Attitude towards cyclists

[Jaco-fiets]

I have been in Italy for 2 weeks lately and 1 thing (apart from good food and wine) that really struck me was the attitude towards cyclists on the road.

 

They hardly have any shoulder on the roads and in general the roads are much narrower than year with much much much more cyclists. I did not see once that any motorists hooted at a cyclist, try to run them off the roads or swear/shout at them. They rather stay behind them patiently and wait for SAFE time to pass them.

 

Why oh why does it have to be different here? Many will say that its because they have a cycling culture but is'nt it really just a reflection of where we actually are in the broader scope of things? Being a 3rd world country with the lack of "education" or culture that goes with it. I have to say that compared to allot of these European countries, when it comes to history and culture, we really are nowhere.......................

[tunariaan]

nobody ever hoots at me when i drive my mtb

[Lucky Luke.]

I did not see once that any motorists hooted at a cyclist, try to run them off the roads or swear/shout at them. They rather stay behind them patiently and wait for SAFE time to pass them.

 

On the bus to Ciampino airport in April this year - the old geezer on the bike was doing about 20km/h without a care in the world, driver happily slowed right down and waited for him to cross over in front of him.

 

 

Can't wait to go back to explore Rome on my bike.

[Eddy Gordo]

thats because here everyone has a dog eat dog attitude, me myself and i......

[petatodd]

What a depressing thread. How I would love to do a road ride just once without being hooted at. And no, it's not that we ride in the middle of the road...

[tunariaan]

What a depressing thread. How I would love to do a road ride just once without being hooted at. And no, it's not that we ride in the middle of the road...

no we dont hey all nice and one the side-single file

[gummibear]

Over there most people have ridden a bike at some stage,either for transport or sport.

In SA that isn't the case and most people don't know what it feels like to be on the roads on a bike.

[GBguy]

It's not really cycling related, but I was amazed to find in India that people hoot at each other all the time - but there's no anger attached to it. It's just their way of saying "I'm here, pay attention". Most of their trucks have a sign on the back that says "horn please". To the foreign eye, their traffic seems to be completely chaotic - but I was there a year and I didn't see a single serious accident. The difference is emotion. We are full of it.

[TNT1]

What a depressing thread. How I would love to do a road ride just once without being hooted at. And no, it's not that we ride in the middle of the road...

 

In JHB, they don't hoot. They just try and kill us.

[tunariaan]

It's not really cycling related, but I was amazed to find in India that people hoot at each other all the time - but there's no anger attached to it. It's just their way of saying "I'm here, pay attention". Most of their trucks have a sign on the back that says "horn please". To the foreign eye, their traffic seems to be completely chaotic - but I was there a year and I didn't see a single serious accident. The difference is emotion. We are full of it.

This happens in most 3dr world countries

There nothing like the hooting of Ciaro, India and other places in West Africa, normally if you dont have a hooter you wont be allowed on the road in places like this...lol

[Delgado]

They have culture....this here has human rights...!!! Therein lies the answer.....

[TNT1]

This happens in most 3dr world countries

There nothing like the hooting of Ciaro, India and other places in West Africa, normally if you dont have a hooter you wont be allowed on the road in places like this...lol

 

Yeah, but none of the ones you mention have the anger associated with road use that we have in SA.

[GBguy]

Yeah, but none of the ones you mention have the anger associated with road use that we have in SA.

That's the key.

[Jaco-fiets]

As we drove through a little town in Tuscany there was a road race. I was amazed to see motorist stopping and getting out of their cars to cheer for the riders. Traffic comes to a full stop and people just cheering for a local amateur race. Here when the traffic comes to a stop for a race you normally see people getting out of their cars to

1. Shout at other motorists

2. Abuse or assault the marshals (do have have to mention tour of SA a year ago)

3. Voice their anger with bad language so other people can understand that they are not happy

[Jaco-fiets]

On the bus to Ciampino airport in April this year - the old geezer on the bike was doing about 20km/h without a care in the world, driver happily slowed right down and waited for him to cross over in front of him.

 

 

Can't wait to go back to explore Rome on my bike.

 

Rome is one of my favourite cities. Taking my girlfriend there next year May. It is one of those places you can't just tell people about. You have to experience the overwhelming history.

Edited July 14, 2012 by Jaco-fiets

[Clinton1]

They hardly have any shoulder on the roads and in general the roads are much narrower than year with much much much more cyclists. I did not see once that any motorists hooted at a cyclist, try to run them off the roads or swear/shout at them. They rather stay behind them patiently and wait for SAFE time to pass them.

 

Why oh why does it have to be different here?

 

I think you answered your own question with the bold part

 

Many will say that its because they have a cycling culture but is'nt it really just a reflection of where we actually are in the broader scope of things? Being a 3rd world country with the lack of "education" or culture that goes with it. I have to say that compared to allot of these European countries, when it comes to history and culture, we really are nowhere.......................

 

And this is a load of crap. A lot of those doing the hooting and pushing off the road are well educated. As for the culture argument, you've been brainwashed, as have most of us whites by years of "white" education. We have been made to feel that Western culture is true culture... the history of Africa goes back a lot further but is not often recognised by the "western" way of thinking.