Mayor Mashaba to abandon bicycle lanes...

[Aluman]

I think most of us will appreciate it more if the crash debris, broken bottles, stones and sand are cleaned up from intersections and cerbs. This will enhance safety and reduce the runnig cost on bikes. 

[scotty]

Businesses/Employees were never consulted on the bike lanes. If I had my way, halt further rollout, maintain the current cycle lanes and ensure that they are not abused as money has already been spent, while there is a moratorium speak to the business (e.g. FNB and Std bank in Jhb  have a large staff compliment) and get buy in from their staff as well as have safe bike parking and shower/locker facilities made available. Then when the time is right and the numbers justify it you can commence with further rollout. 

[Tumbleweed]

Still think Mashaba is making a populist stance. It works out to be about 0.03% of the city's annual budget.

 

Yesterday, in council, Mashaba said the lanes were on hold until every road is tarred. This morning, the R70-million is going to water and services in Alex, he said. Who will be getting the money on Thursday? Khutsong maybe?

 

Halting the lanes is the stuff of soundbytes.

[RocknRolla]

Well Tumbleweed, I don't necessarily see the populist stance as being a negative one, seeing that the country has been in the grip of wasteful expenditure for over 20 years, it would serve JHB well to channel money into areas where it is needed.

 

With less wasteful expenditure, and projects with no merit in the long run, I think we may just be heading in the right direction.

 

Keeping in mind that, the DA has shouted anti-corruption for so long, that they have no choice but to show the difference they can make, in order to remain in power.

 

I say again, I support the upgrade and maintenance of existing infrastructure, along with establishing new infrastructure.. but there should be a balance.

 

look at me talking politics.. no wonder we are having a chilly spring day....

[BMXER]

I left sunny SA at the end of August. Currently living in Brisbane and am shocked by the cycle infrastructure here. Bike lanes everywhere. Some better than the car lanes. Today I spotted a bike maintenance bench in the cbd - an unmanned open to the public set of tools and a pump!

[Tumbleweed]

Well Tumbleweed, I don't necessarily see the populist stance as being a negative one, seeing that the country has been in the grip of wasteful expenditure for over 20 years, it would serve JHB well to channel money into areas where it is needed.

 

With less wasteful expenditure, and projects with no merit in the long run, I think we may just be heading in the right direction.

 

Keeping in mind that, the DA has shouted anti-corruption for so long, that they have no choice but to show the difference they can make, in order to remain in power.

 

I say again, I support the upgrade and maintenance of existing infrastructure, along with establishing new infrastructure.. but there should be a balance.

 

look at me talking politics.. no wonder we are having a chilly spring day....

Haha! And it is about to rain here.

 

What Mashaba said this morning gave no indication that cycle lanes would be wasted expenditure. In fact, he said the "cycle lanes are needed". He changed his story from the "I was concerned to note that..." and "until every road is tarred" in his speech yesterday to the concern for the people of Alex and their lack of toilets and water that he expressed this morning. Wonder what made him decide on Alex being the beneficiary of the saving he had identified overnight?

 

He didn't like how he was being called out on the radio, so he called in to the station in a "right of reply"-type approach. Kinda erratic.

 

Of the R70-bar, how much has been spent already, would you reckon?

[Tumbleweed]

I left sunny SA at the end of August. Currently living in Brisbane and am shocked by the cycle infrastructure here. Bike lanes everywhere. Some better than the car lanes. Today I spotted a bike maintenance bench in the cbd - an unmanned open to the public set of tools and a pump!

Get us a pic of that...!

[RocknRolla]

Haha! And it is about to rain here.

 

What Mashaba said this morning gave no indication that cycle lanes would be wasted expenditure. In fact, he said the "cycle lanes are needed". He changed his story from the "I was concerned to note that..." and "until every road is tarred" in his speech yesterday to the concern for the people of Alex and their lack of toilets and water that he expressed this morning. Wonder what made him decide on Alex being the beneficiary of the saving he had identified overnight?

 

He didn't like how he was being called out on the radio, so he called in to the station in a "right of reply"-type approach. Kinda erratic.

 

Of the R70-bar, how much has been spent already, would you reckon?

 

On the existing cycling infrastructe?

 

It would be difficult to say. Problem with me guesstimating a figure, is that I don't know how much was paid to consultants, how much the contractors overcharged, and how much of the scope was undelivered.

 

Guessing what a km of properly implemented cycle lane would cost, I would say 70 bars would get you 7 to 10 km's of segregated, signposted cycle lane. (maybe i should work for government haha)

 

I have not seen the corridors of freedom completed in sofia town, as I have not driven through there in ages. Looked exciting at the time. seeing what looked like segregated cycling lanes along that road.

 

I can see, you still taking the journalist stance of questioning the authority, no matter what their political agenda is. It is good, and keeps them on their toes. A lot of people seem to think that we in JHB have been saved, and that everything will magically just be better now that the ANC is no longer in control.

 

What most people don't understand, is that is an almost impossible task, where only the most sharp, intelligent and knowledgeable will prevail. No use changing a yellow dressed parliament of clowns for ones dressed in blue.

[kosmonooit]

 

 Fine example of well thought out Joburg cycle lane (this very morning)

[scotty]

Still think Mashaba is making a populist stance. It works out to be about 0.03% of the city's annual budget.

 

Yesterday, in council, Mashaba said the lanes were on hold until every road is tarred. This morning, the R70-million is going to water and services in Alex, he said. Who will be getting the money on Thursday? Khutsong maybe?

 

Halting the lanes is the stuff of soundbytes.

You believe rolling out and spending the remainder of the R70 million is the right thing to do and beneficial ? 

[kosmonooit]

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).

 

Gimpy when I mention pavements I am talking more about the 'burbs

 

like this fiasco up Caroline St

 

 

 

And yeah been cycling through Jhb downtown for many years, too many too mention. Now I try and avoid it completely, that Ria Vaya system has made the main roads unrideable for a bike, Whilsts pockets of town are reviving but the rest is vrot, Very vrot, Drive through it enough to keep me discouraged (tho manage to skirt around it where possible)

[andydude]

 

 

Bicycle lanes are a f**ken joke and are such a waste of money!

Firstly, who rides a frikkin bike in town? Nobody! People don't commute on bikes in JHB and no one in his right mind goes to the city to train!

Secondly, it makes for an awesome parking spot, particularly for taxis around Braamies and Wits area, rendering them pretty much useless.

Thirdly, because they are not used by 'normal' traffic, all the debris, glass and other **** does not get swept away and it becomes a puncture nightmare. I prefer to ride in the road rather than the bike lane much to the annoyance of the motorists and risk to me.

Haha dude! I commuted from my home in Emmarentia to my work in Hyde Park. Also trained through the city in a group which name I won't mention in fear of another mouthful from you!

 

But I can't fault you on your second and third points [emoji106]

[scotty]

I often use a dashcam when driving, looking through the footage of my travels where bicycle lanes are I cannot find one with any footage of cyclists. 

 

Plenty of taxis',cars and buses and even metro cars ridden and parked in them. 

[eddy]

 

 Fine example of well thought out Joburg cycle lane (this very morning)

 

 

This is where my new (just conceived and yet to be built) Urban bike with sharp spikes on the pedals and flat bars without end caps so that if have to swerve out at the last minute it will put a regrettable scratch down the side of any car parked like that.

 

Jislaaaik, sorry man. I just didn't see you until the last minute as I could not be expected to look out for a car parked in a cycle lane........

[kosmonooit]

This is where my new (just conceived and yet to be built) Urban bike with sharp spikes on the pedals and flat bars without end caps so that if have to swerve out at the last minute it will put a regrettable scratch down the side of any car parked like that.

 

Jislaaaik, sorry man. I just didn't see you until the last minute as I could not be expected to look out for a car parked in a cycle lane........

 

 

The cycle lane stops right there, butted by  a legit parking space.

[Tumbleweed]

You believe rolling out and spending the remainder of the R70 million is the right thing to do and beneficial ?

Not necessarily, but I would, however, like to know how much is left, how much is tied up in contracted expenditure, and how much pulling the plug on whatever is already in motion will cost in the long run?