This World Design Capital project will transform lives by linking these communities with social and economic opportunities.
As from today, 16 February 2014, the communities of Imizamo Yethu, Hangberg and Hout Bay have access to a world-class public transport system. This is one of the most critical redress projects that this administration has committed to rolling out to poorer communities across the city.
‘The provision of safe, reliable and affordable public transport brings people closer to opportunities and opportunities closer to people. While apartheid-era spatial planning tried its best to keep people far removed on the outskirts of the city, the MyCiTi service will help to link our communities with social and economic opportunities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron.
The impressive design of the infrastructure and system, coupled with its intention to create opportunities to transform the lives of residents of Cape Town, has earned the MyCiTi project the stamp of approval as a World Design Capital (WDC 2014) project. The MyCiTi network improves mobility and access to opportunities through innovative planning and design to provide a high quality public transport system. It also enables users to enjoy the experience of a new and improved public transport system and invokes a sense of pride and dignity.
MyCiTi passengers on new route
The new routes, routes 108 and 109, will run from the city centre along Somerset Road in Green Point, Main Road in Sea Point, and via Clifton and Camps Bay. Once in Hout Bay, route 108 will serve Hangberg and the harbour, and route 109 will serve Imizamo Yethu and the main commercial and beachfront areas of Hout Bay.
‘We advise users of public transport in Hout Bay, Sea Point and Camps Bay to familiarise themselves with the new MyCiTi routes and services as some Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) buses and minibus-taxis currently operating along these routes will be withdrawn,’ said Councillor Herron.
For the time being, the existing GABS buses directly from Khayelitsha to Hout Bay will continue to operate until further notice. Passengers who make use of a GABS interchange ticket to travel from Khayelitsha to Hout Bay via the CBD will now have to transfer to a MyCiTi bus in the CBD to travel to Hout Bay, using the same ticket.
The City of Cape Town is providing free myconnect cards to all potential passengers in Hout Bay. Everyone aged four years and over needs their own myconnect card, loaded with money, to travel on the MyCiTi buses.
‘We are offering free myconnect cards, for an introductory period, to reduce the financial impact for passengers who choose to make use of the MyCiTi bus service. This is part of our commitment to creating an inclusive city by providing affordable public transport, especially for our poorer communities, for whom the cost of the myconnect card could be a barrier to access,’ said Councillor Herron.
Passengers will have to load a Mover package onto their free myconnect card. Mover packages are available in the following amounts at the two libraries: R80, R100, R150, R200, R400, R600 and R1 000.
Mover package fares are at least 20% cheaper than Standard fares. With the Mover package, a journey from Hout Bay to the city centre will cost R9,80 during the more expensive peak periods of 06:30 to 08:30 and 16:00 to 18:00 on weekdays, and R8 during off-peak periods.
The same trip on a Standard fare, charged when there are insufficient or no Mover points available on the card, will cost R12,70 in peak periods and R10,50 during off-peak periods.
‘We would like to welcome all passengers in the Imizamo Yethu, Hangberg and Hout Bay area to the MyCiTi service. We trust that they will have a pleasant experience,’ said Councillor Herron.
For more information, please visit or call the all-hours Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63.
Photo Credit: Bruce Sutherland – CoCT
