Northern Farm no longer safe to ride on your own

[mtbN00b]

 

how friendly is still friendly which does not include "that" friendly?

 

You'll have to wait and see.   Don't worry...I'm sure there are quite a few Hubbers who will vouch for me.

 

[The Worm]

I'm keen to join every so often too.

[Dibles]

I'm keen to join every so often too.

 

Good thing, the more the merrier (and safer too).

 

 

 

I've just received a reply to my email to Simon Nash (NF mtb representative) and I am going to meet up with him when I'm back in Gauteng as he says that I can be of assistance.

[paulvs]

mmm so where is it safe to ride and how much time do we have left before all the areas are no go. . . That is the big Q. . .

[Dibles]

mmm so where is it safe to ride and how much time do we have left before all the areas are no go. . . That is the big Q. . .

 

 

It all depends on whether we just sit back and let it happen or not.

[northernfarm]

I would just like to put this issue in perspective. Firstly, the lady concerned was not actually attacked, the farm workers on the farm saw the three guys acting suspiciously(particulalry as they should not have been there in the first place) and chased after them before they could actually get to the cyclist. I believe this is as a result of the strong relationship we maintain with the farm management and through them their workforce.

Secondly, they pursued the intruders and were able to capture one of the three and hand him over to the police.

Thirdly it is common knowledge that this kind of opportunistic criminal activity increases at this time of the year.

I sent out the e mail to advise people to be vigilant but still believe the farm to be one of the safest venues to cycle at. We employ a regular patrol by urban threat management and will increase the 3 Diepsloot youngsters to 6 as soon as we are able to recruit and train them.

We work closesly with mapogo and the residents in the area as well as farm management and will not, I repeat will not allow a criminal element to spoil the use of the farm by mountainbikers.

 

[Dibles]

...

 

I sent out the e mail to advise people to be vigilant but still believe the farm to be one of the safest venues to cycle at.

 

...

 

 

Thanks for posting the info about the incident.

 

I agree that NF is one of the safest venues and that is why I have been using it (and will continue to use it). I don't however think that it is totally safe for anyone to ride at any venue on their own anymore, especially women. Increasing the number of youngsters on patrol will definitely help but Northern Farm covers such a vast area and we cannot expect them to secure the entire area all at once therefore we should rather ride in groups.

 

If you plan on riding solo, rather ride in the mornings when the Farm is busier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob22]

This is sad to hear, the only reason I started riding at  NF was that there were a few incidents at the Spruit.

 

I was there yesterday and its a great place to ride, I really hope this is an isolated incident. I will only ride in the morning over this period.

 

 

 

[cat-i]

 

I'm so glad I live in Cape Town.  Yes we also have hijackings' date=' but I've only heard of them on table mountain, the other routes all seem to be fine.[/quote']

got an email from a stellenbosch buddy, he was attacked on that road out of stellenbosch towards bottelary - wasn't a hijack, they just took R50 and a cellphone ... 4 guys with knives - its not just here its everywhere

 

[cat-i]

 

I may be interested in joining on some weekends too.

 

Yay! I will start a thread under "Group Rides" when I'm back in Gauteng. I will PM all of you who have already shown an interested so that you are aware of the thread.

 

pick me, pick me!!

 

 

 

[Dibles]

I may be interested in joining on some weekends too.

 

Yay! I will start a thread under "Group Rides" when I'm back in Gauteng. I will PM all of you who have already shown an interested so that you are aware of the thread.

pick me' date=' pick me!!


[/quote']

 

Consider yourself picked. 

[slowpoke]

...

 

I sent out the e mail to advise people to be vigilant but still believe the farm to be one of the safest venues to cycle at.

 

...

 

 

Thanks for posting the info about the incident.

 

... I don't however think that it is totally safe for anyone to ride at any venue on their own anymore ...

i've never felt unsafe at the farm and the workers do seem to be attentive etc at all times making it safe. that said, considering the fact that it's not even safe to go to a shopping mall or petrol station these days we have to be alert and vigilant wherever we may be.

[Chip]

I would be interested in the NF group ride too.

 

Please add me to the list.

 

Thanks.

[Dibles]

i've never felt unsafe at the farm and the workers do seem to be attentive etc at all times making it safe. that said' date=' considering the fact that it's not even safe to go to a shopping mall or petrol station these days we have to be alert and vigilant wherever we may be.

[/quote']

 

I have felt unsafe on occasion but that is because I ride there on my own 99% of the time and I ride in the afternoons when there aren't many people around. On one occasion when I got back to the car park there was only one other car around.

 

 

 

 

Cycling in a group is not only better for security reasons but also general safety. If I have a bad crash when out riding on my own I would not be missed for many hours as I live on my own. On one occasion I had a bad crash at Groenkloof and was a few kms from the car park. I am very squeamish and faint at the sight of my own blood so I battled to get back to my car without passing out.

 

A fellow Hubber's dad had a minor heart attack at NF during a ride. If he had been riding on his own then who knows what would have happened.

 

 

 

Chip, I've added you to the group ride list. 

[Tjokkits]

can you please add me to the list?  What speed 9how fast) do you go?

[Omlette]

Shocking news!!!! There is no where safe to ride in the area!

 

try east rand!!!