what if we could force cyclists to ride more responsible?

[cat-i]

if you knew you would loose vitality points, would you still swerve all over the chappies road?

or if you might be disqualified from the argus even before the race started, would you still ride like a tjop?

 

this year, it was a real pain to enter for the argus - after the entry was done, i had to buy a licence, and then there were numerous 'value-added' adverts which annoyed me more than entice me to buy anything.... what if those adverts could be replaces with something that could add real value? like a pledge to ride responsibly whenever you're training on the road ... like the terms and conditions (that i always tick without reading them) .... but visible - this is what you sign up for. and you can't enter if you haven't read them.

 

and a way to enforce it ... e.g. part of the licence fee that we pay cycling south africa goes towards a small number board that you put on your bike ... one for EACH bike. cant be enforced, but at least if you enter argus or 94.7 or the big ones, then you'l have paid for the licence - and it has to come on your bike for the race ... and for every race that you do (to encourage people to ride with them all the time). the board has your medical aid details, contact details for significant other, so id adds real value ... and you're identifiable.

 

or when you sign up for your discovery vitality, you must know that if cought riding irresponsibly, you might loose points. this would be very difficult to enforce, the process would need to be 'auditable'. you could get some extra points if you sing up for a cycling license (and get the identity board that cycling south africa would give you) ... and then you can be identified in case of tjoppy behaviour.

 

 

enforcing it would be really difficult. metro police could help by pulling off cyclicts when they ride horribly irresponsible. even if they can't fine them, just the annoyance of getting pulled over, and the time you've wasted, might entice you to ride more responsible next time.

 

also, if one cyclist ask you to ride responsible, he's a tjop and you swear at him. if 10 cyclists do it, they might be right and you're the tjop ... and you might start riding more responsibly just to stop the annoying other people from always giving unsolicited advice.

 

it might be a bit extreme - and no idea how to enforce it.

 

some ideas?

Edited March 6, 2011 by cat-i

[Guest Big H]

It will be fairly easy...... if they are on Vitality get Discovery to put their brains back in.

 

The only way would be to bring back licences for bicycles. Each cyclist will have a number plate with a valid licence clearly dispalyed so motorists and other road users can see it. It must be connected to Natis and they will lose their drivers licences if they misbehave and break the law.

[Guest Big H]

What I find distressing is that last year this time before the Argus the cycling fraternity were mourning the death of cyclists in that tragic accident outside Oudtshoorn.

 

Promises were made to look at some way of formalising an idea like Cat-i above. It was all just hot air from prominent people and organisations. Nothing has come from it.

 

I used to be a regular contributor to the cause with funds. I will not do it again. I do not fund hot air.

 

Cyclist are their own worst enemy

[dirtrider]

NATIS . You are serious ?

[GuyP]

Cyclist are their own worst enemy

 

That's what I see! We'll probably be waiting for a very long time before we see arrogant behaviour being changed by being arrogant in return.

 

 

For me, after surviving 24 years on our roads, I'll stick to maintaining good manners on our roads. Hopefully this will all help keep me alive to enjoy this beautiful sport until I'm 80 and beyond.

[Guest Big H]

NATIS . You are serious ?

 

Yes ..... when you use the road you are a road user and governed by the law of the road.

[FrancoisC]

Yes ..... when you use the road you are a road user and governed by the law of the road.

100% agreed.

[dirtrider]

That is not my point !!!! That system is useless !!!!

[Tuxstir]

thats like trying to enforce roadworthy taxis in good old SA... nigh impossible

yes we are our worst eniemies.. ut then so is the guy's that brush past me, almost clipping me because they OWN the road..

first get every cyclist to wear their helmets before you worry about cycling style....

[AndreZA]

thats like trying to enforce roadworthy taxis in good old SA... nigh impossible

yes we are our worst eniemies.. ut then so is the guy's that brush past me, almost clipping me because they OWN the road..

first get every cyclist to wear their helmets before you worry about cycling style....

 

You're not a d@@s for not wearing a helmet, just dumb. But you are one if you ride all over the place.

[AndreZA]

NATIS . You are serious ?

 

I'm gonna get me BBBEEEEEEE partner and submit a tender.

[cat-i]

NATIS . You are serious ?

haha something like that, dirty.

you just keep off the tar and you're ok .... but for people swerving all over the road up chappies holding traffic up ... dont you think it would at least be some form of deterrent? the problem is not that they can't think for themselves, but that the irrate drivers take it out on the next (responsible) cyclist they see.

 

we need to tame the ander and the arrogance ... how else do we do it - what would you suggest?

Edited March 7, 2011 by cat-i

[cat-i]

thats like trying to enforce roadworthy taxis in good old SA... nigh impossible

yes we are our worst eniemies.. ut then so is the guy's that brush past me, almost clipping me because they OWN the road..

first get every cyclist to wear their helmets before you worry about cycling style....

 

i'm a big fan of helmets after woke up in ICU one day ... but if i had to choose between cycling responsibly and a helmet .... i'd think cycling responsibly, basic good manners, showing respect is more important. its not only about yourself & your bike - it's about making it safe for all the other cyclists out there.

[Lou Zealand]

Incentives rather than punitive measures may have a more likely chance of success - you catch more flies with sugar than vinegar

 

Forums like thehub also have a role to play. If one's behaviour is roundly condemned not just by other road users but also fellow cyclists then, unless you are a complete and utter w@nker, perhaps you need to reconsider your attitude.

 

Cyclist education is often overlooked. Newbies need to know what is unacceptable behaviour and not by the blast of a car horn by an impatient motorist who, in all probability, is not immune from poor road behaviour.

[Jabawakee411]

I still see guys riding next to each other on the road and i have to swurve around them in the car annoys me sometimes.

[SCHWINN LOVER]

Cyclists are there own worse enemy!!

There is a cycling lane but no we rather ride in the road next to the cycling lane and then still 2 abreast?

We cannot even show respect to each other.Please correct me if I am wrong but I bet everyone who reads this has entered a "fun ride" only to be pushed by someone who thinks they are racing the Tour de France??

If we adhere to the rules and show some respect for each other and towards the other road users well then just maybe they will return the favour??