JRH

This morning we saw a metallic red Mazda one tonner bakkie (Reg nr MRZ ...GP) with tinted windows with a bike rack on the back, parking at the pedestrian entrance to Hazeldean Farm on the Mooiplaas road in Pretoria East. Three individuals, not dressed as cyclists, got out and two went into Hazeldean farm along the road used by dozens of cyclists, on their way to Rosemary Hill. One of them stayed at the bakkie. The fact that these guys were very obviously not cyclists, wore jackets that can easily conceal weapons and the fact that they got out of the bakkie to walk into a field where cyclists normally cycle at that time of the morning, while the bakkie stayed behind seemed very suspicious to us. We carried on along the Mooiplaas road to avoid them, because neither of us were armed. Please be on the lookout for these guys because I am pretty sure that they are bike-jackers. If anyone sees the bakkie again, please see if we can get the complete registration number.

Why can we not designate a number of routes in Pretoria East as safe routes and encourage cyclists to use these routes more often. Maybe the private security companies, that make a lot of money from us living in the area, can help us to patrol these routes from 05:00 until 07:00 and from 17:00 to 19:00 during weekdays. We can map the routes with profiles and post it on a website. The same site can be used to report incidents and to give notice of organised rides by clubs, groups, etc. The companies assisting us can use the site for exposure and marketing and we can use reports received to justify the involvement of official law enforcement agencies in our area. I figure that if we combine our efforts, we can really make Pretoria East the cycling Mekka of this part of the world.

Me and a friend ride most mornings at 05:00 from the Engen in Hans Strijdom. Welcome to join.

Your FB page is a very good idea, but charity starts at home. During the past few weeks I witnessed a number of occasions where cyclists in Pretoria not only endangered themselves, but they frustrated the living daylights out of motorists by riding in groups blocking the road, riding on roads where it is unsafe and skipping traffic lights and intersections. If we want to change the attitude of motorists, we should change our own attitudes first. It serves no purpose to blame a motorist for not acknowledging you on your bicycle, when you do not consider the same motorist. For some reason cyclists believe that all road users are equal, but that they are more equal than other users. Lets include good road manners by cyclists in your campaign...

The crimes that concerns us, take place in daylight! If the people that deal with this are struggling to find effective measures to combat these crimes, please let me know. I have about 23 years experience in doing just that and never ever during the time that I caught crooks, did I patrol an area to prevent crime. I arrested the criminals! Are there still policemen that gather information, do observation, interrogate suspects arrested in the area, search people in the area for weapons, identify wanted suspects, involve the community of the squatter camps to gain information and do all the other things that good cops do, or are they nowadays only patrolling the problems into submission? Or are any of the above-mentioned under the measures planned but not reported in this forum?

Is the capture of the robbers on the cards. To patrol any area is not an effective crime prevention strategy, but is rather a crime relocation measure. If you patrol one area, they rob in another. The arrest of suspects and aggressive policing measures, such as random search and seizure operations, the identification and arrest of wanted criminal in an area, the installation of real/ dummy cameras, effective lighting and other crime prevention measures developed by means of environmental design proofed successful in a number of crime ridden areas in the past. Crime prevention in an area of about 4 square kilometers, populated only by a couple of squatters is a no brainer. Geographically, the squatter camp is smaller than the neighboring church! Access to the squatter camp is not impossible. I drove into the squatter camp with my bakkie to drop a guy off that worked for me. The majority of the residents in the squatter camp are law abiding citizens, plagued by a few criminals in their midst. Isn't the SAPS's inability to apply effective policing in the area, the reason why the residents of the squatter camp took the law in their own hands, when they killed two suspected robbers about 4 weeks ago? I am sorry, but the responses we get from the authorities and other people involved is simply not good enough.

Well organised. The race was flowing, except for a couple of back markers towards the middle of the 30 km race. What I fail to understand is how two guys can ride next to each other on single track, while having a conversation about some or other topic, while I am shouting "Track", "Passing Right" and everything else I could think of to make them move, without success. When I passed off the track on the right, the one guy swerved TOWARDS me, hit me and then made a majestic somersault over the handle bars of his bike. When I initially got up and back on my bike, the oke was cross with me for letting him fall???????? Unbelievable! But thanks to USN for an otherwise great race.

I am really impressed with the efficiency that SS Timing is doing the timing at events. These guys are doing the Trailseeker and USN Cup. In both instances the results are available almost immediately. SAS is updated soon afterwards. The seeding of the events with SAS work very well and makes both the series really enjoyable. The results of the Beast of the East, that took place more than a week ago, are not yet available on SAS, although cyclists were ensured that the event was a SAS event. To choose races to participate in next year, really is a "no-brainer". Is the race timed by SS Timing and is it a SAS race? No? Then I will wait for next week, when there probably will be such a race.

Guys. Any policeman can arrest a criminal, even the guys at Head Office. Druffster being sent from pillar to post is a travesty of justice. It is bull**** that attempted murder must occur more than once for it to become a priority. SAPS Head Office should intervene in this instance as a matter of urgency, because not only did their spokesperson, Millar, misrepresent their knowledge of the incidents,he also failed to give any form of workable measure to be taken in this regard. If Genl Munnoo can investigate crimes like Oscar Pistorius's, that occurred in the Boschkop area, he can investigate this as well. I sent a hell o a lot of messages and emails in this regard. I, for one will not back down until my cycling route is safe again. In the meantime, I will not be discouraged or intimidated by officialdom and criminals alike. I suggested in the other forum related to this, that we get together to work out a plan to insure the safety of our routes.

We are going for a three hour ride tomorrow at 04:30 from the Engen Garage in St Bernard Street. Anybody that want to come along is more than welcome.

Ek ry maar Atterbury deur Saints tot verby die wingerd en dan Boshkop toe. Behalwe fietsryers is daar nie eintlik mense nie en verdagte ouens staan uit. In die Boschkop omgewing is dit darem naby die polisiestasie en die buurtwag daar vat nie nonsens nie. Maar, dis eintlik nerens regtig veilig nie. Ek probeer maar om nie alleen te ry nie...

I wonder what happened after the following questions were submitted to the Metro Council by Crezane Bosch during March 2012: "The following questions was submitted to council that will take place on 29 March 2012. The answers provided by council on these questions will be used for follow up questions and possible motions to improve the situation and address the concerns of the cycling community. Your thoughts and inputs herein would be much appreciated as I will use facts provided to me to strengthen our case. Questions Submitted to Council For Council Meeting to be held in March 2012 By Councillor Crezane Bosch Date: 2 March 2012 BACKGROUND ON SET 1: Cycling is the fastest growing sport in our Country with a large base of spectators and participants spread across our city. With this in mind the following questions arises: QUESTIONS: SET 1: 1. How many cyclists are there in our city that uses cycling as:- (a) A Mode of transport to work; (B) A mode of transport to school; © A Recreational Sport; 2. How many incidents were reported in the past 5 years from 2006 to 2011 where: - (a) Cyclists were injured through criminal activities (Attacks with knifes etc) while cycling; (B) Cyclists were robbed from their property like cycles, cellphones and other sporting equipment while cycling; © Cyclists were injured by means of accidents on our roads while cycling; 3. Who is responsible for the safety of the cyclists in our city? 4. Who is responsible for the advancement of the cycling sport and the tourism opportunities pertaining to it in our city? 5. What jurisdiction does the Metro Police have over the N4 Bakwena Platinum Corridor Highway? 6. Is there a promulgated by-law in place that forbids cyclists from riding in the yellow lane on the N4 Bakwena Platinum Corridor on the North of Pretoria? 7. If the answer to question 6 is yes, then when was this law promulgated? BACKGROUND ON SET 2: In the November 2011 issue of the “Tshwane on paper” it was stated on page 11 in the article “Tshwane is the ultimate Tourist destination” that “Runners, cyclists and walkers have an array of races and club meetings that can be attended throughout the year. Most races in Tshwane take place on Saturdays. Klapperkop hill near the Fountains is often used as a training ground for these sports disciplines and provides a splendid panoramic view of the city”. The National Cycling Road Championships hosted in Tshwane at the Union Buildings and Surrounding Areas in 2002 was rated the best ever by Cycling South Africa, because of this it was granted to Tshwane for a second time in 2005. Based on this the following questions arises. QUESTIONS: SET 2: 1. How many cycling races were scheduled in 2007 within the borders of Tshwane? 2. How many cycling races are currently scheduled for 2012 within the borders of Tshwane? 3. How many participants was enrolled in the Tshwane Mayoral Race that took place in July of each year? 4. How many spectators came to our city to watch the Tshwane Mayoral Race? 5. How much funds and publicity have such races generated for our city? 6. Why was the Mayoral Race cancelled? 7. Why was the Tshwane Capital Race cancelled? 8. Why was the Bakwena Classic cancelled? 9. Based on our ratings in 2002, why was Tshwane not considered for a third time to host the SA Championships? 10. Based on the potential income generated from such National events why have we as a city not tendered for other national sports series, events and pro-tours? 11. With the Pilditch Cycling Track in our city which is a Olympic standard track, why have we as a city not tendered for a National or International Event to be hosted in our City? Compiled by Councillor Crezane Bosch, Cell: 074 424 2116" Nothing?

Pretoria East between Woodhill and Mooikloof.

I know a domestic servant and a tiler who stay in that squatter camp. Maybe they can spread the word. The squatter community stoned two robbers to death a couple of days ago. Maybe it would be more acceptable to them if they could sell them.

Die volgende e-mail is deur Nick Pascoe gestuur: " SolomonsKD@saps.gov.za, lynettsers@gmail.com, Leonard Bakkes <LeonardB2@tshwane.gov.za> cc: anneke@isat.co.za, oos@rekord.co.za, angeliquevdw@tshwane.gov.za, seugnet.exterhuyse@beeld.com, Annatjie Markram <ammarkram@gmail.com>, madcircuitous@gmail.com Good day, 1. Please refer to the attached e-mail from “Mad Cyclist” attached to this mail. 2. On behalf of the communities in Garsfontein, residents along Mat Street in the vicinity of the Pretoria East cemetery and the cyclists I plea for IMMEDIATE and DECISIVE action. 3. This situation cannot be left only for Thursday Evenings 18:00 alone. 4. I am convinced that this should receive IMMEDIATE and UNDIVIDED attention before we lose another victim to murder. 5. The cyclist community, and for that matter, the entire community around Mat street needs decisive action. 6. If it entails a cluster or provincial operation so be it but please consider this as URGENT. 7. I am convinced that Garsfontein SAPS, being a 4 star and effective station will render the desired attention, operation confiscating weapons and arrest the perpetrators. 8. Mr Bakkes from Region 6, here we once again have extremely sensitive and dangerous incidents of crime in an area where it is extremely dark at night. The high mast lights I requested can play an vital role in assisting in crime prevention. 9. I trust all will see this in the equal urgent way I do and looking forward to positive action Kind regards, Yours faithfully Nick Pascoe COUNCILLOR WARD 45 TSHWANE RAADSLID WYK 45 TSHWANE DA SPOKESPERSON INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PLAN DA WOORDVOERDER GEïNTEGREERDE ONTWIKKELING PLAN