Cycling Traffic thru Delta Park

[2wheelsgood]

This thread achieves little but to highlight the selfish self-righteous attitude that SA cyclists seem to adore. We can't really be surprised or offended when every other group of road/park user label us collectively as douchebags as a result.

[Nimby]

Couldn't agree more that cyclists should be more considerate - there is a lot of boorish behaviour happening at the moment.

The Spruit, especially the Delta Park to Emmarentia section, has got crazily busy i.t.o. cyclist usage over the past 2 years. The parks are full of other people just trying to have a good time and bicycles and their pilots need to fit in and behave properly.

BUT

Why is it OK for dogs to be allowed off the leash and to chase cyclists with impunity - surely dog-owners have a responsibility to keep their animals under control (and pick up the doo-doo, which no-one ever does...)

PS - I cycle through both parks regularly with my mates and my kids and also walk the dogs through Emmarentia so I understand both sides of this debate.

Edited May 7, 2012 by Nimby

[jules1976]

OK, so this thread saves me starting one of my own...

I was at Emmarentia Dam yesterday with my 2 daughters (one of whom has just started riding without her training wheels).

 

Enter the Dyckhead on his S-Works (who for some reason can't leave the brickwork to dirty his tyres a bit) screaming towards us at about 30km/h.

He comes so close to my daughter that she promptly loses her balance, grazes her knee and is now in tears.

 

Best part? Dyckhead doesn't even apologize, put his hand up or even look back.

 

Sir, you are a prick of the highest order. And if I see you there this weekend, prepare yourself....

 

Yoh u goona get a proper PK and u deserve it !!!

[The Ghost]

I agree.

There's nothing worse than somebody who rates them-self and then proves it by taking out a little kid.

 

While on the subject...

I will gladly pull over for faster riders when I can, but if faster riders are going to be forceful about it and try and push me aside as happened at the Vori-Berg race, I can suddenly take up a lot of the trail.

[Wet Ears]

Mutual respect is a must.

 

I, as a cyclist, need to be aware that walkers, dog owners etc probably cannot hear me coming so I need to give them a wide berth and pass at a sensible speed. Also, if cycling in a DESIGNATED leash free area the dog is king. I get that and fully agree - I am at the point of getting a dog and would like to be able to walk it somewhere without it getting ploughed into by a weekend warrior.

 

That said, considering there are in fact designated leash free areas it is extremely inconsiderate of dog owners (especially those whose dogs seem to be attracted to bicycle wheels) to parade around with their dogs off the leash, particularly along the Spruit. Keep the dog on the leash until you reach that leash free zone - simple.

 

I actually find dog owners more inconsiderate than cyclists (somewhat biased assessment possibly!) - one just needs to look at the heaps (literally) of dog cr@p that is never picked up by the dog owner and the number of dogs not on leashes, when by law they should be.

[mrbaker]

OK, so this thread saves me starting one of my own...

I was at Emmarentia Dam yesterday with my 2 daughters (one of whom has just started riding without her training wheels).

 

Enter the Dyckhead on his S-Works (who for some reason can't leave the brickwork to dirty his tyres a bit) screaming towards us at about 30km/h.

He comes so close to my daughter that she promptly loses her balance, grazes her knee and is now in tears.

 

Best part? Dyckhead doesn't even apologize, put his hand up or even look back.

 

Sir, you are a prick of the highest order. And if I see you there this weekend, prepare yourself....

 

Oh no!!!

I ride an Sworks and might be in the area this weekend...

Please don't beat me up

[Thug]

Delta park and the spruit aren't race routes, just be courteous to other users..... Not hard

 

+1

 

Unfortunately, riders treat it as their own personal race routes

[Seeker911]

Similar situation at Emmerentia. Lots of dogs and families with kids. Some riders have zero regards for others and bomb down the trails like they own them.

 

Respect is indeed a two way street. Sad that some riders are massive jerks.

 

Must agree there seems to be a plague of these "massive jerks" on 2 wheels these days. Went cycling on Saturday could not believe my eye's. I thought roadies had bad attitudes but sadly I see this has extended to MTB as well. Tis the "new" SA. Respect ?

[RockCoach]

There is talk of a clockwise bicycle only perimeter trail around Delta.

 

Now if only we can keep walkers off it and stop cyclists from shortcutting across...

[Zook]

This thread achieves little but to highlight the selfish self-righteous attitude that SA cyclists seem to adore. We can't really be surprised or offended when every other group of road/park user label us collectively as douchebags as a result.

 

Disagree. It highlights that there are a minority who do what they like and the rest of us are branded as a result. We can't change the obvious jerks so all that's available is for the more reasonable riders to try tone down how they ride around dogs/kids. I always slow down, always greet the dog owner, partly because I know they might be a bit touchy about riders speeding past. I love caning it down the tree-lined track, but it's not hard to slow down for a few seconds and then speed up again.

 

One note - while the focus of the OP is on the cons of having riders, I'd like to highlight the pros. All types of traffic reduce the likelihood of mugging. Cyclists possibly more so, because they move faster and cover more ground than pedestrians, so you'll often be passed by many on a walk. In fact, to the OP, we're more likely to be a target because we're riding desirable bikes. So let's try have pedestrians and riders on the same team, and the crooks on the other.

Edited May 7, 2012 by Zook

[HaydenWilson]

There is talk of a clockwise bicycle only perimeter trail around Delta.

 

Now if only we can keep walkers off it and stop cyclists from shortcutting across...

 

Now thats a good idea! (just make sure it includes the awesome tabletop!)

 

I guess the real problem is that everyone is way too serious. I have bailed cos of braking for erratic dogs (life) I have bailed cos of trees (also life) and i have bailed cos of my own stupidity and i have bailed cos of erratic noobs on the single track at van gaalens! Seriously. Just enjoy yourself and have fun. Stuff happens when you are mountain biking, its a fact of life, no one owns a space cos they use it! its your ability to cope with a situation and keep your sense of humour that i feel makes you a decent person. So your track took 3 seconds longer cos of a crazy dog chewing you, big whoop. you will still know if you were quicker today than you were yesterday and it will not affect your training regime noticibly.

 

I own a bicycle chasing dog. He only seems to go for bikes with lots of carbon and XT componentry. really dont know why.......

[RockCoach]

 

Now thats a good idea! (just make sure it includes the awesome tabletop!)

 

 

The proposal is unidirectional and clockwise right along the perimeter. The table top is off the perimeter on a uphill section unfortunately. But, if given the go ahead we can make proper sustainable MTB trails - not just straight up and straight down the tree line - but berms and sweeping turns between trees and humps to our hearts content. Even a raised boardwalk through the forests at the bottom of the field to seperate us from the walkers... Just think that we'd also be able to go all the way to the top fence at Standard Drive.

[StevieL]

Oh no!!!

I ride an Sworks and might be in the area this weekend...

Please don't beat me up

 

No danger there, unless you ride exactly the same bike, same helmet and have exactly the same build as said Knob (capital K). Unlikely.

[debullet]

 

 

The proposal is unidirectional and clockwise right along the perimeter. The table top is off the perimeter on a uphill section unfortunately. But, if given the go ahead we can make proper sustainable MTB trails - not just straight up and straight down the tree line - but berms and sweeping turns between trees and humps to our hearts content. Even a raised boardwalk through the forests at the bottom of the field to seperate us from the walkers... Just think that we'd also be able to go all the way to the top fence at Standard Drive.

 

I was just thinking that something like this would be the only solution. Doesn't matter how much we duscuss manners and etiquette- dog walkers, mountain bikers runners, grannies etc can't all share 1 trail. It will never work. Besides its not that great a trail anyway. We need to build our own trail. And like you say there is lots of potential to build a fun line all the way from standard road down the hill, and more places as well. Who has put the proposal forward and do they need help? Ill be there!

[Joe Low]

 

I actually find dog owners more inconsiderate than cyclists (somewhat biased assessment possibly!) - one just needs to look at the heaps (literally) of dog cr@p that is never picked up by the dog owner....................

 

Agreed - I hardly ever find piles of cyclist crap on the ground......though there was that one race.........

[RockCoach]

 

 

I was just thinking that something like this would be the only solution. Doesn't matter how much we duscuss manners and etiquette- dog walkers, mountain bikers runners, grannies etc can't all share 1 trail. It will never work. Besides its not that great a trail anyway. We need to build our own trail. And like you say there is lots of potential to build a fun line all the way from standard road down the hill, and more places as well. Who has put the proposal forward and do they need help? Ill be there!

 

It was brought up at our club AGM. I think it is dependant on City Parks. Also on the table are better trails up in Albertsfarm.