Cape Town launches Transport Month with a focus on road safety

The City is set to kick off Transport Month on Wednesday, with a renewed emphasis on road safety—an issue the municipality deems “of utmost importance.”

The Urban Mobility Directorate will actively engage residents through various platforms to promote responsible road-sharing and safe practices among pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and all road users.

“Every day, two lives are lost on our roads in the Western Cape—an alarming statistic that hits close to home. The safety of road users has deteriorated significantly in recent years. Transport Month offers a vital opportunity to educate and empower road users on how to stay safe, particularly as we approach the festive season,” stated Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility.

“Many of us have developed bad habits, or are simply not present or aware while we are walking or driving, and the intention is to refocus attention on safety, and to promote key road safety practices among pedestrians, scholars, passengers, cyclists, motorcyclists, and motorists. We will be highlighting how to share the road responsibly in keeping Cape Town moving, safely.”

The Urban Mobility team has planned a series of awareness events around the city, including:

• Scholars’ Road Safety Event: Targeting primary school learners at the Learner Traffic Centre in Mitchells Plain, in collaboration with the Safety and Security Directorate and the Pedal Power Association (PPA). Road Safety officers will demonstrate walking and cycling safety tips
• Cycling Safety Event: Taking place in Khayelitsha with partners Khaltsha Cycles, Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN), and PPA. The focus will be on correct hand signalling and safe riding practices.

• Bree Street Activation: Designed for pedestrians and cyclists, featuring an obstacle course in collaboration with Young Urbanists and BEN Bikes to demonstrate safety techniques.

Additionally, the City will support the Open Langa event on Sunday, October 26, a one-day Open Streets Day where King Langa, Libalele, and Lerotholi Avenue will be temporarily closed to vehicles.

The streets will be transformed into a festive, car-free space filled with art, music, activities, and local enterprises, with a strong focus on pedestrians.

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Cape Argus