Spruit Safety

[nolipoli]

So our Sunday morning Spruit ride was interupted by a black lady being mugged about 100m from us. By the time we got to her, the perps were long gone.

What we saw, especially around bryanston, were a lot more vagrants than there were.

At the Dhl dirt jumps, my wife heard the vagrants commenting in Zulu on us as we passed them, basically assessing the opportunity.

She has decided that she won't ride the Spruit anymore.

 

So my question is this:

Where are the police patrols that used to be on the Spruit?

[patches]

So our Sunday morning Spruit ride was interupted by a black lady being mugged about 100m from us. By the time we got to her, the perps were long gone.

What we saw, especially around bryanston, were a lot more vagrants than there were.

At the Dhl dirt jumps, my wife heard the vagrants commenting in Zulu on us as we passed them, basically assessing the opportunity.

She has decided that she won't ride the Spruit anymore.

 

So my question is this:

Where are the police patrols that used to be on the Spruit?

 

oh man! that sucks! very sad!

 

Just over a week ago I was hitting the DHL line solo... in hind-sightprobably not such a good idea.

 

The vagrants there are usually pretty friendly and enjoy watching us jump... but I guess you never know whether they're the same ones as the time before, and what their temprement may be like.

 

Seems I should stick to the upper side of the spruit and only hit DHL when we organise big-ish groups

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

FKRS!

[Danger Dassie]

Sucks, although it wouldn't put me off riding the Spruit. What were the comments in Zulu?

 

Like Patches I normally find the vagrants friendly and often there are ZCC gatherings, imo I think these actually add to the safety. This must be the first incident in long long time.

 

Would be interesting to find out about the MTB police patrols, they were on voluntary basis before, driven by two inspectors. As I understand it.

Have seen horse patrols on occasion though.

[bradwentzel]

This could be a big issue for my weekend enjoyment...

[Redbaobab]

That's really concerning, I was about to start using the spruit to commute from conrad to bryanston drive, guess i'll have to put that idea on ice for a while and do a few test rides around that area first

[Danger Dassie]

Okes don't have a knee jerk reaction. I commute almost daily along there, with alternating times and routes.

Like any other suburban ride, keep aware and keep each other informed.

The above incident sucks for sure, but no ways will I let that interrupt me.

[patches]

Okes don't have a knee jerk reaction. I commute almost daily along there, with alternating times and routes.

Like any other suburban ride, keep aware and keep each other informed.

The above incident sucks for sure, but no ways will I let that interrupt me.

 

for sure! I'll still ride most of it solo. Although DHL I think may still not be a good idea solo... not only do those jumps have the potential to hospitalize... but it's off the main route and right in the middle of the vagrant villages.

 

But yeah, just stay vigilant. Be friendly, and one shouln't have a problem

[finallygotabike]

Where is this "DHL" along the spruit? I usually ride alone along the spruit weekday mornings from Ballyclaire towards the N1.

 

thnx

charl

[patches]

Where is this "DHL" along the spruit? I usually ride alone along the spruit weekday mornings from Ballyclaire towards the N1.

 

thnx

charl

 

DHL is a jump line in the area sometimes referred to as "Sandton Field and Study"

 

if you are just XC riding you may pass near it, but you won't ride on the line itself (or near the vagrant village).

 

dunno if this will help you piece together where the line is along your route... but here it is

 

[finallygotabike]

Ah schweet, i think i know where that is now, thanks.

[mojopup]

That sucks but to be honest, that bottom section gives me the creeps. Too narrow and overgrown. I love riding the top bit - even as a single gal, I love riding that bit solo and have no worries (I get on at Craighall park, ride to the top of emmerentia and back).

[nolipoli]

Sucks, although it wouldn't put me off riding the Spruit. What were the comments in Zulu?

 

Like Patches I normally find the vagrants friendly and often there are ZCC gatherings, imo I think these actually add to the safety. This must be the first incident in long long time.

 

Would be interesting to find out about the MTB police patrols, they were on voluntary basis before, driven by two inspectors. As I understand it.

Have seen horse patrols on occasion though.

 

On the Zulu comments - my wife didn't translate verbatim, but she was very specific about them singling out "the little one" along with less specific intentions. Remember, this was after having encountered a fresh mugging on the same ride, so we were feeling less than friendly.

 

What it seems to come down to, is that at this time of year especially, the danger of falling victim to opportunistic crimes is far greater, and there doesn't seem to be any security presence on the Spruit to discourage it.

 

It is very sad for me, because I have spent many hours at the DHL jumps, and on the spruit in general, and this really puts a dampener on my feelings for it. On top of this, amongst our group was a Spruit first timer, who is unlikely to ever ride the Spruit again, in spite of us having "played it down" to her as much as we could.

 

Maybe the answer is to start at Fratelli's and avoid the Bryanston section?

[Pieter1]

I have no issues riding it allone, from fratelies towrds alberts farm. Have never gone the other way... I think its a little safer because you are practically riding on peoples pavements...

[Just Keep Pedaling]

Where did the mugging occur?

[Just Keep Pedaling]

"Have seen horse patrols on occasion though."

 

I saw the horse patrols there on Saturday morning. Between William Nicol and Ballyclare roads.