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On your bike!

by CCID

The Central City is home to much of Transport for Cape Town’s (TCT) pioneering non-motorised transport infrastructure, including dedicated lanes for cyclists. Here’s everything you need to know about commuting or exploring the CBD by bike.

Where to buy a bike

Revolution Cycles concept store sells and services bikes, and has bicycle parking. Its stock includes the local brand Pyga and you can also grab a coffee at the onsite Che Cafe.

177 Bree St
www.revolutioncycles.co.za
021 423 5191

Action Cycling been around for 20 years and has a highly trained team of technicians. This workshop sells iconic brands such as Giant, Scott and Shimano.

30 Waterkant St
http://actioncycling.com
021 425 6831

This Way Out is your gateway to adventure, specialising in mountain biking (including servicing) and outdoor equipment.

16 Buiten St
www.thiswayout.co.za
072 460 061

 

Where to rent a bike

&Bikes Cafe & Cycle Boutique is a hip new meeting point for cyclists where you can buy or hire bikes and have a coffee. It also sells cycling gear.

32 Loop St
www.andbikes.co.za
021 823 8790

 

Up Cycles & Breakaway Cafe is the place to go if you work in the Central City and fancy a mild lunchtime workout. You can hire a bike – an hour will cost you just R50, which includes a helmet and lock. These fixed-gear bikes with a gentle back-pedal braking system are made for cruising. No shower at work? No problem – Up Cycles provides you with a shower and a safe place to store your own bike for the day.

50 Waterkant St

http://upcycles.co.za

076 135 2223 or 074 100 9161

 

Waterkant Street is fast becoming the epicentre of cycling in the CBD. Jared Chaitowitz, co-owner of Up Cycles & Breakaway Cafe, says: “We decided to set up shop on Waterkant Street because of its cycle lane and connections with other cycling hotspots. From our shop you can go left and connect with the green Bree Street cycle lane or go right and connect with dedicated lane that goes via Green Point Park and the Sea Point Promenade into the Atlantic Seaboard. There are also several shops that cater to cyclists and wannabe cyclists here. It’s becoming a community.”

 

Parking

The City of Cape Town has installed bicycle parking at the Civic Centre, on Greenmarket Square, Church Square and along Waterkant Street. You can also find parking outside Portside on Bree Street and on the parklets outside Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room and GAPP Architects & Urban Designers. Try to lock your bike up in the line of sight of a CCID public safety officer – you will see them around town in their green-vested uniforms.

Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room: 133 Bree St | www.clarkesdining.co.za | 021 424 7648

GAPP Architects & Urban Designers: 150 Longmarket St | www.gapp.net | 011 482 1648

 

Infrastructure

The green cycle lanes in Bree Street are skid resistant and a great way to commute along the Central City’s northeast-southwest axis. These lanes flow into a cycle lane on Shortmarket Street, which you can use to connect to Long Street and Greenmarket Square, and into Waterkant Street. Adderley Street also has a cycle lane, demarcated by a raised curb, which leads you to The Company’s Garden. Look out for signage to make sure you stay on track.

 

Public transport
Bicycles are allowed on MyCiTi buses. Read the service’s rules in the Passenger Information section on http://myciti.org.za.

Cyclists can take their bikes on Metrorail trains during offpeak hours (09h00 till 15h00 and 19h00 till the last train) on weekdays and all day on the weekend. R20 in addition to your ticket price gets your steed on board.


Bicycle-friendly cafes

These spots welcome cyclists with open arms. Some have lock-up racks, while others are owned by cycling enthusiasts.

 

Source: www.bicyclecapetown.org

 

Safety first

  • Always wear a helmet and make sure it is correctly fitted. Riding without a helmet is illegal in South Africa.
  • Obey the rules of the road – traffic laws and signs apply to cyclists as well as motorists.
  • Use hand signals to indicate your intentions to other road users.
  • Be aware of your surroundings – watch out for stationary vehicles in the cycle lane; if you have swerve out of the way, check your blind spot first.

For more safety tips and rules, visit the City of Cape Town’s SMART cycling page at www.capetown.gov.za/en/TravelSMART/Pages/SmartCycling.aspx.

This article first appeared in the summer 2015-16 issue of City Views. Read it online.

Tags
cycling
cycle lanes
infrastructure