Blackheart Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 I just wanted to relate my experience trying to ride on TM yesterday. I've already spoken with TMB and they have responded well, so this is not a dig at them.I understand now that they are doing their best in the face of beurocracy in its purest form. It was a spur of the moment thing. I've been scouting out alternatives to Tokai for weeks, as I'm sure many have, and I thought I'd take a look at TM, having not ridden there for years. I got online and checked out the day pass, at R60 I was happy, and so set off with the idea of doing a recce, and then making a long term decision to keep going back and get an activity card and join TMB. I made an arrangement with my wife to meet her and the kids at the deer park.My plan was to ride from home, up to the blockhouse and then drop into the trails, do some exploring and find my way to the deer park. Easy spin along Victoria, up The Glen, to the visitors information centre to purchase my day pass and hungry for some dirt.I was informed by the San Parks official on duty, with some glee it must be noted, that "You cannot buy a day pass here, you must go to Tokai". Just a minute, so I now have to go all the way to Tokai get my day pass and come back? "Ja, but not today, they're closed" Sorry, what? "They're only open during the week". But I'm here now, with money for a pass, how do I get to ride today? "You can ride the tar only, not the tracks, if you ride the tracks, there'll be trouble". I thought maybe he's having a bad day, or is misinformed, or is just permanently like that and can't help it, so I rode up to the cable station looking for some reasonableness.The staff at the visitors centre were unaware that riding happened on the mountain, and had to phone someone for help. Same answer. Go to Tokai, but not today because it's closed. I can't believe that a world class facility is in the custody of such uselessness. If you don't want people to ride on your mountain, then cool don't allow it.If you do allow people to ride on your mountain, and you have a system which caters to that, then make the system work. I ended up doing intervals up Signal Hill and the Blockhouse, so got a decent work out, but didn't get to try out TM as a replacement for Tokai. I did however note that none of the access points into the trail network had any signs saying that a permit is required...
DJR Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 Table Mountain access is a stupid mess at the moment. Never thought I would say this, but I think you should have gone riding anyway. There is only ONE way out of a Catch22 like this, and that is to ignore the stupid rules that created it in the first place!
Cookie88 Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 I was contemplating doing exactly the same thing as you yesterday, Tokai used to be my home ground but since the fires I have been riding out on the Tygerberg Trails. I still wanted to have a look at Table Mountain as an option closer to home. Didn't end up getting going out cause I wasn't sure about this whole permit business. The arrangements on Table Mountain sound like an absolute disaster... People that I have spoken recently just laughed when I asked whether they had a permit, and they commute across to town from the suburbs on a daily basis using Table Mountain
Trance Dance Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 Just ride on Tm, don't bother with an activity permit! These guys really need to sort their stuff out.
velomonatiCT Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 I was contemplating doing exactly the same thing as you yesterday, Tokai used to be my home ground but since the fires I have been riding out on the Tygerberg Trails. I still wanted to have a look at Table Mountain as an option closer to home. Didn't end up getting going out cause I wasn't sure about this whole permit business. The arrangements on Table Mountain sound like an absolute disaster... People that I have spoken recently just laughed when I asked whether they had a permit, and they commute across to town from the suburbs on a daily basis using Table Mountain if tokai was your 'home ground' then its the same card you already have to ride the table mountain trails ............ and anyone who can afford to live in the 'sububs' can afford an activity card ! be part of the solution not part of the problem lots of people are working really hard (for us all) negotiating with TMNP to get the trails up and working and getting us access by riding wherever without permits you make their work harder
DJR Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 if tokai was your 'home ground' then its the same card you already have to ride the table mountain trails ............ and anyone who can afford to live in the 'sububs' can afford an activity card ! be part of the solution not part of the problem lots of people are working really hard (for us all) negotiating with TMNP to get the trails up and working and getting us access by riding wherever without permits you make their work harder I hear you, but the current situation is just ridiculous beyond comprehension. At the very least day permits should be available at Rhodes Memorial (or Newlands Forest) and the office on Tafelberg Road. At all 3 sites they have offices and staff.....yes I know it is "complicated" but only because SANParks do nothing about it. Personally, I think online tickets would be very cool. As it stands, on the weekend I have to get in my car, drive from Obz to Tokai to buy a ticket from an office that is closed, then drive back home and go for a ride with a ticket that is not available. Or I have to drive to Tokai during the week, during office hours, buy a ticket to ride on the weekend. Only problem is, that ticket is only valid for the date it was bought. So, I ride with an expired ticket. Buy a new Activity Card you say. Why should I spend that kind of money if I ride there infrequently? Or for the few times my kids will join me? Ridiculous! I will renew my Activity Card the very day when Tokai re-opens for riding. Meanwhile, I will attempt to buy a day permit from a convenient place whenever I ride the front of Table Mountain. If I cannot find one for sale, I will ride illegally. If they catch me, I will protest like all hell and eventually pay the fine if SANParks want to be that bloody minded. But then they will have one fewer supporter.
J∆kk∆ls Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 Agreed DJR. I tried getting a day pass and had the same issues. I rode anyway. I don't like taking the piss when it comes to supporting local trails. So help me help you SANPARKS.
velomonatiCT Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 its not a mess you find the time you get a card and go ride that's all ! you are grown up with a car and a wallet ! sanparks maybe twits but two wrongs don't make your selfish attitude a justifiable reason to break the rules ! its this kind of attitude that will eventually get us all treated like children and kicked off the mountain . come on guys it not just about you its about the example you set and your willingness to bring them to the table by following the rules and encouraging others to also . I cant believe that in a forum like this cape town cyclists are encouraging other cyclists to just do whatever they like ...really are we all 12 now
Brawler Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 Perhaps stupid question.. does one need a pass to ride Rhodes Mem and the blockhouse?
J∆kk∆ls Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 Actually I don't have car. I sold it buy another bike. I will cycle out that way one day. When the mood grabs me.
Shebeen Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 its not a mess you find the time you get a card and go ride that's all ! you are grown up with a car and a wallet ! sanparks maybe twits but two wrongs don't make your selfish attitude a justifiable reason to break the rules ! its this kind of attitude that will eventually get us all treated like children and kicked off the mountain . come on guys it not just about you its about the example you set and your willingness to bring them to the table by following the rules and encouraging others to also . I cant believe that in a forum like this cape town cyclists are encouraging other cyclists to just do whatever they like ...really are we all 12 now normally I am totally against trail poaching,but in this case I find it hard to accept the scenario. If you can't sell someone a day pass on the weekend, then you can't fine them for not having one. It's that simple.
Hairy Posted May 25, 2015 Posted May 25, 2015 There is a joke in there somewhere, oh yes, R60 to ride on table Mountain trails.
DJR Posted May 26, 2015 Posted May 26, 2015 its not a mess you find the time you get a card and go ride that's all ! you are grown up with a car and a wallet ! sanparks maybe twits but two wrongs don't make your selfish attitude a justifiable reason to break the rules ! its this kind of attitude that will eventually get us all treated like children and kicked off the mountain . come on guys it not just about you its about the example you set and your willingness to bring them to the table by following the rules and encouraging others to also . I cant believe that in a forum like this cape town cyclists are encouraging other cyclists to just do whatever they like ...really are we all 12 now Believe it or not, I agree with you and my posts on many a thread re. access to Tokai and Table Mountain, has always been to "do the right thing", which I did, scrupulously. However, this situation is NOT NORMAL and it is the making of SANParks. Until they get this right, my protest will be in the form of disobedience.
sawystertrance Posted May 26, 2015 Posted May 26, 2015 Believe it or not, I agree with you and my posts on many a thread re. access to Tokai and Table Mountain, has always been to "do the right thing", which I did, scrupulously. However, this situation is NOT NORMAL and it is the making of SANParks. Until they get this right, my protest will be in the form of disobedience. Problem with that approach is that, no matter what, you're breaking the law and they could fine you. And considering the current climate, that is likely
DJR Posted May 26, 2015 Posted May 26, 2015 Problem with that approach is that, no matter what, you're breaking the law and they could fine you. And considering the current climate, that is likelyAnd as I stated above, I am willing to accept that and even pay if I get fined. The amount of money is not the issue. The issue is an unreasonable and wrong approach to access and payment that put cyclists in a Catch22 situation. They make it impossible to do the right thing and then want to punish us for it.
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