City Of Cape Town

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Hi Guys

 

I sent the following email to my councilor budy, email is not edited:

 

 

=============================

 

Hi Stuart (pringle)

 

 

 

 

 

Not a personal email so let me get to the point.

 

 

 

 

 

In the last year I've taken up cycling and started to get involved with

 

the local cycling community. On a local forum we have been discussing

 

issues and one of them is poor state of certain roads in the Cape Town

 

area. The complaints arise from glass that is littered along the road

 

and is seldom cleared.

 

 

 

I personally do not ride in these areas so I'm merely repeating what

 

I've heard/read from others.

 

 

 

Who would be the correct person/s / department / etc for cyclists to

 

contact to follow up on this.

 

 

 

The major concerns relate to the safety of cyclists on these roads. A

 

slashed tyre is not only costly to replace but could lead to a fatal

 

accident.

 

 

 

(The concern about glass on the roads is also a big issue with cyclists

 

preparing for the Argus)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, who is responsible for the new/existing cycling lanes in Cape

 

Town. Much is mentioned in the media and the local cycling organisation

 

(PPA) is quick to report on it (to get credit and focus on them) yet few

 

cyclists see any real progress. We also would like to know what are the

 

future planes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another issue which I've raised in the community is the lack of respect

 

for the law of the road. My particular grudge are the cyclists who use

 

the coastal road between Gordons Bay and Rooielse. I did see City of

 

Cape Town law enforcement staff on Boxing Day along this road but none

 

had stopped or warned any of these cyclists (not wearing helmets, riding

 

two aside).

 

 

 

I made a rant that whoever is responsible for this stretch of road

 

should target cyclists. Most are law abiding but the few that arn't are

 

enough to create the public perception that all cyclists are rude. With

 

the Argus coming up in a few weeks time, these scenic routes will be

 

more popular. It also may seem unfair to target this group of cyclists

 

(mostly white) but we are more fortunate than others and the cost of

 

helmets is not an issue. We are also all aware of the law.

 

 

 

It would be nice if Cape Town could be proactive in this regards as in

 

the The Cradle up north, there is time bomb on the verge of exploding

 

between residents and cyclists. (Its the current focus of the cycling

 

community at the moment)

 

 

 

 

 

Otherwise keep well

 

Christopher

 

 

 

=============================

 

 

Dear Christopher

 

 

 

Thank you for your email.

 

 

 

Unfortunately the answer to your questions really depend upon where,

exactly the roads of which you are speaking, are located because some

of the roads fall within the City of Cape Town's jurisdiction while

others fall under the Provincial government.

 

 

 

With regard to the issue around the City's law enforcement not tackling

errant cyclists I am passing your comments on to the Mayoral Committee

member for safety and security, Cllr JP Smith.

 

 

 

Your comments around hazardous waste along the routes used for the

Argus are noted and I have forwarded them to the Mayco member for

Utilities, Cllr Clive Justus, and the Chair of the Sport and Recreation

Portfolio Committee Chir, Garin Cavanagh.

 

 

 

I will report back to you in due course.

 

 

 

Regards

 

 

 

Stuart

 

 

 

 

=============================

 

Claire

 

 

 

Can

you provide some comment about the hazardous materials (glass) along roads used

as cycle routes not being collected?

 

 

 

Where

does responsibility for this lie?  With Cleansing, Traffic or Roads? And is

the problem as a result of vehicle smashes and damaged windscreens or from

bottles thrown out of cars

 

 

 

Would

it be possible to clear up for the "Argus" along the route, though I

think with all the training that goes on for this race for weeks in advance,

this is not going to be an answer?   I see this as being a logistical

nightmare.

 

 

 

Dave

Brook

 

Executive

Support Officer to Alderman Clive Justus

 

Tel

: (021) 400-4865

 

Fax

: (021) 400-1333

 

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Guys

 

Please be proactive and post your feedback here. I'm not good with PM's and prefer to keep this public.

 

I will pass what I can.

 

I sent this email last night and got the reply at 10am. Bet your JHB's wish you voted DA

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

BTW: The dialogue was initiated by a personal request from Woofie concerning the state of the roads he commutes on.

[GoLefty!!]

Nice one,

 

Theres plenty of roads in eitehr disrepair of littered with glass. Just Sunday morning I had my rear tyre slashed by a sharpened circlip layin gin lower main road Woodstock. that road is filthy.

 

More importantly, i would like ot know when the Mayor or Provincial government intends passing a bylaw for the protection of cyclists through shifting liability in all accidents to the motorist first?

 

This has been spoken about and PPA says they are working on it but the Argus tour is now nearly 30 yrs and Vokall has happened (Excuse the language and you can edit it). Thirty years of taking our money one way or another and no return. thats a really bad investment.

 

Secondly, in the event of an accident, how can I go about sueing the City of Cape town for negligence in not providing adequate legal protection for vulnerable cyclists.

 

Last time I was knocked down the the police tore up my case because the unlicensed underaged, barefoot young man's dad had enough money to slip the police officer...

[kosmonooit]

Jeez you wingebags should see the state of some of the roads here in Jhb lol.  Biggest danger is that just about every manhole cover has been nicked!

[mikkelz]

 

@cbrunsdon: great email and thanks for taking the initiative to do this.

 

I had to replace the rear tyre on my new roadbike after 2 rides due to a large cut from a piece of glass!

 

It'll be interesting to see if anything gets done about this problem.

 

 

mikkelz2010-01-19 06:41:09

[MadScientist]

cbrunsdon thanks for and to the people you know.

 

I would like if they can provide a proper update on the cycle lanes, specifically the one from blouberg to cbd, eg. completion time(like you asked), exact path of the route especially where it will cross the highway, and if they are going to keep it that narrow as there is more than enough space for the biggest part of the existing route to double it in width to ensure it gets used by those people it's intended for eg. cyclists & runners/pedestrians

[Woofie]

Thanks so much Christopher for taking action my note to you.

 

I commute to work on my bicycle most of the time.

This is purely by choice as I do have a motor vehicle but I am trying to make a difference so I do it as often as I can now.

More bicycles on the road means less traffic, less carbon emissions, no damage to the roads and infrastructure.

I don?t need to highlight the numerous benefits that I am getting out doing it either.

 

As mentioned above, there is loads of broken glass in the road which is not only hazardous to me also damages car tyres.

 

The roads which I am currently struggling the most with glass is :

Upper Gie Road (close to Parklands main road)

Plattekloof road, there is bad patches all the way from across the N7 bridge till across the N1. It is normally especially bad opposite the hospital and I often have to ride in the road there even though there is a massive yellow lane.

Hendrik Verwoerd drive (runs parallel to the N1) at the top of the hill where they have those "parking bays".

 

A bit of assistance in removing some of the glass off the road will go a long way to make it a safer place to be.

 

But until people stop discarding their empty bottles out of car windows I think we will always be in this same situation.

 

Ultimately we need something bigger to happen such as a hefty deposit on any beverage sold in a bottle.

Sure, it will have people up in arms that they have to fork out a extra R30 for a six pack but at least that would ensure that the empty bottles would find its way back to a shop.

This would also go a long way to help recycling projects as well.

 

Ever since the government started making us pay for plastic bags I have barely seen any on the streets (compared to how it used to be)

But now we are sadly still left with plastic bottles and tins.

 

Any assistance to making the roads a safer place will be greatly appreciated!

 

WarrenWoofie2010-01-19 06:58:12

[Tankman]

As for people still riding without helmets ... I agree, fine them!

[Tankman]

 

Some good points Woofie

 

I can not understand how people can chuck rubbish out of a car?  Can they not wait that long before getting to a bin!  The effects of rubbish on the environment is detrimental.

 

Anyone caught doing this should be given a hefty fine ... like R2000 plus 15 hours community service .... picking up rubbish next to the highway wearing a bright orange suit!

Tankman2010-01-19 07:05:03

[GoLefty!!]

nooit bru, confiscate their bikes!!!

[Tankman]

even better!

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Well my DA buddy is always trying to get me involved and this is a cause which I care about.

 

I commute in Somerset West and cannot complain about the state of the route I take. But I cannot wait till things get bad and neglected to only then jump up and down.

 

All I want to achieve with this dialogue with the City Of Cape Town is who is responsible. Who do we contact when we need help and results.

 

[Woofie]

Sorry, I also forgot to add.

 

Is there any plans to build a cycling lane on koeberg road next to the refinery at all?

This is a very dangerous section of road and I often have to cycle between the cars as a motor bike does as there is no shoulder on the side of the road.

This road is also used extensively by people from Dunoon. It is even more dangerous for them to be in the road than me as they normally dont even have brakes (of course they dont have helmets or lights either).

 

There is a large section of grass between the road and the refinery that can be used for a cycle lane in that area.

 

 

 

 

[L'Bie]

 

cbrunsdon thanks for and to the people you know.

 

I would like if they can provide a proper update on the cycle lanes' date=' specifically the one from blouberg to cbd, eg. completion time(like you asked), exact path of the route especially where it will cross the highway, and if they are going to keep it that narrow as there is more than enough space for the biggest part of the existing route to double it in width to ensure it gets used by those people it's intended for eg. cyclists & runners/pedestrians

[/quote']

I used this road almost every day until they started with the new bus lanes. I feel threatened by the traffic so close on that stretch past the bridge towards Paarden Island. So, I opted for the marked alternative cycling route. This is not a route for any road bike!! What is more, I still need to see how the cycling lanes work through an intersection. The painters ran out of paint at every intersection. As if the paint is going to keep the taxis and other road hogs out!

With regard to glass. - Beer bottles!! plenty beer bottles broken on the cycling lanes in Blouberg, Milnerton, Goodwood Parow and Durbanville. Brackenfell and Kraaifontein interestingly were spit spot clean.

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Well positive comments should also be made. It will help the council identify where they are successful.