Cape Town: The Urban Mobility Directorate of the City of Cape Town revised its Travel Demand Management Strategy (TDMS) and residents, stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to read the draft document and submit their comments by November 13, 2025.
Reportedly, the Travel Demand Management Strategy is a collection of programmes, techniques and policies that aims at influencing the travel choices which people make from the mode (private, public, walking and cycling) to the time of travelling (during or outside of the peak periods); as well as the use of existing and new transport capacity and related infrastructure to promote sustainable travel choices.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Urban Mobility – Councillor Rob Quintas said that the TDMS by the City of Cape Town has three broad goals, namely to encourage people to avoid travelling in their private vehicles and to shift to public transport services especially during peak periods; to walk or cycle where possible and practical; and to reduce the need for travelling by working remotely.
Over time they want to make the public transport the mode of choice and reduce reliance on private vehicles of people. Also, the strategy needs to inform long-lasting behaviour changes in how, when and why people commute.
In line with the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reducing reliance on private vehicles and promoting low-carbon transport alternatives will contribute to the climate change mitigation goals of Cape Town.
The City of Cape Town has recorded notable changes in travel demand and the number and nature of trips people made during and after Covid-19. Many people adapted by working from home during the pandemic and although this has not always resulted in long-term changes in traffic volumes, some people still travel outside of the peak periods and many business meetings are still taking place online, all because of the technological advances.
The implosion of passenger rail though, that has led to an increase in road-based transport and traffic congestion since 2013. The service is gradually improving on certain lines and it is anticipated that more people will opt for trains as it becomes more reliable and punctual.
Another challenge is Cape Town’s spatial form that is also contributing to congestion as the majority of commuters live in the metro south-east and travel long distances; and personal security also impacts the choices commuters make. The draft strategy was also elaborated on the impact of ‘induced demand’.
Councillor Quintas marked that Induced Demand is a phenomenon, where building more road capacity leads to more congestion as it encourages the use of private vehicles.
By providing more efficient and alternative means of travel is critical in managing demand and the needs of the growing population. Investment in transport infrastructure must be the sole benefit of public transport services so that they can improve efficiencies and make it more attractive for commuters.