Theme 2: Promoting an ACCESSIBLE city Print

Where do we want to be?

All citizens of Durban can easily and affordably access the facilities and services that they require for a sustainable lifestyle.

Targets

 
Short Term Target (10 years) Medium Term Target (20 years) Long Term Target (50 years)
Citizens spend less than 10% of their income on transport. All citizens live within 30 minutes walk of a school, library, clinic and recreational facility.  
People with disabilities able to use public transport and public facilities.    
Everyone has access to housing opportunities & household services.    
Everyone is technologically enabled to access information relevant to their lives.    

How will we get there?

Strategy A: Develop high density nodes and corridors

High density nodes and corridors have been used successfully by cities around the world to create places where a range of services, facilities and public transport options are easily available to people. The provision of services and facilities at high density locations is cost effective because they can be used by many people.  In addition, retail facilities are financially viable because of large numbers of customers.  Public transport options become more affordable as there are sufficient people to use the public transport, and therefore make it financially viable. 

Strategy B: Promote and encourage the provision and use of public transport

High use of private transport options result in congestion, high transport costs, air pollution and high carbon dioxide pollution that contributes to climate change.  Successful cities have efficient, effective and affordable public transport options for their citizens.    Effective public transport is especially required to serve high density nodes and corridors that are discussed in Strategy A above.

Strategy C: Support development of non-motorised transport

Walking and cycling are not only low cost transport options but also contribute to better health of people, and neither emit pollution nor contribute to climate change.  Non-motorised transport makes access to services, retail facilities and recreational opportunities more financially viable for all sectors of society. 

Strategy D: Ensure equitable and accessible location of retail and social facilities

Because of the legacy of Apartheid, many people still do not have convenient and easy access to retail and social facilities.  Affordable access to retail and social facilities increases quality of life.

Strategy E: Ensure universal access to facilities and public transport

Facilities, services and transport options should be accessible to people regardless of age, disability or temporary injury.

Strategy F: Ensure access to housing and household services

eThekwini Municipality has made considerable progress in providing housing and household services to the people of Durban.  However, there are still many people without proper housing or access to services. 

Strategy G: Promote access to information and develop communication networks

Better access to information and communication options prevents unnecessary trips.  Access to information also increases livelihood and lifestyle options, and assists people in the successful implementation of activities.   

What should be done?

Action List Individuals Civil Society Business Local  government Provincial & National Government
 
Strategy 2.A: Develop high density nodes and corridors
2.A.1 Locate people and services at high density nodes and corridors. Buy or rent housing close to a transport corridor. Locate new facilities at nodes on transport corridors. Locate employment, high density housing and commercial investment in corridors. Locate new facilities and high density housing along corridors and at nodes and promote location of employment and investment along corridors and at nodes.    Locate new facilities along corridors and at nodes. 
2.A.2 Ensure functionality of high density corridors     Invest in high density corridors. Maintain & upgrade road and other infrastructure along corridors. Maintain & upgrade road and other infrastructure along corridors.
 
Strategy 2.B: Promote and encourage use of public transport
2.B.1 Locate services and facilities near public transport routes and promote active use of public transport Use public transport whenever possible.   Locate businesses on public transport routes and provide employees with public transport subsidies. Locate public facilities on or within 10 minute walk of public transport routes, promote park and ride facilities and provide employees with public transport subsidies Locate public facilities on or within 10 minute walk of public transport routes and provide employees with public transport subsidies.
2.B.2 Improve service levels and invest in public transport     Improve services on high priority public transport routes. Continually invest in and upgrade public transport facilities and systems and establish public transport facilities for new growth areas.  Continually invest in and upgrade public transport facilities and systems.
2.B.3 Make public transport information accessible Find out about bus, rail and taxi routes and services.   Identify commercial opportunities which will help make transport maps and timetables freely accessible.. Provide free and easily available transport maps and timetables. Provide free and easily available transport maps and timetables.
2.B.4 Stop incentivising private  transport     Stop providing subsidies in the form of free parking and car subsidies. Stop providing subsidies in the form of free parking and car subsidies. Reduce car parking requirements along public transport routes. Stop providing subsidies in the form of free parking and car subsidies.
 
Strategy 2.C: Support development of non-motorised transport
2.C.1 Establish facilities for non-motorised transport Walk and cycle whenever possible. Schools to provide cycle lock up facilities. Provide cycle lock up facilities and develop new areas with side walks and cycling paths. Build continuous and safe cycle facilities and upgrade side walks to ensure comfortable walking surfaces that have sufficient space.  Prioritise cycle routes for schools. Build continuous and safe cycle facilities and upgrade side walks to ensure comfortable walking surfaces that have sufficient space.  Prioritise cycle routes for schools.
2.C.2 Locate neighbourhood level facilities within walking or cycling distance of communities Use local facilities rather than those that require motorised trips.   Locate retail businesses so that they are accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.  Ensure all communities have a primary school, a high school and library within a 5km range. Ensure all communities have a primary school, a high school and library within a 5km range.
2.C.3 Increase awareness of safety issues Be aware of road rules for pedestrians and cyclists and educate those around you on these rules. Schools to develop pedestrian and cycling awareness and safety programmes for scholars.    Promote pedestrian and cycling awareness programmes. Promote pedestrian and cycling awareness programmes.
 
Strategy 2.D: Ensure equitable and accessible location of retail and social facilities
2.D.1:Local facilities Make use of local retail and social facilities.   Establish local level retail facilities. Promote establishment of local retail and social facilities.  
2.D.2 New facility development located in previously underserved areas     Establish retail facilities and local markets in areas that are underserved. Develop a facility investment plan to eradicate backlog based on relative need. Develop a facility investment plan to eradicate backlog based on relative need.
2.D.3 Subsidise access of poor people        Ensure variable charge scale for facility use based on income where charges are levied, such as halls, cemeteries etc.  
 
Strategy 2.E: Ensure universal access to facilities and public transport
2.E.1 Buildings to conform to Universal Access design principles Understand how your home can be made accessible to people with special needs. Schools, NGOs, Faith Based Organisations and other civil society organisation should ensure old and new buildings conform to Universal Access design principles. Ensure old and new commercial developments and buildings conform to Universal Access design principles. Ensure old and new public buildings conform to Universal Access design principles. Ensure old and new public buildings conform to Universal Access design principles.
Building codes for Universal Access design       Include requirements for Universal Access design in building codes. Include requirements for Universal Access design in laws and regulations.
Public transport facilities accessible to the disabled   Advocacy organisations to promote the full accessibility of public transport facilities. Ensure all public transport facilities and vehicles are accessible for the disabled. Ensure all public transport facilities and vehicles are accessible for the disabled. Ensure all public transport facilities and vehicles are accessible for the disabled.
Provision of wheel chair parking Respect usage of wheelchair parking. Ensure wheel chair parking is provided. Ensure wheel chair parking is provided. Ensure wheel chair parking is provided. Ensure wheel chair parking is provided.
 
Strategy 2.F: Ensure equitable access to housing and household services
2.F.1 Address the housing backlog    Work in partnership with local and national government to reduce housing backlog. Identify innovative housing opportunities, such as converting office blocks to housing stock. Provide quality and liveable housing opportunities. Provide quality and liveable housing opportunities.
2.F.2 Address the services backlog   Work in partnership with local and national government to reduce services backlog.   Extend energy, water, sanitation and refuse collection services to underserved areas.  
 
Strategy 2.G: Promote access to information and develop communication networks
2.G.1 Use of and access to information Make active use of libraries and internet services in your local area. Schools, NGOs and CBOs to provide information in their local areas and internet access. Establish fee based information services in areas that are underserved by information facilities. Establish libraries and public access internet facilities throughout the city.   
2.G.2 Provision of local information on the internet Populate the internet with local information. Populate the internet with local information on civil society organisations. Populate the internet with local business information. Populate the internet with information of local government services and activities. Populate the internet with information of local services provided by provincial and national government.
2.G.3 Information technology infrastructure.        Create an enabling environment for internet infrastructure.   

 

 

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Comments (2)Add Comment
Sibusiso Buthelezi
January 12, 2010
41.151.13.115
Votes: +0
...

Dear Sir / Madam
This initiative and accompanying strategies are good to emphasise the need for a sustainable city for Durban. They have been proven to work in many other cities. Curitiba (Brazil) is a perfect example. However, in all cities that we can learn from the success was achieved because of the following: (1) decisive action; (2)getting politicians and all other key decision makers to buy and commit into the idea; (3)suitable capacity and skill; (4) sustainable vision - thinking long term and not rushing for quick fix solutions; (5)a string desire and commitment to implementation; (5) commitment to quality environments and not quantity; (6) implementation, implementation and implementation. I repeat (6) deliberately because this is a serious weakness in our cities and the country as a whole. This is where we need to focus our energies - good planning yes is extremely critical but we need to build put more effort in implementation. Let's use the work done to prepare for 2010 as a platform and to develop a belief and confidence that we can and we will implement all wonderful ideas we are able to formulate. Durban has huge huge potential but we now need to ensure it gets released for the benefit of its citizens, the country and the global community.

Regards
Sbu Buthelezi

Imagine Durban
January 14, 2010
196.210.199.182
Votes: +0
...

Thanks for your useful comments regarding how to achieve a sustainable city.

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