Woodstock residents petition against Cape Town’s 'deadly' cycling lane changes

Lester Kiewit interviews Ute Kuhlmann of the Woodstock Residents' Association.

Listen below.

The Woodstock Residents' Association has launched a petition in response to recent changes by the City of Cape Town to cycling infrastructure along Albert Road.

These modifications include increasing on-street parking in the outbound lane and narrowing the painted cycle lane to a width of 0.9 to one metre.

According to the association, these changes contradict the 2014 National NMT (Non-Motorised Transport) Facility guidelines and those of the City.

Specifically, on a road like Albert Road with a 60 km/h speed limit, the cycle lane should be a minimum of 1.5 metres wide and separated from motorised traffic.

Placing cyclists between parked vehicles and moving traffic is hazardous, particularly as they manoeuvre in and out of parking bays.

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"It becomes a deadly obstacle course."

- Ute Kuhlmann, Woodstock Residents' Association

The association argues for physical barriers like bollards or raised kerbs. It also wants a painted buffer zone between vehicles and cycle lanes.

The association claims there was a lack of public consultation before the City rolled out the cycling infrastructure changes.

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"These changes have come completely without the knowledge of the public and without us having a chance to comment on them or stop them in time."

- Ute Kuhlmann, Woodstock Residents' Association

"The Woodstock Residents' Association and the Cape Town cycling community are completely shocked and disappointed about this so-called upgrade."

- Ute Kuhlmann, Woodstock Residents' Association

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.