South Africa
Cape Town
UMR Index Rank
#56
(-5)
Score: 34%
Sustainable Mobility
#52
(-2)
Score: 38.4%
Public Transit
#62
(+1)
Score: 32.3%
Technology Adoption
#69
Score: 10.4%
| Population | 4.8 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 839 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 5,705 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,487 |
UMR Index Rank
#56
(-5)
Score: 34%
Sustainable Mobility
#52
(-2)
Score: 38.4%
Public Transit
#62
(+1)
Score: 32.3%
Technology Adoption
#69
Score: 10.4%
What Cape Town Does Well In Urban Mobility
Cape Town offers a variety of public transport services, including a metro rail and bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The Metrorail system is relatively well integrated with other transport modes, bikes are allowed on buses, and several public transit stations feature park-and-ride facilities. In August 2023 the Cape Town City Council approved plans to expand the BRT and agreed to a proposal for an integrated ticketing system for all public transit. The city’s Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan (CITP) for 2023-2028 calls for continued expansion of public transit to provide access to a range of sustainable options.
Cape Town is a regional leader in mobility-related spending as a percentage of GDP. For the 2024- 2025 fiscal year, it allocated more than R3.5 billion ($200 million) for urban mobility, with an emphasis on improving the bus system, road maintenance, and active mobility infrastructure (walking and cycling paths). Cape Town has wellconnected roads and is investing in maintaining and improving traffic lights across the city, dedicating R115 million ($7 million) of the budget to this. The city also has a high number of transportation sector jobs.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Cape Town’s Transportation System
With high fatality rates and insufficient enforcement of transport safety, Cape Town’s roads are considered generally unsafe for travel. This also limits residents’ ability to walk and cycle safely. One of the key objectives of the CITP is to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Cape Town has set aside approximately R455 million ($26 million) for investment in active mobility measures between 2024 and 2026. In addition, the city asked residents for input on ways to improve traffic in certain neighborhoods.
Cape Town lags on electrification, both for private vehicles and for public transit, including zeroemission buses. The city lacks the necessary charging station infrastructure, with very low station density. Electricity outages and load shedding, a result of the country’s shortages in both production capacity and energy imports, further complicate electrification. Still, Cape Town is one of the best-prepared cities in South Africa to achieve electrification, as load shedding is often less severe than elsewhere. The government is investing in charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, and there are plans for e-bus deliveries that would commence operation by the end of 2025.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Cape Town Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Many residents have lengthy walks to metro stations and bus stops. The city can add bus routes and stops to better connect residents to public transit stations. It also can invest in building more metro stops and extending metro lines. Given this is an expensive undertaking, opting for investment in the bus system is likely to be the most cost-effective option.
While Cape Town’s cycling and walking infrastructure is better than Johannesburg’s, it remains subpar compared with other cities. Cape Town is taking steps to improve with the CITP. It can accelerate the plan and dedicate more budget to cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, especially improvements that incorporate safety features like buffers for traffic-heavy areas. The city also can invest in a bike-sharing program, an idea that was studied in the early 2010s.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley