Mini Cycles.

I went to Hout Bay today and spotted these little cycles, they look so real, but they are only about 10 cm tall. I do prefer cycles to be on the road and not just used as decoration, but these two little ones are just too cute.

They look very real, it is only the items in the background that shows the dimensions.

Hers.

His.

A Dahon Folding Bicycle with a Clever Bag Carrier.

I think folding bicycles are very handy and convenient for transportation in urban spaces, and this one even had a little clip to hang a bag on, so it does not unbalance the cycle.

Dahon Folding Bicycle.

The Clip that Holds the Bag.

I saw the bicycle at Prestwich Memorial in Green Point.

Something is Brewing.

Something is brewing at Waterfront, I just wish I knew what it was. I really hope the see these tri-cycles on the roads and not in boxes. (Set the Cycles Free)

A Cycle Store with Bicycles..!

And Yes, the kind of cycles I like.

I visited Woodstock Cycleworks a little while back, and wow beautiful bikes, the kind with chain guards, mud guards and baskets.. Old and neglected cycles from garages and garden shacks, that has been made up, pampered and pimped into little works of art. How lovely that these cycles again get to meet tar. This is what I like to see, cycles being set free. I have blogged about setting the cycles free before, read it here  Taking the Cycle for a Ride, the South African Way.

If you like cycling and real cycles please do yourself a favour and visit Woodstock Cycleworks. 

Check out the pictures below for a small preview of what the store has to offer.

      

A Cargo Bike in Cape Town:-)

The cycle cab is parked outside the Cape Grace hotel.

The sign at the back says, “Cape Grace, Guests in Motion”

On this occasion the cycle is going from the waterfront to the hotel, but I ones saw it going up to the cable car station on Table Mountain, keeping that in mind I suppose it is good that it has an electrical motor.  

Why are South African Politicians and Motorists so Arrogant??

There was a general election recently in Denmark, my home country, and the new government was presented on the 3^rd of October, one of the coalition parties arrived on BICYCLES!!! Wow, that is Ministers of the Danish Parliament actually cycling.

Pictures borrowed from copenhagenize.com

(the mother of all bicycle blogs, check it out)

I think that it is very disturbing that not only politicians but normal motorists behave so arrogantly and superiorly on the roads. We are all equal people, politicians, motorists and cyclists, so lets be civil and respect each other.      

That situation is in sharp contrast to the way S.A. politicians see themselves as Very Important Persons, who need to shoot at other motorists to demand the respect they feel they deserve on the roads!!

See the article from iol.co.za below.

KZN motorists disregard blue lights

October 11 2011 at 05:02pm

KwaZulu-Natal motorists have no respect for vehicles with blue flashing lights, the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday.

VIP unit instructor Thulani Khanyile was testifying in the trial of a VIP protection unit member accused of firing shots at a car.

He said motorists in other provinces where he had worked gave way to vehicles flashing blue lights and treated them with the same respect as ambulances.

Khanyile is a defence witness for Hlanganani Nxumalo and Caiphus Ndlela.

The two are bodyguards to KwaZulu-Natal social development MEC Meshack Radebe.

Nxumalo is said to have shot at the tyre of a Mazda near Camperdown, resulting in the driver losing control, veering into oncoming traffic, and colliding head-on with a bakkie.

Ndlela was driving when the incident happened.

Khanyile told the court part of the instruction given in training involved using the vehicle as a weapon when facing a dangerous situation on the road.

He said if this failed, bodyguards were expected to use a gun by firing in the air to warn those posing danger to the VIPs.

Asked how the vehicle could be used as a weapon, Khanyile refused to explain, citing safety and security considerations.

He told the court members of the VIP unit were expected to do anything to protect their masters.

Asked whether breaking the law by using excessive speed was allowed to get MECs to their destinations, Khanyile said this did not amount to breaking the law, but was a simple response to an emergency.

On Monday, Nxumalo testified that he fired shots because the driver posed a danger to him.

Khanyile said Ndlela had been very tolerant of the driver of the Mazda and suggested that a tougher stance should have been taken.

The trial continues on Wednesday. – Sapa

    

Cycle vs. Bok

I am not much for scare tactic in regards to cycle helmets, but this is a pretty hard hitting argument.

 

It reminds me a little about this situation from last year, though not cycle related.

Cycles in Cape Town



Waterfront have removed all the cycle parking, so now everybody make their own way.
This bike is locked to a tree, maybe not the safest of options, as seen on this video.
Bike Gets Stolen



Again struggeling to find good parking at Waterfront.

The security companyes have cought on on the bicycle trend.
Good for them, now we just need everybody else.

Good work with that front basket.

A beautiful old Schwinn

Already blogged about this one before
 http://cyclingincapetown.blogspot.com/2011/08/simplicity.html

Having to park bikes in a trolly bay at Waterfront
(Not on Waterfront, we need real parkings)

Yet another bike from a security company

I love seeing folding bikes on the roads.

If you see your cycle here please feel free to drop a few lines about it.  

Am I a Death Waiting to Happen?? (AKA: Death Girl Cycling)

Yesterday I read the below article on iol.co.za, let me not even start on how ridicules it is that Provincial Premier Zweli Mkhize find himself to important to cycle, no what really disturbed me is that my commenting on the positive aspects of cycling were met with gloom and doom. I cannot help think maybe it is me that is wrong and it is a suicide run to cycle on the South African roads(???? thinking about it for a minute) Naah it is definitely everybody else that refuse to see logic and are going to be proved wrong in their paranoia.  

"Cycle to work: Mkhize

PROVINCIAL Premier Zweli Mkhize says he is all in favour of people riding bicycles to work to reduce the volume of greenhouse gases in KwaZulu-Natal, but he feels that the concept of MECs cycling to the legislature is probably a bit “utopian”.

On the final day of the provincial climate change summit in Durban yesterday, a delegate voiced concern about the volume of climate-warming gases belching from the exhaust pipes of thousands of private vehicles.

“We are being encouraged to use public transport, to cycle or to walk to work, so all those people who are driving big 4x4s should be embarrassed about their contributions to climate change.

“Perhaps our ministers should also be going to work on bicycles,” he suggested amid laughter and applause.

Mkhize did not respond directly, but during a press briefing later, he was asked if he and fellow MECs were willing to set an example by cycling to work.

Mkhize smiled politely and responded: “We will consider it...”

He then noted that there were certain practicalities to be considered such as long distances and the need for public representatives to be punctual.

“For short distances, cycling is to be encouraged, especially from the point of view of fighting obesity and raising fitness levels.”

However, the notion of “ministerial convoys on bicycles” seemed unlikely.

Mike Mabuyakhulu, MEC for Economic Affairs and Tourism, also did not commit himself to the idea of pedalling, but noted that a lot of work was in progress to develop “zero-emission” electric cars.

“As much as we support non-motorised transport, we really must go towards electrical cars. It is an area we are looking at very closely.”

At the end of the summit, Mkhize announced that the provincial cabinet was committed to establishing a provincial climate change council. It would be chaired by the premier and would include a wide range of stakeholders including MECs, heads of departments, mayors, academics, business, non-government groups, traditional and church leaders.

The council would meet at least twice a year and be modelled along the lines of the Provincial Aids Council.

Its main task would be to finalise and implement a new KZN climate action plan and serve as a provincial platform to ensure regular dialogue and consultation on climate change issues, policies, plans and projects. - The Mercury"

September 28 2011 at 10:53am
By Tony Carnie

And then the commentary:

 

Sinies, wrote               05:27pm on 29 September 2011

Please go ahead and set the example!

Meanleader, wrote       04:29pm on 29 September 2011 

@Sarah ...SA is not London ....in London you have traffic police , law and order , and cars that actually stop at red lights . Riding a bicycle in SA is suicide . Until the government hires just ONE HONEST MINISTER , and removes ALL TAXI'S from the road , cycling will remain a daredevils game !!! What a complete jike by the minister ...I think he was having a laugh !!

Anonymous, wrote 11:54am on 29 September 2011

prepare the coffins and the hospitals this is the best way to get killed or maimed but of course you will keep your car???

Cycling Sarah, wrote 02:50pm on 28 September 2011

@Sbu, you just proved my point, the mentioned cities are not like cities in S.A. because there are way to many cars on the roads. The only way to get livable cities are to get more cycles on the road. And I do cycle everyday in Cape Town, on the road with all the taxies and I am still a live to tell the tale. To make S.A. a truly wonderful plase to live we need to put away all these negative thoughts and make it the best plase on earth, and this is in part done by cycling.  

Sbu, wrote                    01:38pm on 28 September 2011

@Cycling Sarah. Taxi's are mowing down people and if you think SA is like London, Copenhagan and New York, you are definitely on another planet. We all know it is cheap and fast, if you are living in Northcliff and work in Cresta... why dont you go and have a cup of coffee to get your mind around this for a sec..

Cycling Sarah, wrote    01:13pm on 28 September 2011

Why is S.A. so behind in the internetional cycling trend, come on people, these days everybody cycles. In Paris, in London, in Copenhagen, in Amsterdam, in New York, in Washington, in Sydney... I could go on. Please S.A. open your eyes and see what a wonderful mode of transportation cycling is. It is cheap and fast, You wil never have to wait in a traffic line, saving lots of time, and if you live fare from your work, combine cycling with trains.

K_za, wrote               11:01am on 28 September 2011

Make the roads safe and maybe more would do so. Your chances of being taken out by a taxi or pothole are just too great!

All very interesting, it really does seem that if you are crazy enough to cycle in South Africa then at least you should have the decency to buy your coffin first!!

Bicycles for Decoration, not for Cycling. (Say What???)

Two cycles decorating the Puma store at Waterfront, black one is a folding bicycle, nice space to carry stuff at the front, BUT I have never seen any of these on the road.

A rather funny triangle bicycle, with storage space at the back. This cycle is bound to attract some attention, if it was ever to meet the road.

Bicycle used to sell wine at Vaughan Johnsons wine shop also at waterfront. I wonder if the bicycle is responsible for the delivery of wine all over the world. (in which case I forgive it for being retired)

Last but not least these two bicycles decorating a Farm Stall/Restaurant in Montagu.

This cycle is maybe a little to small for me, but just my type of cycle.
I would love to own it.

I wish all of these cycles were on the roads and not just decorations. I have said it before: Please Cape Town, set the cycles free.

The Secret Garden

A couple of weeks ago I was cycling at the CTICC and came across this little secret.

I would never have noticed this if I had been in a car. All these little things around wonderful Cape Town that no one knows are here because everybody are too much in a hurry to get somewhere else too really enjoy the present.

What a beautiful little Secret Garden.

Using bicycles to promote Cape Town, Route 62 and Garden Route.

I wonder if this is actually and add for Holland?? The orange cycle with the Dutch flag on and all... But the CCID definitely know how to make Cape Town look cycle friendly.  

It is just too bad that there is absolutely no information about cycling in the booklet.

Hmmm, False advertisement???

On the other hand “Your Travel Companion” who published these two travel maps for Garden Route and Route 62 managed to capture an actual part of rural life in South Africa.  

City Cycling vs Village Cycling.

Myself and BF has left Cape Town for a little while to get away from the hectic city life. We have made McGregor our home for the next month.

It is the most beautiful little village with cute little cottages and real country friendliness.

On the cycling front I have been most surprised, in the last 2 days I have seen more people cycling in McGregor than I have in the last 2 months in Cape Town, that is quite impressive considering that there is less than 4000 people in McGregor. However I have not managed to see one female cyclist, so I am still special :-D

Me in front of our cottage, with the folding bicycles.

On our first little trip in the area.

Yet Another Reason to Park Your Car for Good, and Start Cycling.

On my ride today I came across a small collision where one car had to be towed away.. Aaah if people would just start to cycle, so much money and headache could be served.

The silver car getting ready to be towed.

Inspecting the damages.

Cyclelane with a View.

Yesterday i went on a little leisure trip on my cycle, I started from my home in Green Point, cycled along the Main Road down to the Sea Point Promenade, went along the Promenade to the pools, turned around went back to Mouille Point and home again through Green Point Park.

When cycling as oppose to driving in a car you notice all the little things going on. Here are a few pictures of what I saw on my trip.



Paragliding of Lions Head





The Atlantic Ocean on the last day of winter.





Green Point Lighthouse

 


Landing safely




And then somebody who did not land that safely.




The RMS Athens shipwrecked in 1865




A bit of Namaqualand in the middle of Mouille Point.



The Green Point, (oops Cape Town???) Stadium and the golf course from Green Point Park.




A lunch time game of football.



Green gym, in Green Point Park

  


Where the Madness begins.





I spotted this green arrow for the first time, I am not sure what it is pointing at.

 To really get to know your city, you must get out of the car and get to appreciate those little things.