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On Yer Bike – 27 km of Bikes Lanes Are Coming (Rosebank - Sandton)


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On Yer Bike – 27 km of Bikes Lanes Are Coming

 

Starting in August 2013, when the residents involved in the Rosebank Transport Forum suggested some sort of cycle lane between Rosebank and the Zoo, the idea of a series of cycle lanes emerged. Some budget money was found, a consultant appointed, people were consulted, the roads surveyed, and finally, the routes have been determined. Below is a summary of the route breakdown with costings. It will be the first suburban cycling route in Joburg after the ones in Alex and Braamfontein/Brixton/Auckland Park.

 

R10 million has been budgeted for the next financial year starting in July and R60 million in the year after. But it is likely that once work starts it will continue until it is fully complete.

 

Route

Length

Total Cost

Cost/Km

Rosebank - Sandton

8.7 km

R20 mill

R2.3 mill

Rosebank – Melrose Arch

3.5 km

R12 mill

R3.4 mill

Rosebank – Parks (Saxonwold, Zoo, Parkview, Greenside, Parkwood, Parkhurst, Victory Park)

10.5 km

R30.5 mill

R2.9 mill

Rosebank CBD

4.9 km

R16 mill

R3.2 mill

Total

27.6 km

R78.5 mill

R2.8 mill

The price includes: CCTV cameras, traffic light changes, relocating services, cycle parking, paving where needed and benches/bins/bollards where needed.

 

Essentially, you will be able to cycle from Rosebank to Sandton CBD and Wierda Rd; from Rosebank to Melrose Arch through Melrose/Birdhaven past the Wanderers Gym area; and on a loop from Rosebank to the Zoo via Saxonwold, then to Parkview, Zoo Lake, Greenside, Parkhurst and then onto the Spruit mountain bike trails at Victory Park. The return to Rosebank will be along Chester and Baker. 

 

http://7ab543d18b5ba08de3ba-758d5ae219d2dee2dd31e9b514e219e5.r61.cf1.rackcdn.com/9f12d761-ea9d-457b-ac65-6af10bcbdc86/image002.jpg

 

There have been several inputs from councilors, bike lobbyists and various designers. And the chosen routes seem to be a good compromise. For instance Cllr Amanda Forsythe and myself lobbied to get the leg from Greenside West/Parkview to extend to Cruden Bay Road, Parkhurst, the Greenside commercial strip and onto the Braamfontein Spruit.

 

We have also been working with the Joburg Property Company on what is now called the Pirates/Parkhurst Bowls Club Precinct – the stretch of parks, sportsclubs and vacant land between Greedside and Parkhurst/Victory Park. The idea is to integrate the area into a mixed use section of parks, sports clubs, park and rides, urban agriculture, recycling centre with Delta Park like cafes, cycle paths, walking trails, etc. With the cycle lanes now going to happen, this area will be key in linking the current informal mountain bike and walking trails with the urban cycle routes. A concept plan is being drawn up by the JPC at the moment.

 

It was also important to have a direct Sandton to Rosebank route and this has been added – I believe that there will also be a bridge built over Sandton Drive that will link the Harrow Rd section to Sandton City.

 

The Rosebank-Parks and the Rosebank CBD are the routes that will probably be the trickiest to implement. They go through several suburbs and because it is retro-fitted onto the existing road network, there will have to be a series of different cycle path configurations.

 

I have ridden the route on the Green Cycles electric bike and I am impressed as to how much thought has been put into the project. My experiences of riding an electric bike for 10 months are that the potholes, missing covers and lack of street lights are more dangerous than taxis or other vehicles.

 

I expect that this is not the final word in cycle lanes and further developments. If successful,

 

Basically there are 5 main types of cycle lanes.

 

1) Shared Cycle Lane Within Roadway (ie. what we have now).

2) One-Way Exclusive Cycle Lane Within the Roadway (ie. there will be a single lane within the roadway on EITHER side of the road).

3) Two-Way Exclusive Cycle Lane Within the Roadway (ie. one lane of the roadway will be used for a double cycle lane).

4) One-Way Exclusive Cycle Lane Within the Verge (ie. a single cycle lane on each side of the road will share the verge with a separate walking path).

5) Two-Way Exclusive Cycle Lane Within the Verge (ie. on a wide verge there will be a double lane cycle that will share the verge with a separate walking path).

 

Below are the Maps of the Route Showing the Location of the Different Types of Cycle Lanes.

 

Rosebank-Parks

 

http://7ab543d18b5ba08de3ba-758d5ae219d2dee2dd31e9b514e219e5.r61.cf1.rackcdn.com/9f12d761-ea9d-457b-ac65-6af10bcbdc86/image003.jpg

 

Rosebank-Melrose

 

http://7ab543d18b5ba08de3ba-758d5ae219d2dee2dd31e9b514e219e5.r61.cf1.rackcdn.com/9f12d761-ea9d-457b-ac65-6af10bcbdc86/image004.jpg

 

Rosebank-Sandton

 

http://7ab543d18b5ba08de3ba-758d5ae219d2dee2dd31e9b514e219e5.r61.cf1.rackcdn.com/9f12d761-ea9d-457b-ac65-6af10bcbdc86/image005.jpg

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If only they would build a cycle lane that stretches from Fourways to the Braamfontein. 

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That's awesome, I hope they took something way from how horribly wrong CT when about doing these lanes. Those lanes must be separated by beams or something to stop cars driving and parking inside of them.. 

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Nice, but not sure why nothing is being planned to go through Randburg/4ways areas. Lots of less privileged cycle commuters will then be able to take advantage of these cycle lanes. 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Rosebank to Melrose Arch? Really? That's a route they reckon needs dedicated cycle paths? These people should try riding Rosebank to Fourways sometime.

 

As one who does ride through the mapped areas and won't benefit much from these new lanes how much of an asshole will I seem to be when I ride like one street away from a cycle lane completely oblivious I could/should be there?

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There's already a train running between Rosebank and Sandton.

 

Not all Sandton traffic comes from Rosebank side .... I commute by bicycle from William Nicol side around 3-4 times a week, and I very often see other cycling commuters on my route.

 

Though I found a relatively safe route, there are a few hairy spots where I could really do with some help.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Great news. Well done to all those people involved. I have recently started cycling in Jhb, Braamfontein etc and I find it really pleasurable.

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