Trubie

http://www.procycling.co.za/index.php/features/helivac/79-safe-cycling-initiative-launched-by-helivac# go check out some of the pics of this mornings ride

Would that mean I would get my own bike marshall?

Big thumbs up to all involved in organizing this. Was great having you guys out there this morning! Keep up the good work. /images/stories/helivac.JPG On Saturday 29 May Helivac Medical Helicopter Services is rolling out the Helivac Safe Cycling Initiative in collaboration with THINK BIKE. A number of pro cyclists will join social cyclists at 07:00 on a training ride from Alberton's well-known Swartkoppies Road/Klipriver Drive cycling route to highlight the promotion of safety in the sport. The THINK BIKE marshalls will escort cyclists on their training rides through the south of Johannesburg in order to assist with traffic flow, to patrol bike-jacking hot spots and to manage any incidents that might happen on the road. According to Helivac?s JP van Tonder, this initiative will be a permanent feature on every weekend going forward. SIGN-UP FOR HELIVAC ?Cycling fatalities and injuries continue to be unacceptably high and although we cannot prevent every accident that occurs, we are determined to minimise the incidences wherever we can and provide medical support in the crucial first hour after the accident,? said Van Tonder. ?To this end, we have partnered with eBlockwatch, who will be our source of response for any attempted bike jacking, while Helivac will be responsible for any medical response required.? Over the past few months Helivac?s focus has been more specifically directed towards road-associated sports as this is the most common area in which accidents take place. ?This initiative has included partnering with the SAPS to patrol certain major cycling routes over weekend periods and it has assisted in reducing the number of muggings which commonly take place on these routes,? Van Tonder said. ?In addition, our paramedics patrol the routes during peak activity periods to attend to injuries. While this campaign is currently concentrated in the south of Johannesburg, plans are in place to start rolling it out to biking routes identified as ?critical? in all other areas around Johannesburg,? Van Rooyen concluded. ABOUT HELIVAC: Helivac Medical Helicopter Services is the first subscriber-driven, advanced medical rescue product in South Africa to require no medical aid subscription or authorisation. Helivac delivers doctors, paramedics and advanced medical equipment to the scene of an emergency by helicopter in order to treat and then medically transport a seriously ill or injured patient to a trauma centre. Helivac makes use of state of the art, medically dedicated helicopters and experienced, medical evacuation-orientated flight crews. The Helivac teams are selected from highly qualified and experienced medical personnel. The teams are also aero-medically orientated, and have completed the necessary SA CAT OPS 138 training as required by the SA Civil Aviation Authority. ABOUT THINK BIKE: The Think Bike Campaign now has in excess of 800 paid-up members, over 3 600 forum contributors, dozens of sponsors and has to date distributed over 180 000 leaflets, over 160 000 bumper stickers, and reached literally thousands of motorcyclists and motorists with its message of safety for. The campaign, while strongest in Gauteng, has representation in Western Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, Natal and the Free State. It has dozens of trained marshals available for various events such as the 94.7 Classic Cycle race, The Argus Cycle Tour and is deeply involved in numerous other projects such as the annual Toy Run. This campaign is intended to help educate the general public about safety issues surrounding motorbike and bicycle riders, without pointing fingers or accusing anyone of negligence. It is also aimed at educating the biking and cycling community on safety issues and encouraging the use of protective clothing.

Tell you what, Ive pushed my bike downhill more than once, if that makes me a sissy, so be it. I'd rather be a sissy than a broken hero.

Saw that , and I guess its gonna be intersting. Its not as if cycling needs some spicing up hey?

we really dont want to believe this, but unless the contrary is made public, I suppose we dont have much of a choice but to believe the rumours. Its serious but also very sad at the same time. Pity that stories like these will always overshadow good news such as the MTB stra session which was held, etc.... Just wondering when/if the road comm will engage in similar talks?

Spas, easy solution, just get yrself a piece of land there, build a smallish mansion and you're in. Wont even be a far move, just round the corner. Or just flash that on call badge

Extra Protein Offerings?

loved how the rider on the ground from the Astana team, became the rider from the ANSTAN team?!

we can be so judgemental.... and everyone can do it better sometimes some of these hubbers and their mentallity boggles my mind

Whoever that commentator is he knows Jack sh*t about commentating or cycling. Refereing to the riders as" the people who will win today, then switches to the cyclists who will win today...." Kadel Evans (not Cadel) is riding on his own.... with someone else A rider is signaling to his team car - but its the Yellow Mavic service vehicle Oh a rider is on the ground, maybe he fell Yes that is defintely Bradley Wiggins (as if we cannot see that...with the camera on him) Van de velde is hurt, he looks hurt, bla bla bla They coming around the corner, cant really see much, but the next group is coming around the corner........ Vi nou kou rof (As apposed to Vino kourof), and many more Best to mute and just watch the pics But at least were seeing some of the action

I heard gunmen took 8 bikes this morning in Summit rd, Midrand (I presume). Cannot confirm this yet, but I'm sure its true. Anyone know of this? Bloody hell, the market for stolen bikes seems to be getting bigger & bigger ....

Zoo, that is indeed the sad part. One is not safe anywhere. I suppose we only have one option for now and that is to never ride alone, and always be vigilant. Won't help for the cars, but could just save someone from being bike jacked... Sad situation nonetheless!

Surely interested in this initiative. Do you have permission from the management at SBR to erect signs? How many you planning, or will that depend on the donations? Where? Who will be erecting them?

Will this ever stop? Or is is just another aspect of life in SA that we have to accept unwillingly? Boewe teiken fietsers ?l meer2010-05-02 22:53 Andr? Damons Selfs fietsryers is nie meer veilig as dit kom by misdaad nie. Twee bergfietsryers het eergister die soveelste slagoffers geword van vermoedelik ?n kaperbende wat bergfietsryers in ?n natuurreservaat noord van Johannesburg teiken. Die fietsers is by die Northern Farm-natuurreservaat van hul duur fietse en ander items beroof. Twee weke gelede is twee ander fietsryers op soortgelyke wyse in dieselfde omgewing, ?n gewilde plek vir bergfietsryers, aangeval. Volgens me. Heidi Twiss, ?n fietsryer van Club 100 wat met die twee beroofde fietsryers gepraat het, het die jongste voorval eergister omstreeks 10:00 op een van die mees ge?soleerde plekke op die fietsryroete naby die N14-hoofweg gebeur. Twee mans het hulle as voetgangers voorgedoen, maar voor die fietsryers ingespring en ?n pistool en mes te voorskyn gebring. ?Die rowers het als gevat ? hul fietse, selfone, rugsakke, sonbrille, hemde, skoene, valhelms, toerusting, als. Dit is vreeslik,? het sy gister ges?. Die twee fietsryers moes sowat 5 km in net hul fietsrybroeke na die klubhuis van die natuurreservaat loop. Die fietsryers wat twee weke gelede aangeval is, is ook van hul klere beroof. Mnr. J.J. Botha, ook ?n bergfietsryer, het gister aan Beeld vertel hoe vermoedelik dieselfde mans en nog ?n makker hom in Desember op pad na Northern Farm voorgel? het. Die werkwyse was dieselfde. ?Hulle het my in die veld ingedwing. ?Een van hulle het met sy knie? op my rug gesit en ?n ander een het my kop in die gras ingedruk.? Volgens hom het die rowers gedreig om hom te skiet as hy dit sou waag om na hulle te kyk. Een van die rowers het die magasyn uit sy pistool gehaal en Botha gewys daar is koe?ls in. Botha is van sy fiets ter waarde van sowat R60 000 en ander persoonlike goedere soos sy selfoon, iPod, kontant en sonbril beroof. Mnr. Andrew Bennett, nog ?n fietsryer, het op die Cycle Lab se webwerf geskryf hy en nog ?n fietsryer is ook in Desember deur drie mans van hul fietse, skoene en brille beroof toe hulle van Northern Farm na die Broadacres-sentrum op pad was. Mnr. Simon Nash, voorsitter van die Northern Farm-ontspanningsgroep, het gister ges? vyf voorvalle het al vanjaar by die plaas gebeur waar fietsryers beroof is. In al die gevalle was die werkwyse feitlik dieselfde en het die rowers die slagoffers se fietse en ander persoonlike besittings gevat. ?Dit is ?n groot probleem,? het Nash ges?. ?Ons moet dit stop voordat mense seerkry.? Hy vermoed die rowers kom van die nabye Diepsloot-plakkerskamp. Mnr. Johan Coetzee van die webwerf Mountain Bike SA het ges? bergfietsry is ?n vinnig groeiende sport, maar raak gevaarlik weens voorvalle soos di?. ?Dis ?n bekommernis. Mense moet in groter roepe ry en meer bedag wees,? het hy ges?. Fietsryers is vroe?r vanjaar ook in Centurion geteiken. Me. Mathilda Barnard is in Januarie met ?n mes in die nek deur rowers gesteek en langs die voetpaadjie gelos waar sy gery het.

Great initiative thanks will certainly get the details in future, same goes for cyclists though saw way too many discarded gel wrappers there on tuesday

Thinking of him, may he heal soon! I was riding there yesterday and it was quite misty. A vehicle passed me and about 2kms further the same vehicle was on its way back in the wrong direction. Fortunately this happened on a wider section of the road. I indicated to them to stop to give them a piece of mind about them driving in the wrong direction, but they ignored me.. It wasnt an official vehicle though as the one that caused Damian's accident. Lot has been said about the cyclist behaviour in the reserve, but the vehicles are just as guilty and most certainly dont obey the speed limit in the reserve either.

respect dude - very good seeding & top 20 I am same cat, but still only number .... 109

Good work , to all involved thanks a stack. Would be an example to follow in other areas if this can be pulled of successfully.

Nish - too much techno jargon for me bud... Just enjoyed watching the race and the pain of riding for 6.5 hrs

Nice one ha ha Kieran Must have been your signature that drew the attention, or maybe your reputation is just common fact through Africa already

D@@S Does she have a description of the idiot?