Cyclists' Safety in the light of Burry and other's recent deaths - Merged Thread.

[NotSoBigBen]

^{Cycle Nation‏@Cycle_Nation}

^{RT @eNCAnews: The taxi driver accused of killing Burry Stander is charged and released on bail #NewsDay}

[Weight Weenie]

Sources?

<snipped>

I asked, chances are he was released without a bail request and requested to appear in court on the next date of appearance.

 

Via Bicycling on Twitter

[awesme]

if this taxi was on the same side of the road as burry, how where does he come from saying he did not see Burry, he would have had approach him from behind, and then passed seconds before the accident.

 

G

 

If a car turns left in front of you and you t-bone him, the impact wouldn't be all that great, since all the momentum is going in one direction (taxi - bike)

If a car turns right in front of you and you t-bone him, momentum from both directions will result in a combined speed of the taxi + the bike.

[RooiWillie]

We need proper laws implemented. We need proper law enforcers, enforcing said laws. We need to change all road user's attitudes, and start to obey the laws.

 

That said, there is this other fine gentleman, who thinks I have no space on the road, as he pays for fuel, thus tax. This logic grates my nipples. I pay for fuel as well. I also pay for my Bicycle, its tires, tubes, services, spares, clothing, accommodation, etc. Who the hell does he think he is saying something like that.

 

Ek wil hom gooi met n bossie bene!

 

So not just will you have to educate people, they will need to accept that logic like the above is really not beneficial to anybody. In addition to that, local authorities should join the party, and make sure that cycle lanes are built. It will not cost the same as a normal tarred road, as bicycles is not that heavy on the road.

 

So in short:

1. Change of laws - Pedestrian comes first, then Bicycles, then Bikes, Then Public Transport, Then Cars, Then Trucks.

2. Active, rolling policing of these laws

3. Change of attitudes

4. Awareness campaigns in the media and next to frequent used roads

5. Cycle lanes.

[awesme]

agree agree.

 

but which ever direction the taxi driver was driving from, either he drove in front of Burry crossing a solid line, or he approached him from behind and then turned left, right in front of Burry. either way, a accident, yes, but responsible for the death, damm yes.

 

 

let the law follow it's course, but please close this leniency tap, it seems to be wide open again, released on a warning till March...

 

what message does that send out there.

 

G

 

 

I was away for the weekend and took in a long ride on Saterday morning, tar and singletrack, bush and road, thinking about Burry and cycling and what cycling means to me.

The taxi driver didn't go out that morning looking to kill anyone, it was an accident that, truth be told, could have happened to anyone of us. I hope he finds peace, because I would not like to be the one that this happens to. I respect that he didn't drive away.

The law must run it's course, and I hope that the right legal decisions are made.

[jmaccelari]

I think if Burry was aware of what was going on he easily could have scrubbed half his speed off. 50 to 25 in a second or so. Which is why I think he was head down.

Maybe not. I got nailed in similar circumstances a few years ago on William Nicol by a car turning across in front of me. He stopped, then decided to go for the gap and floored it. I never had a chance to touch the brakes and t-boned him at 40-45kph...

 

Many motorists just reckon the physical risk to them of taking a chance against bikes is low, so they will go for it.

Edited January 7, 2013 by jmaccelari

[slowpoke]

People need to stop calling avoidable and forseeable situtaions "accidents". Sure, the driver didn't intend to cause harm per se, but he didn't care whether or not he did so. Ergo it is not an accident. it was a crash/smash caused by negligence and the driver must take accountability for either not looking (and as such not seeing) or not caring. It certainly can not be excused as an "accident".

[Mojoman]

Maybe not. I got nailed in similar circumstances a few years ago on William Nicol by a car turning across in front of me. He stopped, then decided to go for the gap and floored it. I never had a chance to touch the brakes and t-boned him at 40-45kph...

 

Many motorists just reckon the physical risk to them of taking a chance against bikes is low, so they will go for it.

As well as not realising just how fast a bike in the hands of a fit person can actually be travelling.

[ewep]

People need to stop calling avoidable and forseeable situtaions "accidents". Sure, the driver didn't intend to cause harm per se, but he didn't care whether or not he did so. Ergo it is not an accident. it was a crash/smash caused by negligence and the driver must take accountability for either not looking (and as such not seeing) or not caring. It certainly can not be excused as an "accident".

 

Agreed!! Unfortunately, as from own experience, the general driving public in SA doesn't give a toss about others on the road.

[Jaco-fiets]

Maybe not. I got nailed in similar circumstances a few years ago on William Nicol by a car turning across in front of me. He stopped, then decided to go for the gap and floored it. I never had a chance to touch the brakes and t-boned him at 40-45kph...

 

Many motorists just reckon the physical risk to them of taking a chance against bikes is low, so they will go for it.

 

Something along those lines happened to me as well. One morning before work i went for my training ride and the driver passed me (same direction) and immediately turned left in front of me. Luckily it was close to a 4 way so i went very slow. I bumped into the car. Was so furious that i slapped the guy infront of his wife and kid. Probably not so cool when i think back but at that stage your anger overcomes you

Edited January 7, 2013 by Jaco-fiets

[slowpoke]

Less focus on RIGHTS and more on RESPONSIBILITIES.

 

This starts at home with parents teaching their kids to be decent members of society instead of teaching them that they (the parents) will always just bully/buy/excuse the bad behaviour of the kids away. Next the law must change to focus on responsibilities as opposed to rights. A kid who causes trouble at school (eg bullying) should be disciplined, not patted on the head with a "there there" approach. Next step would be the same as was applied in New York - enforce ALL laws from the smallest upwards - and not pathetic little fines or warnings, but actual punishment that will make a person think twice about repeating the bad behaviour.

[Bianchi]

Something along those lines happened to me as well. One morning before work i went for my training ride and the driver passed (same direstion) me and immediately turned left in front of me. Luckily it was close to a 4 way so i went very slow. I bumped into the car. Was so furious that i slapped the guy infront of his wife and kid. Probably not so cool when i think back but at that stage your anger overcomes you

 

Sorry, I had to +1 your post and laugh on the inside (not right, but in a similar situation ^^ I wanted to do the same thing, but the guy was twice my size)

Edited January 7, 2013 by Bianchi

[slowpoke]

http://www.iol.co.za/sport/cycling/cyclists-need-protection-not-arrogance-1.1448104

[Smartie]

All this not even 100m from his shop, that is how close he was to finishing the ride....

So sad.

[Jaco-fiets]

I am constantly thinking about the guy. It really is like loosing a family member even though i have never personally met him. I think Dangle or somebody mentioned that we open our homes and haerts to these guys and you never realise how apparent it is until a tragedy like this happens

[Slowbee]

While we all play the blame game, I thought a repost of a compilation of the clips with a great song might remind us of a few things. It always, always starts with you and your attitude, no matter the circumstances.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID0kgP9IVhs