The Claremont City Improvement District Company (CDIC) is looking at ways to improve pedestrian-crossing markings in light of several road accidents in the CBD.
A presentation at the CDIC’s annual general meeting last month highlighted the need for the improved markings, particularly along Main Road, Vineyard and Main, Stegman and Main, Grove and Main and Campground and Main roads.
The CIDC said it had attended to 22 accidents from June to August, which included 16 motor vehicle accidents, two pedestrian-related accidents and two hit-and-runs. In the past financial year, from the beginning of July 2023 till the end of June 2024, they had attended to 76 accidents.
CIDC executive manager Abdul Kerbelker said Main Road had seen a large number of accidents in areas where pedestrians were crossing Main Road away from designated pedestrian crossings.
“The CIDC is working on a project with the City of Cape Town to allow for greater awareness of designated pedestrian crossings through marking the road to indicate safe crossing points. This will have the added benefit of greater driver awareness,” he said.
There were 331 accidents, according to the City’s data summary for Main Road (from the intersection of Protea and Campground roads to Brook Street) from 2018 to 2023, with 31 pedestrian-related accidents. Stegman Road recorded 31 accidents with 67 accidents on Vineyard Road, according to the City’s data.
Mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews told the AGM that with the MyCiTi roll-out, more people would be coming into Claremont daily.
He said spatial transformation was bringing economic opportunities closer to residential opportunities and vice versa.
“Claremont is an important node for the City, and even though there are often whispers that Claremont would soon be rivalling the Cape Town CBD, the City prefers that Claremont’s growth is organic to ensure the area is safer and cleaner, under the leadership of Abdul Kerbelker,” he said.
During the past financial year, the CIDC recorded 73 arrests through its partnership with the Claremont police, City Law Enforcement, other city improvement districts and neighbourhood watches.
Mr Kerbelker said they had seen their lowest crime total since 2001, which included categories such as theft out of motor vehicles, common assault, house breaking and fraud.
The CIDC said there were 120 recorded homeless people in and around Claremont.
