New legislation seeking to ban cyclists from towing trailers - please object

[Mushilele]

Just picked up a blog entry from Ride your City (dated 13 June) - http://rideyourcity....towed-trailers/

 

OBJECTIONS NEED TO BE IN BY 4 JULY 2012

 

New South African regulations proposed – which ban bicycle-towed trailers…

 

In the rest of the world, cargo bicycles, freight bicycles, bicycle attachments for towing children, etc, are a growing – and welcome trend.

Not so in South Africa – where policy on the one hand purports to promote non-motorised transport (practice being an entirely different matter), and on the other seeks to further illegimitise NMT…

 

NOTICE 458 OF 2012, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACf, 1996 (ACf NO. 93 OF 1996) proposes the following AMENDMENT OF THE NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, No.35413 3

Amendment of regulation 311 of the Regulations 68. Regulation 311 of the Regulations is hereby amended by the addition of the following subregulation after subregulation (8): “(9) No person shall ride a pedal cycle on a public road drawing or towing a trailer or anything.”.

 

This will have a serious impact on a number of new and proposed micro-businesses in South Africa, and on attempts to introduce low-carbon, congestion-reducing inner-city freight solutions such as cargo bicycles. One wonders who did DoT consult in this regard?

 

We’ll certainly be sending in comments… Such as a requirement for adequate visibility (such as a flag), and a requirement that trailers are specifically designed for bikes, etc – not a blanket ban… If these regulations are supposed to make an impact on road safety, well, there are WAY better ways to go about it. How about a 1.5 m passing rule? Or lower urban speed limits…

All interested parties who have any objections, inputs or comments to the proposed amendments are called upon to lodge their objections, inputs or comments, within four weeks from the date of publication (THAT’s 4 JULY) of this Notice to:

 

JOHN MOTSATSING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT PRIVATE BAG X 193 PRETORIA

0001

Tel: (012) 309 3574

Fax (012) 309 3962

E-mail: motsatsj@dot.gov.za

Sibusiso Joel Ndebele Minister of Transport

PHILUP MAGAGANE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT PRIVATE BAG X 193 PRETORIA

0001

Tel: (012) 309 3684 Fax (012) 309 3962 magaganp@dot.gov.za

Edited June 28, 2012 by Mushilele

[EigerSA]

well the whole point of critical mass is activism... so here's an opportunity to do just that.

[pbp2007]

Sent my objections to Mr Motsatsing, and got an automated reply:

 

Take note that I am not in the office.

Please contact Ester Letsoalo at letsoale@dot.gov.za or Tatum at manyamat@dot.gov.za

 

Get writing, people.

[Pieterg]

What about all the self employed people using there bicycle to make ends meat-Sorry VEGAN-End Rubber

[Pieterg]

Ice cream bicycles,pie bicycles ect.

[Kranswurm]

Ice cream bicycles,pie bicycles ect.

Thats pushing not pulling

[Octavian]

I am not wholly against this legislation. Never quite liked the idea of people towing their kids behind them....

[Joe Low]

Means parents cant tow kids

[Big H*]

Means parents cant tow kids

 

Yup, next thing is your overloaded Ventertjie!

[Azonic]

In other words, more business for Taxis. And don't governement have a finger in the taxi industry pie?

[DirtyFrank]

Means parents cant tow kids

 

I don`t think that will affect `leisure` cycling as they talk about public roads. Most people who tow their kids along will probably stick to private roads / areas. I would agree with them that towing kids on a public road is a no-no. I think the traders and hawkers will be most affected by this legislation.

They should rather reconsider legislation for safe passing distances, obligatory lights and reflective gear and educate motorists on the rights of cyclists and other road users.

[fabes]

I am not wholly against this legislation. Never quite liked the idea of people towing their kids behind them....

Well I don't know if you have children or not but I actually enjoy towing my son behind me. We do not use public roads much but instead use cycle paths etc and I think it is a great way to spend time with my son instead of him growing up in front of a tv or pc. It is very safe and he is strapped in and should I fall the cart will remain on both it's wheels

[Mellow]

haha, wonder what they are going to do ? write me a fine ? take away my drivers license ? who is going to enforce this ?

[No Hare]

Towing my kayak to sea will become illegal.

Thanks for the heads up

Going to add my bit of officialese

[Sarge]

Hi,

The "forces that be" cannot enforce existing legislation, now they want to introduce even more. It is about time they walked the talk!!!

Regards and have a safe cycling weekend,

Sarge

[Octavian]

I don`t think that will affect `leisure` cycling as they talk about public roads. Most people who tow their kids along will probably stick to private roads / areas. I would agree with them that towing kids on a public road is a no-no. I think the traders and hawkers will be most affected by this legislation.

They should rather reconsider legislation for safe passing distances, obligatory lights and reflective gear and educate motorists on the rights of cyclists and other road users.

 

I have seen people towing their kids on public roads. In my view it is very unsafe and I shudder to think what a car will do to a kid in one of those trailers.