Wynberg residents had the opportunity to ask questions and give input on the proposed MyCiTi bus kerbside stop locations along direct routes in their suburb at a public information day held last week.
Large maps with detailed information on proposed stop locations adorned the walls of the Wittebome Civic Centre in Wynberg on Tuesday 18 October. Members of the City of Cape Town’s MyCiTi team were also on hand to give a breakdown of what was planned.
Once complete, Phase 2A will bring the MyCiTi service to Mitchell’s Plain, Lentegeur, Khayelitsha, Nolungile, Gugulethu, Crossroads, Manenberg, Hanover Park, Philippi, Nyanga, Ottery, Strandfontein, Claremont, Wynberg, Constantia and Hout Bay.
It will include nine main routes, 12 direct routes (also called feeder routes) and 350+ stations and stops along the way.
Direct routes that will feed into the main route that passes through Wynberg will run via Mew Way, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Spine Road and Wetton Road, with another direct route leaving Wynberg along Constantia Main Road all the way to Hout Bay.
Ebrahim Abrahams, principal of Muhammadeyah Primary School, was one of the many Wynberg residents who took time out of their day to attend the gathering. He explains that their school is a commuter school with many learners travelling either by bus or car.
“So we are in Batts Road and I know that the community was opposed to a MyCiTi bus route in the area. But since now it will become a reality, we may as well look at the positive of it. And that is that our learners are then able to travel to school, using the bus rather than private taxis and so on – not that I’m against private taxis, but it is just I suppose, so much cheaper for our learners to get to school.”
Abrahams says he was concerned about the possible placement of the bus stop.
“If it was going to be on the corner of where our school is, it may hamper our learners coming to school. Now I have had a look at where the main route is and the main station is and it is further down and that is perfect for us,” he says.
Wynberg resident Regina Salie says she too is excited at the prospect of the MyCiTi service coming to their ‘hood.
She explains that she and her friends regularly make use of public transport when they go on trips to the city, Hout Bay or the beach.
“We are five seniors that take the bus or train. We don’t ride the taxi. We want to ride the train or the MyCiTi bus or the Golden Arrow, but the MyCiTi bus coming here, it’s fine, better. It’s clean, on time, and the seniors can sit in the front where the red seats are.”
Kamilah Davids, also a Wynberg resident, says they were excited about the MyCiTi bus service 15 years ago already.
“And now it is going to become a reality soon, hopefully. And it’s not for us because we are senior citizens. It’s for the kids that are still going to grow up. The next generation, it will make it easier for them.”
Davids adds that she hopes that the roll-out will make Wynberg safer and cleaner.
“We grew up here, our fathers built these spaces, we know these spaces and now it is just going down but if this will make a difference, we will be happy,” she says.
Wendy Almacin, media liaison for the South Road Family Association (SRFA), was also present at the public information day.V Continued on page 10.
