Cape Town: Where Walking Is An Option

This post from ESPN discusses the poor walking environment in Johannesburg, and the safer and more walkable urban realm of Cape Town.

Cape Town is different. Police and security guards line pedestrian corridors and populate street corners, so that it's possible for people of all races to stroll from pub to club to restaurant after midnight without ever dealing with an automobile.

In the grand scheme of things, that's a recipe for safety. The security of car travel is an illusion here; highway wrecks were a common sight. I counted six in one day early in the tournament, and the tournament opened with a tragedy when Nelson Mandela's 13-year-old great-granddaughter died after the opening concert, the victim of a drunk driver.

A stroll in South Africa -- weird, huh?
ESPN
July 5, 2010

Thanks to urban planning student Linden Weiswerda for the link!

Fake Bus Crash A Test of City's Disaster-Readiness

A mock bus crash was created in Pretoria to test the city's readiness and ability to deal with disasters during the World Cup.

Staff at the British High Commission in South Africa, along with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London, FIFA and local police took part in the demonstration.

Mock bus crash in Pretoria used to make sure preparations are on track for 2010 World Cup
worldcup2010southafrica.com
February 25, 2010

'Unroadworthy' Buses and Taxis Pulled From Eastern Cape

In a preventive measure, the Eastern Cape department of transport has temporarily suspended 149 buses and 30 taxis from the road after ruling them "unroadworthy". Faulty vehicles have led to many accidents in the Eastern Cape and throughout South Africa.

Spokesperson Ncedo Kumbaca said the only way for the owners to get them back was to fix the problems on the buses and put them through roadworthy tests.

149 buses, 30 taxis suspended in Eastern Cape
Independent Online
December 16, 2009