Table Mountain Safety

[guidodg]

And why are we not allowed to ride on the road through Cecilia forest up the dams?

 

Spent 2 months in Italy in the Dolomites in September and I did not see one single sign prohibiting MTBs anywhere...if you can walk it you can ride it...period.

 

Sorry for digressing from the topic at hand...basically it seems like the immediate solution is to organize group rides...I doubt there is much one can do about crime in such large isolated areas with so many escape routes and hiding places...

[Bos]

OK I had good conversation last night. 2 mates also riders and I was talking about the chanting coming from those caves when we rode there last time. It was almost as if they were getting themselves fired up to go cause sh*t. Someone else mentioned the guys in the cave abd how the crime rose when the guys in the cave came back.

 

Lets go to that cave early one morning and teargass that place! or crackers or something, but we must smoke them out of there like a beehive.

 

And then another thing, Yes I know theres going to be someone Holier than thou who might pee in their pants at this thought, but apart from the real old trees, lets chop down all trees closer 10m from the road or something like that, then one can see them coming. I meen the mountain is there for us..

Lets go chop the tree down where they hide, And chuck some itching powder or landmines or Human turds in there that those ******* will never go back there, Yes sure , They might find other places to go, but In my opinion One needs to break this chain of events before it becomes a habit for them before its their bread and butter.

 

I dont know, It sounds Extream measures but I want to be on the mountain again in the future and see others enjoy it...

[Chubba]

Woodstock cave. Always people in there. I agree flush them out!!!

 

I also agree with clearing the side on the paths, more visability.

[Chubba]

Woodstock cave. Always people in there. I agree flush them out!!!

 

I also agree with clearing the side on the paths, more visability.

[Bos]

where do we get teargass??

 

I dont think this will go down with the police but F*ck this, Were all a bunch of athletes and can run much aster than the cavemen, and **** if authorities are not going to do anything about it, then we will.

 

So Im thinking early one saturday morning. at like 5am, we meet at roads mem, bottom entrance, and either ride up there or walk. and then either throw the smokebombs, crackers etc, or go right up to the cave and shout a clear message that we will come back for them if the **** continues

 

I dont know, This plan is probably full of holes but otherwise nothing will get done. AND WE CAN DO THIS OURSELVES...and we can cut those trees down ourselves aswell. F parksboard, we go one night do it, I know someone with a chainsaw.

 

 

 

I heard last night about 3 mountainbikers that got held up, 3 !!! WHEN WAS THIS?? DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

[mitsu]

I'm for taking action. These thugs can't get their way!

[Chubba]

where do we get teargass??

 

I dont think this will go down with the police but F*ck this, Were all a bunch of athletes and can run much aster than the cavemen, and **** if authorities are not going to do anything about it, then we will.

 

So Im thinking early one saturday morning. at like 5am, we meet at roads mem, bottom entrance, and either ride up there or walk. and then either throw the smokebombs, crackers etc, or go right up to the cave and shout a clear message that we will come back for them if the **** continues

 

I dont know, This plan is probably full of holes but otherwise nothing will get done. AND WE CAN DO THIS OURSELVES...and we can cut those trees down ourselves aswell. F parksboard, we go one night do it, I know someone with a chainsaw.

 

 

 

I heard last night about 3 mountainbikers that got held up, 3 !!! WHEN WAS THIS?? DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

 

need some planning i recon - don't want to burn the mountain down, cause then we will be really f&$%ed.

[Bos]

need some planning i recon - don't want to burn the mountain down, cause then we will be really f&$%ed.

 

sure, hehe, one weeknight next week?

How bout a ride with all interrested after work one afternoon and plan it as we go?

[kandui]

Went for a ride with a fellow Hubber through the hot spots to Rhodes Memorial this morning at 7. Saw group a of 6 and 4 cyclists and a couple of 2's and 3's. Nice to see so many guys out, whether coincidental or not doesn't matter. The route was well used and showed a big fat Toffee to the crooks. Unfortunately a runner was stabbed on the lower slopes of Signal Hill (Sea Point side) between 9 and 10 this morning. We spoke to the SAN Parks guys close to the scene at length and one of them made the following observation, which I agree with and it makes good sense. When a cyclist is mugged and his bike is taken they tend to remain at the scene of the attack( shock, fear, possible injury). If uninjured he suggests you follow the suspect at a safe distance. If the suspect turns around and threatens to chase you, retreat. He won't try to get you- how can he with a bike he has to control,plus he wants to get the hell outa there. Keep following and you may get someone coming up the trail who you can alert to the situation by shouting and screaming. The suspect now has to deal with you and another person or persons and may decide to drop you bike and run.At some point the suspect will have to cross a road where you have a chance to alert traffic. You have a good chance of alerting someone in a built up area.

[Inusc]

Went for a ride with a fellow Hubber through the hot spots to Rhodes Memorial this morning at 7. Saw group a of 6 and 4 cyclists and a couple of 2's and 3's. Nice to see so many guys out, whether coincidental or not doesn't matter. The route was well used and showed a big fat Toffee to the crooks. Unfortunately a runner was stabbed on the lower slopes of Signal Hill (Sea Point side) between 9 and 10 this morning. We spoke to the SAN Parks guys close to the scene at length and one of them made the following observation, which I agree with and it makes good sense. When a cyclist is mugged and his bike is taken they tend to remain at the scene of the attack( shock, fear, possible injury). If uninjured he suggests you follow the suspect at a safe distance. If the suspect turns around and threatens to chase you, retreat. He won't try to get you- how can he with a bike he has to control,plus he wants to get the hell outa there. Keep following and you may get someone coming up the trail who you can alert to the situation by shouting and screaming. The suspect now has to deal with you and another person or persons and may decide to drop you bike and run.At some point the suspect will have to cross a road where you have a chance to alert traffic. You have a good chance of alerting someone in a built up area.

good idea!

[Capricorn]

Spoke to one of Dumbo's mates at the DH practice today. Apparently Dumbo greeted one of the perps involved in pole axing him off his bike. I'm not advocating immediate hostility to everyone you think is sketchy on the trail. But if he/she is not dressed for hiking, or riding, take a good look when greeting, and keep and eye on their movements. I know it spoils the ride, but the big spoiler is ignoring a potential threat and having your teeth smashed outta your skull in exchange for your bike. Just a thought.

[kandui]

There was another mugging on the slopes of Signal Hill this afternoon. On the City side close to the shooting range. This is a route I use 3-4 times a week. The incident will most likely not make the press, but we are sitting with a serious situation here. Some of the suggestions on how to curb the problem on this thread are pie in the sky stuff and a bit unrealistic (land mines etc).

How about some constructive ideas and I will make a list and present them to second in charge at SAPS Central in Caledon Square this week.

[Zula]

There was another mugging on the slopes of Signal Hill this afternoon. On the City side close to the shooting range. This is a route I use 3-4 times a week. The incident will most likely not make the press, but we are sitting with a serious situation here. Some of the suggestions on how to curb the problem on this thread are pie in the sky stuff and a bit unrealistic (land mines etc).

How about some constructive ideas and I will make a list and present them to second in charge at SAPS Central in Caledon Square this week.

 

One thing they did in JHB at a particular hot spot (Braamfontein Spruit) was to get police to ride the route used by cyclists on bicycles! That way they can get to all the nooks and cranies etc. This actually worked and the spruit quitened down alot. Havent heard of a mugging there in ages.

 

I think the idea by Bos is great and even though some may think its taking the law into our own hands, I agree but I also think it would be the most effective.

 

Also surely its illegal to live in those caves anyway? The cops should along with the MTB'ers head to those caves early in the morning and arrest the whole damn lot of them or at least forcefully remove them! I think teargas would be the best bet in this instance!

 

One last thing, I think cutting down some trees is a great because it will increase visibility which can only be a good thing to prevent something from happening.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Zula

[Bos]

One thing they did in JHB at a particular hot spot (Braamfontein Spruit) was to get police to ride the route used by cyclists on bicycles! That way they can get to all the nooks and cranies etc. This actually worked and the spruit quitened down alot. Havent heard of a mugging there in ages.

 

I think the idea by Bos is great and even though some may think its taking the law into our own hands, I agree but I also think it would be the most effective.

 

Also surely its illegal to live in those caves anyway? The cops should along with the MTB'ers head to those caves early in the morning and arrest the whole damn lot of them or at least forcefully remove them! I think teargas would be the best bet in this instance!

 

One last thing, I think cutting down some trees is a great because it will increase visibility which can only be a good thing to prevent something from happening.

 

I would love to do it with the police but theres probably more rights protecting those cave dwellers than there is protecting us. Im not afraid of them but I wonder if going to the police might just piss them off as we will be highlighting their inability to keep the mountian area safe. I was obviously joking when I mentioned landmines but pepperspray and or teargass would set a clear example, those guys are not permitted to live there and the cops either dont bother or they are afraid of confronting them head on.

Edited February 7, 2011 by Bos

[Bos]

It might just also show the Police that if they dont act we will, and they will make them look bad as result.

[kandui]

i spoke to some SAPS members over the weekend and they are keen as beans to get their hands dirty and clean out the mountain. They even have quad bikes parked at Caledon Square gathering dust,because it seems the commanding officers think that the Constables will go out and have fun on these bikes! The patrolling members of SAPS are motivated, but stifled by their Superiors.They have been asked internally to come up with ideas on how to fight crime on the mountain, but their inputs are not acted upon. This is where the work lies, to get the Top Brass to play ball. There is a meeting on the 17th, called by the MEC of Community Safety to discuss the crime on Table Mountain. I will try to attend.