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I have to take this point up. To compare the crime rate in UK to ZA is an exercise in futility. You are something like 700 times more likely to be murdered in ZA than UK and and something like 3000 times more likely to be a victim of violence in ZA than UK. LEt that sink in for a moment.

 

Agree, since Khan took over, London crime rates have increased dramatically, they are still very low compared to ZA when taken per capita. But if i read the press steps are being taken. A lot of the knife murders here are gang related and alcohol related over weekends etc. (and i accept a lot of murder in ZA is related to the same things)

 

Back to the topic, i see many initiaves are being implemented in the cradle to prevent a reoccurrence and this is good, bike theft has been going on for years, hopefully this will reduce that to a certain degree.

 

 

I agree with you!

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He is going hunting... in an area with lions!

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As can be seen by the involvement of the cradle community, the police, the cyclists awareness, the private security companies, the proposed licence plate recognition cameras, emergency contact numbers as well as being highlighted on Carte Blanche, the matter has not been ignored and is unlikely to be ignored as the area is our playground..... so lets hope it was an isolated and opportunistic incident and the deterrents put in place work as intended......

 

 

Yes I agree the response from the Cradle Community and riders that own security companies to make the area safer were very encouraging and we thank them very much .. let all, or as many as possible assist and contribute and not leave it to hope... 

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Try reading some international news, it is not only a sad day here... happens everywhere, London is currently becoming the stabbing capital of the world and as urbanroyal also states, the USA is becoming not safe to even go to school

 

If you feels safer riding in a bullet proof vest, so be it... but lets put it into context, whilst it was a terrible thing and a shock to the system being so close to home, it was an isolated incident and is the only incident of it's kind that has happened in the cradle and I have been riding there for over 6yrs and will continue to ride there.... without such a vest.

 

I also find the idea of riding with a bullet proof vest strange... but you may be correct that this was an isolated incident....but if we as riders ignore it, the stats will continue to proof you wrong... 

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Yeah look, we’ve spoken about this before. Just because it happens elsewhere, doesn’t mean it happens with the same severity or frequency.

 

If somebody gets stabbed in London it makes the news. 45 people get murdered in SA every day, how many make the news?

 

I have been mugged while cycling in a London, I have never been mugged in SA. I still feel and actually am much safer riding in London than SA.

 

 

I agree with you ... the true crime statistics in SA and JOHANNESBURG are horrific.  I recall when the media was still allowed to publish the statistics more people get murdered in a week SA then in a war torn country like Iraq!  Violent crime and murders are out of control in SA ! We all know it. 

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This is a post I came across on Instagram. Great initiative by Design in Motion cycles

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm-yKrQHXnz/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=abmj3gkhkw09

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm-SKmCDHmR/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=18h7ivgkwe04y

 

This is great!  I will join you next week! Thank you!

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Please see reply from Ricky Watson below: 

 

I think good if we as cyclists enjoying the Cradle support and contribute to this initiative to make it safer ... I will certainly contribute to the fund to support fuel and pay the guards, I trust more will follow... 

 

I will suggest to Ricky to have details of the fund available at the security points that they are setting up and I hope to see many of us stopping and collect info to allow us making a contribution! 

 

 

Good news travels fast 

Thank you for your offer, we would love to extend this to Sunday as well and possibly look at going from 6-1pm. We found a lot of cyclists appreciated our tool and spares kit so we are also busy adding to the offering.

Our biggest challenge is manpower on weekends.

Perhaps we could set up a contribution fund for fuel and the guards?

 

Clearly Yours

 

Ricky Walton

 

Mobile: +27 81 312 3918 / Office: +27 11 704 4470

www.sheerguard.co.za  / ricky@sheerguardsa.co.za

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Reply received from info@bicyclesouth.co.za

 

Just to clarify we are not running this initaitve. It is a private undertaking by SheerGuard (their founder Ricky is a passionate cyclist!).

I am sure that they would appreciate any help and I suggest that you contact them directly to offer assistance.

Ricky Walton

Mobile

: +27 81 312 3918 / Office: +27 11 704 4470

www.sheerguard.co.za

  / 

ricky@sheerguardsa.co.za

 

 

All the best,

Leonie Mervis

Bicycle South Media Office 

+27 82 463 7781

 

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How can we contribute to this Sheerguard crowd?

 

Will it be donations? on Sat morning?

 

I will reply to their email and inquire...

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I have sent emails to various cycling associations and received this in response...: 

 

 

Thank you for getting in touch. We were also very upset to hear about this terrible incident. 

 

We have been in touch with a local company SheerGuard who have stepped up to keep the route safe and available to everyone. 

They have set up an outpost at the popular M5-R540 Circle every Saturday morning from 6am to 10am. The outpost is designed as a water station, technical support for cyclists and a security communication point. 

To further secure cyclists, Thompsons Security Group have provided 2 reaction vehicles to patrol the route over the same time and have put up a water station at the R374- R540 Intersection. Read more about it here.

 

If you would like to be involved with this initiative please get in touch directly with Ricky Walton of SheerGuard who is heading it up.  Ricky Walton <ricky@sheerguardsa.co.za>

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Nice to see so many wanting to get involved and do something but call me skeptic, I have seen similar initiatives and program's start with a bang and end with a whimper. Time will tell and I'll gladly admit I was wrong. 

 

Skepticism has killed many an initiative... don't wait let as many as possible get involved.  The question I have is where does one start?  Knocking on the door of the Pedal Power Association, the Cradle Residents Community ... all of them... ???

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Interesting segment from Carte Blanche.

 

Not sure what the answer is. In a country where it's so easy to behave like this, the criminals really have no motivation not to. 

 

Yes, you are sadly correct... !!!

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I always wonder what these thieves know about a R100k Road/TT/MTB bike when they nick one and how the hell they fence it because some of the bikes(especially in that price bracket) are unique to the owner and would stick out like a sore thumb if they tried to sell them anywhere.

 

 

Seriously wtf... getting ridiculous 

 

We as cyclists need to work together and try and find a way to stop or make it at least safer ...!!!

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I always wonder what these thieves know about a R100k Road/TT/MTB bike when they nick one and how the hell they fence it because some of the bikes(especially in that price bracket) are unique to the owner and would stick out like a sore thumb if they tried to sell them anywhere.

 

I am of the opinion that an expensive (specialist) bike, even if offered for less than R1000, wont be bought by the every day Joe Soap... this begs the question, who are buying these expensive stolen bikes?

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What can we as cyclists do to try and make the Cradle a safer place to cycle? I am prepared to contribute and assist in any sensible initiatives!