Mugging on west coast cycle path | Warning
South Africa
Details
- Verified:
- about 1 year ago
- GPS:
- -33.91843, 18.46648
- Altitude:
- 706.2 masl
- Contributor:
-
felix.mit
Amenities
Something not right?
Description
The west coast cycle path in the area of Woodstock has been reported numerous times of mugging cyclists.
Latest occurrence was on the 6.11.2022 where two bicycle travelers were confronted by 4 men with knifes. Valuables like phones, cameras wallet etc. we’re stolen from their handlebar bag. During the mugging one of the cyclists got injuries on his hand by knife cuts (to my knowledge not substantial harm, but still more then unpleasant).
Other reports on similar occurrences can be found here:
https://www.capetownetc.com/news/local-cyclists-warned-over-dangerous-bike-lane/
and here:
https://pedalpower.org.za/west-coast-cycle-path-plan-action/
Me myself I cycled the same path 3 weeks before with an unpleasant feeling as well.
To avoid this, either:
Take an Uber from e.g Bloubergstrand into the city or if your cycling out of town to Bloubergstrand. From there on, the cycle path is very nice and the further you get north on the west coast very safe.
Or if you decide to cycle, use a slim belt bag where you store your phone passport and credit cards. Hide this on your body under your shirt so that it is not visible. Have a second old phone and wallet with some money and fake or old credit cards in your handle bar bag instead.
In my opinion, the west coast cycle path is still a very good option to get in and out of the city when you arrive or go north. Just avoid the Woodstock area.
Why? By checking in after you’ve visited a place you let others know this place is still functional. You can also add or correct any information.
Latest Check-Ins
To add to the comment below, we spoke to a number of locals about this path and they all reiterated that the section close to Cape Town is not safe or advisable to cycle on. Instead if you are leaving Cape Town heading North you can cycle on Highway 1 for like 1km and then join the R27.
Don’t be daunted by the fact it’s a highway, there’s a really wide shoulder the entire way after the first few hundred metres and it is completely safe. Eventually once you’ve left the city the R27 has a fantastic bike path alongside it (you can’t miss it) that you can rejoin. We felt safe the entire way using this route - one that was recommended to us by two different local bike shops.
Report Check-InThe west coast cycle path in the area of Woodstock has been reported numerous times of mugging cyclists.
Latest occurrence was on the 6.11.2022 where two bicycle travelers were confronted by 4 men with knifes. Valuables like phones, cameras wallet etc. we’re stolen from their handlebar bag. During the mugging one of the cyclists got injuries on his hand by knife cuts (to my knowledge not substantial harm, but still more then unpleasant).
Other reports on similar occurrences can be found here:
https://www.capetownetc.com/news/local-cyclists-warned-over-dangerous-bike-lane/
and here:
https://pedalpower.org.za/west-coast-cycle-path-plan-action/
Me myself I cycled the same path 3 weeks before with an unpleasant feeling as well.
To avoid this, either:
Take an Uber from e.g Bloubergstrand into the city or if your cycling out of town to Bloubergstrand. From there on, the cycle path is very nice and the further you get north on the west coast very safe.
Or if you decide to cycle, use a slim belt bag where you store your phone passport and credit cards. Hide this on your body under your shirt so that it is not visible. Have a second old phone and wallet with some money and fake or old credit cards in your handle bar bag instead.
In my opinion, the west coast cycle path is still a very good option to get in and out of the city when you arrive or go north. Just avoid the Woodstock area.
Report Check-In