My Citi BRT service bids farewell to traffic congestion

Driving from Bloubergstrand to Cape Town has become an ordeal for many motorists, due to the West Coast development boom and the resultant traffic congestion.

With a World Cup incentive and in an attempt to minimize traffic, the City of Cape Town introduced the My Citi BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system which includes an airport shuttle service, a trunk route from Table View to the Cape Town Civic Centre and feeder routes to the Foreshore, Green Point and through the city centre from Gardens to the Waterfront.

If the average car does 10km to the liter in traffic, one can spend about R40 a day getting in and out of the city from Bloubergstrand and at least an extra R20 on parking tariffs, sending the daily total to R60. By contrast, the maximum fare for one trunk and two feeder routes is R10 in one direction, so using My Citi can save one about R40 a day.

In addition to the financial benefits, there are environment benefits too. Less cars on the road means less of a carbon footprint, and because Cape Town has the best network of bicycle lanes in the country, commuters are encouraged to carry their bicycles on board. Ramps and level boarding make the service bike, wheel chair and pram friendly, and tactile paving guides the way for the visually impaired.

Currently, BRT stations only use traditional payment methods, but a Smart card system will be introduced over time and the correct fare deducted. In future, Smart cards can be topped up and swiped as one enters the station or hops on the bus.

People can reduce their commuting time by 50% by taking the bus at peak times, and instead of driving utilise transit time to do work on laptop or iPads, a common sight on public transport systems in the UK and Europe.

Transpeninsula Investments (Pty) Ltd, Kidrogen (Pty) Ltd  and Golden Arrow Bus Services which represent most major bus and taxi associations in the Western Cape have been signed up to operate My Citi buses on condition they no longer operate privately on My Citi routes.  They are responsible for collecting fares, cleaning and maintenance and general operations of both buses and stations. Former taxi drivers now employed as My Citi bus drivers, say they are enjoying benefits like paid leave, sick leave, unemployment insurance and regular shifts.

With three million people in Cape Town and many more working in the city there is a great need to expand operations into areas like Khayelitsha and Mithchells plain, which is the ultimate goal.

Have you experienced a My Citi bus trip yet? What was your experience
like? How do you think My Citi services can be improved? Please leave
your comments below.

For more information on routes, schedules, fares and connections visit: //www.capetown.gov.za/en/Myciti/Pages/default.aspx