If you build it, they will come. In this case, they have simply been unable to.
Less than a year ago the green cycle lanes were implemented by the city and have been nearly unusable to date, owing to the lanes acting as a magnet for stationary vehicles. In Cape Town, over R300 million has been spent on non-motorised transport in the form of cycle lanes and pedestrian walkways during the past five financial years.
The City of Cape Town (as do I) clearly sees a future for cycling as a feasible and active way to get around. Cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Buenos Aires have, and continuously are, being transformed to put cycling first – a no brainer when you consider how beneficial cycling is.
But, the problem here lies with general carelessness and indifference to the cycle lanes in Cape Town. Barely a day passes without an offender being shamed on Twitter, and up until now, it has just been a lot of hot (digital) air.
‘The more cyclists who make use of the cycling lanes that are being provided by the City, the better the chances are that cycling will become an accepted norm – and not the exception – of transport in Cape Town for visitors and residents alike. This will create awareness among other road users, and motorists in particular, that cyclists are also rightful road users and not a nuisance. It has become clear, however, that the City will have to step in to improve cyclists’ safety along the cycle lanes. As such, we will be implementing some measures to ensure that motorists stay out of the green cycle lanes at all times,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron.
To all CT cyclists, if you see a car in the bike lane & can safely take a pic, please tweet it to @CityofCT @BikeLaneCop @UpCyclesZA
— Robert Miller (@panascape) July 7, 2015
Changes are coming and would-be offenders need to take note. According to the city, measures will be taken to promote cyclists’ safety along the green cycle lanes over the next few weeks:
– Apart from Vuka Bumps (road studs), TCT will also install bollards along the green colourised cycle lane along Albert Road in Salt River to indicate their exclusive use by cyclists and pedestrians and to prevent other road users from entering the lane
– Drivers who double-park and obstruct the cycle lane can be towed away in terms of the National Road Traffic Act. The City’s Traffic Service will assist as a matter of urgency in towing away any vehicle that is parked in the cycle lanes along Albert Road and along the streets in the Cape Town central business district. Apart from having to pay a release fee for the impounded vehicle, the owner of the vehicle will be fined as well.
The @CityofCT will install ‘Vuka Bumps’ or road studs as well as bollards along the green #CTCycleLanes — Cape Argus (@TheCapeArgus) July 7, 2015
A simple barrier like the one in this photo would have made a big difference @helenzille @KevinMcCallum. pic.twitter.com/Ufr5B08RqE
— Up Cycles (@UpCyclesZA) July 6, 2015
Cyclists wishing to report any illegal activity on the cycle lane may do so to the Safety and Security Directorate on +27 21 596 1999. Cyclists can also report transgressors to the Transport Information Centre on +27 0800 65 64 63.
Photography @iluv2ridemybike
Cyclist should get number plates so that their bad behaviour can also be reported…my experience with them is only negative…they arrogant and think the roads belong only to them. They should also pay road tax and have a cycling license..this way the city of cape town can get back some of the money they spent trying to accomodate them.
Ironically it’s a cop car in the accompanying photo…
Robert Miller you’re famous 🙂
CityofCT Was the traffic official in the pic sanctioned for breaking rather than enforcing our bylaws? BikeLaneCop panascape
Quick question where are cacars suppose to park seeing that parking Is an absolute nightmare
orvorr You call 0860 103 089 for more information. Thanks
Well, obviously not in a space reserved for ‘other’ use. Same applies to disability bays.
CityofCT BikeLaneCop UpCyclesZA Here’s some more negative coverage. http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/cape-town-cycling-lanes-a-failure-1.1880741#.VZzTVPmqqkp
The bike lane in town is just a constant car park and city of ct just tells you to call law enforcement. The irony is we do not need to call law enforcement to get a parking fine anywhere else.
Give that Traffic Cop a bicycle with a hard saddle and make him ride it eight hours every day while he cycles around writing parking tickets for amongst other things, “Parking in the Cycle Lane”. Anyway that apology for a cycle lane is pathetic. It is not wide enough to protect cyclists!
Some cyclists are arrogant and bad mannered. They give the cycling community a bad name! The rest are no problem at all!
True that..but feel that they should also do some kind of awareness test on road safety etc. Not only is it dangerous for them but some are also a danger on the road. I almost killed a women and her dog walking on chapmans peak drive because only one lane was open and they were ridding next to each other instead of single file around a bend…
On the contrary, my experience is its the drivers in private cars who ‘arrogant and bad mannered’ and dangerous. Stop at a pedestrian crossing waiting for students to file past and the car behind will hoot and then push past.
Cycling as an alternative to motorised transport is already saving the city and tax payers money. They’re arrogant cause most often it’s their lives at stake at the negligence or distraction of others.
Also you describe a scenario involving two cyclists, a woman walking her dog, and a car nearly killing someone. Hmm.
I do not agree, Bianca. Cyclists do not add to our carbon footpring. The road do not belong to anybody, actually. Just a bit of accommodation goes a long way.
Where are people supposed to park in that street if there is a cycle lane?
Actually, the road does belong to somebody…. Those who pay to use it.. Cyclists don’t pay to be on the road, so technically they are guests. While I admire cyclists for their greener approach to city living, I also find a lot of them to be a bit careless on the roads.. Fact is, cars can do a lot of damage to a person on a bike.. They should be the ones taking extra care and avoiding vehicles on the road.. Don’t get me wrong though, there are plenty of drivers out there that are rushing around without any consideration for other drivers or cyclists.. The special lanes are a good idea to avoid any issues between the two parties.. If only our traffic officers would agree..
Have the taxis not used these lanes yet…lol…like i’ve seen them use the bus lane on Montague Drive.
This is what is wrong in SA.
Law enforcement officers are a law above themselves. See it all day and everyday, do what I say and not what I do.
Well said Russell !
@badenoir…i had to swerve out for the cyclist taking up the whole road and almost hit the lady and her dog walking on the hard shoulder.
A few months ago a group of cyclists was driving next to the cycle lane. And cars had to scrap past, with the cyclists showing the middle finger. This is a common occurance.
There’s just not enough safe and secure parking in woodstock and the surrounding areas which leads to motorists parking in the cycling lanes.
And with salt river and woodstock becoming more popular for small businesses and restaurants the demand is going to get worse.
And think the city of cape town should have sorted out a plan for the parking before painting the cycling lanes.
This is what is wrong with Cape Town where are people supposed to park now? Albert road has a lot of businesses along it that , one would think, rely on the easy access of those parking spaces that they are giving way for cyclists. Biscuit mill attracts hundreds of people that travel from all corners of CT and abroad that park along Albert. Are there any provisions being made for them?
What happened to bicycle licenses. I recall I had to buy them when a I was younger. Had to renew it every year.
Cyclist need to realise that not all roads in and around city can be made available for them, some roads are just too dangerious….
Now, now what is dear Mr “Hit them Hard” Smith going to do about the driver in the above photo? What excuse will he come up with to protect his boys in blue!
Bianca Potgieter, while I agree that many cyclists act arrogantly, and even stupidly, given their inherent vulnerability, I have to ask… who in their right mind walks a dog on Chapman’s Peak Dr???
I don’t think all these ventures are always thought through that well. Even after the opening of the totally separate cycle path along the coast to Tableview & Melkbos I’ve found cyclists in traffic on the road. A cyclist friend told me they didn’t like to use the cycle path, as it’s lower than the surrounding embankments in places, and than the road almost everywhere, so everything that can damage a bicycle tyre gets blown onto it and accumulates there. Don’t know what the usage is like nowadays… :-/
Any road going vehicle must have the ability to view what is going on around it. Any road user must practice the K53 to know what is going on around you. Therefore, all road going cycles must have mirrors and the operator should be tested on their knowledge of the K53.
Painting a piece of road and calling it a “cycle lane” will not keep cyclists safe. A physical barrier will prevent a cyclist from contact with other vehicles. This is not financially feasible.
I propose all road going cycles must have rear view mirrors to comply with roadworthy laws. I further propose all cycle lanes to be removed where motorised vehicle parking is required. Lastly I propose that the K53 be exercised by all road going users and that the City use the electronic billboards to remind us of this. Problem solved.
As an avid cyclist it is customary to avoid riding on all painted areas when there is a bit of moisture in the surface. Why would the City have these wide lanes painted, is it to cause fatal accidents? Clearly the person who proposed these painted lanes is not a cyclist…U0001f44eU0001f3fb
Patricia de Lille – Mayor of Cape Town City of Cape Town Helen Zille
As far as I know – The paint includes a sort of grit, which creates a sandpaper like surface as apposed to an enamel paint finish..
lawless law
@stadler le roux…probably some houtbay resident..who knows ? 😉 at least she was in the hard shoulder and not the middle of the road.
Well said Badenoir! Some here should get on their bicycle to see just how terrifying it’s become to pedal in an effort to keep fit or travel. Most of the critics are still in bed when cyclists wake at 4 in the mornings when it’s safer to cycle.
Why is it so hard for South Africans to bide by these changes? Looking at the bigger picture, it seems the city is trying it’s hardest to promote more cyclists instead of cars … maybe for a greener future? Less cars on road = one little step to a better, greener future, I say well done city of cape town. Not so well done for people determined that they are a law unto themselves.
David Aeberhard
You’ve obviously never visited bike friendly countries, bike registration doesn’t exist anywhere. It did in the old days in some countries. Not any more.
What about leaving your car home and cycle in?
I hope they have tested it in wet conditions…
Who’s bad idea was this in the first place?
The guys in uniform has the least RESPECT for the laws they supposed to uphold
Remember the cops on those gold BSA’s
Van wanneer ry jy ‘n fiets…. ???
I can honestly say that I have hardly seen a cyclist use those lanes. The route I take to work takes me through woodstock, where I have seen these lanes. Yet I see cyclists using the middle of the road. Perhaps if some cyclists stuck to the rules provided for them, maybe others would catch on. I live in Sea Point, where it is a haven for cyclists. Some of them do not stick to their own “1.5m” rule. Perhaps there should be a movement for “Think Car”, if there isn’t one already!
I will always steer clear of cyclists on a road, but I have no room for cyclists who don’t obey the rules of the road.
Just aftet I posted the comment. I took a walk to spar, during lunch time. And there I saw a guy cycling down searle street, about a meter and a half from the side of the road. Literally in the midle of the one lane. Not a care about the rules of the road and extremely reckless. But if any other vehicle drive like this, you will get pulled over.
Well ted fairview at 6.30 p.m 62 yr old man knocked off his bike.dead now.Garda are looking for help with it.Evening traffic no witness’s so far and he was in the cycling lane.??.maybe it works better over that way.
They used some f-load of green road paint!!
Nope
I live in Obs and was dumb founded when i saw this lane being painted. Seriously has anybody who makes these decisions ever driven a bicycle in Obs …. Your life is in danger as the Taxi and Golden Arrow will run you over. What a waste of time. Do they think nobody going park there .. its is South Africa!!!
Guys we need policing in mannenberg and other underprivileged areas.for gangsterism and drugs and not policing cycling lanes.we are already understaff I in the police department..
I observed a cycle lane in Parow where the road signs and lamp posts were in the middle of the lane…. Laughed for days… Gotta love SA
The cycle lane has killed all busines here. Where is one supposed to park, or is the idea for all to be fit, have lots of time and use the bus or a taxi or dress like a clown on a kid’s bike?. Maybe quid pro quo should apply with cyclist subject to traffic rules and registration. The small vocal minority strikes again.Drop thumbtacks here.