What is Cape Towns Dial-a-Ride service and how does it work?
Cape Towns Dial-a-Ride DaR is a specialized transport service for people with severe physical disabilities. It offers accessible vehicles and trained drivers, primarily focusing on work-related trips from 2025. The city aims to balance demand, costs, and inclusive mobility through this service.
For many residents of Cape Town, mobility means more than just getting from one place to another it represents freedom, connection, and opportunity. In 2002, the city launched Dial-a-Ride DaR as a temporary measure, aiming to fill the gap for people with severe physical disabilities until mainstream public transportation became truly accessible. This service provided specialized vehicles and trained drivers to ensure that those who relied on wheelchairs or had profound mobility challenges could experience the city alongside everyone else.
Initially, DaR operated as a supplementary program, never intended to become the sole solution for accessible transport. City leaders viewed it as a bridge toward a future where all buses, trains, and taxis would provide barrier-free travel. In this way, Cape Town followed the pattern of other major cities that introduced similar services as stopgaps, only to find that demand quickly grew and expectations shifted.
Over time, more residents came to depend on DaR not just for essential commutes, but for daily errands, attending social gatherings, and accessing healthcare. The service evolved in response to this need, becoming an essential part of life for many users. As DaR became woven into the social fabric, it highlighted both the successes and shortcomings of Cape Towns broader approach to accessible mobility.