The recent installation of four solid steel bicycle racks in Ward 59 – three in Newlands Village and one in Claremont Village – is the next step in a bigger plan focused on increasing safety and improving the cycle infrastructure in the city.
Arriving on his bike at the three bicycle racks installed at the parking lot opposite the Hans and Lloyd Coffee Co in Kildare Road in Newlands last week Thursday (14 July), Mikhail Manuel, the councillor for Ward 59, met with People’s Post to raise awareness among residents of the new cycling infrastructure.
Paid for from the councillor’s ward allocation, the racks each fits eight bicycles.
Manuel says cycling is very popular in Newlands and Claremont, especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
“And so Hans and Lloyd, which is the one coffee shop, would have 20 bicycles just outside their premises. It warms my heart but I think it is a nice opportunity to put in some formal infrastructure which allows people to lock up their bikes but also leaves space for pedestrians to walk past,” he says.
The bicycle rack in Claremont Village is located opposite Starlings Locale next to Bishoplea Park.
Manuel says they are investing in this type of infrastructure to make it easier and more attractive for people to cycle short distances, for example, from their home to the local shops.
“Cycling far distances, like from Claremont to the CBD or from Mitchell’s Plain to Claremont, is not always practical. You arrive at the office all sweaty. But cycling short distances is. Going in and among your neighbourhood to buy bread or to get a coffee or to do some work at the local coffee shop is very doable and it is a very easy and quick way for us to reduce congestion in small villages,” he says.
The recent improvements are an extension of a project which saw the installation of three such bicycle racks at local parks last year. The first was installed at Paradise Park in Newlands, the second at a park in Dryper Street off Palmyra Road and the third at Arderne Gardens.
Mikhail says, although it is a bit early to say what is next, they want to do a little bit every year.
“We allocated money to cycling improvements along the roads. There is an existing cycling lane network between Groote Schuur High School and Rondebosch Boys’ Primary School. I am particularly keen on upgrading that infrastructure. Just making it smoother, the service, some lock-up facilities here and there, because there are actually a fair amount of learners who cycle to school already in the mornings.”
He adds there is also some interest in more cycling infrastructure around Rondebosch, close to the University of Cape Town.
“A lot of the residents there are asking for it. And then the next section, of course, is Dean Street.”
