RANT: Cape Town City cycle lanes

[Reinhardt89]

The bike path is full of thorns and I have had someone pass me a brick before in the cycle path. Road is much safer and at the time I ride it, the cars are not moving anyway.

So I've heard. Luckily I dide a MTB so I haven't had issues yet.

[Reinhardt89]

while your better  connected friend is chatting to them ... please ask how an interchange works where there is a green light for cyclists/pedestrians to cross the road and also a green light for cars to cross the same time (Intersection on the cycle lane from CT to TV at the Dolphin beach intersection being the most dangerous) ..... you have, as a cyclist, a short moment between light changes to get across that intersection. There used to be a board up noting motorists are to give way to cyclists, but this was eventually removed at some stage.

 

crossing there with a green light is VERY VERY dangerous as the cars just fly around that corner.

 

This is my personal pet peeve. Something I would love to see changed at some point. The rule is the green for pedestrians/cyclists and simultaneous green for cars simply mean that the car needs to give way for pedestrians/cyclists if there are any. But NO-ONE does this. I honestly think there aren't many people who know this either.

 

I tried walking around the City a few months ago by only using green pedestrian lights... it was catastrophic. Roads are designed for cars, not people, and herewith lies the problem in our society. We need to design roads for people, no matter your mode of transport. As a pedestrian it is safer to look at the traffic lights for cars to see if it is red compared to looking at the green light for pedestrians.

[T-Bob]

You should see the 'bike lane' around Forries most afternoons. The parking there is shocking and  it seems the rule IS to park on the bike lane to get 3ft closer to the pub. Might take some surfboard wax next time and make some notes.

[Reinhardt89]

The Woodstock and Salt River green lanes can be the case study for "paint alone does not a safe cycle lane make"!

 

It doesn't make it safe, but I do still feel that drivers at least are now more cognisent of a possible cyclist.

[Hairy]

I have sent him a msg on this this.

 

My view is in many instances segregated facilities are not the answer – rather it is one of keeping the flow as normal as possible so as to not interrupt the direction and speed of both cyclists and motorists. What is needed is signage, and a facility that can be seen and respected by the motorists – but that does not diminish from the levels of quality that cyclists now enjoy. My fear is that segregated facilities worsen the flow of cycling traffic.

 

The new Firgove Bike lane (Constantia) not quite finish  - bad surface - city been notified of this today, is a good example of what I believe the city should be building for cyclist and pedestrians.

Thanks.

 

What I do need to compliment the City on, is their very good response to emails or via my @CTCycleLanes twitter account that I have sent them RE potholes or obstructions on the cycle lanes. They have been prompt and have communicated well.

 

This is my personal pet peeve. Something I would love to see changed at some point. The rule is the green for pedestrians/cyclists and simultaneous green for cars simply mean that the car needs to give way for pedestrians/cyclists if there are any. But NO-ONE does this. I honestly think there aren't many people who know this either.

 

I tried walking around the City a few months ago by only using green pedestrian lights... it was catastrophic. Roads are designed for cars, not people, and herewith lies the problem in our society. We need to design roads for people, no matter your mode of transport. As a pedestrian it is safer to look at the traffic lights for cars to see if it is red compared to looking at the green light for pedestrians.

I often see recently arrived tourists at the intersections waiting for the green man to cross ... then I stop and advise them that the green man = danger and rather use common sense and cross when there are no cars or when the cars have stopped ..... I trust I have saved many a tourist's life by now

[johannrissik]

You should see the 'bike lane' around Forries most afternoons. The parking there is shocking and  it seems the rule IS to park on the bike lane to get 3ft closer to the pub. Might take some surfboard wax next time and make some notes.

Nice sandy surfboard wax. Writes better on new paintwork.

[splat]

Rant On:

The Woodstock cycle lanes are a joke and complete waste of council's time and money - More so on the lane from Church St towards Obersvatory.

 

There are places where the green lane is painted black and the 'cats eyes' separators have been removed so that trucks or buses can park on the road. Elsewhere, people just park or drive on the lane so its best just to take your chances in the road with traffic. Thinking that you are safe in the lane is just silly.

 

Clearly there is no policing or enforcement in the area, so its deteriorating rapidly.

Rant Off

[Reinhardt89]

Rant On:

The Woodstock cycle lanes are a joke and complete waste of council's time and money - More so on the lane from Church St towards Obersvatory.

 

There are places where the green lane is painted black and the 'cats eyes' separators have been removed so that trucks or buses can park on the road. Elsewhere, people just park or drive on the lane so its best just to take your chances in the road with traffic. Thinking that you are safe in the lane is just silly.

 

Clearly there is no policing or enforcement in the area, so its deteriorating rapidly.

Rant Off

 

I cycle there almost everyday. The sections where it is black is due to bad communication in the City. A contractor comes along and reinstates an asphalt surface then they simply do not repaint the cycle way. As far as I know the cats eyes were removed at a few places where plenty of vehicles cross, but I might be wrong.

The cycle way is a good initiative, but the problem in SA in general is this: NOTHING GETS ENFORCED. People simply do not respect rules, regulations and order. There is a social issue in our country that needs to change before any of these good ideas will ever work.

[DJR]

I cycle there almost everyday. The sections where it is black is due to bad communication in the City. A contractor comes along and reinstates an asphalt surface then they simply do not repaint the cycle way. As far as I know the cats eyes were removed at a few places where plenty of vehicles cross, but I might be wrong.

The cycle way is a good initiative, but the problem in SA in general is this: NOTHING GETS ENFORCED. People simply do not respect rules, regulations and order. There is a social issue in our country that needs to change before any of these good ideas will ever work.

I have dreams of getting a hundred burly cyclists together on a Saturday morning to ride that stretch with me. And to strictly ride the green lane. Every car that we encounter blocking our way, we will pick up and put down in the middle of the road so that we can proceed. I foresee some fistycuffs especially in the vicinity of the Biscuit Mill where we will have to park the cars about 3 high, because they illegally park 3 deep there. That should cause such a MASSIVE traffic jam that they won't sort it out before Monday. It will also get us some newspaper and TV coverage, perhaps even a few arrests. And then my alarm clock went off.

[Edge540]

I cycle there almost everyday. The sections where it is black is due to bad communication in the City. A contractor comes along and reinstates an asphalt surface then they simply do not repaint the cycle way. As far as I know the cats eyes were removed at a few places where plenty of vehicles cross, but I might be wrong.

The cycle way is a good initiative, but the problem in SA in general is this: NOTHING GETS ENFORCED. People simply do not respect rules, regulations and order. There is a social issue in our country that needs to change before any of these good ideas will ever work.

This almost sounds like an excellent way for the city to drum up some more revenue. A few strategically placed cops dishing out fines to wayward motorists

[Warren_G]

So in the hope that the City is following this thread after sending them the link, attached a couple of pics taken of offenders on the Bree Street cycle lanes.

 

The real gem is the Honda Dealership who park their cars in the lane outside the entrance to the showroom.

 

Pics taken around 8:30am yesterday.

 

High res pics available on request.

They should be fined for parking outside the white lines, those are not designated parking spaces. They can use that code.

[FootballingCyclist]

Rant On:

The Woodstock cycle lanes are a joke and complete waste of council's time and money - More so on the lane from Church St towards Obersvatory.

 

There are places where the green lane is painted black and the 'cats eyes' separators have been removed so that trucks or buses can park on the road. Elsewhere, people just park or drive on the lane so its best just to take your chances in the road with traffic. Thinking that you are safe in the lane is just silly.

 

Clearly there is no policing or enforcement in the area, so its deteriorating rapidly.

Rant Off

I cycle along there often too. Just this past weekend I was coming down lower main rd towards Obs, 2 traffic officers were busy writing out fines for the vehicles parked in the bike lane. What i found strange was that so was the metro police car, But i then had to stop at a traffic light and asked the officer if he was going to write out a fine for the mini bus taxi which had just double parked along side another car in the bike lane to which he responded, "the driver just ran into the shop quick", i then replied and asked "but why allow him to stand here half across the street to run into the shop and his repsonse was "do you want my job and then i take your bike and I can cycle around thinking I am above the law", i was absolutely shocked, the light went green and I just said, "My bike wont be able to handle your weight" and i pulled away like a 4wd Subaru, I think that was the quickest i ever managed to clip into my pedals from a standing start...

 

My point is, Our very own officials(NOT ALL i must add) who are there to make sure the lanes are kept clear and the streets safe, just do not seem to care, So what chance/voice do we as cyclists have??!!

[Reinhardt89]

I cycle along there often too. Just this past weekend I was coming down lower main rd towards Obs, 2 traffic officers were busy writing out fines for the vehicles parked in the bike lane. What i found strange was that so was the metro police car, But i then had to stop at a traffic light and asked the officer if he was going to write out a fine for the mini bus taxi which had just double parked along side another car in the bike lane to which he responded, "the driver just ran into the shop quick", i then replied and asked "but why allow him to stand here half across the street to run into the shop and his repsonse was "do you want my job and then i take your bike and I can cycle around thinking I am above the law", i was absolutely shocked, the light went green and I just said, "My bike wont be able to handle your weight" and i pulled away like a 4wd Subaru, I think that was the quickest i ever managed to clip into my pedals from a standing start...

 

My point is, Our very own officials(NOT ALL i must add) who are there to make sure the lanes are kept clear and the streets safe, just do not seem to care, So what chance/voice do we as cyclists have??!!

 

Exactly. Nothing gets enforced, and when it does it is probably just because some irritating cyclists were complaining. We have bread a society of mediocrity and lawlessness. Everytime I hear someone say "but you can't compare us against USA/Australia/Netherlands" I get irritated. Why not?! How can you ever be the best if you dont compete against the best. Competing against Zimbabwe and winning isn't exactly something to be proud of.

[FootballingCyclist]

 Everytime I hear someone say "but you can't compare us against USA/Australia/Netherlands" I get irritated. Why not?! How can you ever be the best if you dont compete against the best. Competing against Zimbabwe and winning isn't exactly something to be proud of.

If you speak of sport, then its because our Sports minister is happy if he sees transformation targets met, even if that means we lose every series we play in, be it rugby or cricket, because there is no hope for us as footballers, so we don't worry with Bafana... Fikile will be the happiest man if we lose a series 3-0 and 5-0 but transformation targets are met!!

 

Regarding infrastructure, I do not see why we cannot compare to other countries like Aus/Netherlands/USA etc, We also have people qualified who can build world class roads and infrastructure, But if I was working for the government, I would think twice before approving anything infrastructure wise because when people are unhappy about certain things and their demads aren't met, they will burn the stuff to the ground, because THAT has become the norm in SA, Can't get your way, Strike, Vandalise, Burn and do what you want until you get what you want, Like spoilt little kids...

 

Rant Over     SORRY....

 

Edit... Spelling

Edited September 9, 2016 by FootballingCyclist

[ratherberidin']

Ja flip, stupid cars/motos/taxi/peds in bike lanes. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate that. Stupid stupid stupid.

 

Just wanted to join the chorus.

[splat]

I cycle there almost everyday. The sections where it is black is due to bad communication in the City. A contractor comes along and reinstates an asphalt surface then they simply do not repaint the cycle way. As far as I know the cats eyes were removed at a few places where plenty of vehicles cross, but I might be wrong.

I rode home through Woodstock again yesterday and paid attention to the blacked out bits that I noticed the other day.

There are several points along the bike lane have been painted black, 'cat eyes' separators removed and yellow lines formally demarcating them as loading zones or bus stops. This means that cars, bakkies, trucks or busses are legally allowed to park in the bike lane at certain points resulting in cyclists veering out into the traffic to get past (and brave the cat eye lane separators each time). Else where, cars and taxis are just there because reasons.

 

There are one or two small resurfaced patches that haven't been repainted and reinstated as bike lane, so I will ignore those.