Hatred of Cyclists

[Hype]

 

or take a pic of the cyclists who thinks they own the road and then when they get beaten up the judge would know the reason why.....

 

 

 

Lamb do you drive a Blue Golf ? The guy said the same thing about owning the road.

 

 

 

A car was coming past every 30 or 40 seconds. Those are big gaps. I was moving to single file when looking back and seeing a car but he came up quickly and I didn't see him coming.

 

 

 

He's only objecting to the speed I'm going at because I've seen motorcyclists riding 2 abreast (even traffic cops do it) and motorists seem quite happy.

 

So using those same standards, when he is behind a motorist who is driving at 40km/h he must cut him off and get out of his car and verbally abuse him.

[Bateleur1]

Hype, I think you can be lucky that things did not turn out for the worst for you.  Had similar experience and basically keep my fingers tucked in (to the best of my ability) in situations like this.

 

Arguing that it is our cyclists fault is a load of bull.  If cyclists a causing problems then motorists should sort their issues out with them (the offending cyclist) and not wait until you see a cyclists on his own or half your size and justify your actions because another idiot p!ssed you off.

 

It is the same as saying all people driving a FORD (pick vehicle of your choice here) are idiots because the guy driving the Ford in front of you drives like an idiot.

[linnega]

CCC - looks like that intersection was pretty clear.  Assuming it was, it would have been better to pass through while the light was red, allowing the cars behind you easier passage as they would only have to contend with a line of steadily moving cyclists rather than a bunch of cyclists all clipping in and travelling at variable speeds.

 

Follow the rules of the road where it makes sense and is safest.  If it is not the safest option then screw the rules of the road.  If that turns a motorist into a raging moron, then chances are he (or she) was a raging moron before they decided to take it out on a cyclist and your actions probably had nothing to do with it.

[Robotech]

 

It is the same as saying all people driving a FORD (pick vehicle of your choice here) are idiots because the guy driving the Ford in front of you drives like an idiot.

 

 

Or BMW drivers...

 

 

 

[Bateleur1]

I wanted to use BMW drivers as an example but did want to hijack the threat

 

But I am sure you get the point though. 

[amateur]

most non-cyclists are completely unaware that a bicycle has as much a legal right to be on the roads as a car.

 

I had a conversation with my co-workers over lunch the other day about it as they were complaining about cyclists taking over the road.

 

I informed them that for a vehicle to be deemed by law to have a right on the road a certain amount of these vehicles (and I'm sorry but I can't remember how many right now) has to be sold, and bicycles exceed this limit sold every year in this country, which means we have just as much right to that road as a normal car, so if that means we want to ride 5 abreast, we can as long as we stay within one lane, a car still has to go around you in the other lane, like it would another car.

 

But because cyclists are curteous we ride mostly in single file, and in the yellow line (which I pointed out is illegal even for us to do, because we share the same rights as a car and it's illegal for them to do so) to give cars the right to the road, and that a car by law has to go past you and leave 1.5 meter space. They were astounded and had no idea and all of them said that in future they will have more regard and patience for cyclists on the road.

 

I think we are treated the way we are because of lack on knowledge of general road rules and laws of this country, so we need to educate people, and beleive me no one who doesn't cycle is going to do this, so us cyclists need to do it ourselves, without getting into fights and situations like that.

 

my 2c

 

 

[linnega]

Its a good 2c.  The only cycling safety issue worth throwing money and effort at is motor vehicle driver awareness.  Talk to your friends, write to your newspapers, discuss rules of the road with motor vehicle drivers the next time you have to stop at an intersection.

[Bateleur1]

The problem is not just the ignorance but people who are ignorant who think they know everything.

[Tumbleweed]

we're an aggressive nation. we hurt each other, we hate each other. my brother is the chief sportswriter for a daily newspaper. just before the 94.7 two years ago, he wrote a light-hearted column about training (linnega, i'm sure there were plenty of typos). a reader wrote in to say how he hates my boet, and hates the way cyclists balance their bikes at robots (trackstanding, we call it) and when he sees it, he wants to bump them over. why? no reason. he just hates it.

gonna sound like a hippie here, but we really do need to spread the love around ...

 

(okay, it's been a really long day, and i'm tired, but there you go)  

[Bateleur1]

HR, I think it must be the cycling kit.  Maybe we should all just start cycling in baggy shorts with hawain shirts.  Check if their attitudes change.

[Tumbleweed]

HR' date=' I think it must be the cycling kit.  Maybe we should all just start cycling in baggy shorts with hawain shirts.  Check if their attitudes change.[/quote']

 

cool! but then we all gotta source those old handlebar-mounted bottle cages to put our pina coladas in (with umbrella, of course). then we can get as p!ssed as everyone else on the road

[Bateleur1]

Nope not a good idea.  Motorists will be arrested for drinking and driving and not the cyclists .... and so cycle starts again Bateleur12007-11-16 08:16:57

[Spinnekop]

HR.  You sum it up perfectly.

 

Hatred is BIG in SA.  Has been, will always be.  The mentality of "mine is bigger than yours" is ruling our lives. 

 

SAD but true.

 

What will change it?  I don't think anything. 

For me it boils down to being a Christian or not.  But that is a whole different can of worms which is better left alone on a Friday evening.....

[Tumbleweed]

HR.  You sum it up perfectly.

 

Hatred is BIG in SA.  Has been' date=' will always be.  The mentality of "mine is bigger than yours" is ruling our lives. 

 

SAD but true.

 

What will change it?  I don't think anything. 

For me it boils down to being a Christian or not.  But that is a whole different can of worms which is better left alone on a Friday evening.....

[/quote']

 

if being a christian can rid you of hate, then go for it. i'm not. but my personal beliefs overlap with yours, i'm sure. well done, dude. see you on sunday (the lord's day, haha!).

[Skye]

.  But that is a whole different can of worms which is better left alone on a Friday evening.....

 

Sorry who wanted worms???? Here you go in the can as per your request

 

[Spinnekop]

 

if being a christian can rid you of hate' date=' then go for it. i'm not. but my personal beliefs overlap with yours, i'm sure. well done, dude. see you on sunday (the lord's day, haha!).

[/quote']

 

Someone close to me once said while out riding our bikes:"This is my church.  This is where I find my piece"

 

So true!