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

[Azonic]

Ummm no. Your cars serviceability is a danger to other road users, your pip ohne helmet has no negative effect on other road users.

 

Neither does a cyclist jumping a red robot endanger anyone else. No cyclist would jump a red robot while knowingly endangering themselves or other road users.

[Delilah]

Yesterday I saw a father cycling with an 18 month-old baby in a child seat and neither wearing a helmet.

Doesn't this amount to reckless endangerment of a toddler? The baby had no say in the matter. She was strapped to a bicycle, without a helmet, and taken out onto the dangerous streets by her (loving?) father.

 

Where are Child Services? Where is the Police?

 

Any lawyers here who can comment?

[ibruegge]

There is a slight difference in not being able to afford a helmet and not being bothered to wear one.

 

There is also a slight difference between choosing to cycle for leisure and having to cycle as your only means because your R70 a day doesn't allow for anything else.. anyhow.

[ibruegge]

Doesn't this amount to reckless endangerment of a toddler? The baby had no say in the matter. She was strapped to a bicycle, without a helmet, and taken out onto the dangerous streets by her (loving?) father.

 

Where are Child Services? Where is the Police?

 

Any lawyers here who can comment?

 

I drop off my toddler at creche every day. The amount of "loving parents" whose kids don't even get to wear a seatbelt is mind blowing. ("because he doesn't like it", "it doesn't save lifes" etc....). I am not very popular at creche anymore for telling them what I think.

[ibruegge]

Let's all club together, buy a couple of thousand of hectares in the Karoo and built a bike paradise!

[Spinnekop]

On another thread on the forum but worth posting here as well.

Pretty much sums up everything.

 

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

[Jigghead]

Saw a woman in Dougladale this morning, looked like she was commuting, but no helmet.

 

One day, Darwin will come...

[Bat-ass]

The traffic cops are corrupt

The judicial system is corrupt

The government is corrupt

 

I dont know how anyone thinks anything will ever change with these three factors.

 

Well... The changes that need to happen are going to be seriously tough if everyone adopts your attitude.

Believe it or not Mojoman, there actually is some good going on out there in SA.... Stop looking for the bad and might realise it.

[RacerX]

Hmmm. A helmet is pretty much useless in most cases of cycling accidents that result in severe injury. It protects you in only a small minority of crash scenarios. It also suffers from the "airbag effect" in that someone wearing a helmet is likely to take bigger risks than someone who is not. Helmets also discourage newcomers to cycling as it makes the activity appear dangerous (more true for commuters than sport cyclists, though).

 

It's far better to be a skilled rider, be visible, be assertive (not aggressive) and generally be sensible than it is to wear a helmet. I have seen countless cyclists wearing fancy helmets who are doing none of the above - they are at a far greater risk.

[Garfield2010]

Let's all club together, buy a couple of thousand of hectares in the Karoo and built a bike paradise!

 

Maybe Shell can sponsor us with some of the "fracking" profits!

[awesme]

and here in is the reason for the governments want to change how public transport work

 

Each bus and taxi gets a fixed loop that they ride, they have to be at each stop at a specific time, being early or late is penalised, in other words they have to drive a relaxed re determined speed.

 

Which removes the sitting in traffic, which removes the drive faster, get more ppl into bus/taxi.

 

The driver is paid a fixed income for the route, does not matter if vehicle is filled or one person on board.

 

G

 

 

 

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.

[Mojoman]

Well... The changes that need to happen are going to be seriously tough if everyone adopts your attitude.

Believe it or not Mojoman, there actually is some good going on out there in SA.... Stop looking for the bad and might realise it.

Not looking for the bad, just stating facts.

Change also needs to happen from the top down, not just from the bottom up.

Edited January 8, 2013 by Mojoman

[Bat-ass]

Not looking for the bad, just stating facts.

I know where you coming from and i have days that are government freaks me out.. But every once in a while i come across some good that is being done.... Sad thing is, often this good is coming from the private sector..

[ibruegge]

Hmmm. A helmet is pretty much useless in most cases of cycling accidents that result in severe injury. It protects you in only a small minority of crash scenarios. It also suffers from the "airbag effect" in that someone wearing a helmet is likely to take bigger risks than someone who is not. Helmets also discourage newcomers to cycling as it makes the activity appear dangerous (more true for commuters than sport cyclists, though).

 

It's far better to be a skilled rider, be visible, be assertive (not aggressive) and generally be sensible than it is to wear a helmet. I have seen countless cyclists wearing fancy helmets who are doing none of the above - they are at a far greater risk.

 

So the same counts for motorbikes surely. that explains why guys on 1500cc motorbikes only wear flip flops and shorts, as it makes them ride safer! It also explains why wearing a seat belt in a car is actually stupid, because it just makes you feel too "untouchable". I will deactivate my airbag in my car tonight, because who are these engineers kidding here?

Edited January 8, 2013 by ibruegge

[Delilah]

Hmmm. A helmet is pretty much useless in most cases of cycling accidents that result in severe injury. It protects you in only a small minority of crash scenarios. It also suffers from the "airbag effect" in that someone wearing a helmet is likely to take bigger risks than someone who is not. Helmets also discourage newcomers to cycling as it makes the activity appear dangerous (more true for commuters than sport cyclists, though).

 

It's far better to be a skilled rider, be visible, be assertive (not aggressive) and generally be sensible than it is to wear a helmet. I have seen countless cyclists wearing fancy helmets who are doing none of the above - they are at a far greater risk.

 

You have got to be kidding me? So by your logic cars should again be manufactured with no airbags?

 

Just about every cyclist I know, myself included, have had at least one fall or accident where a helmet saved them from serious injury or death. So how you came up with helmets only helping in "a small minority of crash scenarios" I don't know.

 

Why would anyone take more risks wearing a helmet when your whole body is still exposed to injury? Injuries hurt, you know.

[BergForce]

Not looking for the bad, just stating facts.

Change also needs to happen from the top down, not just from the bottom up.

 

Change should in fact start at the top since that is where the example is set - The Blue Light Brigade - every man for himself!