Attitude towards cyclists

[Clinton1]

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.

 

I think we also often assume the hoot is in anger. I had someone hoot the other day and I was about to whip out the angry gesture (yip, us cyclists are as guilty) when I realised the person was actually being friendly and was about to whip out a wave of his own.

 

As much as many cars do have an attitude towards cyclists I am also fully aware of many cyclists having an "I am just as entitled to take up the whole road" mentality, which definitely does not help relations.

[tunariaan]

 

 

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

I wasn't talking about anger, i travel a lot and i said it's quite a normal thing to hoot in these 3rd world countries

[tunariaan]

 

 

I think we also often assume the hoot is in anger. I had someone hoot the other day and I was about to whip out the angry gesture (yip, us cyclists are as guilty) when I realised the person was actually being friendly and was about to whip out a wave of his own.

 

 

 

As much as many cars do have an attitude towards cyclists I am also fully aware of many cyclists having an "I am just as entitled to take up the whole road" mentality, which definitely does not help relations.

As a mountain biker , i hardly get on the tar, but i often hoot at them when i am triving , normally when they cycle on the other side of the road, you know the double friendly hoot, very few ever greet back even if they see me lift my had, here it's a case again of not eveyone , but you get some serious grumpy riders

[Jaco-fiets]

I think you answered your own question with the bold part

 

 

 

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.

 

Maybe the level of education is not related to the anger towards cyclist but the level of education there is leaps and bounds higher than the avg level here bud. As for the culture, i stick to my guns, we have nothing compared to them

[Lucky Luke.]

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.

 

Absolutely, I was blown away by the scale of the ancient architecture, 2000 year-old structures that basically dominate the centre of this huge city.

 

Also found the Amalfi coast quite mind-blowing. You can't believe it until you are actually there. Books and TV just nothing close to being immersed in it.

Edited July 17, 2012 by Lucky Luke.

[Hawk]

I think we also often assume the hoot is in anger. I had someone hoot the other day and I was about to whip out the angry gesture (yip, us cyclists are as guilty) when I realised the person was actually being friendly and was about to whip out a wave of his own.

 

As much as many cars do have an attitude towards cyclists I am also fully aware of many cyclists having an "I am just as entitled to take up the whole road" mentality, which definitely does not help relations.

 

I agree with Clint! Many times motorists just hoot to let you know they're there or about to overtake and cyclists here see it as a threat and start swearing at the motorist. Motorists and cyclists here have lost their patience on the road. I feel its due to the African culture, "look after yourself and F*@k everyone else". The taxis on the road, driving against road rules make us normal drivers feel entitled to do the same thing.

Rules and regulations in Africa generally are not taken seriously. We are all guilty because we live in Africa and that how things are done here. Adapt or die