Paper presented at the 33rd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 7-10 July 2014 "Leading Transport into the Future", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.
In South Africa, the integration of Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) facilities into spatial
development and the streetscape has not yet received sufficient attention by the different
spheres of government and their implementation agencies. Therefore, urban development
and structure has significant deficiency with regard to the provision and quality of NMT
infrastructure, facilities and services. As a further consequence, NMT users are at risk
using the road network and pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, leading to a major proportion
of the road casualties in South African cities, towns and villages. The authors’ point of view
is that the ‘rhetorical’ paradigm shift in the planning, implementation and operation of NMTrelevant
infrastructure needs to be revolutionised. This is necessary to effect rapid change
of the status quo in South Africa by practicably mobilise the proverbial “walk the talk”.
Various international examples of good practice exist where conceptual thinking and
renewed focus on the needs of NMT users have led to a paradigm shift in major cities with
regard to NMT policy formation and infrastructure provision; and in the process creating
more friendly NMT environments. This includes design concepts that can assist in NMT
and public transport implementation opportunities such as ‘Universal Design”, ‘Complete
Streets’, ‘Road Diets”, ‘Modal Hierarchy’, ‘Last Mile’, ‘Liveable Communities’, ‘Walkability
Indices and Greenways, amongst others. The paper covers the various concepts; and
show how they may assist in reshaping planning and implementation strategies, policies
and operational frameworks in South Africa over the short-, medium- and long term. NMT
is formally recognised as an independent and primary transport mode in transport planning
circles, but it also serves as feeder system to public transport services. The paper
highlights the different opportunities that currently exist in South Africa to include and
integrate NMT conceptual thinking into transport planning practice. Firstly, this includes the
current process of implementing BRT systems and optimally linking the surrounding
communities to these routes. Secondly, the need exist to provide much needed and welldesigned
NMT feeder systems from communities to other existing public transport
operations including municipal bus, rail, Gautrain, BRT, future light rail and minibus taxi
operations. Thirdly, the Strategic Land Transport Frameworks, e.g. Integrated Rapid Public
Transport Network and Integrated Development Plans are to be updated on a five yearly
cycle. Fourthly, NMT infrastructure still needs to be provided in many instances where
NMT serves as a primary transport mode between destinations. The paper concludes that
the above-mentioned transport planning processes and planning documents must reflect
and support the NMT-relevant conceptual thinking that will embrace Universal Design and
Complete Streets principles to its fullest practicable extent with particular reference to
integration with IRPTN 2030 planning. In addition, the institutional and financial means to
implement, monitor and evaluate the implementation of these concepts are considered as
an essential and integral component of the process.
