Tuk-tuks come to Cape Town

City council opens tender process for tuk-tuks in Cape Town.

Cape Town's city council has launched a tender process to provide licences for operators of tuk-tuks, a three-wheeled form of public transport.

The tender would grant 80 operating licenses divided between eight areas: Fresnaye and Bantry Bay; Sea Point, Green Point, Bo-Kaap and De Waterkant; Tamboerskloof, Walmer Estate, University Estate, Zonnebloem and District Six; Kalk Bay, St James and Fish Hoek; and Simon’s Town.

The council says the tuk-tuks, which can carry two passengers, are designed for commuters who wish to travel distances of up to three km, and could be operating on the streets of Cape Town by 1 September.

A maximum of eight bidders would be allowed to bid for a commercial services contract and the city council would give preference to electric tuk-tuks.

Operators would be required to cover their own operational costs, without city subsidies, and would be paid directly by commuters. Under city regulations, the tuk-tuks could travel at a maximum speed of 30km and the vehicles would be subject to safety inspections.