Toyota South Africa have put its money where its mouth is by donating R50 000 to the Pedal Power Association in support of the 1,5 meter Safe Cycling campaign. The donation was made during Tuesday’s Super Cycling TV show with cycling legend and TV host Andrew McClean.
The message that Toyota, in partnership with the Pedal Power Association (PPA), wants to emphasize during this year’s Cape Argus Cycle Challenge – that will be held in Cape Town on Sunday 9 March – is that a mere distance of 1,5 metres is all that is required to save the life of a cyclist.
During last year’s Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, arm bands were distributed by the Cycle Lab SuperCycling Club – powered by Toyota- and PPA – as part of an awareness initiative for safe cycling. This specially designed fluorescent arm band is to create and raise awareness about the initiative, amongst both motorists and cyclists, and serve as a safety precaution due to its bright reflective colour. Two lucky riders that were spotted during the race riding with an arm band, won a Trek 1.5 bicycle to the value of R10 999 and the other rider won a voucher worth R10 000.
Complimentary arm bands will once again be available at Cycle Lab retail outlet in Fourways as well as the Toyota Cycle Lab stand at the Cape Argus expo, Good Hope Centre from Thu.7-Sa.8 March.Toyota hopes that more armbands are handed out this year in order to promote the safe cycling campaign. Riders stand a chance of winning a KTM Strada 1000 Road Bike or a R10 000 gift voucher from Toyota and Cycle Lab if they are spotted wearing the Safe Cycling arm band during the race.
As a key stakeholder in the cycling through its partnership with Cyclelab, Toyota South Africa saw the importance of the ‘keep a driving distance of 1,5m from cyclist’ initiative, as it effects both the drivers of their vehicles and cyclists nationwide. Toyota will be using the Cape Argus Cycle Challenge as a platform to encourage and create cycling safety awareness, and aim to raise funds during the race for the campaign.
Toyota decided to support the project urging all drivers to give cyclists a wide berth on an on-going basis, and said that, motorists in particular, should be extra vigilant around commuters who may not have the same handling skills as racing cyclists. Cyclists in turn are also urged to ride responsibly and obey all traffic laws, to ride in a predictable manner and to be as visible as possible by wearing brightly coloured clothing and fitting lights to their bicycles.
This year Toyota SA Motors President and CEO Dr Johan van Zyl will ride the Cape Argus Cycle Challenge in support of the campaign, not only to promote safe cycling but also as a commitment to safe cycling and driving.
More info visit www.toyotacycling.co.za
More information on the Pedal Power Association is available on www.pedalpower.org.za
