Kensington and Observatory residents have until Monday 31 July to comment on proposed traffic calming measures to be implemented in the areas.
According to the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate, they include speed bumps, will enhance pedestrian safety, particularly around schools.
A detailed view of the designs and the list of affected streets and roads can be viewed at www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay and the reference 110222316 can be used for comment on these suburbs.
The proposed traffic calming measures will be implemented in Kensington’s 8th Avenue, Factreton Avenue, Avro Avenue and Boston Street. Kipling Street in Observatory will also be considered.
Leslie Swartz, chair of the Kensington Factreton Residents and Ratepayers Association (KFRRA), says while it is not against the proposals it does not address the traffic challenges.
“We cannot help but notice that speed bumps always seem to be at the forefront of people’s thinking, and we fear that years from now our community will be flooded with this type of mechanism.”
Swartz said residents feel the implementation of speed bumps does not sufficiently eliminate speed reduction.
“The implementation of speed bumps in 12th Avenue a few years ago, which annoyed motorists, saw a migration and increase of traffic vehicles using 13th Avenue and, with the recent implementation of speed humps there, we have now seen a migration and an increase of vehicles using 11th Avenue. A domino effect.”
He said 18th Avenue, Bunney Street, Acre Road, 7th and 10th Avenues should also be considered as it sees high traffic volumes.
Swartz suggests that traffic calming measures like traffic circles must also be considered.
“More effort and attention must be given to how we can redesign our community because most roads are just thoroughfares from one part of the community to another,” he said. “Cul-de-sacs must also be given more thought so that not every residential road becomes a high-volume transport road nor thoroughfare to other parts of the community.”
According to Swartz, road infrastructure upgrades in the area are long overdue.
“Given the exorbitant cost of the installation of speed bumps and the negative declining of our community carbon footprint (10th worst in the world), not to mention the traffic congestion issues we are experiencing, greater effort must be given to developing a global vision so that the entire community can benefit from the redesigning of our road’s infrastructure, introducing efficient and alternate public transport.”
Other areas where traffic calming measures are considered include Rivergate, Mamre, Pinelands, Melkbosstrand and Atlantis.
The City said although the intention is to implement calming measures at all of the sites listed there are cost-related variables that are still unknown and the implementation will be subject to availability of funding.
Rob Quintas, Mayco Member for Urban Mobility, says: “We have identified roads in suburbs across Cape Town where there are large numbers of vulnerable road users. These are mostly roads that are close to schools, hospitals, and old age homes, for example. These proposed traffic calming measures will enhance road safety for all road users, which is a top priority for the city.”
To comment email Transport.News@capetown.gov.za or visit To comment email Transport.News@capetown.gov.za or visit www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay for written submission visit the Public Participation Unit, 3rd Floor Podium Block, Civic Centre, 12 Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town
