MyCiTi IRT System - Cape Town

[Awesome.e]

Goodluck Annman

[Econ77]

Cape Town’s MyCiTi Bus Service To Launch Mascot Ahead Of Loerie’s

Posted on 10 September 2011.
The City of Cape Town has announced that it will unveil a mascot for the MyCiTi bus system at a celebratory event next week. The launch will help create further awareness about the MyCiTi buses, highlight the importance of road safety and public transport in Cape Town, as well as add some hype for the Loerie’s next weekend.
In a press release, the City said it had received entries from all over Cape Town and these included hand-drawn designs by scholars, right through to the computer drawn animations from design students.
Mayoral Committee member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, Councillor Brett Herron:

We invited the public to submit their design ideas, and we were blown away by the creative ideas we received.
We wanted this process to be driven by the public, which is why it was also so important to have a representative and informed judging panel. Our design team took the winning entry and amended it to make it more practical for daily use.
We look forward to presenting this mascot to the people of Cape Town next week.

Just last week the City announced that it would introduce an express service between Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain and central Cape Town to further accommodate the City’s residents.
The new mascot will also be revealed as part of the build-up to the Loerie Advertising Awards and Creative Cape Town Week taking place next week.
The launch event will happen at the MyCiTi Civic Centre Station on Hertzog Boulevard on Wednesday, September 14, and festivities kick-off at 14h00.
Some one million people have reportedly travelled on the MyCiTi buses thus far and the City expects more and more residents to start using the service in the future.

[Mo Rush]

There were some fascinating entries. Lots of cool ones by kids too. Actually decent fun choosing a final design.

[Lydon]

Myciti saves on huge travel costs
WEDNESDAY SEP 14, 2011

Tableview commuters using the MyCiTi bus service to reach central Cape Town instead of their cars could save about R3 000 a month, says the city council.



Yesterday the City of Cape Town's mayoral committee member for transport, Brett Herron, encouraged Capetonians to use the MyCiTi buses and other forms of public transport to save themselves money, as well as help reduce congestion and cut down on their carbon footprints.

He gave an example of a Table View resident who owned a car bought for between R125 000 and R150 000, using calculations outlined by the Automobile Association (AA).

"The cost of commuting to central Cape Town on MyCiTi is about R410 for a 21-day working month. This is R1 400 to R2 700 cheaper than commuting by car, when wear and tear and depreciation is taken into account, using calculations outlined by the Automobile Association website. On top of this, parking costs about R1 000 a month in the CBD," said Herron.

He said these figures assumed that the driver used the car only to commute to work, or drove about 10 000km a year at most.

"If the car is driven for much longer distances, the running costs for commuting reduce in comparison to the total costs per month. A more expensive car costs more, when used to commute.

"There is no doubt that public transport is the way of the future. It makes sense on every level, reducing our stress levels, as well as benefiting the environment and our pockets," said Herron.

He encouraged Capetonians to go on to the AA website and work out how much it was costing them to commute to work by car.

"For most of us, the figures are shocking," said Herron.

Meanwhile the MyCiti service has surpassed the one million-tickets-sold mark, recording an average week-day ridership of about 9 000 passengers a day.

Since the first phase came into operation, the latest ticket sales figure stands at 1 033 084, according to the city.

But 1 033 084 tickets sold does not necessarily mean that this is the number of passengers who travelled on the service, as passengers require two tickets to catch a trunk-route bus and one ticket to catch a feeder bus.

"During July 2011 over 236 000 passenger trips were made with an average weekday ridership of about 9 000 passengers a day, and on the weekend of about 5 000 passengers a day. Airport numbers are also up on last year, with just over 8 000 passengers using the airport service during July," said Herron.

He said the number of passengers transported was increasing month-on-month, and the greatest number of passengers transported was in August, according to the most recent figures.

"We had hoped that the MyCiTi services would be this popular. It shows us how desperately public transport was needed along these routes," said Herron.

Cape Times

Source: IOL Property

[SA BOY]

doesn't take into account cost of parking at a park and ride location (if they exist), then cost of feeder bus to IRT station, cost of feeder bust form IRT station in town to your area and return so its an additional 4 bus tickets per day plus parking in the burbs cos no one has no car and wont walk to feeder bus. that R8 per bus ride so add R32 a day x 21 days add another R672, plus parking of say R30 per day x 21 days =R630.
so reality check is R630+R672+R420=R1722 plus Im paying for a car I dont use (think wasted insurance I don't use, depreciation etc).

Not sure I buy the argument yet.

they still havent solved the argument of how do I get form my house to a feeder bus station??? Unless the bus stop is outside your house (and you are prepared to stand in the rain while waiting), they havent solved the feed into the IRT yet.

[Lydon]

The cost of a ticket includes a feeder route.

Unfortunately there really isn't much they can do about the rain. That's what I have an umbrella for and it works just fine. Even with the rain I'd rather sit on a bus reading/playing around on my phone than sit in traffic most of the way, and at a fraction of the cost too.

Park and Ride is something they need to address, though.

[Mo Rush]

It rains in London. You walk to the tube. It rains in Shanghai. You walk to the tube. It also rains in other places.

Yes, feeder stations need to be within a reasonable distance.

[Lydon]

The rain's only a problem in the winter months, anyway, and even then it doesn't rain every day, 24/7. In the majority of cases I miss the rain when I use the bus.

[SA BOY]

Originally Posted by Lydon

The cost of a ticket includes a feeder route.

Unfortunately there really isn't much they can do about the rain. That's what I have an umbrella for and it works just fine. Even with the rain I'd rather sit on a bus reading/playing around on my phone than sit in traffic most of the way, and at a fraction of the cost too.

Park and Ride is something they need to address, though.

raed caption under bus picture (Excludes feeder routes)

[SA BOY]

rain is an issue here guy you all know that cos you also live here plus the SE is a headache. Why are bus stops not shelters? I mean that the starting point, yes I also have a brolly but when I get to a bus stop there should be shelter from the elements at least.

I have given you a new version of the marketing spin so its more relevant and is what anyone considering using the bus would do so its not unreasonable. Yes London has rain and so does Dubai but thats not the point. We have 4 bad months where the elements play an part in our lives big time.
But to break Car culture you need viable alternatives and whilst its a start its not working correctly and never will untill you deal with park and ride

[Lydon]

Originally Posted by SA BOY

raed caption under bus picture (Excludes feeder routes)

I would assume they're talking about additional feeder routes apart from the included route.

[Letter16]

Originally Posted by SA BOY

raed caption under bus picture (Excludes feeder routes)

the caption is wrong. its R10 with a feeder ride on either side of the trunk. thats how things currently are.

the reason there are no shelters for the feeder bus stops is mainly because myciti is still running in beta. once things are more bedded down perhaps well see more permanent infrastructure.

the rain?
i took the bus in the rain yesterday. i walk about 5 minutes to my nearest stop and waited maybe another 5. had an umbrella. got a little damp but was never even slightly uncomfortable. cape town has the most forgiving rainy weather(most days) for being outdoors . mostly slow soaking rain that wont get you too wet and when the south easter is blowing its mainly in the summer so you're not getting that umbrella-proof vertical rain. no thunderstorms or monsoon, and its not even that cold. really its bearable. and it rains what?-4 months in the year and then again not even everyday.

the problem is not the rain or the wind. weather plays a part in all cities that have successful public transport systems. far worse weather. the issue is that car culture is institusionalised in sa. our people's perceptions and our cities are built around the car as the ultimate option in personal mobility. this will take work and time to break down. both working on peoples' perceptions and the geography of our cities. if you are going to use public transport you're going to have to walk outside a little.

myciti, even as it is, is a very good alternative to those who are fortunate to live where it operates. i'll get a little wet for anything that saves me time, money and stress

[Lydon]

Originally Posted by Letter16

the caption is wrong. its R10 with a feeder ride on either side of the trunk. thats how things currently are.

the reason there are no shelters for the feeder bus stops is mainly because myciti is still running in beta. once things are more bedded down perhaps well see more permanent infrastructure.

the rain?
i took the bus in the rain yesterday. i walk about 5 minutes to my nearest stop and waited maybe another 5. had an umbrella. got a little damp but was never even slightly uncomfortable. cape town has the most forgiving rainy weather(most days) for being outdoors . mostly slow soaking rain that wont get you too wet and when the south easter is blowing its mainly in the summer so you're not getting that umbrella-proof vertical rain. no thunderstorms or monsoon, and its not even that cold. really its bearable. and it rains what?-4 months in the year and then again not even everyday.

the problem is not the rain or the wind. weather plays a part in all cities that have successful public transport systems. far worse weather. the issue is that car culture is institusionalised in sa. our people's perceptions and our cities are built around the car as the ultimate option in personal mobility. this will take work and time to break down. both working on peoples' perceptions and the geography of our cities. if you are going to use public transport you're going to have to walk outside a little.

myciti, even as it is, is a very good alternative to those who are fortunate to live where it operates. i'll get a little wet for anything that saves me time, money and stress

Agreed!

[MrChavcore]

Originally Posted by SA BOY

rain is an issue here guy you all know that cos you also live here plus the SE is a headache. Why are bus stops not shelters? I mean that the starting point, yes I also have a brolly but when I get to a bus stop there should be shelter from the elements at least.

I have given you a new version of the marketing spin so its more relevant and is what anyone considering using the bus would do so its not unreasonable. Yes London has rain and so does Dubai but thats not the point. We have 4 bad months where the elements play an part in our lives big time.
But to break Car culture you need viable alternatives and whilst its a start its not working correctly and never will untill you deal with park and ride

try getting a tram in dublin where we're exposed to the elements! it rains all year round here and it always comes with a driving wind that makes the south easter seem tame... lets just say an umbrella can be pointless at times. i agree with letter16, its all about changing perceptions and trying to get people out of their cars!

[SA BOY]

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

[Mo Rush]

Ah. I think there is some clarification needed.

There are sheltered feeder stops coming.

image hosted on flickr

[Andrew_za]

Since Civic Centre and Gardens are both already under construction; we still waiting for closed feeder stations to be built on Adderley Street and one for Queens Beach, which i'd assume would also service green point park?

[shacky]

I was fortunate enough to be in CT this weekend, stayed in Blouberg and was lucky enough to have a bus stop 2 mins away, very impressed and jealous as a Durbanite!

One question, why is that you have to change a 2nd time at civic centre, are there no continuous buses carrying on towards Long St (which is where I was going)? When will the shelters be arriving? The busses were actually quite full, surely they are needed by now and easy to install? Not just for the shelter but info and being able to see where the stop actually is!

Otherwise fantastic, and yes it is only R10, thats 2 tickets.

[carudden]

Any news on the switch over from paper tickets to card?

Edit:
The surfacing has begun! This is from Bayside/R27 intersection towards Atlantis


A Colleague of mine took this pic this morning of a taxi being pulled over for using the BRT lane.

[Andrew_za]

News from last week
Cape Town plans to build Myciti bus trunk stations at waterfront

Plans are afoot to build two new MyCiTi bus trunk stations at the V&A Waterfront as the City of Cape Town looks to extend the service.

Waterfront spokeswoman Emma King confirmed they were in talks with the city to have two stations at the centre.

The waterfront is on the MyCiTi feeder routes, which take passengers to and from the trunk station in Hertzog Boulevard in the city centre.

If the new trunk stations are built, passengers will, for example, be able to travel from Table View to the waterfront without having to transfer.

"If it goes ahead there'll be a trunk station near the Clock Tower and one in Breakwater Boulevard," King said.

She said the stations would be expected to be operational in 2013.

"But there has not been any official announcement and it's all still in the discussion phase," she said.

Mayoral committee member for transport, roads and stormwater Brett Herron said having the trunk station at the waterfront would be "hugely beneficial" to residents and tourists.

"The waterfront is a premier tourist destination in Africa and in Cape Town so it would be hugely beneficial to have the waterfront service and we are extremely hopeful to have the service running through there," he said.

The city is preparing to introduce several new MyCiTi feeder routes in the central city next year around the City Bowl, along the Atlantic Seaboard, Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Imizamo Yethu, Woodstock and Salt River.

Construction is nearing completion on stations at Thibault Square in the city and Mill Street in Gardens, said the city. Construction has also started on the extension of the trunk route along the R27 on the West Coast.

The city said a contract had been awarded to build permanent stops on feeder routes and an additional feeder route was set to be introduced in Table View. Work on the trunk route extension along Blaauwberg Road as far as Potsdam Road and feeder stops in Atlantis was set to start in September.