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

[thejoshswin]

Response from Young Urbanists -

Quote

We'll re-engage with Roads Infrastructure Management (RIM), as the responsible authority, and with Law Enforcement to press for more consistent maintenance and patrols along the Woodstock/MyCiTi cycle path. The vagrancy situation on the Transnet-owned land complicates matters — the City's enforcement mandate there is limited — but we'll continue pushing for coordinated responses.

I'll speak with colleagues in Traffic Services to explore what options exist around the fine and any legal implications — including whether a waiver or withdrawal is possible. I can't promise an outcome, but I'll try and get a clear response either way.

I'll follow up once I've heard back from the relevant parties.

 

[Caerus]

13 hours ago, CapSizer said:

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.

 

Thanks for this. Its not an option unfortunately. What do people do on weekends, go along the freeway, through the harbour? 

It just seems to now be a monumental cock up, either for commuting or social riding.

[Caerus]

10 minutes ago, thejoshswin said:

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 ....

Jeepers, you are brave. That is a most certainly not safe and a no go on your own.

 

I took the bus this week into town, and its an absolute disaster along there. It gets bigger and worse by the week.

[Gerlach]

12 minutes ago, thejoshswin said:

Response from Young Urbanists -

 

Glad you got hold of him and that they can "maybe" assist. Off forum, it was a hot topic and discussion on that whatsapp group. Seen some of the messages. 

[thejoshswin]

3 minutes ago, Caerus said:

Jeepers, you are brave. That is a most certainly not safe and a no go on your own.

 

I took the bus this week into town, and its an absolute disaster along there. It gets bigger and worse by the week.

Will not do it on my own....

[StripesOfYellow]

34 minutes ago, Caerus said:

Thanks for this. Its not an option unfortunately. What do people do on weekends, go along the freeway, through the harbour? 

It just seems to now be a monumental cock up, either for commuting or social riding.

That's the usual way, yeah. Marine Drive -> N1 -> CTICC and then through the Waterfront. Come back similar way. I've never had any issues with it, and have done both ways many times, but doesn't really mean much when you hear how many times other people have had issues, and all it really takes is one time.

[nonky]

Meanwhile, the Premier (what does he ACTUALLY DO?) arrives at a sitting of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature in cycling pants, shoes and pink socks.  I wont' express my view, as it'll get me a warning.

He is, obviously, happy to use cycling for free PR, but refuses to ensure the safety of cyclists in his province.   Just another thing to bear in mind at the next local gov elections.

 

 

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/horrified-anc-says-windes-outfit-during-parliamentary-sitting-an-insult/

[Shebeen]

4 minutes ago, nonky said:

Meanwhile, the Premier (what does he ACTUALLY DO?) arrives at a sitting of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature in cycling pants, shoes and pink socks.  I wont' express my view, as it'll get me a warning.

He is, obviously, happy to use cycling for free PR, but refuses to ensure the safety of cyclists in his province.   Just another thing to bear in mind at the next local gov elections.

 

 

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/horrified-anc-says-windes-outfit-during-parliamentary-sitting-an-insult/

What does he actually do?

He is the "CEO" of the best run province, by a country mile.

 

He was actually dressed like that as part of awareness, yet you still complain because you feel for some election year chit chat. Go back into your hole.

[thejoshswin]

14 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

What does he actually do?

He is the "CEO" of the best run province, by a country mile.

 

He was actually dressed like that as part of awareness, yet you still complain because you feel for some election year chit chat. Go back into your hole.

I agree. I've lived (and cycled) in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KZN and we certainly are privileged here ! 

[Stretched@Birth]

On 3/5/2026 at 8:59 AM, Pure Savage said:

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

That is why I said, that is a different fight...  The fight is then "your honour, I did not break the law because that section of road is not classified as a highway so the fine is invalid" as opposed to "your honour, I broke the law because I didn't want to take the road/cycle path where I may legally ride my bicycle as it is unsafe to do so and I am not willing to take the risk."

The first is innocent, the second is guilty with aggravating circumstances.

2 hours ago, Shebeen said:

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.

100% agree, you can break the law as a form of protest, but then must also be willing to face the consequences.  In this case, Josh paid the fine, and perhaps (let's hope) the incident was a call to action that will perhaps find a positive outcome, though as @Bro Derek has said, there are far bigger social issues that require attention that it is unlikely that any action will be taken to make the cycle path safer.  

I'm fairly confident that @thejoshswin is not the first to ride this section of road (and get caught) and will also not be the last.  The risk of being caught and potentially fined is far less than the risk of being caught, mugged and assaulted on the alternative route.

[Shaun2019]

Can we start a petition to get a permanent cycle lane tarred next to the Transnet fence, from the R27, to the existing Marine Drive cycle lane? And a secure bicycle garage in Town? 

[Shaun2019]

I have been in contact with the Royal Dutch Cycling Federation, have the white papers, no one from COCT could return my callls after months. The solution is the Transnet fence servitude, but also to remove the plants in the center of the N1 highway, make this a cycle lane with connection of over or under road bridges 

[Mamil]

On 3/6/2026 at 11:52 AM, Shebeen said:

What does he actually do?

He is the "CEO" of the best run province, by a country mile.

 

He was actually dressed like that as part of awareness, yet you still complain because you feel for some election year chit chat. Go back into your hole.

He's a politician - grandstanding cos it's what they do - His blurb in the CTCT magazine nauseated me given the carnage we have discussed and witnessed on the roads - as did Hill -lewis' self congratulatory platitudes. 

The ZA political scenario is such that "best run" is barely adequate - we celebrate mediocrity because the landscape of comparison is so utterly desolate. 

As for your "back in your hole comment" - you routinely make such ad hominem comments here - they don't leave a positive impression.

[Shebeen]

On 3/7/2026 at 7:15 PM, Mamil said:

He's a politician - grandstanding cos it's what they do - His blurb in the CTCT magazine nauseated me given the carnage we have discussed and witnessed on the roads - as did Hill -lewis' self congratulatory platitudes. 

I went and had a look at this one, looks like you need to have a preconceived idea of not liking this message before reading it.

 

 

 

We have a mayor and premier who actually ride the event. Could they do more for cyclists? Sure, but hard to argue that this is just for clicks and likes.

 

 

On 3/7/2026 at 7:15 PM, Mamil said:

The ZA political scenario is such that "best run" is barely adequate - we celebrate mediocrity because the landscape of comparison is so utterly desolate. 

I dunno, some people are seemingly only happy when they have something to moan about. We are the most unequal country in the world. The really bad is really bad and the really good is really good. I routinely cross paths from people of all over the planet that constantly remind me how good we have it here.

 

Just this weekend, plenty of positive vibes from those on the route.

 

On 3/7/2026 at 7:15 PM, Mamil said:

As for your "back in your hole comment" - you routinely make such ad hominem comments here - they don't leave a positive impression.

ok, will take that on the chin and try to be better.

 

 

[Gerlach]

Alan was a bike shop owner before he went in politics. The shop was on Knysna. Google will give more info. 

[Mamil]

1 hour ago, Shebeen said:

I went and had a look at this one, looks like you need to have a preconceived idea of not liking this message before reading it.

 

 

 

We have a mayor and premier who actually ride the event. Could they do more for cyclists? Sure, but hard to argue that this is just for clicks and likes.

 

 

I dunno, some people are seemingly only happy when they have something to moan about. We are the most unequal country in the world. The really bad is really bad and the really good is really good. I routinely cross paths from people of all over the planet that constantly remind me how good we have it here.

 

Just this weekend, plenty of positive vibes from those on the route.

 

ok, will take that on the chin and try to be better.

 

 

I read it but looks very much to me like political verbiage

The proof of the pudding ... New infrastructure is being developed, new roads, influx of population, - the big takeaway is economic growth at all costs - the "transformative power of cycling" as an ethos directing policy and development is not visible - as any ride around the peninsula on non-CTCT day or indeed, on the ride back home after the event shows us. More cars, more LDVs, more traffic, while existing infrastructure rots and is used as taxi drop off and ad hoc loading zone ......

Let's not forget the origins of CTCT - the big ride in to protest the lack of infrastructure - this is now about the natural beauty of our city and economic growth - the raison d'etre is a distant struggling also ran afterthought. This is the nauseating part because we know the people who have died and some of us see the real potential of the bicycle as a solution to the mess that plays itself out daily on the roads

And to edit it - I don't appreciate the "some peo[le aren't happy unless they moaning" stuff - it's more playing the man instead of the issue - I'm open to having positive developments beyond the lip service paid in the draft policy on NMT and the political theatrics pointed out. Where are the actual improvements that show that cycling is in any way a priority - not only for the privileged sports people but as a solution to an integrated plan to improve the liveability of the urban environment?

Edited March 9 by Mamil