There was a song that came out in 2005 called Nine Million Bicycles in Beijing, by Katie Melua.
Sweet tune. Former Cape Town mayor Dan Plato must have had it stuck in his head after his official visit to China in 2009.
Because when he returned, he would set about implementing a new non-motorised transport project for the city.
The plan would see green cycling lanes being built all round town.
It was a nice enough idea. With traffic in the city becoming increasingly congested, more cars on the roads resulting in more carbon emissions and smog, it was a cleaner, greener alternative.
After all, this is home of the world-famous Cape Town Cycle Tour.
A city of healthy, fit
citizens with lean, wiry legs in cycling shorts. OK, forget the tight broekies part.
With the soccer World Cup happening at the time, we could also show off with our bike culture.
Those lanes were paved with the best intentions.
But they might as well have been paved with gold.
In the first five years of the project, it was reported that over R300 million was spent on bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways.
According to the City’s 2016/17 annual report, a further R158m was spent, broken down as follows:
Central Cape Town: R1.6m.
Plantation and Montague Gift roads: R490 000.
Bishop Lavis: R4m.
Albert Road and Strand Street: R600 000.
Spaanschemat River, Kendal, Ladies Mile and other roads: R3.65m.
Francie van Zyl Drive and De La Rey Street: R2.5m.
Major roads in Somerset West: R2.2m.
Grassy Park: R470 000.
It’s a k**huis vol geld.
Kwaai if the lanes were put to good use, but the fact of the matter is they’re not.
And they’ve caused all sorts of traffic and parking upheaval.
The lanes, Adderley Street in particular, have been a nightmare.
The CBD is congested from 9 to 5 because in some places three lanes have been reduced to two.
There’s no parking in the city, what little there was has had to make way for bike ways.
No wonder nobody wants to visit or do business in the city, because of the traffic and parking issues.
Mense coming to visit the Daily Voice in St George’s Mall never show up on time.
Why? Because of these expensive bicycle lanes that no one is using.
It’s true, they’re not being used. Most cyclists don’t skrik vir traffic.
Brett Herron, Mayco Member for Urban Development and Transport, says that the budget for non-motorised transport (NMT) for 2017/18 is R126.3m.
He points out that the projects are funded by national government.
“These funds may not be used for any other purpose, other than public transport, which includes NMT projects,” he says.
“The projects include the provision of pavements where there are none to improve pedestrian safety, and widening of existing pavements where existing ones are too narrow - again, to improve pedestrian safety; the dropping of kerbs to allow for easier access for people with disabilities.”
OK, thanks for the clarity.
But what Cape Town must wake up to is the fact that this is not Beijing.
Less than 10% of the Kaap’s four million people use non-motorised transport - and for good reason.
This city was designed by apartheid spatial planners who shifted the workforce 20-30km away from the centres of business.
That’s a helse distance without having to put up with crime and safety issues, reckless taxi drivers and the hectic southeaster.
Cycling is lekker as a hobby, but - let’s be realistic - not for a daily commute.
Munier recommends the City divert its millions in cycling budget to helping to fix our public transport - our vrot train and bus services.
Apologies to the cyclists out there, but you understand.