The City is tightening controls on e-scooters, e-bikes and other electric mobility devices on the Sea Point Promenade, including an 8 km/h speed limit and stricter enforcement.

The changes come as increasing numbers of electric mobility devices use the popular public space, with concerns raised over excessive speeds, rider behaviour and conflicts between riders and pedestrians.

The City says the Promenade remains a pedestrian recreational space and that children, older people and people with disabilities must be able to use it safely.

The first step will be the introduction of a Sea Point Promenade Management Protocol, followed by new signage, tighter controls for rental operators, improved monitoring and coordinated enforcement.

Under the protocol, electric mobility devices will be restricted to a maximum speed of 8 km/h in shared pedestrian areas, while pedestrians will have right of way at all times.

Racing, weaving through crowds and reckless riding will be prohibited, while riding on grassed areas will also not be permitted.

Riders will be required to dismount at identified congestion points, with only one rider allowed per device.

The City will also introduce age, supervision and safety requirements.

Commercial rental devices will have to meet identification requirements, while oversized and high-powered devices will face restrictions.

The City said it is still finalising the technical threshold for what will be classified as a high-powered rental device, including limits relating to weight, passenger capacity and maximum speed.

New signage

The Recreation and Parks Department will finalise and publish the conditions governing electric mobility devices and erect new signage by the end of this month.

The signage will outline the speed limit, pedestrian priority, dismount and no-riding areas, safe riding requirements and other operating restrictions.

The City says its existing by-laws allow Recreation and Parks to regulate vehicles in public recreational spaces, set conditions of use and impose speed limits.

National road traffic legislation and the City’s Streets By-law also protect sidewalks for pedestrian use.

Rental crackdown

Rental operators will face tighter controls, with Recreation and Parks and Public Trading expected to establish a formal compliance process by next month.

This will include operator and device identification, verified speed controls, responsible rental practices, incident reporting, public liability requirements and controls on where devices can be stored or collected on public land.

The City warned that non-compliance could result in enforcement action and said it would consider limiting the number and location of rental operators and devices in the busiest sections of the Promenade.

An enforcement plan involving Parks Rangers, Law Enforcement, Public Trading and Urban Mobility will also be finalised.

E-mobility operators respond

Moriah Andrews, business manager at Up-Cycles, a drop–and–go bike rental based in Sea Point, said while they believe the 8 km/h limit is practical for the promenade itself, it is “less practical” for riders using scooters to commute beyond the promenade.

“Enforcement may be more difficult where operators or private users lack the capability to adjust speed settings, or where users are simply unaware the measures are in place.”

She said self-regulation by both operators and private users “will be essential”.

“We also have live tracking on each scooter, so we’re alerted to any incidents in real time. We encourage riders to test the scooter on our premises before taking it out, to make sure they’re comfortable with the device before riding on the promenade.”

When asked what measures the company has in place to prevent unsafe behaviour, Andrews said one of the requirements is that they do not rent to anyone under the age of 16.

Andrews said they would welcome further engagement with the City to work through implementation details and timelines before the rules are finalised.

Responsible use of e-mobility devices

Francine Higham, Mayco member for community services and health, said the measures were aimed at protecting pedestrians while allowing responsible use of electric mobility devices.

“The Sea Point Promenade is one of Cape Town’s most loved public spaces, but it has also become one of our busiest. As the number of electric mobility devices has grown, so have safety concerns,” she said.

Higham said the city wants to ensure the Promenade remained safe and accessible for everyone.

“We will continue working with residents, operators and enforcement agencies to ensure that this remains one of Cape Town’s premier public spaces where people of all ages and abilities can walk, exercise and enjoy the coastline safely.”

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