Vandalism forces indefinite closure of popular Cape Town cycle lane

The City of Cape Town has closed the cycle lane from Old Marine Drive to Paarden Eiland Drive indefinitely due to repeated vandalism and cable theft. 

 "We regret that this very popular and convenient cycle lane has to be temporarily closed. We are aware that many cyclists use this corridor while commuting to and from the Woodstock and City Bowl areas. I recently conducted a site visit, together with City officials from other line departments, to see the extent of the damage done. I was shocked to see the damage to the lane, partly due to vandalism, and otherwise because of continuous cable theft," said councillor Rob Quintas, Mayco member for Urban Mobility.

Quintas said the cycle lane had been damaged to a point where it is no longer safe for cyclists to use it.

"City teams will, during the temporary closure, conduct a full assessment of the damage, and plan for repair work. We regret the inconvenience, but must prioritise safety. I strongly advise the public not to make use of this corridor until further notice. Cyclists have the option of taking their bicycle onto the bus and making use of the MyCiTi service between Paarden Eiland and the Civic Centre stations while the closure is in effect," said Quintas.

Road signs will be installed at various locations along the route informing cyclists of the cycle lane closure.

The City will start repairing the footways impacted by cable theft and vandalism by closing open trenches and holes dug in order to make the facility functional for cyclists. Hedges and overgrown foliage will also be cut back.

 "We are grateful for the commitment by Transnet to begin their process of removing illegal occupants who are adding to the demise of the area," said Quintas