The development of a comprehensive cycle plan for Stellenbosch

Abstract

The town of Stellenbosch has the potential to grow cycling into a major mode. To date the town has made significant advances in the provision for non-motorised transport (NMT) enabling the creation of a partial network of cycleable town routes. It is also a growing international centre for recreational and competitive cycling. The town is facing challenges in transport terms as a result of decades of myopic private car centred provision as the only transport policy based response. Given the town?s popularity with an expanding university, a growing commercial centre, the wine farming capital and as a tourism node, car based trips into and around the town have grown dramatically. Cycling development is being seen as one major component in a much more sustainable and appropriate range of solutions to transport and urban planning challenges for the town and its catchment. The Cycle Plan details the full programme of measures to advance cycling to become a main mode for local travel. Short term interventions recommend a focus on low income access to bicycles, the development of safe cycling routes and the promotion of school/university and large employer based programmes of travel demand management. Short term network improvements for safe cycling focus on the extension of shared use pathways, the reduction in town centre traffic speeds and the gradual introduction of cycleways in the roadway The action plans recommend a joint public and private approach to funding, recognizing the fiscal constraints and demands on transport budgets. However, the plan should be treated as a first phase input to Stellenbosch area IPTN and Stellenbosch wishes to source PTIS funding in due course to progress with its bold and sustainable plans.