Video: Courtesy of Streetfilms
The City of Cape Town will begin painting the cycle lanes on its roadways green in order to better demarcate them. Read more below:
Following the successful trial of green painted cycle lanes in a section of Bree Street, the City of Cape Town has made a decision to demarcate all cycle lanes that are in roadways by painting them green. This colourisation helps to promote safety and awareness of other modes of transport such as vehicles and pedestrians.
The outcomes of the trial period included the following:
- Vehicles generally refrained from parking on the green surface, thereby blocking the cycle lane (which had been a problem in the past);
- The surface is clearly defined and therefore can be enforceable should vehicles illegally park across the cycle lane;
- The green paint provides a skid resistance and durable surface for cyclists;
- The application is labour intensive therefore Expanded Public Works Programme workers can be employed when new cycle projects are implemented;
- Durability of the surface reduces regular maintenance requirements.
The next step will be to paint the remaining sections of the Bree Street lanes green and install the appropriate cycle signage.
Albert Road through Mowbray, Salt River and Woodstock and Strand Street in the Cape Town CBD will be the next routes to receive this colourisation treatment, which should commence in late August 2013.
With the city-wide non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure programme being rolled out, more colourised cycle paths will be implemented. The City believes this will go a long way towards creating safer cycling environments, as well as encouraging other road users to share the public right of way in the city.
Credit: Rouen Smit
Issued by: Integrated Strategic Communication and Branding Department, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 1298 or Cell: 082 518 3264, Email: brett.herron@capetown.gov.za
You can find out more about cycling in Cape Town and get a copy of the Cape Town Bicycle Map by visiting the Ride Your City Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/RideYourCity
But paint is slippery in the wet? Cyclists are going to land on their as… asphalt.
But have you cycled on these before?
I’ve cycled on these a few times in the rain (my daily commute) and they aren’t slippery.
Also, it’s the trend many cities abroad are doing.
As the story notes, “The green paint provides a skid resistance”
Okay – was just curious, sounds like a great initiative. Another good one by CT.
Painted cycle lanes are more expensive than people realise, and while they may be effective in some countries overseas, I do not believe that they are worth the investment, given the general standard of driving in Cape Town. There must be some vertical elements to stop vehicles from driving over the lanes. I have nearly been run over several times, when rolling in my wheelchair along Bree Street. I often have to roll there, as the sidewalks are pretty inaccessible in various places.
I totally agree with you. I basically bicycle them everyday and not one day goes by where there is not a car parked in the lanes and/or cars swerving into the lanes.
It’s the worst at intersections.
I even suggested this in my ‘cycling interview post’ – there needs to be some kind of deterrent, even if its large cat-eyes. -> http://futurecapetown.com/2013/10/cycling-in-the-city-rouen-smit/