Traffic fine for cycling on the N1 freeway - Woodstock cycle path frustration

[Pure Savage]

4 minutes ago, Stretched@Birth said:

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but I feel it needs to be said.  You cannot justify a wrong (it is against the law to ride a bicycle on a highway) by saying that you are doing it because the alternative is unsafe.

By all means, fight the municipality and local law enforcement on the state of the alternative road, the lawlessness, the lack of policing, etc.  But you cannot justify your unlawful act (and yes, that stretch of road may not yet be highway, but that is then a different fight), by saying you are doing it because there is no safe alternative route.

If the person who mugs you at knifepoint on the unsafe stretch of road justifies his action by saying that he has no alternative but to steal because the government has caused an economic situation where he cannot find work, would that make it ok?  I doubt it.  

But the point is from woodstock on ramp, the N1 is no longer a highway. Saying you can ride it because its legal. 

[thejoshswin]

38 minutes ago, Stretched@Birth said:

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but I feel it needs to be said.  You cannot justify a wrong (it is against the law to ride a bicycle on a highway) by saying that you are doing it because the alternative is unsafe.

By all means, fight the municipality and local law enforcement on the state of the alternative road, the lawlessness, the lack of policing, etc.  But you cannot justify your unlawful act (and yes, that stretch of road may not yet be highway, but that is then a different fight), by saying you are doing it because there is no safe alternative route.

If the person who mugs you at knifepoint on the unsafe stretch of road justifies his action by saying that he has no alternative but to steal because the government has caused an economic situation where he cannot find work, would that make it ok?  I doubt it.  

I have paid the 'admission of guilt' fine and admitted I was in the wrong already. I think I also would've been too bangbroek to fight with him about where the freeway begins etc. - I'm not too stressed about the fine at the end of the day. But if they going to be fining us for cycling on the freeway now then they must give us a safe alternative.....

Edited March 5 by thejoshswin

[Gerlach]

1 hour ago, Pure Savage said:

If you were inbound the freeway ends at the woodstock bridge, I have had a spirited discussion with a traffic cop before, we even went back and there are no high way signs on that on ramp. 

He would be busy on Tuesday morning with the 65 of us coming in.

Die een wat gedrop word, word gevang 😝

[Bro Derek]

I know it's a terrible situation, and I understand the furor, I also think we can look at the bigger picture. 

There is no safer alternative for people living in dangerous areas. There is no safer alternative for those using taxis who can't own cars. There is no safer alternative to walking through dangerous areas for most, there is no safer alternative for many, many basic daily functions for most people living in SA.

I do understand that it is frustrating and that there are easy ways to fix things, but there are also far more people dealing with higher priority, higher risk situations daily just to get to/from work which the City should be trying to facilitate before this. 

IMHO the N1 bridge/railway/bike lane junction should be scrapped and they 'should' find a way to go through Paarden Eiland and over the flyover to the woodstock cycle lane, but as you know, no one cares.

So, in closing, no one actually cares enough to do anything about it, so if you put it in the media, take it to Winde/DA/COCT (again) or rant here, history shows that no one in power cares so it is just going in circles. 

They are dealing with murder, rape and an excess of violent crime and losing. You'd think they would take a small win somewhere but it appears very low on the list of priorities

[thejoshswin]

1 hour ago, Bro Derek said:

I know it's a terrible situation, and I understand the furor, I also think we can look at the bigger picture. 

There is no safer alternative for people living in dangerous areas. There is no safer alternative for those using taxis who can't own cars. There is no safer alternative to walking through dangerous areas for most, there is no safer alternative for many, many basic daily functions for most people living in SA.

I do understand that it is frustrating and that there are easy ways to fix things, but there are also far more people dealing with higher priority, higher risk situations daily just to get to/from work which the City should be trying to facilitate before this. 

IMHO the N1 bridge/railway/bike lane junction should be scrapped and they 'should' find a way to go through Paarden Eiland and over the flyover to the woodstock cycle lane, but as you know, no one cares.

So, in closing, no one actually cares enough to do anything about it, so if you put it in the media, take it to Winde/DA/COCT (again) or rant here, history shows that no one in power cares so it is just going in circles. 

They are dealing with murder, rape and an excess of violent crime and losing. You'd think they would take a small win somewhere but it appears very low on the list of priorities

Well we can only try - I also think being able to cycle around the city safely and in a cost effective manner has a knock on effect and can help with some of these larger issues. When you take care of the small things, sometimes the bigger things start to take care of themselves.

[Bro Derek]

4 minutes ago, thejoshswin said:

Well we can only try - I also think being able to cycle around the city safely and in a cost effective manner has a knock on effect and can help with some of these larger issues. When you take care of the small things, sometimes the bigger things start to take care of themselves.

I don't disagree, I am just pointing out that the phrase 'They HAVE to offer a safe solution' is not correct.... They don't. They could, they should, but they don't have to

Also, not sure if your username references the great Josh noodle fight or 'The Underdog' but either way it is a fantastic username. Made me lol

[thejoshswin]

1 minute ago, Bro Derek said:

I don't disagree, I am just pointing out that the phrase 'They HAVE to offer a safe solution' is not correct.... They don't. They could, they should, but they don't have to

Also, not sure if your username references the great Josh noodle fight or 'The Underdog' but either way it is a fantastic username. Made me lol

I agree.

My name is Joshua Swinney so it is neither of those things, just my name 😆

[thejoshswin]

1 minute ago, thejoshswin said:

I agree.

My name is Joshua Swinney so it is neither of those things, just my name 😆

 

[betaboy]

18 hours ago, 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. 

Time to “fix” that camera…  anything is possible today with a 100 ront! 🙊

[Caerus]

So how are rider getting from Tableview side through to town? Im still at a loss what to do now......anyone?

[Robbie Stewart]

1 hour ago, Caerus said:

So how are rider getting from Tableview side through to town? Im still at a loss what to do now......anyone?

In a car. At least that's how I get to town. From there the peninsula is your oyster. 

Heck, the only place you don't have to drive to from Tableview side is pretty much Melkbos in the north and Paarden Island to the south. Cruising over the N7 is possible but ill advised.

[CapSizer]

3 hours ago, Caerus said:

So how are rider getting from Tableview side through to town? Im still at a loss what to do now......anyone?

Under certain conditions it is worth combining it with the MyCity bus, ride to Paarden Island and then get on a bus. However, during peak hours the buses are mostly far too full for this.

 

[Shebeen]

On 3/4/2026 at 11:06 PM, mrcg said:

Another option might be for the city to approach Transnet and build a safe cycle lanes through the harbour. That would actually be the best bet. Right along the fence away from the road, traffic etc. Haven't scouted the route, but if memory serves me correctly, then there is a way

Neeeeeeever going to happen.

Port is controlled access, they most definitely do not want it as a thoroughfare. 

[Shebeen]

On 3/5/2026 at 8:53 AM, Stretched@Birth said:

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but I feel it needs to be said.  You cannot justify a wrong (it is against the law to ride a bicycle on a highway) by saying that you are doing it because the alternative is unsafe.

By all means, fight the municipality and local law enforcement on the state of the alternative road, the lawlessness, the lack of policing, etc.  But you cannot justify your unlawful act (and yes, that stretch of road may not yet be highway, but that is then a different fight), by saying you are doing it because there is no safe alternative route.

If the person who mugs you at knifepoint on the unsafe stretch of road justifies his action by saying that he has no alternative but to steal because the government has caused an economic situation where he cannot find work, would that make it ok?  I doubt it.  

Yeah, nah yeah, totally disagree.

You most definitely can break laws that don't make sense* as a form of protest.

Here is a nice dude breaking a law, by burning his passbook to protest Sharpeville massacre in 1960. Obviously a massive leap to riding on the N1, but the principal is the same.

 

*more than happy to debate this section of road being legal as a side fact.

[Rapunzel]

On 3/4/2026 at 6:42 PM, 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.

The area alongside the N1 is Sanral road reserve and doubtful the city will be able to get permission to build a lane there but through the port appears a more viable option.

I'm sure John Maytham on Cape Talk will be happy to run with this, especially while it is pre CTCC buzz. If anybody has video or photo footage of the bike lane from the past few weeks, please dm me (I went through there in a group last month and it is shocking beyond belief)

[thejoshswin]

5 minutes ago, Rapunzel said:

The area alongside the N1 is Sanral road reserve and doubtful the city will be able to get permission to build a lane there but through the port appears a more viable option.

I'm sure John Maytham on Cape Talk will be happy to run with this, especially while it is pre CTCC buzz. If anybody has video or photo footage of the bike lane from the past few weeks, please dm me (I went through there in a group last month and it is shocking beyond belief)

I'll see if I can go through there (will be after Argus) and get some pics for you if no-one else has any ....