Personally I am not surprised. I was intending to post this week anyway regarding cyclists and a complete lack of manners. For some context I was a road rider for 8 years and have been a mountain biker for about 12. Recently we have noticed a huge increase in the number of rude, belligerent riders on the Braamfontein spruit. As a father of young kids, our group often does kiddies rides along the spruit and more and more we see mountain bikers screaming at the little kids riding, the walkers, and the dogs. The residents have started taking real exception to the riders, and speaking to a walker on Sunday after two riders had come past and literally pushed my 8 year old off the trail because he was too slow, the walker (who also happens to be a mountain biker) told me of incidents where riders have barged people off the path, assaulted the residents, and in one instance even broken the arm of a woman when they pushed her off the path. Seriously? On the spruit? This route is well-known for walkers, and leisure riders. Myself and my group of friends have never seen it as a hardcore training ride, and certainly would never treat fellow outdoor enthusiasts in this manner. It is honestly time that cyclists started to show some respect. I do agree that cars have taken riders out, but we ALL see riders out on the roads 3 and 4 abreast on single carriage ways. Respect goes BOTH ways, and when motorists start to intentionally push cyclists off the road, or when walkers set their dogs on us, or even build fences to keep us out, or actively attack riders (not just verbally but physically too) we will all act surprised and shocked, and shake our heads at the "terrible situation in this country" but we should all look back on this, and other incidents as the beginnings of attacks against cyclists. Seriously guys, enjoy riding, esp on kiddies and beginners trails, go be aggro where we don't have to share trails, and RESPECT other people. I hope these guys get a solid jail sentence, they, and others, make all of us, and the community that has BUILT rides like the spruit look bad.
