We know that 2OV boasts readers in far-flung corners of the globe, but a large majority of you call the Mother City home.

We’re a lucky bunch, except when it comes to the mess that is our traffic situation. Over the years it seems only to have worsened, and no matter where you live you’ve no doubt got your own horror story.

Back in August we told you about the Deep South and that mess (HERE), and we know that the City has acknowledged the problem.

We have our own solution, but more on that later.

They’ve committed to spending R750 million on the Congestion Management Programme (CMP), and according to BusinessTech have earmarked the following areas as a priority.

• Marine Drive (R27)
• N1 from Marine Drive to N7, and between Durban Road and
  Okavango Road
• N2 from Modderdam Road to Cape Town CBD, and
  between Borchard Quarry Road and R300
• M5 from Racecourse Road to Koeberg Interchange
• M3 from Wynberg Hill
• N2 through to Somerset West
• Kommetjie
• Kuilsriver
• Parklands
• Waterfront and surrounds

The City has decided on five areas in which to make changes, so let’s give those a quick look:

1. Extending dedicated lanes

One of the first strategies involves extending dedicated lanes for buses and minibuses, as well as other high occupancy vehicles.

The city also wants to look at international practices of car sharing and lift club incentive schemes.

2. Park and Ride plans

Expand park and ride infrastructure along with parking management to get more cars off of the roads in peak traffic spots.

The city said that it has put out a tender for a parking pricing and parking management system, which will be concluded and managed.

3. Flexible working hours

The city suggests that flexible working ours will successfully alleviate pressure during peak hours.

It plans to roll out such a strategy with its 27,000 staff members, and will engage with other businesses in Cape Town to try a similar approach.

This includes a “core working hour” strategy – where employees should be present for core hours (10:00 – 14:00) but can work the other 4 hours at various times; working on variable days; or staggering working hours.

Other possible strategies include a compressed work week (working full-time hours in fewer than 5 days) and working remotely.

4. Congestion charge / fuel levy

The City of Cape Town has successfully blocked Sanral from building a toll network similar to e-tolls in Gauteng in the city.

However, funding is still needed to maintain, extend and develop the city’s roads. The CMP proposes a special congestion tax or an increase in the fuel levy to meet finance targets.

Other places money may be involved is in having time reduction measures worked into fares for public transport.

5. Encourage bicycle use through bike sharing

The city plans to introduce its first “bike share” project, which would see bicycles made available for citizens to use over short periods.

The system is popular in many European cities, and the Western Cape government is keen to implement it in Cape Town. The system will be put out to tender.

Will these measures help alleviate the mess that we currently find ourselves in? I guess only time will tell, but for now maybe you want to hop on the most stylish two wheels going around and zoom through traffic worry free.

Works for the staff here at 2OV, we can say that much.

We’re talking about Vespa, of course, and if you want to find out a little more about their 70th anniversary celebrations click that image below.

[source:businesstech]