This is the new mobility plan – Rector at presentation
February 28, 2012 
20 Comments
The Stellenbosch Campus a residential area (erf), new thoughts on parking, more accommodation for students, a campus wide bicycle project and a shuttle service.
Prof Russel Botman at the presentation in the Endler Hall (Photo: Justin Alberts)
These are all aspects of the Campus Master Plan that Prof Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, announced this afternoon (Monday 27 February) to staff of Stellenbosch University (SU). The theme of his presentation was A New Era: Facilities and Mobility for a 21st Century University.
Prof Botman said his mandate is to ensure that SU can cope with the challenges of the 21st century – as a university, but also “with the historic old town of ours”.
“For the University our agreement means that we must maintain our excellence as we strive for greater relevance and that we must move from success to significance.”
The University must face a number of challenges one of which is the institution’s unprecedented growth. This lead to a shortage of parking on the Stellenbosch campus. “If everyone has a parking space, there is a shortage of 7 200. Whatever the case, the more vehicles, the bigger our carbon footprint. What we did as a university is to commit to promoting a sustainable environment. This means we made a choice for renewal, for the sake of sustainability. Consequently, the Campus Master Plan was created, which include facilities and mobility, because these two are closely related.”
As far as facilities are concerned, Prof Botman touched on the SU’s planned entrance in Crozier Street via a main artery which will stretch to Jan Marais Park, where an interactive relaxation space is on the cards. The campus master plan also includes new student accommodation.
The purpose of the Master Plan is to make the Stellenbosch campus into a residential area, said Prof Botman. This means that it will be safer for pedestrians; that no heavy-duty vehicles will be allowed; a speed limit of 35km/h will apply and cycling will be ideal.
In a specific reference to parking, Prof Botman said the best approach now is that users must pay full cost for the parking they use. “This means not a parking fee of R180 per year, but the full amount. For 2012, the new parking fee is R528 per year.”
This amount will not be recovered at once but on a monthly basis – R44 per month for staff and R264 per semester for students. He added that the university asks costprice compared to the municipality’s rate which amounts to R300 or more per month.
“This year everyone who registered for parking will pay the same basic rate, but in 2013 there will be differentiated tariffs with the cheapest parking on the outskirts of campus – at Coetzenburg and Lentelus.”
Prof Botman urged staff to use other modes of transport. These include walking, cycling, shuttles, lift-clubs and public transport.
The Matie bike.
He also announced a unique bike project – probably the first of its kind. From 15 March onwards, staff and students can rent a Matie bike and construction will soon start on bicycle lanes in Victoria Street.
The mobility plan also includes an extensive shuttle service on campus. Motorists who drive to campus will be encouraged to park at Lentelus and Coetzenburg where they can board a shuttle to campus. A pilot project is currently operational on two routes – from Coetzenburg to the Conservatorium and from Lentelus to Joubert Street.
Prof Botman also encouraged staff to consider lift-clubs. A website will be launched shortly to bring people in contact with each other who stay in the same area.
As far as public transportation is concerned, he said SU is in discussions with the municipality and taxi associations about a joint strategy.
“This is a big leap, but I urge you, let’s do our part for our town, our country, our planet,” Prof Botman concluded and referred to the SU Wordfest which kicks off on Friday, 2 March with the theme “Green”.
“To go green is the call of our time. This is something our town will forever be associated with. The point is that we all can do something to help save our planet. Maties have always set the pace. Let us now be an example, institutional example. It all starts with a mindset shift – it’s time to think differently and do differently.”
- Visit http://www.sun.ac.za/university/Management/rektor/speeches.html for the text and slides of the Rector’s presentation.
- Send enquiries and comments to groen_green@sun.ac.za.
- On 15 March, the University will present its first Sustainability Day with various activities on campus, including a new cycling race to launch the new Matie bicycles. The theme for the day is “Go Green for a Green Generation”. Visit www.sun.ac.za/sustainability for more information.
“Daaglikse ryer van Somerset-wes” slaan die spyker op die kop.
Onbheerste toekating van studente in die verlede ten einde meer staatssubsidies te dryf het studentegetalle laat toeneem tot ver bo die vermoë van die universiteit en die munisipaliteit se gebrekkige infrastruktuur. Ongelukkig nie net wat fasiliteite aan betref nie. Krisisbestuur moet nou op ‘n “volhoubare groen manier” op belanghebbendes afgeforseer word, met huidige dosente wat die meeste geraak sal word. Die universiteit is besig om eensydig dosente se werkskontrakte te wysig. Enige dosent wat werk by US het nog altyd verstaan dat ‘n nominale bedrag vir parkering betaal word, en dat dit geensins ‘n poging is om werklike koste te verhaal nie. Dit is absurd om te dink dat personeellede nou vir die US nou poog om personeel vir eiendomsbelasting verantwoordelik te hou.
Innoverende metodes om hierdie probleem op te los soos om personeel te verplig om meesal van die huis af te werk is nie ondersoek nie.
En soos altyd is demokrasie ‘n wonderlike hulpmiddel om hierdie tipe planne geimplementeer te kry. Vir sommige werknemers wat ver oor ‘n miljoen per jaar betaal word gaan so ‘n aftrekking bykans geensins gevoel word nie. Vir die res is dit wesenlik.
‘n Pendeldiens tussen Stellenbosch Stasie en die Sentrale Kampus (Neelsie/Rooiplein) sal treinry aanmoedig.
Ek stem 100% saam met Pipebomb. Wilma is dalk een van die gelukkiges wie nog nie n slagoffer van misdaad was nie, maar ek dink die universiteit sal geskok wees as hulle moes weet hoeveel studente slagoffers van misdaad was. Ons het n oefening in klas gedoen waar ons gevra was om te se of ons al n slagoffer was en hoe misdaad ons lewe beinvloed. Nes Wilma was ek self nog nie n slagoffer nie, maar ek was geskok deur die hoeveelheid van my klasmaats wat wel slagoffers was (meer as die helfte van die klas). Wat dit erger maak is dat baie van die misdaad op kampus plaasgevind het. Baie het gese dat hulle bang is om in die aande alleen in die dorp te loop. So ek dink Pipebomb lig n baie belangrikke kwessie. Ek weet die program is in sy begin stadium maar moet studente eers beroof word voordat daar aandag aan veiligheid gegee gaan word? Ek persoonlik voel veiliger in my motor as op n fiets. My vraag is gaan studente voorsien word met n slot, fietsry helm en nag ligte?
Dit is nou reggestel.
Die link na die rektor se toesprake werk nie.
I want to answer Pipebomb. Only 45% of students have their own cars. How do you think the other 65% get home? I am walking to work and back everyday (I am a Staff Member) . Not once in this 13 months has anything happened to me. Whether you have a car or not, are in a hostel or not you will be a victim. What is worse is that students park where they like. Coming to work in the mornings I have to walk in the road because the sidewalks are clustered by cars.
Blink plan! Al is dit net ‘n begin! Daar sal natuurlik praktiese probleme wees, maar ten minste probeer die Universiteit en dorp iets doen. Dis vir almal ‘n frustrasie om ure in die verkeer te sit en nooit parkering te kry nie en dit gaan net so bly as elkeen nie doen wat hy/sy kan nie. Die res van die wereld kry dit reg om in sneeu en ander ongure weer met publieke vervoer oor die weg te kom. Ons kan ook. Dink net as almal in Londen met motors moes rond ry, bv. Ek het die volste vertroue dat daar mettertyd oplossings gevind sal word vir ouers met kinders en om die fietsryers en stappers se veiligheid te probeer verseker. Baie dankie (by voorbaat)!
While “going green” is currently on everyones agenda, it should not be implemented at the cost of student safety. People in the Netherlands may ride their bikes more, but it should be taken into consideration that Netherland does have a lower crime rate than South Africa. Students reported that they are victims of muggings and theft and I think that a person on a bicycle compared to a person in a car’s risk is significantly higher. Students have to write tests at night and sometimes finish as late at 10 or 11. Traveling home alone on a bike would not be a safe experience. Do we want a green or a safe generation. There are other ways of reducing the universities carbon footprint.
Ek dink dis ‘n blink plan. Ek weet nie hoekom Suid-Afrikaners so traag is om fiets te ry of te stap nie.
Hoekom moet daar storte in elke gebou gebou word? Ek ry baie rustig kantoor toe elke oggend… en dan ry ek nog steeds vir al die karre weg wat by Merriman se verkeersirkel stilstaan… en dan is ek verder ook nog betyds vir my 08:00 klasse…
En in die Winter… Nederland het baie meer reën dae as Stellenbosch… en dan ry hulle ook nog verder in die reën…
Please note that the article is now available in English too.
All articles on the blogs are suppose to be in Afrikaans and English. Due to the immediate nature of placing articles on the blogs we from time to time place it in one language and then try to complete the translation as soon as possible. This is definitely not the case with most articles. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
Good plan, what about the safety aspect? I heard that students are getting hijacked of their bicycles, it is not safe especially in the evening
Weereens gaan die saak oor Die universiteit, dink net aan hulle eie sak. Hoe meer studente hulle kry, hoe meer geld van die regering. Die mense wat die plan uitgedink het, het ook nie kinders op skool nie en verdien groot salarisse wat nie die bedrag geld aan hulle sak sal voel nie. Hulle dink nie daaraan dat ouers nog hulle kinders in die oggende en smiddae op sekere plekke (Skole) moet kry nie. Die ouers moet maar HOES en BETAAL. Vir hierdie bedrag, behoort ‘n personeellid TEN MINSTE ‘n gereserveerde parkeerplek te hê wat aan jou naam gekoppel is, dit werk so by UCT. Hoop hierdie bedrag sal BELASTINGVRY wees. STUDENTE moet maar weer fiets ry!! Hoe gaan die universiteit maak in die WINTER as dit reen, vir die mense wat wel besluit om met hulle fietse te ry? Gaan daar nou binnekort storte gebou word in elke gebou? Ek hoop dat personeel ‘n keuse sal kan hê om ook die parkering op PRO RATA basis kan doen. Dink net aan al die praktiese reëlings. AI,AI,AI,.
Excellent plan and the people involved deserve our praise.
Now the municipality should dust off its Non-motorised Vehicle Transport plan and come to the party. In the meantime I will continue to cycle to work on pavements and through parking areas …
die parkerings plekke word dan toe gebou met woonstelle vir studente ,maar niks vir die werkers van die varsity nie ,baie het nie hul eie plekkie nie ,wat daar van .laat weet maar ,ek vra maar net
Dear there,
It is great to read such kinds of news. Stellenbosch is a place to study. Just one comment about “(Complete article in English to follow.)”. I sometimes read news on the front page of sun website, then I click on what interests me. But I continuously get the above message, so it’s always difficult to finish the news and it is rare I go back and check if the english news is already there. So, Can you please put the English and Afrikans version same time. Thanks very much.