Durban - Metro police attempted to stop cyclists who converged at Durban's King's Park pool on Tuesday for a "protest ride" which police said was illegal. The protest action by Cyclesafe comes after retired dentist Willem van Heerden was killed in a hit and run last week, while another four cyclists were injured in a similar incident days later. The organisation's Lyndon Kelly said they wanted government to create a safer environment for all in the cycle community. Kelly said the protest ride would end at city hall where a memorandum detailing their concerns would be handed to the municipality. The Daily News reported that city authorities had denied cyclists the right to stage the protest ride as cyclists gathered for it on Tuesday morning. In a letter sent to Cyclesafe KwaZulu-Natal, the municipality's health, safety and social services cluster advised the cyclists that should the protest ride go ahead, it would be deemed illegal because the city had not been given the adequate seven-day notice. Newly appointed metro police spokesperson Superintendent Joyce Khuzwayo was not available for comment. A police officer at metro police radio control confirmed that attempts had been made to stop the cyclists from proceeding with their protest ride. "We barricaded certain parts near Kings Park pool but some of them managed to go through," the police officer said.
