Cape Town wants to ban cyclists from promenade

[Mamil]

https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Have-your-say/Issues-open-for-public-comment/proposed-changes-to-the-use-of-sea-point-promenade

Suggest that as many of us as possible comment using the form on the link.

 

[MORNE]

16 minutes ago, Mamil said:

https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Have-your-say/Issues-open-for-public-comment/proposed-changes-to-the-use-of-sea-point-promenade

Suggest that as many of us as possible comment using the form on the link.

 

i think they mean the actual sidewalk/pavement right next to the ocean where the poppies and boets run and people walk their dogs...where the benches are -  with cyclist and the rest moved to the sidewalk next to the road, which is quite wide anyway.

i'll actually support that because ive been on that with a toddler plonking about,  having to dodge stupid tourists on those orange rental things or some idiot going 30kph on a electric scooter. i've never really seen an 'actual' cyclist on it.. they are usually too busy riding 3 abreast in Beach road, swearing at cars...

EDIT: cyclist banned form the blue bit and moved to the yellow bit. the responsible ones lready do it this way. I'm 100% fine with that imo. 

Edited March 11, 2022 by MORNE

[Nick]

Best get this up to before it's banned material. Me being a hazard to society!

And a bike check: it has two wheels and a chain👌

The proposed solution is to cram all wheeled pedestrians onto the pavement between the parked cars and grass. This new venue will lead to far more problems than the current situation. Think car doors, people unloading children, people moving between cars from the road. And surprise, normal pedestrians. So exactly the same (if not more chaotic) environment as the promenade but not.

But I think those calling for the ban are hoping it will stop people from coming at all rather than relocating. Bans are easy, solutions require thinking.

[Mamil]

Reveals the city's attitude to cyclists as reflected in the abysmal cycle infrastructure and the apparent indifference to the hazards of cycling. Also shows a lack of interest in the health and economic benefits not to mention the role the bicycle could play in the transport and traffic problems.

This proposal inspired by the same mentality as the SUV who accelerates past you only to to turn left across your path. It screams "get the cyclist out of my way".

P1sses me off.

[MORNE]

1 minute ago, Nick said:

Best get this up to before it's banned material. Me being a hazard to society!

And a bike check: it has two wheels and a chain👌

The proposed solution is to cram all wheeled pedestrians onto the pavement between the parked cars and grass. This new venue will lead to far more problems than the current situation. Think car doors, people unloading children, people moving between cars from the road. And surprise, normal pedestrians. So exactly the same (if not more chaotic) environment as the promenade but not.

But I think those calling for the ban are hoping it will stop people from coming at all rather than relocating. Bans are easy, solutions require thinking.

 i think there must obviously have been issues and instances that got reported. the sidewalk next to the road is wide enough so that car doors wont be an issue...it's almost 3m wide. Maybe they'll even propose upgrading it as well to make it even more  bike"friendly".

Also, obviously not everyone cruising there on an orange bike is a hazard..do be so defensive. thats the problem with "us" cyclists. I just mentioned that i have been on there being a pedestrian with a child...having to dodge groups of people on orange bikes and scooters. Then you also get the odd trails or bmx guys railing and jumping everything lol. i mean Sam pilgrim just released a video the other day of them being silly on their bikes there.

 

[Nick]

1 minute ago, MORNE said:

 Maybe they'll even propose upgrading it as well to make it even more  bike"friendly".

If they make it a designated bike lane, whatever that actually means, then according to the Western Cape laws the roadies on Beach Road will have to use it instead of the road. So let's hope they don't do that.

[MORNE]

I guess. But in anycase, this is SA…who is going to enforce it anyway? And who is going to listen lol. Nobody.
They’ll put up signs and do what they feel they must, but people will do what they want in anycase. Look at the cycle lanes that go through woodstock and salt river. R1000 spot fines didnt even deter the cars from parking on it, and they won eventually because the cops gave up lol

[Nick]

It's mostly a shame because it's one of very few places for people to have their first SAFE interaction with a bicycle. Be it a kid learning to ride or that Aha! moment where someone realises that bikes are fun or a useful transport tool. There's a shortage of such venues especially places supported by the likes of Up Cycles. Riding along the road side just isn't as appealing.

Yeah, there are a few who are hazards but the majority are not. There are workable solutions other than a total ban to everything not on foot.

More broadly, there's clearly a demand for a scarce resource here, why not make more of it? There could be many more 'promenades' (even extending the existing one) around Cape Town.

[Mamil]

I'll lay odds that one of those disco bikes takes out someone who's getting out of a car on that pavement. Or that the disco bikes disappear completely.

I walk fairly often on the prom not once have I seen or experienced a problem with the mixed use format. In fact it is one of the few public spaces left where there is a measure of safety and where people exercise and socialise regularly in a variety of ways. 

Saying to cyclists and skaters that they can't be there without provision of other infrastructure and moving them onto a pavement is borne of the mentality that these users are a nuisance requiring regulation and restriction rather than a potential public health and transport resource that ought to be encouraged. That's the point here.

[Fisan]

Why don't the city do what the always do:

Use tax payer money to put one of these guys there with a VW Golf 8 GTI S-Works Turbo Levo to chase down those pesky cyclists that are causing issues to everyone.

[Yyyy]

"Our recommendation is as follows:

• Pedestrians should have exclusive use of the Sea Point Promenade from Mouille Point to the Sea Point Pavilion swimming pool; and
• cyclists on peddle bicycles, skateboarders, and rollerbladers should share the sidewalk (pavement) on the sea-side of Beach Road; and
• no e-bikes, e-scooters, or motorised devises should be allowed on the sidewalk on the sea-side of Beach Road or on the promenade."

 

My problem with the above is that they are not just banning cyclist but rollerbladers and Skateboarders as well.

This does unfortunately restrict mums and dads taking their little ones out for a walk either using their little scooters, skateboard, rollerblades etc     

[MORNE]

10 minutes ago, YaseenEnos said:

 

My problem with the above is that they are not just banning cyclist but rollerbladers and Skateboarders as well.

This does unfortunately restrict mums and dads taking their little ones out for a walk either using their little scooters, skateboard, rollerblades etc     

i think they are most probably referring to the middle aged men precariously riding their longboards they dug out of their 70s stash haha. Or those oddballs doing olympic speed skating up and down there. Even if they ban bicycles I cant think anyone would bat an eye if a little kid is on his balance bike next to his mom pushing a pram.

I think their point of departure was most probably informed by the fact that there are in some cases proper speed differences between people using the promenade, and i'm sure it was based on reported incidents.

I don't want to beleive that some random person sat in office one day and decided "**** cyclist - we'll ban them from the prominade because reasons"

Edited March 11, 2022 by MORNE

[Yyyy]

11 minutes ago, MORNE said:

i think they are most probably referring to the middle aged men precariously riding their longboards they dug out of their 70s stash haha. Or those oddballs doing olympic speed skating up and down there. Even if they ban bicycles I cant think anyone would bat an eye if a little kid is on his balance bike next to his mom pushing a pram.

I think their point of departure was most probably informed by the fact that there are in some cases proper speed differences between people using the promenade, and i'm sure it was based on reported incidents.

I don't want to beleive that some random person sat in office one day and decided "**** cyclist - we'll ban them from the prominade because reasons"

I hope you are right. If this does make the law I hope they word it correctly.

the reality is if they do for some reason enforce it, and the wording doesnt make this distinction, you can get a law enforcer (or some over zealous resident/pedestrian) giving some mum or dad a hard time because his kid is on a balance bike or some roller skates.   

[Bub Marley]

You’d think there are so much more other pressing areas of concern in Cape Town, like poverty and crime or even repairing the poor quality of our roads. But lets rather waste our time and money on something absolutely pointless that affected probably 1 Karen. 

[capediver]

Off Topic:

Reminds me of the urban legend of the Seapoint Karen complaining about the nudity at a certain seaward spot along this stretch ....it was found later when asked to show the evidence that she needed to climb on top of a cupboard and balance precariously over the balcony to see the "action" over the wall there!🤣

[117]

Ok, I'll wade in to the topic.... 

Why are you capetonians complaining? You should be embracing it and working with the city to get what you want. You know - give a little, take a little scenario. You're all blessed to have those kind of cycling facilities on your doorstep, yet you all complain its not close enough to the sea, or it has a set of FT's riding rental bikes, or heaven forbid - a runner pushing a pram along with his tin lid in it. 

Its almost as if everything done is never good enough

Up here in the big smoke we have to drive somewhere to ride in relative safety. And even then, you still have a good chance of getting run down and killed by a crazy motorist at 6am in the morning. 

The city has the muscle power to just stamp out a rule that pisses everyone off, and working against the city will just end up in them flexing that power. Remember, they also take into consideration the amount of pedestrians, runners, cyclists, FT's on rentals etc. And they also take into consideration that everyone needs their place in the sun

Be grateful you even have a cyling lane along the beach front

Right, who's got the popcorn?