A cycling route from Constantia Nek to Kloofnek via Cecilia Plantation, Kirstenbosch, Newlands Forest and Rhodes Memorial has been debated for more than twenty years by the cycling fraternity and the various custodians of land on Table Mountain.
Trail sharing with cyclists is common in many countries, and cyclists have a relatively low impact on the environment and their presence has many security benefits for all trail users. The ever increasing popularity of mountain biking, and its importance for tourism and job creation, has made it increasingly necessary for this route to become a reality.
The proposed route received good support in the recent review of the “Environmental Management Programme (EMP) for Recreational Road Cycling and Mountain Biking: Table Mountain National Park (TMNP)”. The public consultation process was completed, an agreement between Table Mountain Mountain Biking Forum (TMMTB Forum) and SANParks was signed on 11 November 2016 and the mountain bike route was opened on 1 December 2016.
The route through Kirstenbosch follows the existing service roads well above the Garden and Irrigation Dam. Two short sections of single track path have been constructed to link with existing tracks in Cecilia Plantation and Newlands Forest. Signage demarcates the route and cyclists will not be permitted to deviate from this transit route for any reason.
Cyclists using the route will be required to carry a SANParks activity card. Careful, considerate riding and compliance with the EMP code of conduct will be the norm.