Cape Town danger areas

[wolver]

6 hours ago, MORNE said:

found it on a security guard who bought it for R3k (a R50k bike), lived in Dunoon and rode it to work everyday.

But why would a security guard spend R3k on a bike (regardless of its true value) to commute??? 🤔

[MORNE]

3 hours ago, wolver said:

But why would a security guard spend R3k on a bike (regardless of its true value) to commute??? 🤔

F knows…but thats what he said. Do any of us know what bikes cost in the townships/black market lol. Funny part was he rode it with cleats and all. Must have thought it was a raw deal…paid 3k for a bike that didnt even have enough space for his feet. The qr seat clamp was used as a lever to tighten the seatpost like a tap haha. Everything that wasnt fastened to the bike by alan/torx bolts was removed ( frame bags, bottles, gps mounts, lights, tools tube, racetec chip…even the chain guard.) So alan keys are not a thing in townships😅

Edited April 20, 2022 by MORNE

[peter5500]

I was attacked today in the Somerset West area in broad daylight by a thug wielding a wooden pole about the length of a cricket bat. Assault occurred around 3pm on a typically busy Baden Powell Drive near the approach to the bridge over the R102. Luckily the blow struck my upper right arm and not my neck or head area. The impact caused me to crash and the assailant then attempted to steal my bike while swinging the wooden pole at me. Fortunately, two motorists came to my assistance and this excuse for a human being retreated hastily into the bushes below the motorway. So, there I was minding my own business doing a nice endurance ride over a course I've ridden without incident for the past 6 years only for it to turn out to be a very bad day through no fault of my own. One of the motorists who assisted me suggested I ride for a while to get the adrenalin out of my system. I wasn't going to continue with the workout (I live close by and it would have been easier just to go home) but then followed his advice and rode for another hour which helped to relieve the shock of the incident to an extent. I haven't looked at damage to the bike yet (will assess tomorrow) but cycling shirt and bib shorts ruined. I have a LOT to be thankful for though - the kind motorists who swiftly intervened to diffuse the situation and the relative lack of personal injury sustained. Tomorrow will definitely be a rest day.

[RobbyB]

Thank goodness that you survived the attack with body intact. I'm sure that a few painful bruises will follow in a few days. So glad to hear that some kind hearted drivers came to your assistance.

I'm sure you'll be more aware of your surroundings and people strolling within it, in future. It often takes an incident like this to give us a wake-up call. 

Ride-on and enjoy the next 6 years incident free...

[herrowpreeze]

I think its time we start to ambush the ambushers 

[tubed]

50 minutes ago, herrowpreeze said:

I think its time we start to ambush the ambushers 

Sadly this would be premediated and the useless criminal justice system will probably work in favour of the criminal.

I do foresee a self-defence incident soon where a definitive stance is taken against an attacker. It would be hard to argue that cyclists are overreacting - there is just too much evidence that justifies a cyclist shooting first and asking questions later.

Sad that it has come to this. Cycling has always meant freedom for me. 

[MORNE]

57 minutes ago, herrowpreeze said:

I think its time we start to ambush the ambushers 

there are 'surveillance/sting ops in the contermans road area where they actively try and lure out these guys in unmarked vehicles ive been told, but i think it's difficult to judge how and when since most of them happen very opportunistically. These are desperate people who will literally kill you for a bicycle so they can eat/get their fix/whatever when they 'have' to.

That or the skollies have just figured out that they need to steer clear of an area for a few weeks once they mugged someone. They seem to happen in the exact same spots every single time, just months apart. 

[MORNE]

what are the legal requirements for putting up a sign? (bike jacking hotspot)

I've wondered a few times...driving past the spot where i got attacked, why i still see single persons, women riding there seemingly oblivious to the dangers....early morning/late afternoon - prime time.

Edited April 21, 2022 by MORNE

[The Ouzo]

11 minutes ago, tubed said:

Sadly this would be premediated and the useless criminal justice system will probably work in favour of the criminal.

I do foresee a self-defence incident soon where a definitive stance is taken against an attacker. It would be hard to argue that cyclists are overreacting - there is just too much evidence that justifies a cyclist shooting first and asking questions later.

Sad that it has come to this. Cycling has always meant freedom for me. 

if this happens it will unfortunately escalate the situations and we will land up like car jackings where they shoot you first and then take your car.

[Bonus]

I guess if someone had the time and energy to drive some distance behind a cycling friend and "shadow him", you might get lucky at trying to catch a thief or two, but realistically, what's going to happen?

If you see, for instance, two guys starting to attack your friend up ahead, you scream up in the car, get out (presumably you'd want to be armed otherwise you're just going to lose the car too) and you point a gun at them. They split and then what? You shoot them as they run away? From what I've heard, that's not going to do you any favours in court. Or they have guns and shoot at you? (possibly unlikely, I don't know how often these guys actually have loaded guns?) or they aren't armed and they don't run, so you cover them with your gun and call the police. How long before the police arrive to take them away? How many hours before they are out again but now they know what you are up too?

 It might be tempting to want to beat the thief to the point where he never considers robbing anyone ever again, but I don't see the law being on your side either.

So what is the answer? No more riding? Turbo trainer in your garage behind an electric fence? Even guys riding in groups have been attacked, as we've seen on here.

Sad days man.

[Adam Young]

Reading just a few of the posts on this forum has me now reconsidering whether renting a bike during an upcoming visit to Cape Town is really such a good idea... Not being a local may put me at even more risk.  That being said, I'd appreciate any guidance as to:

i. Recommended routes - staying in V&A / city centre area, my plan was something like this:

I came across that Pedal Power Association crime map, and it seems to have indicated a number of hotspots, unfortunately in many places in the general vicinty of the route above!

ii. Is riding alone in Cape Town a really stupid thing to do?  Whislt I do all my riding alone and at night where I live, circumstances are very different.  Would riding alone, say from 10am, in Cape Town still be strongly discouraged?  If so, I will have to find some groups then!

I am also planning to ride in the Franschhoek area as well, but I suspect there is less concern there than in Cape Town - but if this impression is also misguided, any insights are most appreciated.

Thanks for the inputs.

[cadenceblur]

Sad days Indeed.. I recall an incident a few years ago were a cyclist fought back - killed the one perpetrator and put the other in hospital. Think it was in Durban if memory serves me.
Was some ex military guy.

[Bonus]

16 minutes ago, cadenceblur said:

Sad days Indeed.. I recall an incident a few years ago were a cyclist fought back - killed the one perpetrator and put the other in hospital. Think it was in Durban if memory serves me.
Was some ex military guy.

 

Yep. Was mentioned on here. 

[Robbie Stewart]

I reckon wanting to ride with a firearm is both stupid and selfish. Stupid in that you will NEVER be ready to protect yourself with said firearm if you get pushed off the bike from close distance. The fall is highly likely to cause you to reveal the gun by which time all bets are off about what the outcome is going to be. Do people really think they can take a fall, draw a firearm from the holster, and cock a round and aim and fire?

Like I said, STUPID.

Even more stupid if said moron actually rides with a round in the chamber . . .

Selfish because now these assailants will be expecting guns to enter the fight and will simply up their game, endangering everyone else who does not have a firearm as protection, because how would the assailants know who's armed and who not? They will shoot first and then steal your bike from your lifeless corpse.

Soos ek sê, mense is net plein simpel.

The day people start cycling with firearms is the day I stop riding. There's enough BS going on in the world. We don't need more drama and stupidity.

Go watch this to see what difference a split second makes:

 

[Eddy Gordo]

5 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I reckon wanting to ride with a firearm is both stupid and selfish. Stupid in that you will NEVER be ready to protect yourself with said firearm if you get pushed off the bike from close distance. The fall is highly likely to cause you to reveal the gun by which time all bets are off about what the outcome is going to be. Do people really think they can take a fall, draw a firearm from the holster, and cock a round and aim and fire?

Like I said, STUPID.

Even more stupid if said moron actually rides with a round in the chamber . . .

Selfish because now these assailants will be expecting guns to enter the fight and will simply up their game, endangering everyone else who does not have a firearm as protection, because how would the assailants know who's armed and who not? They will shoot first and then steal your bike from your lifeless corpse.

Soos ek sê, mense is net plein simpel.

The day people start cycling with firearms is the day I stop riding. There's enough BS going on in the world. We don't need more drama and stupidity.

Go watch this to see what difference a split second makes:

 

I have said similar on Hub before. This goes for any weapon. However you have explained it way better. I have also said pepper spray is the only option.

[TheoG]

9 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I reckon wanting to ride with a firearm is both stupid and selfish. Stupid in that you will NEVER be ready to protect yourself with said firearm if you get pushed off the bike from close distance. The fall is highly likely to cause you to reveal the gun by which time all bets are off about what the outcome is going to be. Do people really think they can take a fall, draw a firearm from the holster, and cock a round and aim and fire?

Like I said, STUPID.

Even more stupid if said moron actually rides with a round in the chamber . . .

Selfish because now these assailants will be expecting guns to enter the fight and will simply up their game, endangering everyone else who does not have a firearm as protection, because how would the assailants know who's armed and who not? They will shoot first and then steal your bike from your lifeless corpse.

Soos ek sê, mense is net plein simpel.

The day people start cycling with firearms is the day I stop riding. There's enough BS going on in the world. We don't need more drama and stupidity.

Go watch this to see what difference a split second makes:

 

This is exactly the reason why I didn't ride with my pistol yet.  I cant come up with a way to carry and be ready & quick enough in any possible scenario.

I am however 100% in favor of defending yourself in any way possible & practical, for instance using your bike as a moering tool (again, if you have enough time to react), you can do some serious damage with a piece of carbon/aluminum/titanium/steel.

It is important though to be on constant awareness & lookout for possible dangers and risky situations.  I avoid riding trough risky spots as much as possible, and if I do, I'm on super high alert mode.

imho, the worst thing you can do is hands-up and handover your bike.  If we do the k@k will not stop !!!  Unless of course you outnumbered and/or staring into the barrel of a gun.