PHILEDELPHIA TO MELKBOSSTRAND

[R E CYCLIST]

Hi

Im planning to ride from Durbanville to Milnerton. Is it safe to cycle on the Old Mamre road to Melkbos or should I ride on the N7.

Many thanks 

[MongooseMan]

Old Mamre road is safer than N7, but quite pot-holed.

[MongooseMan]

Most recent photo I can find. It is pretty, especially if you have a tailwind

[splat]

1 hour ago, R E CYCLIST said:

Hi

Im planning to ride from Durbanville to Milnerton. Is it safe to cycle on the Old Mamre road to Melkbos or should I ride on the N7.

Many thanks 

I would stay off the N7 at all costs.
Way too much traffic.

The other road is fine. Pot holed, but ridable.

[milky4130]

1 hour ago, MongooseMan said:

Most recent photo I can find. It is pretty, especially if you have a tailwind

And tailwind there will be tomorrow.

[milky4130]

Alternatively if you want extra miles and a better conditioned road then hook a right at the T-Junction and go through the out skirts of Atlantis and take the West Coast Road

[Mamil]

I avoid the r27 at all costs.

[Robbie Stewart]

2 hours ago, Mamil said:

I avoid the r27 at all costs.

I drive the R27 just about every day from Sunningdale to Melkbos for the school run, and every so often I see cyclists on that stretch. Each time I see them I wonder if they really have a death wish or if they're just arrogant. The way people drive on that specific section of road makes me not want to drive there myself. 

 

To the OP, I would go via Old Mamré and then at the bottom turn to Melkbos. But even that road is very busy with fast moving traffic that is heading both East and West. Avoid the N7 and R27. It's just not worth it.

[Tomik]

We've done the N7 piece on numerous occasions, albeit in a group, and it felt safe because there is a very wide shoulder and two lanes for the cars, so no need for any vehicle to be in the yellow lane. It's also quite a short stretch to the turnoff. I find other roads around Philadelphia far more sketchy as I've been buzzed by massive trucks one too many times as those roads have no shoulder. 

[Mook]

I lived in Melkbos for 10 years and cycled every possible road in the area.

Stay away from the R27, N7 AND  Atlantis. Saturday and Sunday mornings have drunk drivers flooding these roads.

[SURFER]

The N7 from Philadelphia new bridge to Melkbos turnoff is not a problem. Been cycling this for years. on my own or in group of 2 to 3. Wide shoulder and nice surface.  

Do not like to cycle alone on the Old Mamre.

R27 is a no go

[Jbr]

On 5/17/2025 at 9:17 PM, Mamil said:

I avoid the r27 at all costs.

Yeah I ride both, but after melkbos R27 is really dodgy af people drive way too fast and sometimes on the shoulder. The N7 at early hours is mostly okay, but often there's stranded vehicules on the shoulder and then.... it becomes scary