Weekday traffic in Cape Town still way below pre-lockdown levels
Weekday traffic on the N1, N2, N7 and M5 freeways fell by between 75% and 80% in April, according to the City of Cape Town’s Transport Directorate.

Related article: [WATCH] Excellent drone footage shows empty streets, empty beaches in Cape Town
Traffic increased in May to around 40% of volumes seen before the lockdown.
In June, weekday traffic recovered to about 65% of normal levels.
Lester Kiewit interviewed Mikhail Manuel of Civil Engineering at the University of Cape Town’s Centre for Transport Studies.
Cycling or walking to work – and working from home – is going to change the way people use their cars.
Mikhail Manuel, University of Cape Town Centre for Transport Studies
In Bogotá in Columbia, Barcelona and parts of New York they created cycling highways… Cycling is a normal way to keep distance between yourself and another person.
Mikhail Manuel, University of Cape Town Centre for Transport Studies
In South Africa, the minibus taxi is a Covid case waiting to happen – so many people are crammed into one vehicle. I hope the minibuses will open windows and use sanitiser…
Mikhail Manuel, University of Cape Town Centre for Transport Studies
We must be realistic about how much change is possible… By October or November… we’ll probably see people move back to their old habits…
Mikhail Manuel, University of Cape Town Centre for Transport Studies
Quite a number of business are working from home, solely… If people can still be productive; those businesses need to keep their staff at home…
Mikhail Manuel, University of Cape Town Centre for Transport Studies
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
More from Covid-19 coronavirus explained

Germany Covid-19 death rate now higher than US - considers 'mega lockdown'
Germany has squandered its early success in restricting Covid-19, laments Deutsche Welle Correspondent Chelsey Dulaney.
Read More
Prioritise drivers for vaccination against Covid-19 - National Taxi Alliance
It's a fact - minibus taxis are essential for the functioning of the economy. Lester Kiewit interviews Alpheus Mlalazi (NTA).
Read More
'Undertakers have carried caskets from the hearse to the graveside in full PPE'
The Funeral Federation Of SA's Dr Lawrence Konyana addresses the lack of uniformity around funeral procedures under lockdown.
Read More
'Every hospital mortuary is full. Bodies kept in refrigerated tent in the woods'
Britain is running out of space for its dead bodies, reports UK correspondent Adam Gilchrist.
Read More
As SA remains on level 3 WC's health boss say booze ban is working
Dr Saadiq Kariem says there was a 65% drop in trauma unit admissions on New Year's Day 2021 compared to the same time last year.
Read More
South African invention revolutionises oxygen delivery to Covid-19 patients
"I have witnessed this device saving lives," says Dr Warren Gregorowski of the proudly South African device.
Read More
'ANC is against another hard lockdown'
"Family meeting" – the scariest words in the English language. Bruce Whitfield interviews News24 Political Editor Qaanitah Hunter.
Read More
[WATCH] President Ramaphosa addresses an anxious SA (Monday, 11 Jan)
President Cyril Ramaphosa's Covid-19 address is done and dusted. Watch the entire recording, right here.
Read More
Alcohol ban was wildly effective at preventing trauma - data
The data is conclusive. Banning alcohol sales prevents trauma. Partially banning it partially prevents trauma (Dr Saadiq Kariem).
Read More
South Africa gets 1.5m AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses from India
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize made the announcement on Thursday.
Read More