Abstract
Urban planning plays an important role in shaping and managing the city’s land infrastructure in the
environments we live in. With the rise increase of employment within city centre, it is important to design
areas within cities that encourages walking and cycling than to rely on personal automobiles; this will also
help in increasing access for pedestrians and cyclists to different places. However, it is the duty of planners
to create spaces that make active transportation not only possible but also desirable. This study
investigated the role of urban planning in promoting active transportation in the City of Tshwane (Pretoria
Central Business District). Accordingly, the study aims at investigating the role of urban planning in
enhancing sustainable and efficient non-motorised transportation within Pretoria CBD and develop a
framework that can help promote active transportation. Exploratory research design and a mixed research
approach were adopted which assisted the research study to gain insights and identify areas of improvement
from the findings through the development of a comprehensive framework. The research approach was used
in understanding the patterns and traveling behaviours of active transport users in the Pretoria CBD. The study
estimated a sample size of 120 through Raosoft tool, however only 71 participants went through interviews
and questionnaires. Purposively 7 officials were selected from City of Tshwane Municipality, however one
participant was introduced to the researcher, which then made them 8 in total. Context analysis technique was
used in order to provide deep understanding of participant’s experience and perspectives regarding the current
state of active transportation infrastructures. Consequently, thematic analysis technique was used to analyse
data that was transcripted through interviews. Findings reveal that there is no maintenance plan for active
transport infrastructures in Pretoria CBD due to budget constraints and this has led to infrastructures
deteriorating. More focus is still placed on maintaining motorised infrastructures than active transport
infrastructures. This has led to improper movement within the Pretoria CBD. There is no single comprehensive
framework that stand on promoting active transport in Pretoria CBD, however, active transport plan is included
in the CITP. Based on the study findings, it is emphasized that active transportation in Pretoria CBD be
promoted by implementing proper active transportation infrastructures. This study developed a framework
comprised of strategies to help promote active transportation in the Pretoria CBD.