Legality of cycling along railsways.

[GaryvdM]

Short question: Is it legal to cycle to along railways in South Africa?

 

Side question: who owns the railways? Transnet, PRASA, or some other entity?

[bikebloke]

[johannrissik]

shhh!

 

Don't ask.

[Pulse]

No you may not.

I know a couple of guys that were arrested for walking along a railway - although it was close to a train station.

[Mojoman]

No you may not.

I know a couple of guys that were arrested for walking along a railway - although it was close to a train station.

I don't know how you can police these service roads as in my area none are fenced off and there are no signs to be found....

[Skylark]

Short question: Is it legal to cycle to along railways in South Africa?

 

Side question: who owns the railways? Transnet, PRASA, or some other entity?

Definitely illegal but if it's disused then perhaps won't be an issue. I have cycled on a railway line and its not great, only decent pathway is often between the rails and if it's a working line that's a positively stupid place to ride.

 

Even seemingly disused lines can have those maintenance power vans racing along them, now those cheeky little faqqers can appear in an instant with virtually no sound to herald their arrival and they can't stop in time if you are in the way.

 

I've come close to being flattened by a train, they can appear almost out of no where if the line has bends, I won't be trying that one again. I was fortunately on the side of the line and bailed just in time, it is quite an interesting experience having a train flying past you face just a few feet away, you do re-evaluate your existence thereafter.

[V12man]

Definitely illegal but if it's disused then perhaps won't be an issue. I have cycled on a railway line and its not great, only decent pathway is often between the rails and if it's a working line that's a positively stupid place to ride.

 

Even seemingly disused lines can have those maintenance power vans racing along them, now those cheeky little faqqers can appear in an instant with virtually no sound to herald their arrival and they can't stop in time if you are in the way.

 

I've come close to being flattened by a train, they can appear almost out of no where if the line has bends, I won't be trying that one again. I was fortunately on the side of the line and bailed just in time, it is quite an interesting experience having a train flying past you face just a few feet away, you do re-evaluate your existence thereafter.

Please don't get clipped by a train - some poor bustard will have to clean you up- if he can - or alternately clean the tracks- which is far more likely.

 

I think you can ride along a service road alongside a track provided it is not inside a fenced railway enclosure without issues.

[GaryvdM]

Thanks for the responses.