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

[Bianchi]

We all killed Burry Stander

 

http://m.news24.com/...tander-20130108

 

The author made a very good point.

[Garfield2010]

http://www.news24.com/Columnists/DavidMoseley/We-all-killed-Burry-Stander-20130108

 

Good article

[DJR]

We all killed Burry Stander

 

http://m.news24.com/...tander-20130108

 

I've red his article and I get his point, BUT, I'd like to think that I am one of the few who obey the rules in the vast majority of cases. I've decided, many years ago, that positive change must start with ME. I sometimes make mistakes and I'm sure I can have an accident, but I don't speed (Landrover Defender, thank you) and I stop for red traffic lights and stop streeds. I overtake only when it is safe, keep a decent following distance, keep agression under control and I am considerate to other road users. I did not kill Burry!

 

Edit: The reason I drive like this is simple: Self (and family) preservation. It simply is the safest way to get alive to wherever I have to go.

Edited January 8, 2013 by DJR

[kosmonooit]

Is this definitely what happened? Did the taxi cross that white line?

 

We will only know for sure once the evidence is presented in court, but as the story goes the taxi turned in front of him t that side road on the LHS. There is nothing illegal in terms of turning across that line (as far as I know and as has been pointed out here), unless there was a 'no right turn' sign before that.

[Daft Vader]

Of course you are...

[JGR]

We all killed Burry Stander

 

http://m.news24.com/...tander-20130108

seems his has changed his tune from a few months ago ....

 

http://www.news24.com/Columnists/DavidMoseley/Women-Get-off-the-road-20111025

[Escapee..]

http://www.news24.co...tander-20130108

 

Good article

+1

[Garfield2010]

A lot has been said.

 

This is a very good article in my opinion

 

http://www.news24.com/Columnists/DavidMoseley/We-all-killed-Burry-Stander-20130108

[Bianchi]

seems his has changed his tune from a few months ago ....

 

http://www.news24.co...e-road-20111025

 

Maybe he had a reason to change his tune..... Over the years I've turned from being an aggressive driver (getting annoyed with all the people driving dangerously around me) to driving relaxed and just making sure that other people's stupid actions affect me as little as possible. It could just as well have been me writing those two articles.

[carbon29er]

Our roads are where you go when you want to show someone what anarchy looks like. Unfortunately.

[Garfield2010]

If I won the UK Lottery I would build a 80km circle route only for bicycles.

[peadar]

And the Driver get to walk free with a warning! "i didn't see him"!

In a Europe country the driver would be in serious trouble.

There is a reason why we do a drivers test! so that we don't get idiots on the road driving with Blinkers on.

[dirtrider]

If I won the UK Lottery I would build a 80km circle route only for bicycles.

 

Thanks Garfiled but will it pass my house ?

[gogo@]

I've red his article and I get his point, BUT, I'd like to think that I am one of the few who obey the rules in the vast majority of cases. I've decided, many years ago, that positive change must start with ME. I sometimes make mistakes and I'm sure I can have an accident, but I don't speed (Landrover Defender, thank you) and I stop for red traffic lights and stop streeds. I overtake only when it is safe, keep a decent following distance, keep agression under control and I am considerate to other road users. I did not kill Burry!

 

Edit: The reason I drive like this is simple: Self (and family) preservation. It simply is the safest way to get alive to wherever I have to go.

Agreed.

But there is a but... for me the thing is if you see yourself as yourself alone, or as part of society. That's where it gets difficult.

When a hubber from my home town was killed by a motorist who crossed the full width of the road to hit him from behind while he was running, one of his friends wrote a similar piece to this one. The difference is what got me thinking and it's this (as my memory serves): we know there's a problem, we may choose to drive like you do, to be responsible people - but where does that responsibility end? Only with the way we, as individuals, behave?

So for me, I agree that you didn't kill Burry, the way it's argued here, but, for me again, the feeling is strong that everyone needs to be involved in bringing about change. Not easy.

But, obvious place, you can start with your own children, family, friends.

Ride with your children, walk with them, teach them about not only why there are road rules (and what they are of course) but also about "defensive living", like defensive driving, looking out for people who might harm you, giving them enough space to stay away, not getting involved with aggressive encounters because you have "right of way".

Everyone around me is talking about how we need to change attitudes, but what does that mean? What are attitudes and how are they shaped? That usually gets round to rights and responsibilities, but again what are those? Mine? Yours? Ours? There's also context, like infrastructure, or society and its rules, if you want.

My point is attitude change is what you do. There are things that you can do even if you feel you won't change much about the world. How do you know if you don't try?

And change it with more than yourself in mind. How do you want things to be for your children, for when you yourself are old?

Some people think the solution is to stop riding, to get bikes off the roads, to ride counterflow into the traffic - but those are sticking plasters over potholes. We need to fix those holes, fix our roads, fix what's wrong with us all, the way we behave (which means the way our thinking influences the decisions we take).

Just to add: the discussions here (crazy as they may seem) are part of this too. If you don't know what happened, how will you know what the problem is that you want to fix?

[BergForce]

I was a taxi driver for 2 years and there is a lot of pressure be as fast as possible. Sitting in traffic cost you money. Being patient cost you money. Most taxis will not adhere to any campaigns to "change the attitude" because it will cost them money. We need radical change else I fear the roads will not become safer at all.

[Shebeen]

seems his has changed his tune from a few months ago ....

 

http://www.news24.co...e-road-20111025

Mr Mosely has clearly not driven in Riyadh, KSA. Neither have I, was far too poep bang - it felt like I was in a playstation game.