11/03/2022
Dear friends,
The City of Cape Town is proposing to ban bicycle riding, skateboarding and roller skates from the Sea Point Promenade, and cram them all onto the pavement on Beach Road instead.
The City believes that doing this will prevent collisions between cyclists, other wheels, and pedestrians, on the promenade.
We believe that there is the possibility to cheaply and effectively make the promenade a world class, safe, shared public space. All it takes is a little imagination, and input from professional non-motorised transport infrastructure experts.
We are almost certain those experts would never suggest funnelling cyclists onto the pavement, where people walk, wait for buses, cross the road, and where car doors are opened. It just doesn’t make sense.
Occasional collisions are an issue. That’s why we approached our ward councillor to come up with a solution to make the promenade an even better shared space than it already is.
We never believed in a million years that the City’s shortsighted solution would be to ban bicycles from the promenade altogether.
The prom is one of the few public spaces where bicycle riders of all ages and abilities can ride safely, away from the dangerous roads.
Riding on the prom has become a much-loved activity by locals and tourists alike. It’s the lifeblood of our business, which employs over 20 full time employees, and supports countless other small businesses.
It feels to us as if the City is trying to make something good- albeit occasionally problematic- into something much worse. And we know that there is a much better solution, which could make the promenade an even greater asset to the City, in the eyes of locals and visitors too.
In our dream world, there would be a demarcated space on the promenade specifically for non-motorised bike riders, with strict rules and regulations governing its use, like a speed limit.
Up Cycles is all about safe, gentle leisure rides and commutes, in one of the world’s most beautiful locations, and on one of Cape Town’s only safe bike paths, away from cars.
Please don’t let the City of Cape Town take away this simple, healthy, and fun activity.
Your voice is the only way to help change the City of Cape Town’s mind.
So please add your comment in support of our bikes, and all non-motorised wheels on the prom, by email or via the City of Cape Town’s website:
[email protected] and quote reference number: 720033
https://lnkd.in/emFYUHZS
Thanks very much to all of our friends and riders for your support.
Ride safely and have fun,
Up Cycles
