With its stunning views of the Atlantic seaboard, Chapman’s Peak and Table Mountain, the Mother city is one of the most breath-taking places in the world to cycle. With the continues petrol prices hikes and the City’s plan to reduce our carbon footprint by 2050, cycling provides a great alternative to combat climate change and keep fit while saving money.
The City, home to the famed Cape Town Cycle Tour and its cycling enthusiasts are gearing up to ensure that cycling – for leisure, pleasure, sports or fitness is a cinch in the Mother city.
According to Kirsten Wilkins who is an avid cyclist and managing director of Open Streets, group rides are on the increase with people keen to capitalise on the last days of summer and reconnect with friends.
Wilkins who is a driving force behind downtown Cape Town’s pre-pandemic Friday lunchtime rides through the inner city, says cycling in the CBD has gone through several set backs over the last 24 months.
She added that she saw more people cycling during the lockdowns taking advantage of the traffic-free city centre, but now she notes a return of social group rides because remote work has helped reduce traffic which has been a positive when it comes to cycling.
East City Cycles, a bike shop in the heart of the CBD, Co-owner Jarryd Haley says cycling culture has gained momentum once again. She said more people are getting gravel bikes as their tyres make it easier to get up and down pavements and deal bad road surfaces.
Solutions are also at hand for cyclists who were concerned about the options of storing their bikes as there are enterprising bands of CBC commercial landlords and entrepreneurs who are addressing this problem.
Thanks to The Box in Riebeek Street in the CBD tenants who cycle to work can now lock up their bikes in an indoor ‘bike park’ with added shower pods and lockers. The bike parking bays and showers at The Box can be rented for R300 per month, which, for a limited time, includes the first three months free and a free coffee every month at Seattle Coffee Co at Boxwood’ ground floor SALT Food Market.
Rob Kane, Boxwood Property Fund CEO says “Covid-19 demanded that we reinvent our approach to our buildings, to our neighbours, to the streetscape and to our tenants. The result is that our redeveloped buildings are more people focused and more adventurous.”
Kane added that since the end of hard lockdown, there has been an increase in the number of tenants cycling to work and they wanted to make the experience more pleasurable and convenient.
CEO of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID), Tasso Evangelinos added that the CBD has always has a strong bike and cycling culture with iconic bike shops, knowledgeable retailers and enthusiastic and committed bikers.
CCID Business manager Stephen Willenburg, who cycles 20 km to the CCID’s city centre offices from West Beach about three times a week, said “You can’t put a price on the healthy exercise and fresh air you receive, not to mention the stress release. It’s also always a bonus when you can cycle with others as it completely takes your mind off pedalling and, after chatting for a bit, you realise you’ve arrived at your destination. It is a great way to form friendships.”
Willenburg sticks to a dedicated cycle lane for most of his route, exchanging it for a pavement next to the N1 when necessary, as the dedicated cycle lane between Paarden Eiland and the CBD “is unsafe if one is cycling alone”. He used to belong to a cycle group until lockdown disrupted working hours and patterns. “Our group dissipated as people started working from home or coming into work at different times … I now cycle alone to work.”
Popular group rides and events to check out
- On the first and third Thursday of every month, weather permitting, Rook Cycles, based in the East City, hosts the Thursday Night Ride Club, where enthusiasts of any fitness level can cycle en masse around the inner city.
- Fixie Fit SA host regular Wednesday afternoon rides that typically begin between 5:30pm and 6pm.
- There’s also the Moonlight Critical Mass, which happens on full-moon evenings, starting at the Greenpoint Circle. Everyone is welcome to join and explore the city by bike, at night.
A big part of encouraging – and capitalising on – the upsurge in the cycling culture is ensuring there are multiple “pit stops” for thirsty cyclists.
Here are hangout spots to try
- Pang’s Speciality Coffee in Bree St
- Revolution Cycles in Bree St
- Cafe Frank in Bree St
- Bootlegger in Harrington St
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Picture: CapeTown ETC gallery