Burry's gap - vote!

[GBguy]

News24 has just started a poll (at www.news24.com) - I think I may have been the first to vote in it!

 

It probably won't make any difference to the four-wheel militia that rules our roads, but Hubbers may want to show their feelings by clicking on the "Yes - the roads are for everyone" button.

 

They are also carrying a SAPA story under the heading "Burry's Gap won't work - official":

 

Johannesburg - The proposed 1.5m safe passing gap for cyclists on roads may be difficult to maintain and enforce, according to a report on Saturday.

eThekwini's deputy head of road system management Carlos Esteves said the 1.5m gap would not be practical as the standard lanes were around 3.5m or slightly less, the Saturday Starreported.

"My sense is that it will be difficult if not impractical to enforce 1.5m," Esteves said.

"You can't achieve a cyclist, plus 1.5m and a motorist without encroaching on the other lane."

Burry's Gap

Cyclists across South Africa have been calling for the measure and started calling it the Burry's Gap after the death of mountain bike ace Burry Standeron January 3.

Stander was killed in Shelley Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast in a collision with a minibus taxi.

Automobile Association public affairs head Gary Ronald said the gap was at a national discussion level and forms part of last year's amendments to the Traffic Act,

"Where the road is wide enough, it will work, but we have quite a few roads where it is narrow and difficult to apply without cars going into the oncoming traffic."

Edited January 12, 2013 by GBguy

[mrbaker]

It's a great idea in theory, but I don't see it working...

 

1.) There is no proper/ continuous enforcement of the current rules- which is the start of the whole high death toll on RSA roads.

 

2.) What happens when there are cyclists/ runners on opposite sides of the same section of road? You loose 3M of the road- now add traffic traveling in both directions...???

[Azonic]

2.) What happens when there are cyclists/ runners on opposite sides of the same section of road? You loose 3M of the road- now add traffic traveling in both directions...???

 

For what period of time will those cyclists / runners be across the road from each other? 5 seconds? 10 seconds tops maybe? Motorists can surely just ease off the petrol for those few seconds until the road is clear enough to maintain a 1.5m gap. If not, that's MOERSE selfish motorists.

Edited January 12, 2013 by Azonic

[Ryanpmb]

Do you live and drive in SA? When last did you take note of fellow motorist? They are MOERSE selfish...

[mrbaker]

 

 

For what period of time will those cyclists / runners be across the road from each other? 5 seconds? 10 seconds tops maybe? Motorists can surely just ease off the petrol for those few seconds until the road is clear enough to maintain a 1.5m gap. If not, that's MOERSE selfish motorists.

 

They can't even wait for the traffic light to change to green before pulling off- no way they will wait for others on 'their' roads.

[BergForce]

In a road with no yellow shoulder this will mean all traffic will be backed up behind the cyclist cause it will be impossible to pass in traffic.

[Azonic]

In a road with no yellow shoulder this will mean all traffic will be backed up behind the cyclist cause it will be impossible to pass in traffic.

 

What you propose then? Drive over the cyclist? He has the same right to be on the road as a car. Cyclists keep left as courtesy. If it wasn't as dangerous, we would ride in the middle of the road and it would be our right. If that cyclist was a broken down or busted car or a donkey cart, motorists would sit behind them for as long as it took and then pass without much of a fuss. But God forbid a cyclist require a 1.5m gap as not to die.

[mrbaker]

Law enforcement wrt existing laws will be a better start...

People should not think they can get away with breaking the rules of the road, and its not 1or 2 groups of citizens- it's all of US...

[GBguy]

At 22h18 the vote was 144 in favour, 400 against.

 

Sounds like some Hubbers are voting against...

[Icycling]

What you propose then? Drive over the cyclist? He has the same right to be on the road as a car. Cyclists keep left as courtesy. If it wasn't as dangerous, we would ride in the middle of the road and it would be our right. If that cyclist was a broken down or busted car or a donkey cart, motorists would sit behind them for as long as it took and then pass without much of a fuss. But God forbid a cyclist require a 1.5m gap as not to die.

Yup so who is the 1.5m gap a concession for motorist or cyclist? Currently my understanding is 1 vehicle overtaking another vehicle should do so in a separate lane and a dotted line. Please explain why it referred to as passing a cyclist (vehicle by law on RSA roads) and not overtaking! Cyclist should ask for proper law enforcement of the current rules not amendments for change which even offers more concessions to motorist out of cyclist consideration (and obeying the 1st rule of the road for vehicle - staying as far left as possible in RSA)!

 

Last year cyclist in Ct were fined for going down main road Kalk Bay onto oncoming traffic while it was a 1 way. Yet I never once saw a cop on boy's drive giving motorist a fine for crossing a solid barrier line while passing / overtaking a cyclist on the steep section of road out of Kalk Bay where the only safe thing to do was to wait for the cyclist to get to the top of that section of road!

[SwissVan]

I think people are getting a bit carried away with the 1.5m gap, the exact measurement and application at each overtaking manoeuvre is never going to happen, its simply impossible. How many people know how much space 1.5 metres is? Most could not gauge this while standing on the left side of their parked vechile.....never mind while sitting on the right hand side while driving.

 

Yes a law stipulating a safety gap between cyclists and overtaking motorised traffic is required because there has to be a guideline figure and 1.5m is good enough. The emphasis should rather be on educating motorists and cyclists about obeying the law and showing consideration towards other road users.

 

Motorists could start by imagining that each cyclist they pass on the road is a family member (son / daughter) while cyclists could imagine that it's their mom driving the car.

 

Or the authorities could make it law for all cyclists to cycle with a license, the license could look like this

 

 

 

When attached properly they stick out about 40cm