With its cobbled streets, colorful homes and rich Malay culture, the Bo-Kaap is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cape Town. But this historic neighborhood is also a living community, not a theme park, and now residents say they have had enough of over-sized tour buses clogging up the steep streets of their 'hood.
Authorities agree, and big tour buses will soon be taking a short left to detour around Bo-Kaap as the City of Cape Town rolls out new restrictions aimed at reducing congestion and improving road safety in the neighbourhood.
From later this month, buses with 36 seats or more will no longer be allowed to enter Upper Wale Street, one of the main access routes into Bo-Kaap.
The move comes amid ongoing concerns from residents about traffic snarl-ups caused by hefty tour buses navigating the area's notoriously narrow and steep streets.
"The environment on Upper Wale Street in Bo-Kaap cannot accommodate the movement of big tour buses," said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councilor Rob Quintas. "Those who are familiar with the Bo-Kaap are well aware of the steep and narrow roads. Given the area's geometrical challenges, the entry of large tour buses will have to be restricted to ensure the free movement of general traffic into and from the area.”
Instead, new designated stop-and-drop zones are being introduced along Buitengracht Street. An existing parking area south of Wale Street will become a drop-off point for large buses, while another section between Church and Shortmarket Streets will be converted into three dedicated bus bays.
Smaller tour buses — those with 35 seats or less — will still be permitted on Upper Wale Street, but only for quick drop-offs at the Bo-Kaap Museum. After that, they'll need to make their way to a designated parking area behind the Schotsche Kloof Civic Center on Yusuf Drive.
Keep a look out for signage and road markings for the new regulations, which will be implemented in the next few weeks.
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