Cape Town danger areas

[I FLY]

2 hours ago, Jbr said:

That's how. It's actually also a nicer route to ride. Hope the fellow cyclist is okay. Not everybody is on the hub or away or what's a hotspot and what isn't. I cycled passed Kayamandi a few times on my own until my mates showed me that detour, never really though twice about it as it is just outside stellies, but I actually like that detour better anyways !

As a blissfully unaware part timer in Somerset West my wife and I went out on the R304 and back on the R44 on Saturday morning. And we have ridden up Helshoogte on a few occasions. We have always done these on a weekend morning well after sunrise. 

We saw lots of riders on the R304.

[Bernard Horn]

Seen on FB there was a bike jacking on the Tygervalley  rd near Klein Roosboom winery.E bike (Black and blue Giant) robbed by 2 guys with knives.Drove through there at about 3pm and lots of cyclists on the road with lots of traffic.Be careful out there.Robbers made off towards Du Noon 

[Robbie Stewart]

1 hour ago, Bernard Horn said:

Seen on FB there was a bike jacking on the Tygervalley  rd near Klein Roosboom winery.E bike (Black and blue Giant) robbed by 2 guys with knives.Drove through there at about 3pm and lots of cyclists on the road with lots of traffic.Be careful out there.Robbers made off towards Du Noon 

[bleedToWin]

17 hours ago, I FLY said:

As a blissfully unaware part timer in Somerset West my wife and I went out on the R304 and back on the R44 on Saturday morning. And we have ridden up Helshoogte on a few occasions. We have always done these on a weekend morning well after sunrise. 

We saw lots of riders on the R304.

That was sort of my point within the point. Whenever there is an incident people will say that they do not understand why cyclists still use this road, but in reality incidents may be higher, but it is still quite rare and still on a similar scale to all surrounding roads. From SSW you could go Strand with some risk, or R102 with some risk or go to Stellenbosch and then pick R44 with some risk or R304 with slightly more risk (or Hels or JC). I would guess that per 10,000 cyclists passing all these routes have single digit incidents.

For reference, the R304 has ~2000 unique Strava users this year, the R304 has ~1500. 

[Smartie]

20 hours ago, bleedToWin said:

How do I get North of Stellenbosch? Statistically Cloetesville and Kayamandi are a risk toss-up.

Via Devon Valley, past JC Le Roux?

[bleedToWin]

5 minutes ago, Smartie said:

Via Devon Valley, past JC Le Roux?

You end up quite isolated on that rural road. Doubt it's more safe (but probably not less).

[Akon]

On 8/24/2021 at 8:48 AM, bleedToWin said:

That was sort of my point within the point. Whenever there is an incident people will say that they do not understand why cyclists still use this road, but in reality incidents may be higher, but it is still quite rare and still on a similar scale to all surrounding roads. From SSW you could go Strand with some risk, or R102 with some risk or go to Stellenbosch and then pick R44 with some risk or R304 with slightly more risk (or Hels or JC). I would guess that per 10,000 cyclists passing all these routes have single digit incidents.

For reference, the R304 has ~2000 unique Strava users this year, the R304 has ~1500. 

... except that I think R44 is more risky (hence not agreeing with JBR on it being a better "detour").  If I use it, it is always coming back (i.e. South), for then you can at least pass the danger bit at speed (down-hill).  Same reason for me using R304 going out (i.e. North) --> itis faster out than coming back in...

[bleedToWin]

2 hours ago, Akon said:

... except that I think R44 is more risky (hence not agreeing with JBR on it being a better "detour").  If I use it, it is always coming back (i.e. South), for then you can at least pass the danger bit at speed (down-hill).  Same reason for me using R304 going out (i.e. North) --> itis faster out than coming back in...

Yeah speed + vigilance are helpful tools.

[Skubarra]

On 8/24/2021 at 9:44 AM, bleedToWin said:

You end up quite isolated on that rural road. Doubt it's more safe (but probably not less).

I know of at least one incident on that road in the past few months, but that is the route I use to dodge Cloetesville. I think it is at least safer and you would usually encounter a few other cyclists (and you get to skip the Stellenbosch traffic)

[justinafrika]

2 hours ago, bleedToWin said:

Yeah speed + vigilance are helpful tools.

Mostdef.  There have been a few cycle robberies in the blocks near my home, including a former business partner’s father being relieved of his bike just 10 metres from my gate.  I’m most vigilant and exit the cycle path (there are loads in my ‘hood) or cross the road away from pedestrians and groups of pedestrians.  Perhaps the 360° vigilance is a legacy of many years of running businesses and socialising in my city’s crime-ridden Central area.  Before getting back into cycling I liked using public transport/walking and after work I’d regularly first walk the seven blocks to my mate's bar with a backpack of large notes.  Alas, those days are long gone.  “Speed + vigilance” does the trick.

Edited August 27, 2021 by justinafrika

[ChrisF]

4 hours ago, Akon said:

... except that I think R44 is more risky (hence not agreeing with JBR on it being a better "detour").  If I use it, it is always coming back (i.e. South), for then you can at least pass the danger bit at speed (down-hill).  Same reason for me using R304 going out (i.e. North) --> itis faster out than coming back in...

Jip, heading out of Stellenbosch to the North it "tricky" ....

 

Kayamandi - NOPE !!

 

R44 .... certainly risky, but I prefer it being wide open.  If you can see people in the distance you can decide to turn around, or cross over to the other side ... or whatever "feels right" for the situation.

 

 

Otherwise I go South from Stellenbosch, and via Kuilsriver to get back home ....

[Johnny82]

A buddy of mine was mugged and his bike stolen yesterday morning just before 6am on the way to our meetup point. It happened on Giel Basson Dr on the new extension piece behind Burgundy Estate. Perp was walking in the road and pushed him off his bike when he came past. He fought back, but the guy pulled a knife so he let it go. Suspect the bike was in that Du Noon cesspool 10mins later.

Be careful and alert out there and give guys walking in the road a wide berth if possible.

[MORNE]

On 8/24/2021 at 8:40 AM, Robbie Stewart said:

I stopped riding contermans/malans hoogte after my bike jacking and realising how exposed you are on the road on your own.

I ride down that road past klein roosboom, then turn around and head back up the hill all the time.

guess thats done now too. it was a matter of time. it’s downhill to Du noon so they can get away fast. Also, same MO…they know they can easily target cyclists coming uphill.

 

[Robbie Stewart]

2 hours ago, MORNE said:

I stopped riding contermans/malans hoogte after my bike jacking and realising how exposed you are on the road on your own.

I ride down that road past klein roosboom, then turn around and head back up the hill all the time.

guess thats done now too. it was a matter of time. it’s downhill to Du noon so they can get away fast. Also, same MO…they know they can easily target cyclists coming uphill.

 

I used to ride both those roads all the time. The last time I did that was the day before hard lockdown last year. I came down Contermanskloof road towards Puma, then turned right and crossed the N7 and went past DuNoon like I've done hundreds of times before. On this particular ride some people were putting up a shack next to the road, and when I passed they all stopped and looked at me like a pride of hungry lions eye a buffalo, weighing up the odds. I managed to "dodge a bullet" then. I have not ridden there since. Now I drive to the trail heads and only ride trails. No more tar.

[Jbr]

yeah I took a few more chances but have to say that now I'd use the bridge by the Makro rather than Malibongwe to durbanville, which I don't even do that often anymore because no matter which road you use, going from table view/milnerton to durbanville is dodgy AF...

[DieselnDust]

2 hours ago, Jbr said:

yeah I took a few more chances but have to say that now I'd use the bridge by the Makro rather than Malibongwe to durbanville, which I don't even do that often anymore because no matter which road you use, going from table view/milnerton to durbanville is dodgy AF...

and that Bridge will soon be a construction site....