Mayor Mashaba to abandon bicycle lanes...

[Bateleur1]

Depends on who is saying what and when...

 

The ANC used the amount of tarred roads in the city to continue its "good story to tell" narrative" in the run-up to the polls.

 

The ANC will now focus on how many kilometres remain untarred to show how little the DA cares.

 

The life of a politician 

[Shebeen]

Stretch's fun fact for the day...Many cities in the US are untarring low traffic roads to reduce maintenance costs

My fun fact for the day......Stretch listens to the 99% invisible podcast

[RocknRolla]

I would rather have a properly implemented Bicycle lane, along a properly planned and upgraded road, than a half-arsed attempt at painting a sidewalk.

[Aluman]

Depends on who is saying what and when...

 

The ANC used the amount of tarred roads in the city to continue its "good story to tell" narrative" in the run-up to the polls.

 

The ANC will now focus on how many kilometres remain untarred to show how little the DA cares.

The lanes are way under utilised and no enforcement is taking place. I would rather have no lanes but proper enforcement. 

[nonky]

Like REa Vaya, the bike lanes were well-meaning but terribly planned and implemented.

[Tumbleweed]

Who gets a feeling it's a populist thing for Mashaba to say? I think Jozi is gonna regret this dude as a mayor...

 

How much savings will not having the bicycle lanes effect? They are part of the spatial plans for Jozi development already, right?

 

Mashaba also ducked out when this morning's meeting was adjourned to meet with EFF protesters who said they hadn't been paid as promised by the DA. Strange times ahead...

[Tumbleweed]

I would rather have a properly implemented Bicycle lane, along a properly planned and upgraded road, than a half-arsed attempt at painting a sidewalk.

Noticed at the weekend around Sandton that the paint showing are the lanes where had faded. The tuk-tuks were making good use of the lanes, I must add.

[Tumbleweed]

The lanes are way under utilised and no enforcement is taking place. I would rather have no lanes but proper enforcement.

For sure. As well as the lack of enforcement, there is the lack of political will and commitment. Putting the lanes there is one thing; the other part of the job is getting people to use them.

[Tumbleweed]

Like REa Vaya, the bike lanes were well-meaning but terribly planned and implemented.

They did provide extra income for metro cops who pulled over naughty non-bus drivers for thinking they were...

[RocknRolla]

.

[Stretch]

My fun fact for the day......Stretch listens to the 99% invisible podcast

Sssssssh  

[HappyMartin]

For sure. As well as the lack of enforcement, there is the lack of political will and commitment. Putting the lanes there is one thing; the other part of the job is getting people to use them.

I was in Cape Town a week ago and saw the famous cycle lanes in use. As parking lots and an extra lane for cars that is. I see no point in them with current driver attitudes. F there is a cycling lane bicyclesarerequired to use them and as it stands now I would rather take my chances on the road.

 

Yes there are dirt roads In Joburg. We have some in Kensington. Used to be tar but so many pot holes and so little tar I think they are dirt again.

[Butterbean]

I don't get why they don't just decree that any new roads built must include a cycle Lane, and when repairing or re doing sections of road, they have to include it? Long term, the whole place would be set up with cycle lanes.

 

I'm no engineer or financial expert, but it makes the most sense in my little mind.

[shaper]

My early morning training runs are through Sandton and up West Street, have yet to see anyone use the cycle lanes there!!  Even the cyclist out training stick to the road and do not use the lanes.  Occasionally you get someone walking in them, but even that is infrequent as they prefer to walk in the road or on the pavement.

 

You often find taxi's pulling in at the end of the curbed sections to drop off and pick up.... so have not been a success at all ... and suspect the paint will fade to grey and they will disappear ....

[Tumbleweed]

I was in Cape Town a week ago and saw the famous cycle lanes in use. As parking lots and an extra lane for cars that is. I see no point in them with current driver attitudes. F there is a cycling lane bicyclesarerequired to use them and as it stands now I would rather take my chances on the road.

 

Yes there are dirt roads In Joburg. We have some in Kensington. Used to be tar but so many pot holes and so little tar I think they are dirt again.

What?! Something doesn't work in Aunty Helenville?! Can't be...

 

Actually I can imagine cycle lanes being abandoned in Cape Town. But like four storeys up and leading nowhere...like that highway of theirs.

 

I used to enjoy that tattiness about the roads in Kensington. Had old world charm almost.

[Hairy]

I was in Cape Town a week ago and saw the famous cycle lanes in use. As parking lots and an extra lane for cars that is. I see no point in them with current driver attitudes. F there is a cycling lane bicyclesarerequired to use them and as it stands now I would rather take my chances on the road.

 

Yes there are dirt roads In Joburg. We have some in Kensington. Used to be tar but so many pot holes and so little tar I think they are dirt again.

Our group use the lanes from CT to Table View.

 

We are anywhere from 7 - 12 riders during the week.

 

My leg is just just short on 25km from my home to work. Of those 25km there must be about 2-3km at most which is either not on a demarcated cycle lane painted on the road, or dedicated cycle lane adjacent to the road. 

 

For us the lanes work. We have had issues with muggins on one section where we are very isolated and adjacent to both a rail way line and a national road, and are very isolated. This is a real and dangerous area. The city council though have been approached on various levels and are trying to improve the situation. 

 

I have been commuting for around 13 years now, with a little break in between every now and again. Life prior to the cycle lanes was a "Russian Roulette" type experience. There were some very dangerous sections, cars/taxis/motorbikes blitzing past you in the yellow lane, and a whole plethora of other "interesting" experiences. 

 

Winter one used to see two or three other cycles at best on the commutes.

 

Now with the lanes established, there have been many regular / daily users .... anything from guys on big fancy bikes to banged up bikes. The lanes work, they have their issues that one hopes the planners will learn from, but as an overall project they work.

 

My notes above do not relate to the issues riders using main road, etc are experiencing with cars parking in the cycling lanes, but does relate to cars parked in parts of the cycle lanes in town.

 

Use the lanes, fight for the lanes by picking up a telephone and speaking to the local authorities / councilors, etc and voice your opinion .... use social media, but do not do nothing about it!

 

Over and out.

H