Why do we cycle with traffic, but run against the flow of traffic.

[scotty]

Another consideration is if you ride against traffic and approach a busy intersection where you would turn left it would be far more difficult, particularly if the intersection had traffic lights as you would have to cut across both lanes.

[dirtrider]

Cool so according to the law when on the bike I am just another vehicle . That means I can , like the chap that got taken out by the bus , take the whole lane to cycle in and the LAW will protect me or at least donate towards my funeral ? My bike is an unlicensed "vehicle" , go and read your road acts again . Although I cycle next to the road I am still doing it going against the traffic and will continue to do so because I think it is save to do so .

[Big H*]

Cool so according to the law when on the bike I am just another vehicle . That means I can , like the chap that got taken out by the bus , take the whole lane to cycle in and the LAW will protect me or at least donate towards my funeral ? My bike is an unlicensed "vehicle" , go and read your road acts again . Although I cycle next to the road I am still doing it going against the traffic and will continue to do so because I think it is save to do so .

 

Baie geluk!!!

[Minion]

Cool so according to the law when on the bike I am just another vehicle . That means I can , like the chap that got taken out by the bus , take the whole lane to cycle in and the LAW will protect me?

It'll protect you in much the same way that the law will protect you if your unlocked car gets stolen after you parked it in the middle of Diepsloot late on Friday night. Just because the law says you're allowed to to do something doesn't necessarily mean you should do it (please note the difference between allow and must).

I think I missed your point about licensing a bike.

Edited February 20, 2012 by Edman

[Lucky Luke.]

Cool so according to the law when on the bike I am just another vehicle . That means I can , like the chap that got taken out by the bus , take the whole lane to cycle in and the LAW will protect me or at least donate towards my funeral ? My bike is an unlicensed "vehicle" , go and read your road acts again . Although I cycle next to the road I am still doing it going against the traffic and will continue to do so because I think it is save to do so .

 

Nowhere does the law state you must cycle in the gutter. Perhaps you are confusing actual law with hub law as laid down ad nauseum by certain members.

 

Cycle where it makes sense, for you - as someone who must arrive home in one piece - and secondary to that - for the rest of the people using the road.

 

If you think that is travelling in the opposite direction to everyone else then as oom says, best of luck with that. Darwin award in the post.

[JasonDunwiel]

Another consideration is if you ride against traffic and approach a busy intersection where you would turn left it would be far more difficult, particularly if the intersection had traffic lights as you would have to cut across both lanes.

 

Thanks, I don't have any experience riding in busy areas, so this would not have been a considiration for me. Although I ride on tar, my area has no traffic lights or busy intersections. This reason has made the most sense so far, much better answer than simply: "because the law says so".

Thanks all, as a Newby the hub really helps answering questions quickly that might have taken me much longer to figure out.

Safe cycling all!

[dirtrider]

Nowhere does the law state you must cycle in the gutter. Perhaps you are confusing actual law with hub law as laid down ad nauseum by certain members.

 

Cycle where it makes sense, for you - as someone who must arrive home in one piece - and secondary to that - for the rest of the people using the road.

 

If you think that is travelling in the opposite direction to everyone else then as oom says, best of luck with that. Darwin award in the post.

 

Why don't you deliver it in person , or would you like me to collect ?

[Lucky Luke.]

Why don't you deliver it in person , or would you like me to collect ?

 

No you misunderstand. I'm not actually posting you a prize. Seriously though, all the best for your commuting.

[Big H*]

 

 

Why don't you deliver it in person , or would you like me to collect ?

 

Toe nou Mr P……. gaan jy hom met jou ankle grinder dreig?????

[dirtrider]

• Nee man wat is fout met biekie "meet en greet "
  

[Minion]

Although I ride on tar, my area has no traffic lights or busy intersections. This reason has made the most sense so far, much better answer than simply:

There was a discussion about this at the end of last year:

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/109836-getting-knocked-down/page__st__32

 

In addition to our whole road system being set up to accommodate vehicles driving on the left, riding on the left also gives you and other drivers much more time to react due to lower relative speeds and the impact forces if you do get hit are much lower.

Under some typical riding conditions, it's the difference between having 4s to react and less than 1s to react.

If you do get hit, a head-one collision can be equivalent to getting hit by a car moving at 100km/h vs. the equivalent of a 20km/h impact if you're hit from behind. For some perspective, the NCAP pedestrian safety tests are only carried out at 36km/h.

 

Riding against the traffic flow can increase the likelihood of a collision as well as increase its severity.

[JasonDunwiel]

 

There was a discussion about this at the end of last year:

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/109836-getting-knocked-down/page__st__32

 

In addition to our whole road system being set up to accommodate vehicles driving on the left, riding on the left also gives you and other drivers much more time to react due to lower relative speeds and the impact forces if you do get hit are much lower.

Under some typical riding conditions, it's the difference between having 4s to react and less than 1s to react.

If you do get hit, a head-one collision can be equivalent to getting hit by a car moving at 100km/h vs. the equivalent of a 20km/h impact if you're hit from behind. For some perspective, the NCAP pedestrian safety tests are only carried out at 36km/h.

 

Riding against the traffic flow can increase the likelihood of a collision as well as increase its severity.

Thanks Edman, the cenario you mentioned as per the link makes it virtualy imposible to ride on the right hand side facing traffic, totally agree with you. Pitty I did not find that link before posting the question.