We still our own worst enemy

[fastlegs]

below article was published in Citizen last night... Thanks to those cyclist that gives us a bad name

 

http://www.citizen.c...e-a--fat-chance

 

COLUMNISTS by Martin Williams

Cyclists take a fat chance

 

 

While driving to the office on Monday (yes, some of us had to work) I encountered a group of fat men cycling up Emmarentia Drive, Johannesburg.

11 April 2012 | MARTIN WILLIAMS

 

http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif

 

While driving to the office on Monday (yes, some of us had to work) I encountered a group of fat men cycling up Emmarentia Drive, Johannesburg.

As they were taking up most of the left hand side of the road, I had to cross the barrier line to get past them.

Upon reaching the traffic light at Carlow Road, I stopped. The guys on two wheels didn’t bother.

They pedalled on, turning right in front of me and proceeded along

Carlow.

How many times have you and I seen this happen, cyclists ignoring the rules of the road? Far too often. And they wonder why they get knocked over.

Usually I merely mutter “jerk!” under my breath and carry on. Much the same as when a motorcyclist speeds through a narrow gap between cars.

They seem blissfully unaware of how treacherous Jozi traffic is for two-wheelers.

 

But this time I thought no, sod it, so I hooted.

You can guess what happened. They shouted at me and gesticulated, including a middle finger from the fattest one.

Jerks.

 

Do they imagine that because they cannot see any oncoming traffic they can skip a red traffic light?

In fact at this intersection there is great danger because oncoming vehicles are obscured as there is a sharp corner nearby.

The same cyclists who want to be treated differently from motorists when approaching stop signs have no qualms about taking up as much lane space as motorists, even when they are toiling away at under 20kmh.

Obviously not all cyclists behave like this. As a runner I encounter and interact with many, on and off the roads.

There is some etiquette and we treat each other with consideration.

But there are more than enough out there, who are no doubt motorists at other times, who seem to lose all sense when in the saddle.

In this city there is a proliferation of stickers exhorting us to “Think Bike”.

The Think Bike mission is “to make the roads safer for two- and three-wheelers through:

 

- “Increasing other road users' awareness of bikes.”

- “Increasing safety awareness among bikers.”

My wish is that more bikers would think.

Road rage simmers constantly below the surface.

Don’t tempt fate.

Edited April 12, 2012 by skyler

[IMPI]

Not all cyclist behave like that. 'Fat' cyclist as mentioned????

[Mojoman]

Not all cyclist behave like that. 'Fat' cyclist as mentioned????

A lot do though, I think most of us, when we mention to someone we are cyclists, always get the 'oh, so why dont you guys ride in single file then and keep left' etc etc!

 

Tarred with the same stupid brush most of the time!

[TNT1]

11 April 2012 | MARTIN WILLIAMS

 

http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif

 

While driving to the office on Monday (yes, some of us had to work) I encountered a group of fat men cycling up Emmarentia Drive, Johannesburg.

As they were taking up most of the left hand side of the road, I had to cross the barrier line to get past them.

Upon reaching the traffic light at Carlow Road, I stopped. The guys on two wheels didn’t bother.

They pedalled on, turning right in front of me and proceeded along

Carlow.

How many times have you and I seen this happen, cyclists ignoring the rules of the road? Far too often. And they wonder why they get knocked over.

Usually I merely mutter “jerk!” under my breath and carry on. Much the same as when a motorcyclist speeds through a narrow gap between cars.

They seem blissfully unaware of how treacherous Jozi traffic is for two-wheelers.

 

But this time I thought no, sod it, so I hooted.

You can guess what happened. They shouted at me and gesticulated, including a middle finger from the fattest one.

Jerks.

 

Do they imagine that because they cannot see any oncoming traffic they can skip a red traffic light?

In fact at this intersection there is great danger because oncoming vehicles are obscured as there is a sharp corner nearby.

The same cyclists who want to be treated differently from motorists when approaching stop signs have no qualms about taking up as much lane space as motorists, even when they are toiling away at under 20kmh.

Obviously not all cyclists behave like this. As a runner I encounter and interact with many, on and off the roads.

There is some etiquette and we treat each other with consideration.

But there are more than enough out there, who are no doubt motorists at other times, who seem to lose all sense when in the saddle.

In this city there is a proliferation of stickers exhorting us to “Think Bike”.

The Think Bike mission is “to make the roads safer for two- and three-wheelers through:

 

- “Increasing other road users' awareness of bikes.”

- “Increasing safety awareness among bikers.”

My wish is that more bikers would think.

Road rage simmers constantly below the surface.

Don’t tempt fate.

 

The writer broke the law by his own admission. He's probably fatter than all the cyclists rolled together

 

Oh, and yes, lane splitting is legal on South African roads. Get a grip, and possible a copy of the road traffic act.

 

Someone tell me how to get my message to Martin Williams?

Edited April 12, 2012 by TNT1

[SeaBee]

I have to agree with Mojoman and Skyler - those of us who DO obey the rules are in the minority. But do to these idiots' conduct, we are endangered every time we leave home on a bike.

 

But my feeling is every bit helps and even get the odd smile and over the weekend a thumbs up from motorists for actually stopping.

[finallygotabike]

below article was published in Citizen last night... Thanks to those cyclist that gives us a bad name

 

http://www.citizen.c...e-a--fat-chance

 

COLUMNISTS by Martin Williams

Cyclists take a fat chance

 

 

While driving to the office on Monday (yes, some of us had to work) I encountered a group of fat men cycling up Emmarentia Drive, Johannesburg.

11 April 2012 | MARTIN WILLIAMS

 

http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/applications/citizen/templates/images/rating/active.gif

 

While driving to the office on Monday (yes, some of us had to work) I encountered a group of fat men cycling up Emmarentia Drive, Johannesburg.

As they were taking up most of the left hand side of the road, I had to cross the barrier line to get past them.

 

 

The flipside to this - while living in Ireland for a few years, we stayed just outside Dublin on a very popular cycling route. With those narrow roads you often got stuck behind 2 or more cyclists taking up the road but never would you dare hooting or shouting at them. You just had to sit behind them until you found a place to over take. This even applied to the city where pedestrians & cyclists take preference!

 

If only.....

[DJR]

 

............. I had to cross the barrier line to get past them.........Don’t tempt fate.

 

This dude overtook illegally and he temped fate! Ironic!

 

Btw, I do see his point though. Cyclists are truly their own worst enemies.

[Sandro]

He looks like a **** and I hope he gets jumped by a bunch of fat people. Why does he even bring up their weight anyway? What does that have to do with anything?

[Lucky Luke.]

I'm in Sorrento, Italy. Old men cruise down the middle of the main road here without a care in the world. No hooters to be heard.

 

Get a grip, take a valium suppository and stay on your side of the road.

[DirtyFrank]

The writer broke the law by his own admission. He's probably fatter than all the cyclists rolled together

 

Oh, and yes, lane splitting is legal on South African roads. Get a grip, and possible a copy of the road traffic act.

 

Someone tell me how to get my message to Martin Williams?

 

Agreed , the bloke obviously has issues. He seems to think cyclists and other `slower vehicles` have no rights as far as sharing the road is concerned. he probably thinks they should allow him enough space, so that he can squeeze past them in the same lane thereby forcing the pesky `fat` cyclists to negotiate the roots and broken glass in the gutter. No regard for safety zones or the rule that says you shall only pass `when safe to do so`. He goes even further by whining about lane splitting by motorcycles( perhaps he remembers the big BMW rider that took off his mirror when he intentionally closed the gap on him) All of this and disregarding the fact that it was a public holiday and the cyclists were in a group. There is a good Afrikaans word to describe him as posted by someone else but that is a useful thing , something Martin Williams is not!

[pastapouch]

The writer broke the law by his own admission. He's probably fatter than all the cyclists rolled together

 

Oh, and yes, lane splitting is legal on South African roads. Get a grip, and possible a copy of the road traffic act.

 

Someone tell me how to get my message to Martin Williams?

On news24 , the same article is there, think you can mail from there as well, or comment!

[TNT1]

On news24 , the same article is there, think you can mail from there as well, or comment!

 

[The Drongo]

The writer broke the law by his own admission. He's probably fatter than all the cyclists rolled together

 

Oh, and yes, lane splitting is legal on South African roads. Get a grip, and possible a copy of the road traffic act.

 

Someone tell me how to get my message to Martin Williams?

 

But skipping a red light ain't ! 2 or 4 or more wheels - Jerks!

[TNT1]

But skipping a red light ain't ! 2 or 4 or more wheels - Jerks!

 

I never said what the cyclists did was right, but the jerk of a writer clearly is no saint either. I'm just trying to figure out which one is the pot and which one is the kettle....

[The Drongo]

I never said what the cyclists did was right, but the jerk of a writer clearly is no saint either. I'm just trying to figure out which one is the pot and which one is the kettle....

 

Sure. Agreed.

 

Jerks! - I never said which....

 

The black one?

[TNT1]

The black one?

 

Busy being racially biased in a non-racist manner on the Happy Groundhog Day Mr Prez fred...