Cape Town
UMR Index
Score: 40.2%
Sustainable Mobility
Score: 38.2%
Public Transit
Score: 33.1%
| Population | 4.7 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 839 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 5,565 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 7,507 |
What Cape Town Does Well in Urban Mobility
Cape Town's bus rapid transit system has strong multimodal linkages, with park-and-ride connections and permissive rules around bikes on transit. The city’s Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan (CITP) for 2023 – 2028 calls for continued expansion to provide access to a range of sustainable options.
Cape Town is a regional leader in mobility-related spending and employment, with many of its residents working in the transportation sector.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility and Public Transit scores
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, limiting residents’ ability to walk and cycle. One of the key objectives of the CITP is to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
Cape Town's airport is not an international hub and has relatively low passenger volumes and connecting flights. However, airport upgrades are underway to boost tourism.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
How Cape Town Can Improve Its Public Transportation and Sustainable Mobility
Many residents have lengthy walks to metro stations and bus stops. The city can add bus routes and stops to better connect residents with rail stations and lines and to encourage transit ridership. In the long run, extending existing rail lines and adding new ones will be key to increasing public transit offerings, but that effort will be a timely and expensive undertaking.
Cape Town can increase the number of car-free zones to encourage pedestrian travel without fear of road incidents. In addition, the city can promote the 15-minute city approach, where daily necessities are available within a 15-minute walk, cycle or public transit ride, by introducing regularly used services to underserved areas. The city is taking steps in this direction with the previously mentioned CITP, which reportedly calls for an expansion of walkways and cycling lanes separated from road traffic. Increasing policing and enforcement of traffic laws also would improve pedestrian safety.