Cycle lane closed due to vandalism

26 February 2025

The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate would like to advise all residents that the cycle lane between Paarden Eiland and Woodstock along the Woodstock non-motorised transport corridor will be temporarily closed due to damaged infrastructure.

The cycle lane from Old Marine Drive to Paarden Eiland Drive will be closed to cyclists as from Wednesday, 26 February 2025, until further notice.

This unfortunate decision is necessitated by the repeated vandalism of infrastructure and cable theft. The lane is currently not safe for use and the City kindly requests cyclists to take note of the closure.

‘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.

‘Frankly, the cycle lane has 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 Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility.

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.

Basic electrical services will still be provided along this corridor over this period.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office