A WOMEN’S cycling group has reached out to the victim of the attempted robbery on the walkway at the Ellis Brown Viaduct tower on the M4. The female cyclist, last month, was attacked in the vicinity by two men who dragged her down the stairs of the tower. Now the Boys Can’t Come (BCC) cycling group has offered to cycle with the Durban North resident to keep her safe.
Janine White, the spokesman for the non-competitive cycling group said they wanted to invite the victim to ride with the group.
“We ride that exact same route every week and when we heard about it; it made us feel extremely vulnerable. It also made us feel angry because we can’t use the track. We thought it would be better for the victim to cycle in a group, we are a non-competitive group designed for Saturday morning rides,” White said.
The victim of the attempted robbery, who did not want to be named, said her faith in humanity had been restored.
“The outpouring of love and support from the community has been incredible. I am overwhelmed by the messages. I’m definitely going to take the ladies up on their offer as soon as I’m able to cycle again. It’s the sweetest gesture and I’m blown away by their love,” she said.
The resident who is also a teacher said she now has to undergo surgery to repair the ligament damage to her right knee later this month. She also uses a Zimmer frame to move around at the moment.
Since the attack, the City has begun the installation of a fence next to the walkway at the Ellis Brown Viaduct tower. The wire-mesh fence, topped with barbed wire, will be situated behind the wooden bollards and will run from the tower all the way to the entrance road of the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve.
