things are great at street level.
Rock on, CT!

But no metrorail take oveR?

I think we are understating this somewhat...this is a world away from what it was! Cape Town is just thriving...it is things like this that show the way...we aren't just sticking tall shiny buildings up and pretending everything is ok at street level...we are actually making sure things are great at street level.
Rock on, CT!

Agreed! This is a big move.

Now let's hope that the Transport Authority lives up to their mandate!

MyCiTi Civic Centre Today:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/7471408870_cc77dd923b_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8145/7471407268_f4d4428fae_b.jpg

Camps Bay - Victoria Road stops as of 01/07/12

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4128.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4127.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4126.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4124.jpg

Nice, that means I can hop on MyCiti from the airport to Camps Bay right?

Nice, that means I can hop on MyCiti from the airport to Camps Bay right?

Correct. Airport to Civic Centre station and change there for Camps Bay :)

Noticed a couple of the new feeder buses getting their first roadworthy this morning.

What do you think the chances are that we will get electronic boards with waiting times for busses like the iBus system in London?

yeah, they should do that.. Its a good practice and its simply putting gpses on the busses to estimate the time of arrival! and they should have an app that can locate where your nearest bus stop is and when the next bus is coming. A common practice in Taipei

Yeah I've never understood the point of the electronic signboards that they do have on platforms. They display the time of day and "MyCiTi" (as if we don't know where we are already). It's a total waste of something that could be put to good use.

Surely in the 21st century it isn't too much to ask to fit the buses with GPS trackers and use that to calculate their ETA's, like Awesome said? And to create apps, mobile sites etc? These are all things that they should be rolling out now while the system is still young.

When will the inner-city route and routes to Seapoint, Camps, Llandudno, etc. be opened? Apologies for not going through the whole thread, I am being watched like a hawk at work.

I know that the city is hoping for the Salt River route to commence at the end of 2012/first few months of 2013 but this depends on agreements reached with various roleplayers. If this is delayed, it means the route is delayed and I imagine it is the same for the routes along the seaboard too..

yeah, they should do that.. Its a good practice and its simply putting gpses on the busses to estimate the time of arrival! and they should have an app that can locate where your nearest bus stop is and when the next bus is coming. A common practice in Taipei

This is a "gold standard" in many world cities - including most European cities and some new world cities like Auckland. The most handy thing for infrequent users are stop announcements and electronic displays on the buses themselves too. We have them here in Stockholm and it makes the system incredibly user friendly. Are there any plans to introduce that to the MyCiTi?

here in singapore you just get a transit app that calculates best routes for you, prices and alternative options. also tells bus arrivals for every stop. I would imagine all the SA systems should be aiming for this, rather than expensive electronic singage at each and every stop, which will probably be stolen and damaged anyway.

here in singapore you just get a transit app that calculates best routes for you, prices and alternative options. also tells bus arrivals for every stop. I would imagine all the SA systems should be aiming for this, rather than expensive electronic singage at each and every stop, which will probably be stolen and damaged anyway.

Uhm...and what are people without smartphones supposed to use, or those who run out of airtime, or or?? With a smartphone penetration of something like 18%, how would that cater to the needs of the majority?

On the security issue: security guards are employed to guard the stations for that very reason. Changing the information displayed on existing signage isn't going to encourage theft.

Construction of stops begins on Roedebloem Road :banana:

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4190.jpg

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/ryebreadcpt/IMG_4192.jpg

cool!

whats the point of a door on the right hand side of the bus? are people going to get off in the middle of the road?

Already pics of them up on futurecapetown:
http://futurecapetown.com/post/24060991738/photos-video-cape-towns-new-buses

whats the point of a door on the right hand side of the bus? are people going to get off in the middle of the road?

But people already do? The BRT lanes that run along Marine Drive, for example, run down the centre of the road. Buses dock and passengers embark/disembark through the right-hand door. The same happens at the Civic Centre. At small feeder stops, the buses use the left-hand door as those are located on the left-hand side of the road on the pavement.

Yup, rule of thumb for MyCiti is: Trunk Route buses disembark to the right, Feeder Route buses disembark to the left.

So excited to see CoCT going balls to the wall with new MyCiti routes. Just wonder what the outcome will be of Golden Arrow's legal challenge against the city and MyCiti... I really hope GA gets read the riot act in court. They have contributed next to nothing in providing CT residents with an effective bus network.

Yup, rule of thumb for MyCiti is: Trunk Route buses disembark to the right, Feeder Route buses disembark to the left.

So excited to see CoCT going balls to the wall with new MyCiti routes. Just wonder what the outcome will be of Golden Arrow's legal challenge against the city and MyCiti... I really hope GA gets read the riot act in court. They have contributed next to nothing in providing CT residents with an effective bus network.

My fear is that it will achieve nothing but to delay the project. They are basically putting up a fight over what their share in the West Coast routes should be, but they don't want new contacts concluded between the City and other vehicle operators until their dispute is resolved. Let's just hope it doesn't take too long...

myciti routes added
awayto.be

I would be very careful how they react to GA and the minibus taxis. The city really needs them on their side. Effectively they have licences to operate and some new city routes will infringe upon those. At the end of the day, we do not want to violent actions being taken by GA, or more likely by the minibus industry because they were not totally consulted and engaged. Many people might not like it, but the reality is that both these parties have to play a role in everything going forward, have to be happy with their role, or there will be problems.

Anyone know if they've decided where to move the cenotaph to make way for the Adderley Street station?

Uhm...and what are people without smartphones supposed to use, or those who run out of airtime, or or?? With a smartphone penetration of something like 18%, how would that cater to the needs of the majority?

On the security issue: security guards are employed to guard the stations for that very reason. Changing the information displayed on existing signage isn't going to encourage theft.

By far the majority of passengers will access the system at feeder bus stops, rather than at stations. So, although security guards at stations would secure electronic sign boards there, this will not protect the investment at the 100s of bus stops - which are very vulnerable to theft and vandalism.

Cell phones are the way to go: The City could use USSD technology accessible to people with cell phones which aren't smartphones - cost to the passenger will be limited to data transfer fees - much less than the cost of sms's.