Crossing JHB CBD/Hillbrow

[Trogdor]

Hey everyone,

 

just moved to Joburg and planning to commute from Kensington to WITS, this forum so far has been tons of help!

However I tried to find anything on riding through town and couldn't find anything (apologies if I overlooked that thread)

 

I have done a first trip on sunday-streets today and found that, unless I want to make a huge detour, I either have to go through CBD, which today was fine, but on peak hours gets really congested, or I come in passing Ellis Park Stadium and going through Hillbrow into Braamfontein. Anyone here who has experience in frequent, if not daily commuting the inner city?

 

edit: I'd also like to hear about riding in the dark / at night time.

 

Any insight is appreciated...

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

[arabsandals]

Just burninate. Seriously though, I would think about a bit of a detour if possible. I Commute from Greenstone to Sandton 3-4 times a week but won't do the return in the dark; not because of worries about traffic (I think I'm far more visible in the dark with my lights) but because I'm worried about getting jacked.

 

In over a year of riding I haven't had a single close call.

 

Your best protection is your awareness and common sense. Just assume two things and you should be fine: 1 you're invisible and 2 that the cars are actively trying to kill you .

[simpythegimpy2]

I think arabsandals is a bit of a fear monger personally. Jhb and Braam especially have changed substantially since I was at school there in the late 90s.

 

I've done quite a bit of cycling in town, especially through the routes you sound like you're doing (Saratoga avenue, through Hillbrow etc).

 

My advice would be as follows:

 

1. Ride as if you belong on the road (which you do), not on the pavement or in the gutter. Indicate so that other cars know what you're doing and be friendly to taxis wherever possible.

 

2. The route is pretty easy for cyclists from Jeppe Boys, right at the Oribi Hotel, past Ellis Park and then through Hillbrow. Traffic is your friend, especially if you ahve narrowish handlebars. Again, get into traffic, indicate, and cycle in the road (my rule of thumb - at least 1/2 a metre from the curb) so that anyone trying to pass you actually needs to pass you and not squeeze past you.

 

3. Get a bib and good lights. And a good bell. The ones for sale on the hub that come from the US are thief proof and are awesomely loud. Pedestrians are more likely to be an issue than anything else.

 

4. Personally cycling commuters are a rare enough breed in Jhb, so I don't think they are seen as possible victims of 'jacking' (although I know that it is true on the recreational routes where wealthy people and their expensive bikes exist). I wouldn't do it on my brand new Pinnarello though.

 

5. Get a back rack if possible. That way you'll have somewhere to store your stuff and your bib will be visible.

 

As I've said I've done the commute a lot, but not in rush hour traffic. My thought is that it would be absolutely fine if you keep a look out and don't take any chances with taxis and Rea Vayas (I saw a dead pedestrian who had tried to cross last week and get hit).

 

Feel free to PM me.

 

L

[Trogdor]

Hey,

 

thanks for your comments! I'm inclined to be on simpy's side here, but maybe I should rig my bike with some kind of burninator . I have done the ride a couple of times now, and it works nicely if I don't hit peak hours, which I have. Two challenges during rush hour I've noted so far are 1) changing lanes in the CBD grid, as cars go bumper to bumper, and 2) being jammed inbetween cars without any real escape route in case of jackings, which in places like hillbrow or yeoville puts me on edge a little...but with both I reckon I'll adjust, also will try to avoid rush hour.

 

One more question: I lived on the coast before and my lungs are struggling with Joburg altitude and the number of climbs. Any wild guesses how long it takes to get accustomed to that?

 

Many thanks,

 

Mike

[V12man]

 

One more question: I lived on the coast before and my lungs are struggling with Joburg altitude and the number of climbs. Any wild guesses how long it takes to get accustomed to that?

 

Many thanks,

 

Mike

6 weeks to fully accomodate the altitude change.

 

But after 2 weeks you won't notice much improvement.

 

Also remember that in Jhb the air is a lot colder and/or dryer than the coast, so you may suffer more readily from Exercise induced asthma - EIA is much more common in Jhb, but it is readliy treatable - I have posted here how to do a basic diagnosis - search and you will find it.

[kosmonooit]

I live hereabouts long time, to be very honest its very dangerous on the roads here, everywhere, any time. I have all but given up cycling on public roads here except certain routes I have that minimise interaction with motor vehicles.

 

Even if you work out a back roads route, you going to have to deal with all and sundry running stop streets and turning in front of you.

 

However cycling Kensington to Wits, I would go past via Ellis Park on lessor used roads, then kinda direct past the north of Park Station, but those roads are hectic made even worse by this Rhea Via  bus system that takes up most of the road, pushing car lanes out, leaving no verge for cyclists. Hillbrow is way too intense, even by car. Cycle lanes are a bad joke (and only in Braamies)

 

But if you want to take a decent rec/training bike ride, there are a few routes around the Linksfield Ridge (that include some decent climbing) that are relatively safe and car free.

[HappyMartin]

I wouldn't go through Joubert Park Hillbrow at all. Go past Darras centre then climb like hell up out of Bez Valley to get on top of the ridge in Observatory. Back roads of Yeoville are not too bad. I sometimes commute from Kensington to Rosebank and cut through Yeoville. Take the quieter roads just north of Louie Botha to get across town shadowing Louis Botha. Lots of roads. Quite pretty. You can go through constitution hill to get into Braamfontein and you are about done. Smit street through the bottom of Hillbrow is intense even in a car. I wouldn't consider it.

[kosmonooit]

That's another option, certainly more pleasant than Doornfontein and some climbs up to Observatory. Upper Obs is closed off, go via Regent next to the Golf Course, the up Natal Str to  Yeoville ,   take Isipingo / Web Street straight through, dipping into northern Hillbrow which is about as far as you want to go, then just north of Hillbrow Police Station, cut through Consitution Court area, bunny hop a few pavements, ride the stairs down at the Jhb Metro building, then you are in Braamies. You will need a rugged mtb type commuter bike with Kevlar tyres, roads are not good and lots of glass. Pack a pepper spray as well.

 

Going another way would be straight up Commissioner all the way,into downtown then up Rissik (or whatever its called now) but the real problem is the mess this bus system has made, try it and you will know what I am talking about.

 

If you ever get stuck in this area, get in touch...

[DIPSLICK]

I live hereabouts long time, to be very honest its very dangerous on the roads here, everywhere, any time. I have all but given up cycling on public roads here except certain routes I have that minimise interaction with motor vehicles.

 

Even if you work out a back roads route, you going to have to deal with all and sundry running stop streets and turning in front of you.

 

However cycling Kensington to Wits, I would go past via Ellis Park on lessor used roads, then kinda direct past the north of Park Station, but those roads are hectic made even worse by this Rhea Via  bus system that takes up most of the road, pushing car lanes out, leaving no verge for cyclists. Hillbrow is way too intense, even by car. Cycle lanes are a bad joke (and only in Braamies)

 

But if you want to take a decent rec/training bike ride, there are a few routes around the Linksfield Ridge (that include some decent climbing) that are relatively safe and car free.

that cobble road climb   no matter how many times i ride it i always throw a lung at the top of that climb

[Tayyib]

Im going to way in being I Commute at least 3 times a week....I use to stry in Bedford view and commute to wemmerpan and now in pta East and commute to waterkloof heights through lynnwood.

My advice: (apologies for repeats)

 

1. I prefer a whistle over a bell,people tend to freeze when blowing hard and if using a fox 40 it goes above car stereos and iv had drivers react.

2.best lights you can afford!

3.I carry pepper spray though have never needed it.

4.always anticipate the opposite of what a vehicle is apparently doing.stay loosening the bike and ready to react.

5.I Commute as though I'm riding in a bunch.always looking and analysing every small detail.

6.Get comfy in close quarters with cars,put your hand against busses and trucks this will give you an early sign if the gap is closing between curb and vehicle.

7.eye contact with as many as you can especially at robots,be nice to taxis and they will generally be the ones to give you the most space.

8. love your commutes!

9.if you can go SS it's so much more fun!

 

I have no issues riding at night! Once again as long as your lights are good you'll be even more visible than during the day.

Iv ridden braam and the surrounding areas a lot.never had an issue with safety,but always be aware of every person and be able to get away.

Become part of the flow of traffic and try to never impede it.

 

 

[Harryn]

I think arabsandals is a bit of a fear monger personally. Jhb and Braam especially have changed substantially since I was at school there in the late 90s.

 

I've done quite a bit of cycling in town, especially through the routes you sound like you're doing (Saratoga avenue, through Hillbrow etc).

 

My advice would be as follows:

 

 

 

2. Traffic is your friend, especially if you ahve narrowish handlebars. Again, get into traffic, indicate, and cycle in the road (my rule of thumb - at least 1/2 a metre from the curb) so that anyone trying to pass you actually needs to pass you and not squeeze past you.

 

 

 

L

I think this is dangerous advice.

 

What do you mean, when you say "traffic is your friend"?

[simpythegimpy2]

I think this is dangerous advice.

 

What do you mean, when you say "traffic is your friend"?

 

I mean that in traffic, especially gridlock cars can't really get up a head of steam and are therefore less dangerous.