Achmat Tassiem, Flamingo Vlei
I would like to highlight the difficulties being experienced by various users of the MyCiTi bus service along the Blaauwberg Road route, which includes Du Noon, Table View and the V&A Waterfront.
The facts are that during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, about two years ago, the management of the service found it necessary to streamline the service by closing certain bus stations as a cost-saving measure.
The reasons are understood, but Grey station along Blaauwberg Road remains closed with the lifting of the restrictions.
Passengers have returned to work, students have returned to school and there has been no response from the municipality despite numerous requests to reopen the station.
There have been recent calls on social media for the reopening of Grey station. Its closure has caused a tremendous amount of inconvenience for residents and staff of the nearby retirement village in Grey Avenue, pupils from the nearby high school, the staff of the SA National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds bird sanctuary and Table Bay Nature Conservation depot at Rietvlei, and other people trying to get to work.
Passengers coming from the retirement village, all of whom are of an advanced age, have to walk the distance to Table View station, which takes approximately 30 minutes, or pay extra taxi fare.
Mayoral committee member for urban mobility Rob Quintas responds:
I am pleased to announce that based on the outcome of a management meeting, on Friday April 8, it has been decided to open the Grey MyCiTi station. The transport operations team has been informed of the decision, and the opening of the station has been prioritised. We will announce the exact date of the opening in due course.
The City’s public transport department within the urban mobility directorate is reviewing all operating costs associated with station management. The process has progressed well and alternative operating models are under consideration to bring about higher levels of operational efficiencies.