Cape Town danger areas

[Jbr]

ride opposite traffic after the market is alright, that's my usual route, if you are on a roadbike just cross by the petrol station exit as yes, it gets busy with pedestrians by the petrol station, and with them seeing you coming it can create opportunity and keep riding the shoulder all the way to the n1, then take the ramp off the n1 to woodstock. I think this ramp is also a hotspot, I'm super careful when I take it (which is not often).

If you have a gravel bike or MTB, you can take the petrol station exit road the wrong way, cycle through the petrol station, then keep going opposite trafic in the grass, all the way to the bridge. There are paths (pretty steep) that allow you to get to the top of the bridge and get to the road there. There is a small settlement on the right side, on the left side you can ride a MTB or gravel but it's full of glass and seems pretty dirty, only used it once and didn't like it so much, but I didn't puncture though

[RatX]

@tedza - interested to see your post, exactly what I came here to find out.  I live in Rugby and work in Obs and I'm trying to find different routes.  I currently take the cycle path along the bus route all the way through Paarden Eiland to Woodstock, usually somewhere between 6:00 and 6:30am.  So far I've mostly crossed paths with regular folk walking to and from work, but the long stretch going along the railway line past Woodstock is very quiet and there is definite opportunity for mischief.  I make an effort to greet everybody, and thus far on only one occasion crossed paths with a group of four chaps that I got very hostile vibes from.

Most mornings there is a traffic police vehicle parked at one end, but I think they're more interested in catching people taking shortcuts in their cars.  There are also occasionally armed response vehicles patrolling, but they are rare.  I have considered hopping on the bus through this section, but not sure how feasible this is.  I'm not crazy about cycling along Marine Drive against the flow of traffic, but plan to give it a try as an option.

I've also considered going through Paarden Eiland which seems to be reasonably safe, and rather crossing the N1 over the pedestrian bridge (-33.918094186846936, 18.475994652323056) that comes out at Ysterplaat Station, and then cycling up Voortrekker Road into Woodstock.  This will bypass the badlands along the railway, but I see on the Voortrekker Road side there is some construction going on so not sure how feasible this is either.  I might try it and report back with my findings.  Anybody else tried this route?  I see there's also a pedestrian bridge from the harbour that comes out in Woodstock near Albert Road, but I don't know if cycling through the harbour is permitted.

Edited January 24, 2023 by RatX

[Hamstring]

How about this https://goo.gl/maps/XCHdSypWss8acBTR7 i do this from Edgmead to 10 avenue, haven't read about any problems from Nabeni pineland Obs on these roads.  

[RatX]

3 minutes ago, Hamstring said:

How about this https://goo.gl/maps/XCHdSypWss8acBTR7 i do this from Edgmead to 10 avenue, haven't read about any problems from Nabeni pineland Obs on these roads.  

Nice one @Hamstring, will def give that route a try as well - nice to have a selection of routes to keep things a bit more interesting.  No hassles crossing over the railway at Century City?

[odon]

13 minutes ago, Hamstring said:

How about this https://goo.gl/maps/XCHdSypWss8acBTR7 i do this from Edgmead to 10 avenue, haven't read about any problems from Nabeni pineland Obs on these roads.  

I used to use this route nearly daily a number of years back on my commute between Mowbray and Century City. I used Union avenue through Pinelands (bit quieter) and crossed the railway at the pedestrian bridge at Old Mutual Station. The section through Kensington was fine. The little ramp at the Century City Station sometimes felt slightly dodge, but never had an issue. 

Now commuting from CBD I use the Marine drive N1 against traffic option as described here...

13 hours ago, Jbr said:

ride opposite traffic after the market is alright, that's my usual route, if you are on a roadbike just cross by the petrol station exit as yes, it gets busy with pedestrians by the petrol station, and with them seeing you coming it can create opportunity and keep riding the shoulder all the way to the n1, then take the ramp off the n1 to woodstock. I think this ramp is also a hotspot, I'm super careful when I take it (which is not often).

If you have a gravel bike or MTB, you can take the petrol station exit road the wrong way, cycle through the petrol station, then keep going opposite trafic in the grass, all the way to the bridge. There are paths (pretty steep) that allow you to get to the top of the bridge and get to the road there. There is a small settlement on the right side, on the left side you can ride a MTB or gravel but it's full of glass and seems pretty dirty, only used it once and didn't like it so much, but I didn't puncture though

The section getting past the Woodstock bridge is the tricky bit: up and over the guard rails, through the glass gauntlet under the bridge...there are only bad options for this. The post some time ago regarding a armed situation really made me weary of this route, but other stories of being held up on the bridge at Old Castle Brewery not much better. 

An alternative also as mentioned is along Voortrekker, you can get on from the Kensington side as per the Pinelands-CC route above. That container section before Salt river isnt so lekker, tubeless advised and watch out for trucks. 

TBH. i dont like any of these routes, and its a best of the worst kindof choice

Sorry, this is getting long...this has been touched on before, but what are the rules for going through the harbour? Can one get some other permit to ease the getting through (besides an expensive Yacht Club membership?)

[Hamstring]

23 minutes ago, RatX said:

Nice one @Hamstring, will def give that route a try as well - nice to have a selection of routes to keep things a bit more interesting.  No hassles crossing over the railway at Century City?

Its a pedestrian bridge with stairs and ramp i  pass people on moto bikes using it too. 

[reteid]

just a heads up. past sunday friend got accosted near cloetesville on his way by bike to jonkershoek by a f...r pulling a knife on him.managed to swerve around and get away. about 9 am.

[Jbr]

2 hours ago, odon said:

I used to use this route nearly daily a number of years back on my commute between Mowbray and Century City. I used Union avenue through Pinelands (bit quieter) and crossed the railway at the pedestrian bridge at Old Mutual Station. The section through Kensington was fine. The little ramp at the Century City Station sometimes felt slightly dodge, but never had an issue. 

Now commuting from CBD I use the Marine drive N1 against traffic option as described here...

The section getting past the Woodstock bridge is the tricky bit: up and over the guard rails, through the glass gauntlet under the bridge...there are only bad options for this. The post some time ago regarding a armed situation really made me weary of this route, but other stories of being held up on the bridge at Old Castle Brewery not much better. 

An alternative also as mentioned is along Voortrekker, you can get on from the Kensington side as per the Pinelands-CC route above. That container section before Salt river isnt so lekker, tubeless advised and watch out for trucks. 

TBH. i dont like any of these routes, and its a best of the worst kindof choice

Sorry, this is getting long...this has been touched on before, but what are the rules for going through the harbour? Can one get some other permit to ease the getting through (besides an expensive Yacht Club membership?)

But the harbour takes you to town, the main problem here is the access ramp to woodstock ?

To go to town I just take the n1 no problem, it's a little dodge going under the bridge but never actually had any issue there and I did it a thousand times

[tedza]

Quote

8 hours ago, Hamstring said:

Its a pedestrian bridge with stairs and ramp i  pass people on moto bikes using it too. 

Very interesting route, thanks for sharing. Whats your travel time if I may ask?  Upper main going to be interesting with the taxis.

 

[tedza]

10 hours ago, RatX said:

@tedza - interested to see your post, exactly what I came here to find out.  I live in Rugby and work in Obs and I'm trying to find different routes.  I currently take the cycle path along the bus route all the way through Paarden Eiland to Woodstock, usually somewhere between 6:00 and 6:30am.  So far I've mostly crossed paths with regular folk walking to and from work, but the long stretch going along the railway line past Woodstock is very quiet and there is definite opportunity for mischief.  I make an effort to greet everybody, and thus far on only one occasion crossed paths with a group of four chaps that I got very hostile vibes from.

Most mornings there is a traffic police vehicle parked at one end, but I think they're more interested in catching people taking shortcuts in their cars.  There are also occasionally armed response vehicles patrolling, but they are rare.  I have considered hopping on the bus through this section, but not sure how feasible this is.  I'm not crazy about cycling along Marine Drive against the flow of traffic, but plan to give it a try as an option.

I've also considered going through Paarden Eiland which seems to be reasonably safe, and rather crossing the N1 over the pedestrian bridge (-33.918094186846936, 18.475994652323056) that comes out at Ysterplaat Station, and then cycling up Voortrekker Road into Woodstock.  This will bypass the badlands along the railway, but I see on the Voortrekker Road side there is some construction going on so not sure how feasible this is either.  I might try it and report back with my findings.  Anybody else tried this route?  I see there's also a pedestrian bridge from the harbour that comes out in Woodstock near Albert Road, but I don't know if cycling through the harbour is permitted.

thanks for the input. You are braver than I.. When I last used this route I had been threatened and harassed.  Was somewhat aggressive and manage to avoid trouble. Got to the point where one of the metro vehicles would actually shadow me - good of them :-), but only happened once. Also lots of glass on the path so not good for the bike.

I am on a MTB, so previously eventually ended up on the route as you describe. Have however heard of the prasa squatters having become more brazen of late, and bike jacking on the woodstock bridge itself. Also believe that the MyShiti woodstock bus stop has been boarded up, but cannot confirm this.

[Hamstring]

11 hours ago, tedza said:

 

its 20 min from Edgemead to 10 avenue Kensington easy riding in the am, unfortunately taxis are on Voortrreker road but its about a 1k run down to Prestige Dr.    

[CapSizer]

13 hours ago, tedza said:

Also believe that the MyShiti woodstock bus stop has been boarded up, but cannot confirm this.

Yes, it got damaged when a bus caught fire there last February.  Apparently the refurbishment process is still being tendered.  Getting a clean audit trumps delivering a service.  The bus still stops there, but you have to get on and off through the front door from the kerb, which is a bit tricky with a bike. 

[Jan D]

On 1/23/2023 at 6:54 PM, tedza said:

So looking to use wifes car, bicycle & bus on different days, for a while. Not really sure I want another car to spend +/- 2 hours in the daily commute. Will see when winter arrives 🙂

So the question then, my commute is from Milnerton to Woodstock, around 6:30 am and return 5pm ish. I am considering using the route as follows:

I stay in Woodstock, and often want to use my bike to go to Milnerton side. The "best" (read least bad) option for me personally is to take the T01 MyCiti between Civic Center and Zoarvlei stations. That way you skip the section of dedicated cycle lane through Paarden eiland (accidentally ended up there a few weeks ago, and it is to be avoided at all costs), as well as the highway section.

I know many prefer riding that part on the N1, but personally I dislike it. So I just "skip" the entire section by riding Woodstock to Civic center (about 6 minutes, over the Christiaan Barnard St bridge), and make use of the bike-friendly MyCiti buses to get past Paardeneiland.

[RatX]

I had a happy excuse to make a trip from Mowbray back home in Milnerton area on Saturday, when I was collecting my new ride.  I seized the opportunity to try check out my plan to cross over at Ysterplaat Station next to Paarden Eiland, but it's a no go.  Fun riding (MTB mandatory - unpaved + sandy stretches) and industrial scenery which I like, but very isolated and I wouldn't go near it early or late in the day.  Seriously, the Woodstock bike path feels safer by comparison...

Also the station is either dilapidated and/or undergoing construction and you can't get to the ramp from the Maitland side without lugging your bike part of the way.  Not even sure if you can get all the way over once you do.  That part of Voortrekker Road also sucks for cycling (junkyard mile) - I had a speeding taxi zip by extremely close, and agree with the other comments about trucks.

Pushed on through Maitland/Kensington and had a good time - felt safe and did the Century City railway crossing for the first time.  It was great and opens up a whole bunch of new routes from Milnerton side to Southern Suburbs and back - bit of a detour for me but looking forward to exploring.  Will try the reverse route to work, but through Pinelands instead of desolation alley.

[RatX]

Another update - this morning I was running a little late, so thought I would try the recommended route Milnerton to Southern Suburbs side against the traffic along Marine Drive (from the market parking lot) - had an absolute blast!

Traffic in that direction is minimal (town to Milnerton) - I had to go into the roadway in the wrong direction once or twice where trucks blocked the path, but had ample opportunity to do so safely.  Minimal foot traffic to dodge.  Spot of gravel and sand on the path, you couldn't do this route on a roadie, but MTB or even gravel bike should handle it without a sweat.

On the Woodstock bridge/flyover, do you guys just go up the side and lug your bikes over the railing?  I went around the bottom on the harbour side and passed right by 3 little makeshift homes.  No sense of danger but that little section is also quite secluded so might just hop the railing next time.

[odon]

6 hours ago, RatX said:

Another update - this morning I was running a little late, so thought I would try the recommended route Milnerton to Southern Suburbs side against the traffic along Marine Drive (from the market parking lot) - had an absolute blast!

Traffic in that direction is minimal (town to Milnerton) - I had to go into the roadway in the wrong direction once or twice where trucks blocked the path, but had ample opportunity to do so safely.  Minimal foot traffic to dodge.  Spot of gravel and sand on the path, you couldn't do this route on a roadie, but MTB or even gravel bike should handle it without a sweat.

On the Woodstock bridge/flyover, do you guys just go up the side and lug your bikes over the railing?  I went around the bottom on the harbour side and passed right by 3 little makeshift homes.  No sense of danger but that little section is also quite secluded so might just hop the railing next time.

Either up and over the guard rails, along the right next to the dwellings and fence (I avoid this), or under the bridge (soooooo much glass!!)...does anyone go on the road against the traffic here? seems a bit too risky