thejoshswin Posted March 4 Posted March 4 I've been commuting using the N1 - Marine Drive between town and Paarden Eiland for almost a year now. Generally ride in the yellow lane which is mostly quite spacious and feels safe enough - and on the way back I cycle on the grass verge so I don't have to cycle head on into the traffic. I've used this route due to the fact that the cycle path past Woodstock is unsafe due to muggings/ bikejackings. Today on my way to work I was stopped by a traffic officer in an unmarked BMW hatchback and told I was spotted by the cameras and that I have to pay a fine for cycling on the freeway which is of course illegal. I explained to him the situation with the Woodstock cycle path but he didn't offer any suggestions and just ignored me - so after a joke which I thought was in bad taste about my fine being R3000 (which gave me a bit of a fright)- he handed me my fine which was actually R300, which I've since paid. Operating a pedal cycle on a freeway 😆 My question is - does anyone know who we can chat to to get the Woodstock cycle path safe to use ? Could we rally together and sign a petition or something? It's extremely frustrating to have this great cycle path that we can't make use of ! AndreJvVZA, nonky, Daniel de V and 3 others 1 5
babse Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Perhaps have any details of officer or vehicle? Also how did you pay? These okes must be taking the piss... AndreJvVZA 1
thejoshswin Posted March 4 Author Posted March 4 2 minutes ago, babse said: Perhaps have any details of officer or vehicle? Also how did you pay? These okes must be taking the piss... R Claassen - Officer number 10039502 ; officer group 315. He was in an unmarked BMW (I think the I3 or something similar, with blue lights. He gave me a ticket with a court summons in June and payment required about a month before the court date. I paid when I got to work via the City of CT fines website. It's an 'admission of guilt' which makes me worry that I now have a criminal record. babse 1
Gerlach Posted March 4 Posted March 4 1 hour ago, thejoshswin said: I've been commuting using the N1 - Marine Drive between town and Paarden Eiland for almost a year now. Generally ride in the yellow lane which is mostly quite spacious and feels safe enough - and on the way back I cycle on the grass verge so I don't have to cycle head on into the traffic. I've used this route due to the fact that the cycle path past Woodstock is unsafe due to muggings/ bikejackings. Today on my way to work I was stopped by a traffic officer in an unmarked BMW hatchback and told I was spotted by the cameras and that I have to pay a fine for cycling on the freeway which is of course illegal. I explained to him the situation with the Woodstock cycle path but he didn't offer any suggestions and just ignored me - so after a joke which I thought was in bad taste about my fine being R3000 (which gave me a bit of a fright)- he handed me my fine which was actually R300, which I've since paid. Operating a pedal cycle on a freeway 😆 My question is - does anyone know who we can chat to to get the Woodstock cycle path safe to use ? Could we rally together and sign a petition or something? It's extremely frustrating to have this great cycle path that we can't make use of ! Josh, check your inbox. Will forward a contact number.
ChrisF Posted March 4 Posted March 4 1 hour ago, thejoshswin said: I've been commuting using the N1 - Marine Drive between town and Paarden Eiland for almost a year now. Generally ride in the yellow lane which is mostly quite spacious and feels safe enough - and on the way back I cycle on the grass verge so I don't have to cycle head on into the traffic. I've used this route due to the fact that the cycle path past Woodstock is unsafe due to muggings/ bikejackings. Today on my way to work I was stopped by a traffic officer in an unmarked BMW hatchback and told I was spotted by the cameras and that I have to pay a fine for cycling on the freeway which is of course illegal. I explained to him the situation with the Woodstock cycle path but he didn't offer any suggestions and just ignored me - so after a joke which I thought was in bad taste about my fine being R3000 (which gave me a bit of a fright)- he handed me my fine which was actually R300, which I've since paid. Operating a pedal cycle on a freeway 😆 My question is - does anyone know who we can chat to to get the Woodstock cycle path safe to use ? Could we rally together and sign a petition or something? It's extremely frustrating to have this great cycle path that we can't make use of ! Pity you paid (I also would have) This NEEDS to be tested in COURT .... go on RECORD with the unsafe situation Go on record with officials handing out soft fines rather than addressing the route cause .... Our lected leaders are NOT pro cycling despite their WORDS ..... Their IN-ACTIONS speaks much loader. Our premier and mayor are little more than empty word opportunists .... Grumpyoldgit, nonky, Robert Ketteringham and 2 others 5
mrcg Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Idea/Suggestion: why not petition the city to BUILD a cycle track along the grass verge (next to harbour wall/fence into/out of town? Think that would work out cheaper, easier and less enforcement headaches than policing existing track which is essentially a lost cause. I've used the grass verge many a time without incident or fines (not on the highway), and think it makes the most sense. Anybody willing to start this endeavour? I'm leaving for extended travel, so not around to drive this. RossTopher, Daniel de V, Robert Ketteringham and 2 others 3 1 1
babse Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Are you able to pin location of a google snip of where exactly the vehicle was standing? I've reached out on the subject seeking clarity on this operation... Sad! 41 minutes ago, thejoshswin said: R Claassen - Officer number 10039502 ; officer group 315. He was in an unmarked BMW (I think the I3 or something similar, with blue lights. He gave me a ticket with a court summons in June and payment required about a month before the court date. I paid when I got to work via the City of CT fines website. It's an 'admission of guilt' which makes me worry that I now have a criminal record.
Mamil Posted March 4 Posted March 4 18 minutes ago, ChrisF said: Pity you paid (I also would have) This NEEDS to be tested in COURT .... go on RECORD with the unsafe situation Go on record with officials handing out soft fines rather than addressing the route cause .... Our lected leaders are NOT pro cycling despite their WORDS ..... Their IN-ACTIONS speaks much loader. Our premier and mayor are little more than empty word opportunists .... Exactly. Their blurb in the ctct is nauseating and an insult to our fellow cyclists who have been killed and robbed and beaten up ChrisF and AndreJvVZA 1 1
Caerus Posted March 4 Posted March 4 (edited) Sorry that this happened.Ive been wanting to ask this exact question. I used to commute from West Beach to Town and used the cycle path, but its now a definite no go zone between Paarden Island and the city. Its actually crazy with the explosion of the squatters camp now ( Ive been past on the bus lately) What are others doing? Even for social rides, say if you want to ride to Hout bay, Camps Bay etc. I normally ride by myself. Edited March 4 by Caerus
thejoshswin Posted March 4 Author Posted March 4 16 minutes ago, babse said: Are you able to pin location of a google snip of where exactly the vehicle was standing? I've reached out on the subject seeking clarity on this operation... Sad! I didn't see where he was standing, but he told me the traffic camera operator (there's a tall camera pole close to the Woodstock offramp bridge. They called him in to pull me over, and he pulled me over pretty much under the cameras just after the offramp. On the side heading out of town.
thejoshswin Posted March 4 Author Posted March 4 26 minutes ago, mrcg said: Idea/Suggestion: why not petition the city to BUILD a cycle track along the grass verge (next to harbour wall/fence into/out of town? Think that would work out cheaper, easier and less enforcement headaches than policing existing track which is essentially a lost cause. I've used the grass verge many a time without incident or fines (not on the highway), and think it makes the most sense. Anybody willing to start this endeavour? I'm leaving for extended travel, so not around to drive this. I also think this is a good idea, but I've heard that the grass verge is also part of the freeway and also technically not allowed to be ridden on. I think there has to be a fence dividing it or something maybe?
ChrisF Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Just now, thejoshswin said: I didn't see where he was standing, but he told me the traffic camera operator (there's a tall camera pole close to the Woodstock offramp bridge. They called him in to pull me over, and he pulled me over pretty much under the cameras just after the offramp. On the side heading out of town. Now I am getting FURIOUS !!!!! They can use those cameras to fine cyclist .... BUT .... they cant use cameras to police the known "hot spots" .... THIS alone is worthy of testing this nonsense in court .... nonky, Daniel de V, Bankie99 and 4 others 4 2 1
ChrisF Posted March 4 Posted March 4 Anybody with the contacts to get this in the media ?? nonky, Gerlach, AndreJvVZA and 1 other 4
Gerlach Posted March 4 Posted March 4 (edited) 18 hours ago, ChrisF said: Anybody with the contacts to get this in the media ?? That is a good option. They always looking for something to post. Other option is to get hold of Steve Hayward of PPA to. Edited March 5 by Gerlach ChrisF and nonky 1 1
Andreas_187 Posted March 4 Posted March 4 (edited) That section is not freeway. Indeed, when the cycle path was closed we were told we could ride on that part of the N1 specifically because it is not classified as freeway until the 120km/h sign at the Koeberg interchange Edited March 4 by Andreas_187 thejoshswin, Robert Ketteringham, Pure Savage and 2 others 3 1 1
Slowone Posted March 4 Posted March 4 (edited) In South Africa, you generally cannot ride a pedal bicycle on a designated freeway (indicated by road signs) thats from a quick google and if im not mistaken that sign is after the marine drive off ramp. so unless you where on your way to Koeberg interchange you where good to ride there. i had a look at google maps and that sign in the distcnce is the freeway sign and its clearly after the offramp. pity you paid. should have taken it to court. Edited March 4 by Slowone nonky, Robert Ketteringham and firewolf 3
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