Bike path. Tableview - Cape Town and back

[Ans and Sue]

I have now for the last 2-3 years commuted from Tableview to Sea Point every day. Besides the three months leading up to the Argus it is a wonderful pleasurable trip.  But from January up until the Argus it is really NOT so pleasurable.  It is not the increase in cyclist but the unfriendliness and some downright rudeness of a lot of these cyclists.  Some think they are on a racetrack and please just get out of the way so they can continue.  No whistle to let you know  they are approaching from behind (we all know you cannot always hear a bike approaching) So make a noise (a nice one) whistle and we get out of the way but to try and actually ride you off the path and then continue with lots of shaking the head, cursing etc.  Really???  Take the car if you want to be rude.  And go and do your speed sprints at Killarney.  The bike path was NOT build to do your speed training on.  People walking to work, runners, kids on skateboards and little ones on their bicycles, they all use this lane.  So please ...be mindful, friendly and respect the other users.      

[Madlight]

I started a thread like this same time last year and the non-greeters club slated me. But I'll always try to greet in passing

[KarlvN]

But if you don't ride on the cycle path you could end up under a truck or a car as happened to Adre Erasmus two weeks ago at Woodbridge Island. Just saying...

 

I think manners from both side are what's called for

[City Cycling Athletic Club]

we (our training group) don't use the bike path for that very reason. our tuesday session leads us onto the otto du plessis drive in Paarden Eiland which means we ride with the south easter at our backs down to Big Bay. to use the path would put yours and our bodies in danger. at 5.30am in the morning we would rather use the roads.

[Hairy]

But if you don't ride on the cycle path you could end up under a truck or a car as happened to Adre Erasmus two weeks ago at Woodbridge Island. Just saying...

 

I think manners from both side are what's called for

I know the lady who posted this and was present on more than one occasion as noted in her post. The rider approaching from being was clearly the instigator.

 

 

we (our training group) don't use the bike path for that very reason. our tuesday session leads us onto the otto du plessis drive in Paarden Eiland which means we ride with the south easter at our backs down to Big Bay. to use the path would put yours and our bodies in danger. at 5.30am in the morning we would rather use the roads.

 

5:30am that cycle path will give you safe passage.

 

The lane is so short (15/20km?) so does not really "kill" your training ..... treat is as an interval session between lights and if you slow down for another person at that time of the morning (there will / should not be many people out there) rather embrace that you will slow down, pass safely after noting your presence and then kick up those watts as intervals spurts.....will do wonders for your training.

 

Riding in the road on that stretch is stupid (being kind here), there is no shoulder and many of the cars moving about that time of the morning have drivers who have been out partying the whole night or those who have just recently woken up. 

 

The amount of carnage, broken barriers, knocked down walls and traffic lights should be a clear indication that this road is not safe ........... and it has NO safe shoulder to ride on.

[Hairy]

I have been commuting this route for over ten years now, and in that time have seen and heard of far too many cyclist being killed on that road, had my own fair share of close calls prior to the cycle lane being built, so I feel strongly about my views in my prior post.

[Madlight]

I cruise the path at a "reasonable" rate, without any hassle - doing the same on the section from Paddocks to town would be too dangerous for me

[Tubehunter]

Commuter racing along that whole stretch is pretty much no longer an option. Gone are the days of doing useful training stints during peak times combined with commuting. The cycle path is too limited with the constant slowing down and stopping, which doesn't allow you to get up to any meaningful speeds and carry this momentum. The road is too narrow now and most people who do not do any serious training have no understanding about why you are using the road over the cycle path with all its hazards. Almost better to ride a different route altogether to get commuting AND training in, especially if you can't make the Killarney sessions!

[KarlvN]

I rode there again on Monday evening after work. At the Sandown / R27 intersection by West Coast Christian School a car hit the barriers and threw a sh!t load of sand and debris onto the cycle path. Just another reason why it is just downright dangerous and stupid to ride in the road on that particular stretch of tar, yet, some people seem to get their rocks off on that selfsame stretch. Baffles the mind, it does.

[Madlight]

I commute and train on the path - and have no problem to hit some hard intervals along the way 6-7pm and 7-8am no problem.

 

Wouldn't ride on the road if you paid me

[Tubehunter]

The only parts of the path itself that is near impossible to train hard on, is the section through Milnerton, particularly the part between Woodbridge and Lagoon beach and the narrow bridge section. The rest works fine, unless the path is busy with walkers and joggers, as then you never really get up to cruising speed and maintain it.

 

I haven't used the path regularly since moving to the Southern Suburbs, but has the council improved their garden habits along the cycle path stretch? They used to cut the verge next to the path and leave all the thorns from the bushes on the path after they cut. Is this still a regular feature after they have trimmed? (Only other reason that I know of some guys avoiding the path)

[Hairy]

I rode there again on Monday evening after work. At the Sandown / R27 intersection by West Coast Christian School a car hit the barriers and threw a **** load of sand and debris onto the cycle path. Just another reason why it is just downright dangerous and stupid to ride in the road on that particular stretch of tar, yet, some people seem to get their rocks off on that selfsame stretch. Baffles the mind, it does.

I join and leave that stretch and that section daily .... it is like a war zone.

 

Towards the end of last year a car blasted through a red light (at that intersection) hitting a motorcyclist, the motorbike took off and then hit a pedestrian.

 

The motorcyclist and the pedestrian are both dead.

 

The pedestrian worked across the road at the BP petrol as an attendant, a day or two (can't recall exactly which) his first born came into this world without a father.

[Tubehunter]

Oh and yes Ans and Sue (plus Hairy) there are quite a few attitude bikers out that way and they will pretty much behave like windbags whatever the situation!

[Hairy]

Oh and yes Ans and Sue (plus Hairy) there are quite a few attitude bikers out that way and they will pretty much behave like windbags whatever the situation!

Don't worry ..... seen enough of them.

[Madlight]

Yep, it does get quite manic this time of year, with a certain type of rider that only comes out of retirement this 3 months of the year

[J∆kk∆ls]

I've used the path loads of times for commuting and training. Here is a simple rule, keep left. Its cool if you want to ride along side your mate, hell I do it all the time. But I move to the left when peeps are approaching from the front or ...the rear. That felt weird to type.