Officers man cycle lanes for safety

CYCLE lanes that run along the red MyCiTi bus lane between the Cape Town CBD and Table View will now be manned by armed officers daily.

Brett Herron, mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, said the cycle lane will be patrolled daily from 5.30am until 9.30pm.

Some of the officers will be deployed in vehicles, others on motorcycles.

“This cycle lane is very popular among cyclists, and the officers have been deployed to improve the general safety of cyclists – in particular those who prefer to cycle alone or after hours. The officers are permanently deployed and work two shifts a day. They work in close collaboration with internal (City) law enforcement agencies and the police,” he said.

Their functions include inspecting the MyCiTi stations and acting as brand ambassadors by educating passengers and making them aware of the rules for those using the service, Herron said.

“Before the deployment of the officers, some members of the public complained about being targeted by opportunistic criminals along certain sections of the route, in particular in areas deserted after hours. I am happy to say we have seen an increase in cyclists using the cycle lane since the officers have started patrolling,” said Herron.

To date, the officers have arrested suspects for mugging, pick-pocketing and theft. They have also fined motorists and motorcyclists caught using the red road (BRT lane) illegally, he said.