Andrew Boraine » Public transport

Get down to the Park

Andrew — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 11:57:03 +0000

I’m starting off 2011 (better late than never) with a big `thumbs up’ to all who have been involved in creating the new Green Point Park. It’s an amazing experience, with opportunities for recreation, education, exercise, picnics, children’s parties, perambulation and much more.

What is particularly exciting is that the park…

Who is championing Cape Town’s Integrated Rapid Transport system?

Andrew — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:37:19 +0000

Integrated Rapid Transport (IRT) represents the future of Cape Town. Without it, we will not achieve our goals of being a sustainable, equitable and accessible city. Billions of rands have already been spent. Billions more will be spent over the next 15-20 years. The MyCiTi Bus Rapid Transit project represents…

Where is the centre of Cape Town?

Andrew — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:54:43 +0000

My colleague Iain Harris, who runs the popular Coffeebeans Routes (“We create contemporary, urban, African experiences that provide travellers deep insights into the places they choose to visit”) raised some provocative questions on his blog yesterday – Where is the centre of Cape Town? What happens if we move…

Cape Town Fan Walk lives on

Andrew — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:39:13 +0000

It wasn’t as big as the World Cup Fan Walk. Or as glamorous. But last night’s PSL double header at the Cape Town Stadium showed that the Cape Town Fan Walk is here to stay.

Of the 46 000 people that attended the match at the stadium, only 6 000 used…

The ‘unhappy compromise’ shows signs of coming of age

Andrew — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:05:54 +0000

The Cape Town Foreshore has been described as an ‘unhappy compromise’ resulting in series of ‘wind-blown stretches of asphalt and concrete, filled with car parks and roaring traffic, inaccessible to pedestrians.’* Yet on a still winter’s morning, in the early dawn light, on foot, the Foreshore can almost be beautiful.…

Reclaiming cities for people

Andrew — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 13:54:44 +0000

Have a look at this short inspirational talk by Gil Penalosa (brother of the more famous Enrique) on how Bogata, a developing city, shifted resources into building liveable streets and spaces for the benefit of the majority of citizens.

I particularly like his example about constructing linear parks and walkways that…

Post 2010 paradigm shifts create opportunities for new city development

Andrew — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:12:12 +0000

In 2008, the City of Cape Town and the Cape Town Partnership published the Central City Development Strategy – a framework to guide change and manage growth over the next ten years. We are currently reviewing and updating the strategy in light of the 2010 World Cup experience.…

Heaven forbid we return to business as usual in the city

Andrew — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:35:09 +0000

Cape Town will never be the same again. Not after the experience of the World Cup. I’m not talking about the infrastructure legacy, or the new facilities created, or the worldwide exposure for Cape Town as a destination. I’m talking about the way in which our attitudes to using the city…

I love it when a plan comes together

Andrew — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:46:40 +0000

“I love it when a plan comes together” was one of the catchphrases of John ‘Hannibal’ Smith, a character in the popular 1980s TV-series, The A-Team. I felt like repeating it on Friday evening when I saw 20 000 people (the City of Cape Town’s official figure) using the Cape Town…

Award for Cape Town Station designer

Andrew — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:05:48 +0000

Yesterday, I wrote about the huge public space opportunities that will present themselves once the new CT Station Square in the Central City is unveiled (Cape Town Station Square – Unburied Treasure). In today’s Cape Times, I see that my colleague Mokena Makeka, the Cape Town architect behind the redesign of the…