Cape Town danger areas

[mikkelz]

*******. 😰

[mikkelz]

Quote

I have again asked the Ministers of POLICE OVERSIGHT, MOBILITY and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT to look into this.

As you are aware, policing is NOT a provincial competency although we have put a safety plan in place by taking a billion rand away from Education and Health to show national government that with data and evidence and smart policing you can make a difference.

I emailed literally everybody I thought could make a difference a few weeks ago relating to Helshoogte (follow up email yesterday after the most recent incident).

I live in Stellenbosch and ride that route frequently, so it's extra disturbing.

That is the response I got most recently. Literally speechless, but not surprised. Won't quote the source out of respect. No wonder people take the law into their own hands in this country.

[MongooseMan]

I see there 4 "request for comment" proposals to do with NMT (non motorised transport) infrastructure on the CoCT website.

https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/have-your-say/issues-open-for-public-comment?L1=Issues open for public comment

• Pinelands
• Robert Sobukwe
• Salt River, Obs, Woodstock
• Northern areas

Lots of plans available, as well as the ability for the public to add their support. As a cyclist in Cape Town, living in one of the above, and riding through many of the above, this would be a big win.

 

Example of the Pinelands proposal:

Edited May 3, 2024 by MongooseMan

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Maybe it's time we organize a Go Slow group ride up Hellshoogte with banners and all and invite the press?

[wolver]

3 hours ago, MongooseMan said:

I see there 4 "request for comment" proposals to do with NMT (non motorised transport) infrastructure on the CoCT website.

https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/have-your-say/issues-open-for-public-comment?L1=Issues open for public comment

• Pinelands
• Robert Sobukwe
• Salt River, Obs, Woodstock
• Northern areas

Lots of plans available, as well as the ability for the public to add their support. As a cyclist in Cape Town, living in one of the above, and riding through many of the above, this would be a big win.

 

Example of the Pinelands proposal:

Any mention of a plan to render the existing infrastructure (ie Marine dr/N1 cycle lane) useable before spending on new projects? 🙄

[DJR]

12 hours ago, wolver said:

Any mention of a plan to render the existing infrastructure (ie Marine dr/N1 cycle lane) useable before spending on new projects? 🙄

Sadly, it's just another "election-coming-up" exercise, methinks. There is much more political will to make crime-fighting appear in the news, in press releases, in plans, than in reality on the ground with trained, willing, equipped officers in the right place, at the right time. ready to do the right thing. Very sadly!

[ChrisF]

12 hours ago, DJR said:

Sadly, it's just another "election-coming-up" exercise, methinks. There is much more political will to make crime-fighting appear in the news, in press releases, in plans, than in reality on the ground with trained, willing, equipped officers in the right place, at the right time. ready to do the right thing. Very sadly!

 

Disgusting to have a mayor and a premier that actively canvas for cyclists votes, yet hardly any real ACTION to improve cyclists safety.

 

 

Electioneering speaches are NOT "action" .... they most certainly have not used the last 5 years to put their speaches into action.

 

 

Very SAD ....

[cadenceblur]

1 hour ago, ChrisF said:

 

Disgusting to have a mayor and a premier that actively canvas for cyclists votes, yet hardly any real ACTION to improve cyclists safety.

 

 

Electioneering speaches are NOT "action" .... they most certainly have not used the last 5 years to put their speaches into action.

 

 

Very SAD ....

Indeed , just a load of posturing, especially Alan Winde who always has lots to say come Cycle Tour time especially. “Making Cape Town a cyclist-friendly city”! What a joke….

[Mamil]

On 5/4/2024 at 7:43 AM, DJR said:

Sadly, it's just another "election-coming-up" exercise, methinks. There is much more political will to make crime-fighting appear in the news, in press releases, in plans, than in reality on the ground with trained, willing, equipped officers in the right place, at the right time. ready to do the right thing. Very sadly!

 

11 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

Disgusting to have a mayor and a premier that actively canvas for cyclists votes, yet hardly any real ACTION to improve cyclists safety.

 

 

Electioneering speaches are NOT "action" .... they most certainly have not used the last 5 years to put their speaches into action.

 

 

Very SAD ....

 

10 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

Indeed , just a load of posturing, especially Alan Winde who always has lots to say come Cycle Tour time especially. “Making Cape Town a cyclist-friendly city”! What a joke….

Ja, hard not to be cynical about that speech before the ctct start and his blue light brigade ride. Don't see any of these Muppets taking their chances through Woodstock or any of the other bikejacking hotspots. Not to mention the state of the paarden island to CBD cycle path or the general fracas that passes for road safety.

Not just us though, the motley crew that is global "leadership" hardly inspires confidence and makes one wonder about the state of democracy globally.

Hi ho. I'm off to ride Tokai now. That'll cheer me up

[lechatnoir]

12 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

Disgusting to have a mayor and a premier that actively canvas for cyclists votes, yet hardly any real ACTION to improve cyclists safety.

 

 

Electioneering speaches are NOT "action" .... they most certainly have not used the last 5 years to put their speaches into action.

 

 

Very SAD ....

erm... these are politicians. what did you expect?

 

[DJR]

I appreciate Alan Windes' efforts to improve cycling infrastructure and respect him as a fellow cyclist. But a lot of the good work put in by him (provincial government) and the City of Cape Town, has gone to waste over the past decade (or more) because of LACK OF LONG TERM COMMITMENT to make it work! There are 3 shortcomings that I see as the main reasons for cycling paths (like the brilliant West Coast one, which is a good example to use)  failing:

1. Lack of security!

Policing, I understand, is NOT a provincial function. SAPolice Service is run atrociously and corruptly by the national central government. To help mitigate the total disaster that SAPS has become, the City of Cape Town has established its' own Metro Police, which helps a lot keeping Cape Town away from a Mad Max apocalyptic scenario. But if there are still near daily muggings and robberies on the cycling route, then cyclists (recreational and commuter) will stop using it and your multi million Rand investment in infrastructure will be lost, totally useless, money down the drain. It does not help to have a bit of a show on TV and in the papers after a particularly gruesome attack, to show that you (police or politicians) are doing something about it. You need to be there EVERY DAY, CATCH and incarcerate the criminals until there are ZERO attacks. THEN your project will work, cyclists will use the route, reduce traffic, pollution and your infrastructure investment will pay dividents!

2. Failure to deal with illegal squatters

Much of the criminality happening along the West Coast cycle route stems from the homeless encampments on mostly PRASA owned land in Woodstock. It offers criminals a place to stay and hide. It is all too easy to disappear into that nest after an attack on a cyclist on the cycling path and police are not willing or able to enter there and find the culprits. The solution is not so straight forward, because the land is basically owned by the state (central government) or PRASA (also state owned) and they don't have the political will to act against the illegal occupiers ( I suspect they don't want to be seen evicting people because it will cost them at election time, reeking of forced removals?). The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Provincial government cannot do anything much about this, because they do not own the occupied land and cannot evict and clear it out. Besides, the legal process of doing that is a long and difficult one. But, if the illegal occupiers and criminal elements are not removed and prevented from returning, the cycle lane will NOT ever be fully functional and a waste of money.

3. Lack of ongoing maintenance of infrastructure

Allowing fences to be broken down and to remain so for years, allow criminals easy access to the cycle lane as well as an easy escape. Allowing manhole covers to be stolen and for holes to remain open bicycle traps, endangers cyclists. Allowing it to become neglected, overgrown, covered with rubbish, human pee and excrement, makes it an unattractive environment for law abiding cyclists, and they will stay away..........again, the cycle path will fail and all your infrastructure investment will go to waste.

 

If you want to see where the West Coast Cycle Lane works, then simply go further up from Milnerton to Melkbos. You will see that people are using it! If you want to see where it is NOT working, go look at the stretch from Paarden Eiland to the City Centre. The difference is stark and striking and it is caused by crime and neglect of dealing with it definitively.That blockage in the cycle path is a bit like the one artery that gets clogged up, causing a heart attack and the patients' death, while the rest of him was perfectly fit and healthy! 

 

P.s. Someone with better IT skills, you are most welcome to send this to same politicians.

P.p.s' Sorry, I know this is a post too long for most Hubbers, but hey, I have to try and fix your  attention deficit issue, not so? (Just kidding) 

Edited May 5, 2024 by DJR

[splat]

Main Road through Woodstock is being resurfaced, which is great!

It will be interesting to see what happens with the bike lane, which was a bit fictitious anyway...

Oh, and coming over the Bakery Bridge towards Amazon, the new traffic flow and intersections there will be challenging. Unless there is something formal in place, I see a lot of traffic turning right from Observatory towards Maitland causing issues.

[i24]

On 5/5/2024 at 8:41 AM, DJR said:

1. Lack of security!

Policing, I understand, is NOT a provincial function. SAPolice Service is run atrociously and corruptly by the national central government.

 

2. Failure to deal with illegal squatters

The solution is not so straight forward, because the land is basically owned by the state (central government) or PRASA (also state owned) and they don't have the political will to act against the illegal occupiers

 

3. Lack of ongoing maintenance of infrastructure

Allowing fences to be broken down and to remain so for years,

Western Cape Law Enforcement does not have the powers, nor the budget, to investigate or arrest. There is only so much the Western Cape can do without a functional national Police Force.

I am not sure if there is much point in shouting at Allan Winde, the solution to the problem lies with central government.

[Robbie Stewart]

On 5/5/2024 at 8:41 AM, DJR said:

If you want to see where the West Coast Cycle Lane works, then simply go further up from Milnerton to Melkbos. You will see that people are using it!

I ride the section from Sunningdale to Melkbos and on to Duynefontein and back again as a standard 42 km loop at least 3 days per week, sometimes more.

I ventured down south to Paarden Island on 1st of April and on a whim jumped onto the N1 to carry on to the V&A and from there on to the top of Suikerbossie. I noticed the decline and the stark contrast between the two clearly discernible sides. It really is sad, because from our part of the world we are pretty much locked in as we can't cross the N7 any longer as Dunoon is too risky, and going South also is a major risk.

But I don't see the WC government being able to alleviate the situation without the buy-in from National government, which at present is a not-starter.

Edited May 6, 2024 by Robbie Stewart
clarification

[CapSizer]

21 hours ago, splat said:

Oh, and coming over the Bakery Bridge towards Amazon, the new traffic flow and intersections there will be challenging. Unless there is something formal in place, I see a lot of traffic turning right from Observatory towards Maitland causing issues.

I am hoping that the new road layout will make good provision for cyclists.  I have not seen the plans (does anybody here know?) but I am under the impression that the city these days puts in decent space for cyclists wherever new roads are built.

[ChrisF]

5 hours ago, i24 said:

Western Cape Law Enforcement does not have the powers, nor the budget, to investigate or arrest. There is only so much the Western Cape can do without a functional national Police Force.

I am not sure if there is much point in shouting at Allan Winde, the solution to the problem lies with central government.

 

Nope

 

Sure, prasa ground is a national disaster, and beyond the local government.

 

BUT, there are many more areas where the mayor and the premier CAN improve:

. Maintenance

. Visible policing

. Safety

 

 

Must somebody die in a bike jacking on Hellshoogte before the premier takes a few basic steps ?

 

 

A clear message needs to be sent to wake him up from his slumber ....

 

 

YES ... I travel enough to know things are "beter" in the Western Cape than in many other SA cities.  However, still a lot that CAN be done to improve cyclist safety here

Edited May 6, 2024 by ChrisF