Cape Town has Africa's first travel app integrating all forms of transport

For the first time, Cape Town commuters and tourists can plot a journey through the city on public transport by typing a single question into their mobile devices: "How do I get to (insert destination) on time?"

This is possible because of the new Transport for Cape Town (TCT) app ? the first multi-modal transport app in Africa, which allows commuters to locate places of interest, local businesses, and sightseeing destinations, making it easy for them to communicate with city authorities about concerns over service and travel conditions ? and receive travel alerts.

The app uses the WhereIsMyTransport platform, which was developed at UCT, and is available for free download on Apple, Blackberry, Windows and Android devices.

"TCT is a single answer to a single question," says Devin de Vries, co-founder and CEO of WhereIsMyTransport (a team of 10+ UCT alumni), adding that use of the app means passengers can easily navigate across rail, Cape Town's traditional bus system, the new MyCiTi bus system, and all other forms of transport.

"The app will inform you of useful places along the way such as accommodation, restaurants, shopping malls, schools, hospitals, fuelling stations and police stations," says the city's mayoral committee member on transport, Councillor Brett Herron. "It can find places of interest close to you and keep you informed of these en route. Once residents get the hang of it, they will not only use the app to move around the city, but also to explore their city.

"The development of this app is indicative of the City's commitment to cutting-edge technological solutions in times of increasing urbanisation where mobility is crucial. It also creates a platform for the City and the residents to communicate with one another about transport-related issues. This app is guaranteed to be a game changer in how we use public transport and interact with each other," explains Herron.

WhereIsMyTransport is a South African-born technology start-up focused on public transport solutions designed to serve the needs of cities, operators, and commuters. Beginning as an honours project at UCT it has grown into a local transport-technology powerhouse that is proud to be collaborating with the City on a project that serves residents.

"TCT fosters citizen-city engagement by increasing access to and use of public transport, bringing in new users and enriching the experience of existing ones through convenient, timely, seamless information," says De Vries.

Photo supplied.