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Why electric bikes are sparking safety fears on Sea Point’s promenade
Why electric bikes are dividing Sea Point’s promenade community
On most days, Sea Point’s promenade feels like a postcard version of Cape Town life. Early morning joggers greet the sunrise, families push prams along the sea wall, kids wobble past on tiny bicycles, and sunset walkers linger a little longer as the sky turns pink. It has always been a shared space. Lately, though, that sense of easy coexistence is starting to crack.
The growing presence of electric bikes, scooters, and other motorised devices has sparked a wave of concern among regular promenade users. What was once a relaxed mix of walkers, cyclists, and skateboarders is now, according to many residents, edging towards something far more dangerous.
“An accident waiting to happen”
The debate gained momentum after Jacques Weber shared his concerns online following time spent on the promenade. His message struck a nerve. While traditional bicycles and skateboards have long been part of promenade culture, he argued that high-speed electric devices simply do not belong in a space dominated by pedestrians, families, and children.
His warning was blunt. This was, he said, an accident waiting to happen.
Weber suggested practical solutions rather than outright exclusion. Ideas included restricting certain motorised devices while allowing essential services such as law enforcement and registered security, or redesigning the space so that wheeled transport uses specific tarred sections while the main walkway remains pedestrian-focused. Prams, wheelchairs, toddlers, and elderly walkers would then have a safer zone of their own.
For him, the issue was not about stopping people from enjoying the promenade. It was about making sure safety keeps up with how the space is being used today.
Fear on an evening walk
The response from the community was immediate and emotional. Many locals echoed the same fear. Rosalie Scher shared how evening walks have become stressful rather than soothing, especially for her husband, who uses a crutch. Navigating around fast-moving electric scooters, she said, can be terrifying.
Others were less convinced that simple solutions like painted lines would work. Annalisa Naude argued that the promenade is not the place for high-speed devices at all. With children running freely and people strolling without expecting vehicles, she believes electric bikes and scooters should be kept closer to the road rather than the pedestrian heart of the promenade.
Kathleen Pretorius summed up a sentiment many seemed to share. Bikes and skateboards belong here. What feels unsettling is the rise of commercial and high-speed motorised use. Watching electric bikes race past pedestrians, sometimes side by side, has changed the atmosphere from relaxed to tense.
What the City is saying
Ward councillor Nicola Jowell has confirmed that the City of Cape Town has received numerous complaints about speeding and unsafe behaviour involving electric devices. She pointed out that a major public participation process held in 2021 and 2022 gathered close to 2,000 responses, with almost 90 percent of participants supporting the existing shared use model.
The challenge, she explained, is that the landscape has shifted rapidly since then. The number of electric devices has grown significantly, and the rules around them remain unclear. Some are privately owned, others rented, and there is ongoing uncertainty around when an electric device becomes classified as a road vehicle rather than a pedestrian space user.
According to Jowell, the City is engaging directly with rental operators and holding internal discussions across departments to address the issue. Park Rangers are already monitoring the promenade around the clock, stopping anyone travelling at excessive speeds or behaving irresponsibly.
However, she has also cautioned that simple fixes like painting a line down the centre are unlikely to reduce conflict in such a busy space. With heavy pedestrian volumes throughout the day, more considered safety interventions will be needed.
A space worth protecting
At its core, this debate is about protecting one of Cape Town’s most loved public spaces. The promenade has always been a place where different generations, abilities, and lifestyles intersect. As technology changes how people move, the rules and design of shared spaces may need to change too.
For now, residents are watching closely, hopeful that solutions will balance access, enjoyment, and safety. Because if the promenade loses its sense of calm and inclusivity, it risks becoming something very different from the place so many Capetonians cherish.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Getaway Magazine
