A horrific weekend for cyclists saw two riders killed and six hospitalised in four separate incidents.
On Saturday morning, three cyclists were hit by a tour bus while cycling on Chapman’s Peak Drive and sadly a 57-year-old passed away at the scene.
The second rider had to be airlifted to hospital, and the third victim sustained minor injuries.
Chapman’s Peak Drive was closed due to the fatal accident and motorists were advised to use alternative routes.
Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said the circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation.
"A 57-year-old cyclist died due to injuries sustained on the scene, and a 56-year-old male was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and another male had minor injuries," he said.
In Claremont, police registered a case of culpable homicide after a 35-year-old cyclist tragically died while on his way to work when he swerved to avoid colliding with a car door that was opened in front of him.
Stay wider of the Rider associated with the Pedal Power Association identified the cyclist as "Danilo" who worked as a bike technician at Olympic Cycles.
He was hit by a taxi on Friday morning around 9am in Claremont Main Road.
Van Wyk said the investigation continues with no arrests made as yet.
“According to reports the cyclist swerved for a vehicle's door that opened unexpectedly, he fell off the bicycle and landed in front of an oncoming taxi which couldn’t stop timeously.
"The 35-year-old cyclist succumbed on the scene to injuries sustained.”
Pedal Power Association took to social media expressing their condolences to the friends and family of the cyclists who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to those injured.
They said another incident took place along Wellington Road in Durbanville when a cyclist sustained injuries when hit by a truck in a hit-and-run incident.
“The fifth incident was reported to have occurred on Bottelary Road where a vehicle collided with a group of cyclists injuring two," they said.
The incidents come as the cycling community reels following the death of 76-year-old cyclist, Dennis Hammar, who succumbed to his injuries in hospital after he was attacked and robbed along N1 near FW de Klerk Boulevard last weekend.
Police said Hammar, who had 40 tours under his belt, was cycling from Paarden Eiland on the N1 joining FW de Klerk Boulevard, Foreshore, when an unidentified suspect pushed him off his bike and grabbed his cellphone from his backpack before jumping over the fence on the other side of the road.
Neil Robinson, Pedal Power Association CEO, appealed for riders to cycle in numbers due to crime zones.
"We are very saddened to hear of another death, it has been ongoing problem and there has been interventions from the saps and we are appealing to cyclists to avoid these areas," he said of Hammar's passing at the time.
Cape Town ward councillor, Ian McMahon, also expressed his concerns of the ongoing attacks on cyclists.
Stay Wider of the Rider described Hammar’s sportsmanship and their shock.
They said Hammar was attacked under the bridge near the Convention Centre.
“Dennis sustained fractures and multiple injuries and had to undergo an operation and succumbed to his injuries due to post-op complications.
“Dennis was very fit and strong and completed 40 cycle tours successfully. Dennis was a husband, father and grandfather and we are devastated by this incident which stems from ongoing.”
Cape Argus
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