Brick thrown at rider on Constantia Nek (Hout Bay side)

[gogo@]

I believe this is not a pest-repellent, it is medicine...

Good for the soul too. Cast out the demons.

[JeremyCPT]

Hi Organic and the rest.

I was the guy that was attacked this morning.

I am bloody furious about it and how powerless I am to do anything about it.

 

I am very glad that the perp had crap aim. If that brick had hit my face, knee, elbow etc it would have been way worse.

 

I reported it to SAPS because I want it to be on record and I want others to be aware of the risks.

 

Strange that I havent heard of any incidents on this stretch before and I like to think I am pretty aware of cycling related incidents in Cape Town.

 

Thats the last time I go that way in the dark on my own.

 

probably going to have to invest in an IDT.

 

Jeremy

[BigTom]

Hi Organic and the rest.

I was the guy that was attacked this morning.

I am bloody furious about it and how powerless I am to do anything about it.

 

I am very glad that the perp had crap aim. If that brick had hit my face, knee, elbow etc it would have been way worse.

 

I reported it to SAPS because I want it to be on record and I want others to be aware of the risks.

 

Strange that I havent heard of any incidents on this stretch before and I like to think I am pretty aware of cycling related incidents in Cape Town.

 

Thats the last time I go that way in the dark on my own.

 

probably going to have to invest in an IDT.

 

Jeremy

I can only imagine how infuriating it must be.  As you said, glad it wasn't any worse!

[Pure Savage]

In america and probably most of europe..... If you report lets say a stone being thrown at a motorist windscreen. Do the police go out and look for the culprits, then find them and lock them up, or do they do jack like here in South Africa? 

Stats of crime is only good for the real estate market to determine how much you can sell your house for. Furthermore, when it comes it small crimes, nothing gets done about it and time and again some Dealer will get busted just to show they doing something.

 

This is exactly opposite of what actually happens here in South Africa. You have obviously not spent any time understanding what crime stats are used for etc. Having spent time on a civic association these stats are extremely important. If you want any increase in police, patrols, road blocks and intervention the first thing the police/government do it pull the crime stats/reports for the area. 

 

Then they just turn around to you/community and say, sorry there is no need for XYZ, all these things you are talking about are hearsay from word of mouth. Look at how many reported incidents they are etc etc. 

 

Since our neighborhood starting reporting EVERYTHING, the city/police have been a lot more easy to negotiate with when it comes to assistance. It just comes down to making an officials job easier, if he can say, I deployed extra Y police here due to X incidents, then its an easy case. Otherwise he says I deployed extra Y because of a Facebook post.

[Pure Savage]

Hi Organic and the rest.

I was the guy that was attacked this morning.

I am bloody furious about it and how powerless I am to do anything about it.

 

I am very glad that the perp had crap aim. If that brick had hit my face, knee, elbow etc it would have been way worse.

 

I reported it to SAPS because I want it to be on record and I want others to be aware of the risks.

 

Strange that I havent heard of any incidents on this stretch before and I like to think I am pretty aware of cycling related incidents in Cape Town.

 

Thats the last time I go that way in the dark on my own.

 

probably going to have to invest in an IDT.

 

Jeremy

 

Hey Jermy, 

 

Glad you are "ok", thanks for reporting the issue. Hope you heal up quick

[Headshot]

Hi Organic and the rest.

I was the guy that was attacked this morning.

I am bloody furious about it and how powerless I am to do anything about it.

 

I am very glad that the perp had crap aim. If that brick had hit my face, knee, elbow etc it would have been way worse.

 

I reported it to SAPS because I want it to be on record and I want others to be aware of the risks.

 

Strange that I havent heard of any incidents on this stretch before and I like to think I am pretty aware of cycling related incidents in Cape Town.

 

Thats the last time I go that way in the dark on my own.

 

probably going to have to invest in an IDT.

 

Jeremy

Sorry to hear Jeremy - could so easily have been us this weekend  - we rode down that way on Saturday and Sunday...

[Bateleur1]

This is exactly opposite of what actually happens here in South Africa. You have obviously not spent any time understanding what crime stats are used for etc. Having spent time on a civic association these stats are extremely important. If you want any increase in police, patrols, road blocks and intervention the first thing the police/government do it pull the crime stats/reports for the area. 

 

Then they just turn around to you/community and say, sorry there is no need for XYZ, all these things you are talking about are hearsay from word of mouth. Look at how many reported incidents they are etc etc. 

 

Since our neighborhood starting reporting EVERYTHING, the city/police have been a lot more easy to negotiate with when it comes to assistance. It just comes down to making an officials job easier, if he can say, I deployed extra Y police here due to X incidents, then its an easy case. Otherwise he says I deployed extra Y because of a Facebook post.

 

And to add to that, the Station Commander performance is also validated against the crime stats and what he does to deal with it. Reporting everything helps the police to better cooperate with neighbourhood watches as well.  I have personal experience in this.

 

To add to the comment of what happens in Europe, people report incidents they see, never mind wether it affects them or not.  And should something have happened and no witnesses comes forward, the police use the local newspapers to ask for witnesses to come forward, even if it is as trivial as a car being scratched or some who bumped into someone else on a bicycle.  It does not mean everything gets resolved but it does improve the quality of policing.

[lechatnoir]

Hi Organic and the rest.

I was the guy that was attacked this morning.

I am bloody furious about it and how powerless I am to do anything about it.

 

I am very glad that the perp had crap aim. If that brick had hit my face, knee, elbow etc it would have been way worse.

 

I reported it to SAPS because I want it to be on record and I want others to be aware of the risks.

 

Strange that I havent heard of any incidents on this stretch before and I like to think I am pretty aware of cycling related incidents in Cape Town.

 

Thats the last time I go that way in the dark on my own.

 

probably going to have to invest in an IDT.

 

Jeremy

 

Heal up. So many ways this could have been worse, but so unnecessary in the first place.

[Eddy Gordo]

This is exactly opposite of what actually happens here in South Africa. You have obviously not spent any time understanding what crime stats are used for etc. Having spent time on a civic association these stats are extremely important. If you want any increase in police, patrols, road blocks and intervention the first thing the police/government do it pull the crime stats/reports for the area. 

 

Then they just turn around to you/community and say, sorry there is no need for XYZ, all these things you are talking about are hearsay from word of mouth. Look at how many reported incidents they are etc etc. 

 

Since our neighborhood starting reporting EVERYTHING, the city/police have been a lot more easy to negotiate with when it comes to assistance. It just comes down to making an officials job easier, if he can say, I deployed extra Y police here due to X incidents, then its an easy case. Otherwise he says I deployed extra Y because of a Facebook post.

NO, I do understand and I know about the stats. Unfortunately in some areas there is just no police response like there are in other areas. 

[Organic]

Sorry to hear Jeremy - could so easily have been us this weekend  - we rode down that way on Saturday and Sunday...

 

It could easily have been so many people.  While it was dark, it was hardly empty - there was a steady stream of people riding down, and no shortage of cars either.  There were two riders about 100 m ahead of me, and Jeremy wasn't far behind me.  I didn't even see the guys on the side of the road.

 

I had a close call two years ago when the guys in front of me were pulled off their bikes in the same place, but I hadn't heard of any attacks recently.

[nonky]

NO, I do understand and I know about the stats. Unfortunately in some areas there is just no police response like there are in other areas. 

 

Like the response with the Melville bikejackers?

 

Guys caught with a dozen stolen bikes due to massive effort by community and their safety providers (SAPS did sweet fack all).

 

Matter heard in the Newlands Mag Court.

 

ZAR500 spot fine each to the 2 perps and they walked out the door.

 

 

I've sat on CPF's, member of local security initiative, active neighbourhood watch member, liaised with the the SAPS commander etc. etc - the SAPS are lazy, indifferent or worse.

[Dullscalpel]

Hi Organic and the rest.

I was the guy that was attacked this morning.

I am bloody furious about it and how powerless I am to do anything about it.

 

I am very glad that the perp had crap aim. If that brick had hit my face, knee, elbow etc it would have been way worse.

 

I reported it to SAPS because I want it to be on record and I want others to be aware of the risks.

 

Strange that I havent heard of any incidents on this stretch before and I like to think I am pretty aware of cycling related incidents in Cape Town.

 

Thats the last time I go that way in the dark on my own.

 

probably going to have to invest in an IDT.

 

Jeremy

 

I am glad that you are ok (for the most part). The IDT might be a good idea, especially with winter on the way

[Rachmaninoff]

Traveling to work this morning around 06:40, also coming from Constantia towards Hout Bay – more or less 600m before the police station – I saw a lady sitting on the side of the road, shoulder all bloody. The police and ADT were luckily already at the scene.

 

Wondering if this too could have been a mugging as there was no evidence of a car crash.

[Shebeen]

Hi Organic and the rest.

I was the guy that was attacked this morning.

I am bloody furious about it and how powerless I am to do anything about it.

 

I am very glad that the perp had crap aim. If that brick had hit my face, knee, elbow etc it would have been way worse.

 

I reported it to SAPS because I want it to be on record and I want others to be aware of the risks.

 

Strange that I havent heard of any incidents on this stretch before and I like to think I am pretty aware of cycling related incidents in Cape Town.

 

Thats the last time I go that way in the dark on my own.

 

probably going to have to invest in an IDT.

 

Jeremy

howzit Jeremy,

 

My wife teaches in a township school about 500m from this. She deals with these kids everyday - it is a tough job. I'm not sure what else there is to add, but will be following this thread/incident further with interest. please keep us updated.