Cape Town danger areas

[Jbr]

1 hour ago, Adam Young said:

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.

I do a similar route often, except I go over constantia nek and then back to hout bay / suikerbossie. The road in front of Polsmoor prison is apparently a hotspot, hell, even constantia has seen a few incidents recently... Just be extra careful in these areas. I'm always prepared to turn around if I see a parked vehicule somewhere it shouldn't and take extra distance from pedestrians walking against me...

[vanniri]

2 hours ago, Adam Young said:

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.

Franschhoek all around is fine. Zero issues.

[ChrisF]

5 hours ago, Adam Young said:

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.

 

Adam I regularly drive between sites for work ... and see LOTS of lone cyclists out on the roads, at all hours.

 

Saw a couple of lone cyclists riding was Kayamandi earlier this week .... certainly a "known hot spot".  But in reality how many bike jackings happen on this section ?  With litterally hundreds of cyclists per day.   

 

Threads like these do serve a purpose.  ... we should be more alert.  Unfortunately it is similar to 4x4 threads that will convince you that you will be hi.jacked if you buy a Fortuner ....

 

Similar for most other hot spots.

 

 

Having had an attempted bike jacking in a NON hot spot I am of the opinion these are purely opportunistic crimes.  I was lucky to be observant and to realise what was happening .... by the time he stepped into the road my bike was in full boost and I stood up and launched forward !!  He retreated very quickly.... 

 

 

I am continuing my normal rides.  As 95% of my rides are solo I avoid passing through known hotspots on my own ... either by re.routing, or by waiting at the top of Helshoogte then joining other riders for the hotspot area.

 

The route you show have LOTS of cyclists each and every day.  Go and enjoy it.  Be alert, dont cycle past "loiterers" ... 

 

 

That said ... dont carry valuables .... make sure your insurance is sorted ... dont try to be a hero

[MarcW]

Another bike jacking by Newlands/M3 cycle track. Definitely a hotspot, guys are using the some MO, knock you off - put bike in taxi and drive into the sunset. 

https://bikehub.co.za/stolen-bikes/2171/trek-top-fuel-98-2019

Edited May 3, 2022 by MarcW

[Jbr]

Sometimes they mess with the wrong cyclists  Hope this scum thinks twice before attacking another group

Edited May 3, 2022 by Jbr

[BuffsVintageBikes]

I hope his cycling shoes aren't too damaged.

[mikkelz]

59 minutes ago, Jbr said:

Sometimes they mess with the wrong cyclists  Hope this scum thinks twice before attacking another group

Seriously, give us some more context?! What happened? How? Location? When? 😂

[Jbr]

This mofo pulled a knife on my friend by the Big Barrel Pub on Sunday morning. Not sure how he turned the situation to his advantage, I saw him briefly at the Alsa Crit but didn't have time to chat to him. He is definitely a cycling hero in the area, he does a lot for the sport, but I hope he doesn't take too many risks for himself in the process. Surely he knew what he was doing (hopefully)

Edited May 3, 2022 by Jbr

[Hairy]

4 minutes ago, Jbr said:

This mofo pulled a knife on my friend by the Big Barrel Pub on Sunday morning. Not sure how he turned the situation to his advantage, I saw him briefly at the Alsa Crit but didn't have time to chat to him. He is definitely a cycling hero in the area, he does a lot for the sport, but I hope he doesn't take too many risks for himself in the process. Surely he knew what he was doing (hopefully)

This just outside Richwood in the Durbanville Hills area?

[The Ouzo]

1 hour ago, Jbr said:

Sometimes they mess with the wrong cyclists  Hope this scum thinks twice before attacking another group

Check the watch on the perp? Is that not a fitness watch? So not the first time he has done this?

[Jbr]

8 minutes ago, Hairy said:

This just outside Richwood in the Durbanville Hills area?

Yes going from richwood towards durbanville, right before the contermanskloof road intersection.

Unfortunately right now we have no safe way of going to durbanville, I'm planning a ride this weekend that side, and it looks like the safest way might still be going through Du noon not too early so that there is trafic (and there is police presence most days when I go).

Or the long way Plattekloof side, but using the bridge by the makro to then ride through richwood has become a no-no. This was at 7:30 not even that early...

Edited May 3, 2022 by Jbr

[Andreas_187]

6 hours ago, Jbr said:

Sometimes they mess with the wrong cyclists  Hope this scum thinks twice before attacking another group

Love it, well done that man

[MORNE]

5 hours ago, Jbr said:

Yes going from richwood towards durbanville, right before the contermanskloof road intersection.

Unfortunately right now we have no safe way of going to durbanville, I'm planning a ride this weekend that side, and it looks like the safest way might still be going through Du noon not too early so that there is trafic (and there is police presence most days when I go).

Or the long way Plattekloof side, but using the bridge by the makro to then ride through richwood has become a no-no. This was at 7:30 not even that early...

Forwarded this to Adrian from green platoon security. He says he has seen the post but is looking for the contact info of the cyclist. They cant find the suspect with saps(if he was handed over lol) 

hes one of the guys patrolling the area snd the guy that helped me back then. Ill pm you his details if you feel like putting them in touch.

[Jbr]

Maybe he buried him in his garden or something

[MORNE]

3 minutes ago, Jbr said:

Maybe he buried him in his garden or something

I told him that too haha. Look..they guy that got me was also ‘convinced’ not to do it again…so they know the game. They just want their mugshots so they know who to look for

[Hairy]

1 hour ago, MORNE said:

Forwarded this to Adrian from green platoon security. He says he has seen the post but is looking for the contact info of the cyclist. They cant find the suspect with saps(if he was handed over lol) 

hes one of the guys patrolling the area snd the guy that helped me back then. Ill pm you his details if you feel like putting them in touch.

Can't be that hard to find / spot him .... he is the guy with a fresh cleat tattoo on his neck