Mayor Mashaba to abandon bicycle lanes...

[Bateleur1]

The problem with people when they look at the bike lanes in Europe is that they see these wonderful lanes and want to run back to SA and advocate bike lanes. But what they see is actually only a portion of a much bigger solution to city traffic problems.

 

Running off and building a bike lane is not going to do anything in SA (or any other county that does not have the infrastructure).  In most cases building the bike lanes is the easy part and although not cheap it is most certainly not the most expensive thing on a city budget.  The problem the rest of the infrstructure supporting it.

 

The biggest issue is the traffic laws supporting it.  This is the biggeste building block required and with out it we should not bother starting.  Traffic laws and traffic signs required for the lanes needs to dealt with.  The current laws around bikes on road is worth nothing.  The rights and requirements for cyclists on road and bike lanes needs to be clearly defined.

 

When the laws are sorted the laws needs to be applied and a huge effort will have to be put it in to educate all road users especially the interaction between motorists and cyclist (but do not forget pedestrians and the laws must apply to them as well).  You do this right and people know what the law says then there is less to argue and attitudes should start changing.  These laws must also deal with people who want to use bike lanes for anything other than riding a bike on it.  Parking with your car on it or riding on it must be dealt with quickly and harsh.

 

When this is in place then we can start looking into getting the bike lanes up.  But if I commute with my bike to work what do I do with my bike when I get there.  In Germany all offices, school buildings, public places, everywhere there are bike parking areas.  You need a places where you can lock your bike where it is secure.

[kosmonooit]

The R70 mil is probably for the next phase, but based on the total and utter failure of the 1st phase, its right it should be scrapped.

 

Not that the concept or ideal should be discarded, but if should go back to the drawing board and get some people with a grip on reality involved.

[scotty]

As far as I'm aware Mashaba said no new cycle lanes. What do they do with the current infrastructure, maintain it or let it slide even more. 

[simpythegimpy2]

Some thoughtful insights here. I certainly don't agree that it has been a waste. I see people using the lanes fairly regularly, but I would agree that they are underused. I would also say that bike lanes should have been built on main arterial roads, such as Emmarentia Road in Parkview and then also on roads connecting places like William Nicol. I think the problem is that Jhb decided to go with London's initial 'quiet ways' (since shelved) or whatever they are called plan, which means cyclists have to get off main roads and cycle on other roads.

 

All this to say that overall cycle lanes are a pro poor policy and we shouldn't stop what has been started, but perhaps rethink it.

[Danger Dassie]

One of the best commets so far, Luke Simpson:

 

"First, it is bull that nobody uses them. They are used, by cyclists. There just aren't hordes of people using them because South Africa has had a car centric transport system for almost a century. Second, cycle lanes are in reality a pro-poor policy. But the perception is that the only cyclists that exist in Jhb are guys in spandex going down the spruit (because they are the wealthy and definitely the vocal majority). As far as Mashaba's decision, I do think that there are better priorities than cycle lanes, but I don't think that it should be something that is completely stopped either."

[Tumbleweed]

As far as I'm aware Mashaba said no new cycle lanes. What do they do with the current infrastructure, maintain it or let it slide even more. 

 

I wonder how sure Mashaba is about what he said. His speech refers to R70-million over three years for the city. This morning, on 702, he kept on going on about R70-million for cycle lanes in Sandton. 

[Paul Ruinaard]

Sorry I agree with Mashaba.

 

Sort out the basics and then worry about nice to haves.

 

As an avid cyclist i have never used a local bike lane....

[Catatonic_Joe]

I have been using the cycle lanes from Brixton to Braamfontein quite often (at least three times a week), I disagree with most of the negative assumptions made here regarding the cycle lanes, people (including taxis) hardly park/drive in the cycle lanes, there are a few now and again, but it's not a problem I come across too often, the lanes definitely make my ride to work a little safer.

 

I agree where someone said the planning has not been great, especially at intersections. The other big issue I have is the rumble strips, they're way too big, and especially on my road bike, when I need to avoid an obstacle (pedestrian/parked car, plastic bottle collectors) it's quite scary when I need to get in/out of the the lane.

 

I agree that not many people use them, my brother and I are some of the very few people that I know of that uses the lanes. I hope that once they fix the roads up, they will reconsider the lanes and implement it better than it currently is.

[Paul Ruinaard]

As so well pointed out - there is a vast difference between cycling to work as a necessity rather than a nicety.

 

If, when they did all the upgrades to William Nicol they had included a proper cycle lane from Diepsloot built and planned properly I think it would have made a big difference to the community out there.  As would a lane from Tembisa and other places mentioned

 

Our inner cities however are never going to be the right place UNless you are a Cape Town dude) Not in Gauteng .

 

Again - its a great idea - piss poor execution and for all the wrong reasons. THis was some lefty inspired concept of the bicycle lobby that had looked at Europe and was part of the City of Jhb global greening thing....

 

So done properly and for the right audience - an enabler. Done incorrectly for the wrong audience - massive waste of money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kosmonooit]

Yes it has been sold as 'pro poor' what I don't get is then why havent the routes that the 'poor' use been developed as a starting point/priority?

 

Also my other big thing here is that there seems to be a blanket ban on using any pavement for a cycling lane, even if it is wide enough for both a cycle lane and pedestrian walkway, really they have to get over that, that's a legacy of the past.. Jhb has more than adequate capacity in this regard, and pedestrians and cyclists can co-exist, we are both in the same boat when it comes to dangers from motor traffic.

[kosmonooit]

William Nicol ... jeez don't go there! Literally! Even as a pedestrian!

 

The dip where it crosses the Jukskei:  there is no verge whatsoever to cycle in, and no pavement either. And most of the road there has no yellow lane verge. Then you get to that first intersection going north, there is a slip road to the right, with no provision for pedestrian and cyclists crossing.Hectic and very dangerous..

[eddy]

The lanes I use when I have cycled to through the JHB CBD are nice big red ones that occasionally also get used by the Ria Via busses.

 

East to West along (IIRC) Commissioner street and then north past the station and up around the Civic, down  along Empire until I get to where I turn off into Wabord towards the German school and Westcliff drive.

 

I don't know if it is legal, but it is very safe.

[Andrew Steer]

It's sad, but in all honesty I am sure there are many far more pressing issues that need to be focused on. I don't want to know what sort of time bombs are ticking in the much neglected infrastructure here in Jozi... cycle lanes will be awesome one day, but we need to get the basics right first.

 

The current lanes from both a usage and feasibility point of view have sadly been a fail, hopefully some lessons will be learnt and the execution will be better for round two, whenever that is...

[RocknRolla]

Would be awesome if the majority of my tax money is spent in the area where I live.

Our roads, and electricity is a shambles. Electricity due to over demand. The roads due to lack of development to meet up with the increasing development of the area into residential estates.

[simpythegimpy2]

Lefty, have you ever cycled into town? I am not sure you have because you would have seen the terrible lanes that go from street level onto a pavement and back again onto the road right in front of a Pick n Pay. Terrible. They have used some pavements, but why should pedestrians get less space so that there are more lanes for cars? Doesn't make sense to me when the city is trying to improve for people who don't have cars(read:public transport, pedestrians, cyclists).

 

 

Yes it has been sold as 'pro poor' what I don't get is then why havent the routes that the 'poor' use been developed as a starting point/priority?

 

Also my other big thing here is that there seems to be a blanket ban on using any pavement for a cycling lane, even if it is wide enough for both a cycle lane and pedestrian walkway, really they have to get over that, that's a legacy of the past.. Jhb has more than adequate capacity in this regard, and pedestrians and cyclists can co-exist, we are both in the same boat when it comes to dangers from motor traffic.

[Aluman]