Cape Town danger areas

[DJR]

3 hours ago, splat said:

That cycle lane heading towards Observatory is virtually non-existent. Big sections have been painted over and turned back to parking or bus stops for long sections.
The one on the other side heading towards Town is actually pretty good.

Yup. Total fail that. Probably thought up by a city transport guy who went on a nice paid for holiday to the Netherlands, then thought he could make a cycling lane with a lick of green paint in a lawless place and people would suddenly behave like the Duch........was never gonna work, not with Capies!. Not with Saffas. Here moats, ramparts, walls, barbed wire, electric fences and angry dogs don't even keep peeps in line. Green line? Ha Ha!

Edited November 10, 2022 by DJR

[justinafrika]

54 minutes ago, DJR said:

was never gonna work, not with Capies!. Not with Saffas.

…and then there’s this Saffa known as Safa Brian (aka Brian Wagner) who creates his own peri-urban risks (edit: and for others).

 

Insanity imo.

https://www.bicycling.com/culture/a36320897/safa-brian-cheats-death/

Edited November 10, 2022 by justinafrika

[Jbr]

couldn't watch. always blows my mind when I have to ride next to someone with such a loud freehub, how can you live with it for 3, 4, + hours, is it just an incentive to keep pedaling because freewheeling gets so annoying ?

[DJR]

The brake squeal was a bit ott.😜

[MORNE]

17 minutes ago, DJR said:

The brake squeal was a bit ott.😜

Why does it always sound like roadies ride sintered or semi metallic pads? Are they? Do they? Is it because of the small disks that they need metallic pads for more power?

organic pads don't do that unless they are glazed. 

i always find it amusing how one of the biggest gripes with rim/disk brakes for road bikes is the noise. What noise?? Learn to work on your bike and set up your stuff properly you tool! 😅 The brakes across all my bikes are dead silent.

Edited November 11, 2022 by MORNE

[Jbr]

5 hours ago, MORNE said:

Why does it always sound like roadies ride sintered or semi metallic pads? Are they? Do they? Is it because of the small disks that they need metallic pads for more power?

organic pads don't do that unless they are glazed. 

i always find it amusing how one of the biggest gripes with rim/disk brakes for road bikes is the noise. What noise?? Learn to work on your bike and set up your stuff properly you tool! 😅 The brakes across all my bikes are dead silent.

I just use whatever is available and compatible, at this point we're not really spoilt for choice

[bespokes]

On 10/20/2022 at 2:28 PM, DJR said:

Do NOT go through the part between Parden Eiland, Church Street (Woodstock) and the Civic Centre when on your own. Ride that strictly with a large enough group to deter attacks. Even small groups of 3 or so are targeted and it has become increasingly violent. And NO, it has not improved over the past few years. If there are fewer attacks, then it is because cyclists have learnt to avoid it, NOT because there are fewer criminals in that area. My guess would be that there are now (post Covid) more lawless opportunistic predators than ever before and the fences are much more broken down than ever in the past. As for police or security presence? I don't know because you won't catch me dead on a bicycle on that stretch unless in a big and mean group (and I don't have that).

So where does that leave us? Which would be considered the "safest route" from Woodstock to Town? 

[peepeekaitjie]

1 hour ago, bespokes said:

So where does that leave us? Which would be considered the "safest route" from Woodstock to Town? 

Main road express

[FootballingCyclist]

As received.

"Very close to the range 5am this morning taxi stopped guys with knives jumped out and high jacked 4 guys. Sounds like 2 bikes stolen. Passed them 10mins after 😢"

Edited November 16, 2022 by FootballingCyclist

[FootballingCyclist]

To me, this Must 100% be the same group of guys. Same road, this time just the other direction close to the bike park on the bend, Same MO. Taxi drives past, guys jump out with knives . Seems to me this taxi drives up and down Spaans waiting for cyclists and no passing cars, then they pounce.

[The Ouzo]

14 minutes ago, FootballingCyclist said:

To me, this Must 100% be the same group of guys. Same road, this time just the other direction close to the bike park on the bend, Same MO. Taxi drives past, guys jump out with knives . Seems to me this taxi drives up and down Spaans waiting for cyclists and no passing cars, then they pounce.

from the reports I've read here it certainly seems to be the same guys.

Its time for someone with some motivation to setup a sting operation.

 

Incidentally, earlier this year the bike jacking syndicate that was operating in and around gauteng were bust by a private security company.

[FootballingCyclist]

3 minutes ago, The Ouzo said:

from the reports I've read here it certainly seems to be the same guys.

Its time for someone with some motivation to setup a sting operation.

 

Incidentally, earlier this year the bike jacking syndicate that was operating in and around gauteng were bust by a private security company.

100%...

Everything is the same. Same road, albeit like 300m apart if that, Taxi passes cyclist, 2 guys jump out with knives, Taxi drives away. 

 

My assumption would be it's the same group who used to hijack cyclists just further up the road past the Prison, just last year. A security van was then stationed directly where the incidents occurred and nothing has happened since. They also tracked one ladies bike to the Westlake informal settlement. I'm guessing they've now just changed their M.O. They drive up and down Spaanschemat early morning waiting to see cyclists, They then wait for there to be no other oncoming vehicles and then they pounce. 

I personally cycle that road like 3 to 4 times a week, our group used to ride at 4:30am, this morning they were out riding but were along the main road(which seems safer now as there's alot higher possibility of cars passing, But Spaans is free flowing for cyclists with a "bike lane" which is why it's preferred), a sting operation would be a lovely thing, And then that should make the need and papers so that these thugs catch a wake up. Because at the moment there's zero coverage on bike jackings so they thugs continue on their merry way.

[MarcW]

Wow, this is getting out of hand. I am convinced its the same group of 3 that bike jacked me in April this year, now they have a more suitable vehicle to fit a bike in it. 

The general public aren't aware of these incidents it seems, it's quite easy to create some awareness by posting them on the community and NHW facebook groups. There were a couple car break-ins in Dennendal West at the forest and next thing there was a mobile camera set up - and the chap was caught not too long after. 

[Ncayi]

I am not sure this has been mentioned before so I will say it. The taxi association(s) could be an ally in this situation. If those who have been victims of  this "taxi gang" have any basic descriptors (stickers, accessories, make of the taxi etc) of the taxi(s) in question. They could find out which taxi association(s) use the robbery sites as part of their route. Then reach out to them directly or through the PPA and see what comes up.

As chaotic as the taxi industry is, those guys know each others taxi's. I mean to the level of knowing who has a busted left rear light, who has a dent next to the passenger door, a bunny dangling from the inside mirror. You mention something and they can tell you that's so and so's taxi.

It might be a long shot, but maybe something meaningful may come up.

[The Ouzo]

5 minutes ago, Ncayi said:

I am not sure this has been mentioned before so I will say it. The taxi association(s) could be an ally in this situation. If those who have been victims of  this "taxi gang" have any basic descriptors (stickers, accessories, make of the taxi etc) of the taxi(s) in question. They could find out which taxi association(s) use the robbery sites as part of their route. Then reach out to them directly or through the PPA and see what comes up.

As chaotic as the taxi industry is, those guys know each others taxi's. I mean to the level of knowing who has a busted left rear light, who has a dent next to the passenger door, a bunny dangling from the inside mirror. You mention something and they can tell you that's so and so's taxi.

It might be a long shot, but maybe something meaningful may come up.

My guess is its not a real taxi anyway. i.e. the vehicle is not used as a legitimate taxi. They use the same kind of vehicle as its pretty non descrip and nobody bats an eyelid seeing one driving up and down.

[Supersix CT]

1 hour ago, FootballingCyclist said:

As received.

"Very close to the range 5am this morning taxi stopped guys with knives jumped out and high jacked 4 guys. Sounds like 2 bikes stolen. Passed them 10mins after 😢"

This is getting out of hand. Our group is around 7 from the deep south, but this may or may not be their route in.