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

[NC_lurker]

On 3/12/2026 at 3:42 PM, Zebra said:

Request - JOSHUA’s form take just FIVE minutes to fill in; if you are avoiding the Woodstock Cycle Lane for A-N-Y reason, please give up 5 minutes of your life for this important initiative.

Chris (and Joshua).

 

Done.

For those looking for the form, here it is:

https://forms.gle/LkrXWig89RcuPhKx9

[thejoshswin]

An update from COCT - 

Transnet is the property owner for the unlawful occupation adjacent Lower Church Street.

Law Enforcement, Metro Police and Traffic works in support of Woodstock SAPS to patrol the area due to the on-going attacks associated with this unlawful occupation. The City also conducted a month-long operation in January 2025 to address the muggings.

Please refer to SAPS for further information.

 

[nonky]

On 3/9/2026 at 2:31 PM, 117 said:

Im a bit late to the game, so forgive the late reply. 

Yes, Ive been there. The onus is actually on the prosecutor to present the evidence first and foremost. The magistrate gets the moer in with the prosecuting team on a regular basis for all the delays, lack of evidence etc. So its actually in your favour to go to court for this kind of a charge
You as the accused, just need to be in court and watch the circus unfold. The magistrate will not get upset with you at all if you are present, presentable, respectful and always on time. 

Can you imagine the can of worms it will will open when the prosecutor is tasked to get video footage of the event and they need to actually prove its you in the said video... Good luck with that 

 

 

 

 

My OLD comment from December 2019, copied and reposted, as applicable here:

• "Remember when the violent Melville bikejackers got caught, along with many R1,000s of bikes, after a HUGE effort by the community, ratepayers, security, SAPS.... ...........................................and the Newlands Mag Court gave them each R500 spot fines?"

[117]

1 hour ago, nonky said:

My OLD comment from December 2019, copied and reposted, as applicable here:

• "Remember when the violent Melville bikejackers got caught, along with many R1,000s of bikes, after a HUGE effort by the community, ratepayers, security, SAPS.... ...........................................and the Newlands Mag Court gave them each R500 spot fines?"

The process is sadly on the defense side, only because the prosecution is always on the back foot. And, the law allows it. 

This sh!t would never be allowed to happen if we had a functioning system. 

[thejoshswin]

A German tourist was robbed of his phone on the cycle path recently - as per our CityROCK Whatsapp group -

Quote

I'm hosting a cyclist from Germany, who decided to go to the climbing shop today without asking me, and followed his maps onto the cycle route and got robbed. 😭 His phone was stolen, luckily not hurt

It was just his phone taken. Luckily it was mounted to his handlebars, so after pushing him over they grabbed it and left him alone. I'll show him the N1 route tomorrow morning.

 

[firewolf]

We are not licensed.  Our bikes carry no registration.  How did the Officer issue/attach the fine? 

 

 

[thejoshswin]

5 hours ago, firewolf said:

We are not licensed.  Our bikes carry no registration.  How did the Officer issue/attach the fine? 

 

 

This question already came up a few times earlier in the thread. 

The officer asked me for identification. I'm not one to lie to the police so I gave it to him. 

 

[firewolf]

56 minutes ago, thejoshswin said:

This question already came up a few times earlier in the thread. 

The officer asked me for identification. I'm not one to lie to the police so I gave it to him. 

 

Thanks. That's part of the problem isn't it? We who strive towards honesty are punished while those who commit crimes roam free. It seems cyclists are now seen as soft targets by those who break the law as well as those who are tasked to uphold it. I remember when we could ride through the Harbour section. A bike lane there would be a great tourist innitiate as well as a safer cycle.  In the meantime I am very interested in any other riders being fined moving forward.