New safety rules for e-bikes on Cape Town's Sea Point Promenade

The City of Cape Town is introducing stringent rules for electric bike usage on the popular Sea Point Promenade, aimed at enhancing safety for all pedestrians. The announcement, made on August 7, outlines specific regulations to curb reckless riding behavior. Under these new measures, electric devices must adhere to an 8km/h speed limit in shared pedestrian zones.

Pedestrians are emphasized as having the right of way at all times, a stance affirmed by Mayco member for community services and health, councillor Francine Higham.

Higham highlighted that while the promenade is beloved by locals and tourists alike, safety concerns have escalated alongside the rise in electric mobility devices. The responsibility now lies in ensuring the safety of especially vulnerable groups like children, elderly individuals, and those with disabilities. The city's recreation and parks department is in the process of finalizing signage to clearly communicate the 8km/h speed limit and designated drop-off areas by the end of August.

By September, the enforcement of a rigorous compliance process will target commercial fleets, with rental businesses required to equip their e-bikes with verifiable speed controls and clear operator identification. Additionally, operators must implement responsible rental practices, establish incident reporting protocols, and maintain comprehensive public liability insurance. Violators who ignore the formal permission must adhere to the rules within a specified period or face immediate enforcement action.

The City is also working on defining technical requirements for high-powered rental e-bikes, including restrictions on weight, passenger capacity, and maximum speed. Officials are evaluating whether to limit the total number and locations of rental operators along the busiest sections to prevent congestion.