City draws up proposed operating conditions for tuk-tuks

In an effort to support enhanced mobility, and the entrepreneurship of those promoting the service, the City has compiled a proposed set of conditions that, if they are approved, will allow tuk-tuk services to operate in certain parts of the city. Read more below:

The City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee has supported a proposed set of conditions for the use of tuk-tuks on Cape Town's roads. The proposed conditions will now serve at a full meeting of Council for approval and then be sent to the Western Cape Provincial Government's MEC for Transport and Public Works.

"There has been interest in a tuk-tuk service from some parts of the city. As part of our efforts to be a responsive government that supports the public transports needs of residents across the city, and the entrepreneurship of those promoting the service, we are proposing the provision for tuk-tuk services in certain parts of Cape Town," said Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater.

The National Land Transport Act (Act 5 of 2009) defines a tuk-tuk as a three-wheeled motor vehicle designed or modified to carry up to three seated persons, including the driver. This mode of transport may be used for public transport purposes where relevant transport plans - and in the City of Cape Town's case, its Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan (CITP) - makes provision for them.

The City's current CITP does not make reference to or enable the assessment of tuk-tuk services, hence the need for an urgent amendment now, which can then be included into the new CITP.

The City is in the process of drafting its CITP (2013-2018) which will include the proposed conditions for tuk-tuks. The draft will go through a formal commenting, public participation and approval process later this year.

"The proposed provision and conditions ensures alignment with what we expect to include in our new CITP which should be ready for public comment within the next month or two. We will review these conditions during the process of finalising the new CITP and make amendments if necessary," said Cllr. Herron. 

A number of applications for tuk-tuk operating licences have been received by the Provincial Regulating Entity (PRE) and one licence has been approved, although it was not supported by the City in terms of its current approved Integrated Transport Plan.

Due to the growing demand for this type of service and in order to accommodate the identified gap in the transport market, the following interim conditions (amongst others) are recommended:

Support systems

Tuk-tuks to operate as a short distance mode (last mile home), no longer than a 3 km on a dedicated route, as defined in the Operating Licence (OL).

Infrastructure

Tuk-tuks are seen as a base operation(same as sedan taxi) with respect to facilities with no formal City facilities provided. Base facilites will be privately owned/leased by the tuk-tuk operator. Their base facilities shall be stipulated and within an acceptable radius from their route.

Regulatory

Children under the age of 13 years must be accompanied by an adult when travelling on a tuk-tuk

All trips must be pre-booked with the tuk-tuk Operator

If these proposals are approved, the tuk-tuks will become operational in the following areas:

• Waterfront, Sea Point and Bantry Bay
• CBD, as long as there is no conflict with sedan taxis
• Kalk Bay
• Simon's Town and Fish Hoek

Statement issued by Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater, City of Cape Town, April 16 2013

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter