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Amazing story, thanks for sharing, this is a place of many stories, I guess anything that goes on there is quite unusual for us City folk. The pictures of the sluice gates at the dam on FBook are quite surreal - Fox finally getting to let it all go

I find the whole thing quite depressing - its just effed up. I've tried to be an active citizen, make practical suggestions, don't just complain, don't just let things slide. I f*cking pleaded with the City for months to take action, took the photos, sent them the practical and financially viable immediate suggested solutions. Warned them that someone might die. Their responses fall into, 'don't care, not my job, wrong department, not my ward, cover my arse, professionally incompetent, negligent' or all of the aforementioned. As of this morning, the taxis are back at it doing the same, the City mowed some inconsequential bush and afterwards put back the flowers placed for Landon, they appear clueless. Add to this, the fact that I can't effectively ride my bike out of Cape Town to get beyond the City anymore without a better than even chance of being attacked is just effed up. Our City is failing us.

And one more simple fix, in Bakoven across the road from the Bootlegger, put those yellow sticks on the pavement to stop the inconsiderate arseholes parking there to get a coffee. Problem solved, buses and cars can pass, no need to send manpower to issue fines. Easy fix. Lives saved. *spelling

I can't comment on this specific incident. This specific riding group is generally very compliant, lots of very experienced rider in it. What I can say is that there are multiples more road users nowadays than when the road was designed laid out and the lanes and lines were painted. I think it needs a big review, the speed is 60 (I think it used to be 70), but they need to stop the speeding. Most of the cycling groups are reasonably well self managed, but their speeds are at times also quite scary. Riding outside of the yellow line is looking for trouble (just ride the Miciti bus to see what that poor driver has to do when you do that to him/ her, its really unfair). The big newcomer to the mix is the very large running groups on a Saturday, they fill the yellow lane and more. Its going to become a problem. In short, clean up the road, warning signage, stop the speeding.

if they just sort out this bend, the landslides one before Morning Mojo and the one just before the road becomes a double lane it would make the road infinitely safer, of course they need to address the speeding taxis and motorbikes

Hi Paul, I didnt see this happen, but there will be quite a few eye witnesses. As I said in my post above, I have been trying to get the City to at the least restore the yellow line to a full width for months. They did a half arse effort on the one side, just enough for a runner to pass. I'm no roads engineer, but what in essence has happened here is that there is a stream which passes beneath the road and over the years the stream has put soil next to the road and the bushes and soil has all but covered the width of the yellow line, this forces the runners and cyclists into the road. At the same time is at the end of a long straight for each lane and then goes into an S bend. The vegetation and slope make it nearly impossible to see the oncoming traffic. The taxis overtake at speed, regardless of the fact that they have no line of sight onto what coming in the oncoming lane in front of them, they then try and force their way back into their lane at speed. If there is a runner or cyclist in the area or both, they are almost in the road and have nowhere to bail. Add a Miciti bus in the mix and its a real mess at high speed. The solution was to restore the road (verge and bush) and to make it a solid line in both directions. The City sat on their hands and did the absolute minimum despite my pleas that someone was likely to die.

I'll try and keep this brief, because I have a lot to say. For context I have lived in this area most of my life and have ridden that road since I can remember, I now run it once a day from Llandudno to Bakoven and I catch the Miciti back, so I have a very good idea of most of the road users. Taxis and motorbikes are the problem. In 2015 I wrote to the city about that specific spot where the accident occurred, sent them photos and asked them to manage it. They did a job. In Dec 2025 I again asked to them to take urgent action, I supplied photos, (aerial and road use) and pleaded with them to take action, they closed the case and did nothing. I took it up again and eventually threatened them with public exposure. Eventually they sent a team to trim a bit of the bush back on the sea side, they did nothing about the other side of the road. The problem with this section of road is that it is an S bend with bush and soil encroachment into the yellow line, which forces runners and cyclists into the road. It is also precisely the place where the illegally speeding overtaking taxis are forced back into the traffic at high speed to avoid a head on collision. This was my final plea to the City in January: “Let’s just hope nobody gets flattened by a car or minibus. These emails will serve as a matter of record.” To be clear, today the taxis were doing the same, the motorbikes yesterday evening the same and the road conditions remain just as neglected. Being on the scene yesterday just after it happened is not sitting well with me still today. This was avoidable and people should be held accountable. I would like to see the City sued for a substantial sum of money for dereliction of their duty, so much so that people lose their jobs and the City is held accountable. I would like to see the taxi driver successfully prosecuted for murder (dolus eventualis).

I'll just leave this here:

I have been up the Leer quite a number of times, once in atrocious rain at night, its never easy, but its not at all unsafe. My advice would be just take it very slowly, step by step and watch your footing as there is lot of loose stuff and when you have a heavy bike your balance will be compromised, so just make sure your footing is solid before you move with a heavy bike. The approach to the top of the Leer from the Bosluiskloof turnoff should also not be underestimated, its a very rough track and with your setup you are likely to walk quite a bit, don't stress about it as the views are magnificent and you are in a beautiful remote area. Your last signal is at the top of the hill above the Bosluiskloof turnoff, before you decend into the approach road, so if you need to send a message that might be the last spot for quite a long part of your ride. Wishing you all the best, its a magical part of the country.

Unfortunately I assume that the numbers tell you this and that your statement is based on fact and not just hope, but it also reminds me of the comments re Burry Stander - his 'numbers' were elite, but not the best. But Burry maximised everything else, including the belief that he had as much right to win as the rest - I loved watching him race both XCO and the Epic - 100% committed to what he had, Wishing you all the best with your race season coming up.

Two things from my side, with all the cameras in that area, there will be a lot of footage available, hopefully if it shows that law enforcement turned a blind eye to what members of the public have been reporting, that gets considered to as it seems that these people should never have been able to drive in their state. Alan Winde - as much as I sympathise with the outrage directed at him. I don’t think he deserves it, he sits quietly at the Bakoven coffee shop on many mornings in his kit, HE IS ONE OF US, I have no doubt he would do everything he could to stop this, but it is a problem much bigger than him. I have often felt the urge to walk over to him and moan, then I think, what have I done to report a dangerous situation, alert an officer ( who are always in my experience immediately responsive). So I am not negating the rage, let’s just make sure that it’s directed also where it it useful.

I was also at the tidal pool at the time and heard all the sirens - you just know something bad has happened. I see on FB there is a photo of the LPC group approaching them at the traffic light before they had left the party spot in their vehicles. The sad thing is that where they were partying is 150m from the law enforcement and Camps Bay security offices where the shifts change and its 300m from the SAPS station - I cant believe that one of those officers didnt see what was happening and intervene. But its a bit like my request to make a very dangerous portion of road just a bit safer - there is no accountability or urgency. Weeks go bye, cases get closed without investigation, everything is outsourced - but most of all responsibility is outsourced. Accidents happen, but when they are avoidable and nothing got done - there must be severe repercussions. You cant take a public servant salary - but look the other way when its too much bother.

Just too tragic, RIP Idries and condolences to his loved ones. I've been trying for weeks to get the City to cut back the bush before boulders beach forcing the cyclists and runners into the road, despite marking it urgent they are just passing it around internally. Anyone else want to report it, please do as it will help move them to action. I almost got taken out on Sunday turning right on a green arrow opposite the Camps Bay PnPay had to lock up the brakes, cyclist nearly landed on my old Land Rover bonnet as he went through the red light at speed.

Got to say he looks very comfortable on that S Works, good form and 1 finger braking - doesn't look like a novice to me