Cycle Paradise

Cycle Paradise is a non-profit, community driven initiative currently

supported by +/- 500 people

Report written by: Chantelle Donald

Tel: 071 287 2955

E-mail: donald.chantelle@yahoo.co.uk

P.O Box 778

Umtentweni

KZN

4235

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Contents

No TITLE PAGE 1 Introduction 3 2 Purpose 3 3 The Challenge 4 4 Motivation 4 & 5 5 Social Benefits 5 6 Economic Benefits 6 7 Environmental Benefits 6 8 It is Good To Know 7 9 Basic Route 8 10 Cost of Construction 9 & 10 11 Recommended Time Frame 10 12 Our Current Road System 11 13 Recommendations 12 14 Systems in S.A 13 & 14 15 Conclusion 15

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1 Introduction

The proposed initiative is instrumental in reforming our Social, Economic and Environmental standing.

On attending the Tourism G.D.S (Government Development Strategy) Workshop on the 26 June 2012, it became apparent that there is a specific need for NEW IDEAS and NEW OPPORTUNITIES within the tourism sector. The workshop outlined the government’s purpose to seek high impact projects that create large scale change, boosts job creation, are eco-friendly, are non-secular and create a linkage between destinations.

Cycle Paradise is a totally GREEN, development project proposal that encompasses all of the aspects the G.D.S says it seeks for their 20 year vision.

2 Purpose

To create a better place for people to live and a better place for people to visit.

THE only way to do this is to implement reliable infrastructure and transport, by:

• Improving road safety. Safer roads will lure tourism • Catering for variety. The more modes of safe transport available to

the people, the more industrious an area becomes.

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3 The Challenge

4 Motivation

FACT, our roads are used by motorists, cyclists, joggers, runners and walkers of all ages and races; however our coastal road predominantly caters for the safe passage of motorists. Consequentially, our coastal road has an unnecessarily high death toll.

Our latest high profile deaths include a South Coast Strider runner. Carol was killed earlier this year by a hit and run driver on the coastal road, outside San Lameer. Another very sad loss to our country and the cycling fraternity is the recent death of Burry Standar, a respected athlete and Olympic participant.

FACT, people have been and continue to be killed on our roads, on a weekly basis.

• It is no longer acceptable to surmise that our road is built for the sole use of motorists.

• It is a human right to request the highest level of road safety, especially from those monopolizing the maintenance, design and construction of our roads.

• Dedicated cycle paths with adjacent pedestrian walk ways along the R61 from Hibberdene to Port Edward addresses all road safety concerns and points out the positive social, economic and environmental implications.

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A survey by MORI (Market & Opinion Research International, Ltd) showed that nearly half of those questioned said they would cycle for short journeys if roads were safer (National Cycling Forum, 1999).

In fact, it has been shown that the safety of cyclists improves as the number of cyclists increases (Krag, 2002).

This may be attributed to the introduction of specific safety measures but may also be partially explained by the fact that the higher the level of cycling, the more cyclists on the road and the more car drivers become aware of and pay attention to cyclists (Krag, 2002).

(Interesting facts taken from the South African ARRIVE ALIVE online campaign)

5 Social Benefits

1. Variety/choice. Giving citizens a cost effective alternative to public transport. 2. Individual opportunities for safer travel - an infrastructure that is safe for

pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. 3. Reducing the number of deaths that occur on a weekly, sometimes daily basis 4. Packaged, family cycling holidays which will perfectly apply to all the B&B’s

along our coast line. 5. Promoting a healthy lifestyle - better physical health. 6. Better mental and emotional health. Feeling safe to venture outdoors. 6 More beauty. Aesthetically pleasing. Revamping our infrastructure will give

the South Coast a new “face lift” 7 Greater mobility. Tourists and citizens are able to move about more easily and

freely. 8 Inclusion of all cultures and age groups, including women, children and senior

citizens. 9 Increased Sense of Community – In our urban areas, generally speaking it is

not socially acceptable for people to venture out of their homes, unless in a vehicle. There is an exception to this if it is clear that you are attempting to exercise. With adequate infrastructures in place, this will alter the general thinking pattern and open a door to creating social change.

10 Less Congested Roads – Being an area predominantly reliant on tourism, holiday times on the South Coast cause our inadequate roads to become highly congested. Even out of season we experience bottle necks of congestion. It is an existing issue that needs to be addressed.

11 More sustainable tourism 12 An enhanced Quality of Life for Women – Crime is statistically high in South

Africa. Women are raised to be vigilant at all times and wherever possible not to venture out at night on their own. A project such as this will drastically improve the life of women in the community by allowing them to venture out in numbers onto a safe bicycle or pedestrian/joggers walk way.

13 Promote an internationally recognized sport right here on The Hibiscus Coast

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6 Economic Benefits

1. Tourism Spin off – The Hibiscus Coast recognised as a Quality Road Biking Destination. Cycling is the world’s fastest growing sport. It is in our economical best interest to move forward with this growing trend.

2. Job Creation – A massive project such as this would sustain a local workforce for a number of years as well as a lifetime of maintenance work. Brining opportunities to an impoverished area

3. Giving citizens a cost effective alternative to public transport. Fuel hikes making public transport for expensive.

4. A local governmental alternative to a high quality transportation system. 5. More resources for public use. 6. The attraction of NEW, high-tech businesses with a marked correlation in

overall wealth. 7. Improved personal finances. People have a choice to free up money for

themselves that would otherwise have been spent on fuel or public transport costs

8. More Equitable Living for Low Income Earners. 9. Promote an internationally recognized sport right here on The Hibiscus Coast 10. Increase in local property values. 11. Correlation with overall wealth. 12. Enhance the opportunity for local business growth. 13. Less strain on the public health system as fewer overweight and obese

citizens.

7 Environmental Benefits

1. Our Hibiscus Coast will be seen to join the global environmental initiative to lower our carbon footprint

2. Safer, quieter neighbourhoods as pedestrian and cyclist numbers increase. 3. Better air quality. Less carbon emissions. 4. Visually more appealing coastal stretch. 5. Cleaner surface and ground water. Fewer motorists will lead to cleaner

surface run-off. 6. Quieter streets lead to better air quality, a slower pace of global warming and

cleaner surface and ground water. 7. Slowed pace of global warming. 8. More sustainable, greener lifestyle. 9. Recognition for leadership in sound environmental policy 10. Readiness for other environmental initiatives.

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8 It is Good to Know

• Bicycle paths worldwide do not advocate the complete safety of its users.

• South Africa currently has 4 classes of cycle paths that will apply to various situations along our coastal roads.

• The North Coast is currently installing dedicated cycle paths from Umfolozi Game Reserve to the Main road.

• All our cities and even the township of Kayalieshia already have dedicated cycle paths and pedestrian walk ways.

• Most towns and cities in Europe, America, North America and Asia benefit from dedicated cycle paths.

• It IS possible for the citizens of the South Coast to benefit too!

• As an avid cyclist currently commuting between Pumula and Umtentweni on a daily basis, with years of experience in the utilization of international cycle paths systems, It can be said with honesty that it is 100% possible for our lower south coast roads to accommodate a cycle path system too.

• Our intersections are simple and can safely suit the inclusion of cycle paths.

• Our roads in most parts have the space to be widened. Where not possible to be widened, it is possible to divert the cycle path adjacent to side roads for short distances.

• Road side vegetation is currently a disturbed ecosystem, predominantly alien invasive species. Cycle Paradise is a GREEN and environmentally friendly initiative. We do not support the destruction or disturbance of undisturbed natural habitats.

• We do not advocate a cycle path system on or near a railway line. As a lone female cyclist commuting during early mornings and late evenings, it would be unwise to travel along a railway line which is partially or completely secluded and surrounded by dense bush. Bike jackings are a reality too, some bicycles cost as much as a car.

• This development project can be split into phases over a number of years, starting with a “trial strip” from Umzumbe to Port Shepstone.

Quote from online petition: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/cyclesafety

“As a student I loved cycling in Cape Town, then I came to the South Coast, and after a few narrow escapes between Hibbs and Sheppie I sold my bike, so you’ve got my vote.” Anton Russow.

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9 Basic Route

Proposed stretch of road on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, S.A

 

Our coastal roads (R102, R61 and R620) run from Hibberdene to Southbroom. The proposed stretch of coastal road is approximately 72km in distance. The maximum speed limit on these roads is 100km per hour, legally allowing the inclusion of a bicycle path system.

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10 Cost of Construction It is imperative to note that the costing would vary per stretch of the defined road system.

There are 4 classes of cycle paths in South Africa. Some of which are more cost effective than others.

Currently, there is a pedestrian walk way that runs along our lower south coast road from in front of the Port Shepstone Municipal Hospital and continues all the way out to The Murchison Hospital.

This pedestrian walk way becomes significantly wider near Merlewood and Boboyi. This is wide enough to be split into two sections with paint markings. One side used for pedestrians and the other for cyclists. This means the cyclists and pedestrians would be completely segregated from the flow of traffic and each other. (The figure below shows a blue sign indicating shared cyclist and pedestrian facilities).

In this mentioned area, taxi lay-byes are indented with high kerbs, making the movement of taxi’s more predictable and thus making it safer for all road users.

We would recommend the installation of a similar, if not the same model wherever possible, along the stretch of coastal road from from Hibberdene to Port Edward.

Without a bill of quantities it is not accurate to say exactly what the total cost of this project would be. However, budgetary figures sourced from SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency) show;

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• Rural Enviro = +/-R500, 000/km • Urban = +/- R750, 000/km due to other costs such as accommodation of

traffic. • Across bridges = +/-R 3,000,000.00 per 100m linear metre.

These figures do not include the cost of adjacent, pedestrian walk ways.

Pricing according to American Standards are as follows….

The cost of installing a bicycle lane is approximately $3,100 to $31,000 per kilometre ($5,000 - $50,000), depending on the condition of the pavement, the need to remove and repaint the lane lines, the need to adjust signalization and other factors. It is most cost efficient to create bicycle lanes during street reconstruction, street resurfacing or at the time of original construction.

According to this pricing structure we would be looking at figures anywhere in the region of R2,232,000 – R36,000,000

11 Recommended Time Frame

This development project can be split into phases over a number of years, starting with a “trial strip” from Umzumbe to Port Shepstone.

 

For instance…

 

Stage Time Frame Proposed Area Distance

stage 1 - trial strip 1 year Umzumbe – Umtentweni 15.3km

stage 2 1 year Umtentweni – Shelly Beach 14.2 km

stage 3 - phase 1 1 year Shelly Beach – Ramsgate 10.6 km

stage 3 - phase 2 Hibberdene – Umzumbe 6.5 km

stage 4 1 year Ramsgate – San Lameer 13.8 km

stage 5 1 year San Lameer - Port Edward 18.3 km

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12 Our Current Road System The figure below shows how unsafe and inadequate our current road system is for

cyclists and pedestrians.

The figure below shows how misleading and impractical our signage is.

Misleading, as it may imply to some cyclists that one needs to “turn right” for a safe cycling passage. Or it could imply that cyclists should cycling on the Toll Road, which

is illegal as no cycling is permitted on roads with a speed limit above 100km/h.

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13 RRecommendatioons

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14 SSysteems inn S.A

 

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14 SSysteems inn S.A cont…

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15 Conclusion I have been working in a tourism marketing business for the past 2 years helping to produce the official route guide of the South Coast, The Southern Explorer Magazine. The magazine highlights the South Coast and showcases our businesses and its people. There has been some concerning feedback regarding the magazine. Some say that the magazine "over-sells" the product - the product being, the South Coast. If government is serious about improving our economy, it is imperative that some serious investment is allocated into upgrading our product as a whole (the South Coast). The tourism industry is paramount to the South Coast economy. “Googling” cycling holidays around the world leads to page after page of destinations that offer adventure and family tours, on bicycles. With the right infrastructure, the South Coast can tap into this market in a massive way. When tourists arrive in an area, they don’t just spend their money on accommodation and transport. They visit restaurants, places of interest, shops and entertainment venues. Their money is shared throughout the local community. More tourists, means more money to an area. More money brings NEW opportunities for business. No one company will completely own the cycle path and pedestrian system and yet the ENTIRE south coast community will benefit from its positive spin-offs. With the right people working together and the same goals, we have the power to change South Coast history. With thanks Chantelle Donald Quotes from online petition: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/cyclesafety

“You got my vote. We holiday every year for 2 weeks in Umzumbe, and the roads are perfect for training, except it’s too dangerous to ride”. Nardo Bornman. “This may also help the large percentage of pedestrians that commute on foot - if they had somewhere safe to ride a bike to work and back.” Anna Jordan “In view of what happened to my husband last Sunday - yes please lets try and do something.” Petra Rickson “We have cycle lanes in Cape Town because it’s a jacked up City.” Jon Amira

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