South African cities unite for inclusive public transport solutions

Cities from across South Africa have put their heads together in Cape Town to accelerate the rollout of universally accessible and inclusive public transport systems.

Last week, the City of Cape Town hosted the National Department of Transport’s Universal Design and Access Planning Workshop (UDAP), bringing together national officials, technical experts and senior municipal transport leaders.

Established in 2010, UDAP aims to fast-track the implementation of universal access standards and ensure that long-standing policy commitments translate into everyday, lived realities for all transport users.

City of Cape Town Urban Mobility executive director Regan Melody said hosting the workshop reaffirmed the City’s commitment to embedding inclusive design across all transport projects.

“The City of Cape Town extends its gratitude to the National Department of Transport for their vital role in ensuring accountability and driving progress toward universal access and inclusive public transport systems,” Melody said. “We are committed to embedding universal access within our organisation so that inclusive design becomes the norm, not a special consideration.”

The opening days of the workshop featured presentations from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality on lessons from its Integrated Public Transport System, followed by George Municipality, which showcased its scheduled public bus service, Go George. Mangaung, Msunduzi, the City of Cape Town, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni also shared successes, challenges and future plans related to universal access in their transport networks.

Delegates later took part in a site visit through the Cape Town CBD, focusing on how existing infrastructure can be retrofitted to improve accessibility. The City has completed upgrades at 86 locations in the CBD, including widened pavements, improved ramp access, relocated signal poles and signage, dropped kerbs, extended kerb build-outs at intersections and other accessibility interventions.

The final day included a panel discussion with the Western Cape Network on Disability, as well as a universal access rail presentation by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Presentations from Rustenburg and Polokwane municipalities concluded the programme.

Mayoral committee member for urban mobility Councillor Rob Quintas said the strong turnout reflected growing intergovernmental cooperation.

“It was a privilege to host technical experts, universal access stakeholders and municipal leaders from our fellow Integrated Public Transport Network cities,” Quintas said. “The collective participation underscores the shared commitment required to move our transport goals from vision to reality.”

The workshop was framed against national policy commitments, including the 2021 White Paper on National Transport Policy, which recognises the barriers faced by people with disabilities when accessing transport.

Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy said minimum requirements for integrated transport plans had been issued to ensure municipalities plan public transport systems that are universally accessible.

“Cities report annually on the implementation of their Universal Design Access Plans, and the Minister has signed an Action Plan for Universally Accessible Transport, which charts the way for all modes of transport to become universally accessible by 2035,” Creecy said.

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Cape Argus