Bike-jacking at gun point on Hout Bay to Camps Bay road (25 Feb 2014)

[Bianchisti]

 

 

The route is fine during the day, enough traffic to keep it safe. Even this morning at 5:30 I saw people were cycling more in groups. Lots of cyclists on this part of the road at 5:30 am, which means it's safe enough.

 

Thanks for that. How about Muizenburg through Boyes drive, Kalk Bay in the direction on Simonstown? Safe enough for a lone ranger?

[FootballingCyclist]

Thanks for that. How about Muizenburg through Boyes drive, Kalk Bay in the direction on Simonstown? Safe enough for a lone ranger?

 

That route is safe... i leave home from Plumstead at 5 and go to Fish hoek Circle and back before work in the week, no problems as of yet, and i see quite a few other cyclists on the road!!

[Beattbox]

Thanks for that. How about Muizenburg through Boyes drive, Kalk Bay in the direction on Simonstown? Safe enough for a lone ranger?

This is my weekly commute route, no issues so far.

[Bianchisti]

Thanks guys!

[kandui]

My advice is to check the conditions. If it's a howling gale there won't be many riders out, only a few hardcore riders. In benign conditions, the roads are packed from sparrows and there should be no problem.

[Flybybike]

Reading this event last night, I scrapped my Wed solo mtn bike commute from S.suburbs to Cape Town via Rhodes and Devils peak - often very quiet in the mornings.

Very thankful you are not hurt, but truly gutted about the conditions in which we try survive on our bikes. A few of us are using the Unitehood app - crowdsourcing for safety app. Pretty useless like all other weapons with a gun or knife in your face, but it does allow other users to shout out for you without putting themselves in danger.

That being said - probably best if I find some other commuters heading over the mountain on Mon and Wed - if there are any groups I could join (or set up), please let me know - I don't want to give up my commute.

[i24]

Gangsters have realised the value of bicycles and how easy it is to steal them. The rider is unprotected, there is no key access, no immobiliser, no tracker and bikes cost as much as cars these days. Bikes don't need to be registered, there is no engine or VIN number logged anywhere (honestly, how many of us even know our frame number or have it written down somewhere?) Disposal and transport of stolen bikes is a breeze. There is a bigger demand for bikes than for cars.

 

Maybe we need to get our bikes "micro-dotted". But first we would need a central, maintained database of "bike VIN numbers" to code in the micro-dots. Then we would need to equip bike shops etc with equipment and knowledge to check micro-dots if they come across a suspicious bike. This could seriously limit the value of stolen bikes and components and discourage armed attacks on cyclists.

 

I wonder if the PPA would take this on?

[marko35s]

Did they even want the bike in this case or did they take it, and then dump it to ensure Simon couldnt get anywhere quickly to report the robbery?

[Meezo]

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/cyclist-in-hair-raising-chase-with-robbers-1.1653074#.UxCbVs7X_EM