Another Red Robot complaint

[widget]

Theres actually nothing to argue about' date=' the guys are in the wrong and are breaking the law. If they get caught they cannot complain (actually should read if "we get caught" cos I am just as guily as the rest).

 

I just don't know, as Jason pointed out, how would they issue fines or whatever?

 

 

[/quote']

 

Well its really simple, its illegal to give incorrect / false personal information to any police officer on demand, punishable by a fine or a prison term.

 

Its really a chicken and egg situation I guess,............but I like to think we are still honourable and decent enough not to lie to avoid a fine when we know we are wrong.

 

.........of course if its before 6am or you have a lead man shouting "clear" I guess you will be fine.

 

[joevan]

Five stars to you. GreatWhite.

Our local Club rides every Saturday morning, and one of the rules is "obey traffic laws"

I have noticed that we have been noticed, if that makes sense!

Cars now often stop for us, if half of the group gets caught by a robot, even a TAXI has stopped in a circle and shown us to go through.

The point is, you get what you give. If we as cyclists behave responsibly, the cyclist/motorist war will fade away!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[IanJ]

Here is a twist in the tale:

 

This morning at about 7:30 Sonic and myself are on our way home from our morning ride. As we come down Sandton Drive (at about 60km/h) and round the bend towards Grayston I see the light is green for us so on we go.

 

Next minute there is Metro Ford Bakkie which has just pulled off the pavement sitting squarely across both left hand lanes in the middle of the intersection !!! It was a female Metro Cop driving and she was trying to cross Sandton Drive to go up Grayston.

 

I knew I wasn't going to stop at the speed I was going but luckily as I got close she edged forward about a metre leaving a gap between the bakkie and the kerb which we just managed to squeeze through.

 

I used some really choice language (normally reserved for taxi drivers) but she just drove off.

 

 

[Mudsimus]

 

I used some really choice language (normally reserved for taxi drivers) but she just drove off.

 

 

 

You should have called her a &*%$# or a *&%#*  &%#.

[Spinnekop]

Thought about this thread...

 

Was on the road 2 hour this morning.....car and bike....

In that 2 hours I counted 27 offences by motorists.  Anything from driving in the emergency lane, skipping red lights, overtaking on white lines and speeding.

 

 

[IanJ]

 

I used some really choice language (normally reserved for taxi drivers) but she just drove off.

 

 

 

You should have called her a &*%$# or a *&%#*  &%#.

 

I did, very loudly, how did you know ???

 

 

 

[slowpoke]

spaaidy, i count far more than that on any average 40minute trip to work (Beyers Naude - N1 - Buccleugh - Woodmead - Wendywood). just because others break the law etc doesn't mean i will do so unless it is GENUINELY the safest option. I will only lane split on the allocated road space - i have waited on onramps to the highway rather than using the shoulder lane to get onto the highway as driving or riding over the yellow line is illegal. i also only lane split betweent he two lanes on Beyers Naude - lots of folk (bikes and cars) use the emergency lane but I refuse to do so. this same applies to riding a bicycle - unless it is safer to break the law i won't - ie i will NOT jump red lights etc. the only law i break as a rule is that i cycle in the emergency lane as this is a GENUINE case of breaking the law being safer.

[controlc]

I agree. you can't get a driver's respect by breaking the law.

 

OT:

On Sunday I went for a training ride with a local club over Du Toitskloof, then back via Paarl, Wellington & Bainskloof. In Wellington we neared a 3-way stop. The current "leader" in the bunch simply rode over it and most of the guys followed, while a female driver was looking extremely puzzled in her car waiting for the "illegal crossers" to pass. I stopped and waited for the driver to pass. One of the more experienced riders simply shouted from behind that I should "continue cycling" and passed me, almost hitting the car. I was dropped right after that crossing and we only regrouped at the top of Bainskloof.

 

What to do in a situation like this? I was greatly dissapointed with their attitude at that intersection.

 

[joevan]

ControlC Find another group to ride with!!!!!!!!

 

If we as cyclists persist in this sort of riding, we can hardly expect the motorists to have any respect for us.

 

As I said earlier in this thread, because of the attitude of our club to traffic rules, we are actually gaining the respect of local motorists.

 

Unfortunately, there are always those few who spoil it for all the rest of us.

[noembus]

Jason the cops drive with you till your house to see where you live and fine you. I know of some people that have got unlucky that way.

 

But this is so stupid, like Spinnekop said, count the things that motorist do, some big shot at clubs always see a cyclist skipping a red robot then he thinks he will not allow this, has if he never did something wrong.

 

The pro's don't even stop at red robots, why do we always have to have this discussion??

 

If you unhappy with the cyclist just told them to ride on their own and rather train hardet not to get drop

[fandacious]

Here is a twist in the tale:

 

.....

 

I used some really choice language (normally reserved for taxi drivers) but she just drove off.

 

 

 

So? I get almost taken out just about every time I cycle. It sharpens the reflexes. I dont even get upset anymore...

[TheLegend]

 

Agh, bla bla..

 

[counting offences of motorist, weighting them against cyclist offence - to what use? There's way less cyclists on the road so the comparison lacks a basis and is anything but representable.

Problem is only that when cars drive recless and an incident happens the damage is usually much bigger than with a car. If a cyclists is being involved of course he's at a big threat.

But cyclists, the red light jumpers, the white line crossers, the going dangerously through traffic-ers, they shouldn't colpian about the cars because, as mentioned above, they do sh*t themselves, and vice versa!

Why don't people jsut take it that cyclist jump red lights often (sometimes). If they do it when dangerous and they get hurt they better shut up, cause it's their fault! And it's not only pro's doing that but also the funrider like Koos van der Merwe from next door, you and me. Some cyclists don't do it. Ok, definitely a good choice, well done.

But it just won't change. If the police would be mor estrict on this braking of the law I'm sure it would change (fines in Germany for example are quite heavy and there's less law braking there, but still it happens often!).

Do it, don't do it. But don't always start threats about it.]

 It's always the same discussion. Just like so many other topics.

 

 

TheLegend2008-02-20 11:04:14

[controlc]

First of all: It's a RED TRAFFIC LIGHT! A red robot is R2D2 when he's overheating!

Secondly: Noembus, I want whatever you are smoking...

But this is so stupid' date=' like Spinnekop said, count the things that motorist do[/quote']
Again, a cyclist pointing the finger at others...
 

The pro's don't even stop at red robots

C'MON! That's like saying: "If you really love me you'll sleep with me". If a pro don't stop at a red TRAFFIC LIGHT he's a dwis just like a speeding motorist.
 

If you unhappy with the cyclist just told them to ride on their own and rather train hardet not to get drop

Again' date=' I train hard [for the time I have'], but wasn't dropped for not being strong/fit enough, I got dropped because I obeyed the rules!

[TheLegend]

 

I actually like this red robot.

http://homepage.mac.com/kenferry/image/home/redrobotc63.gif

 

 

 

can you perhaps elaborate this a bit?

 

[TheLegend]

 

First of all: It's a RED TRAFFIC LIGHT! A red robot is R2D2 when he's overheating!

 

nono, in South Africa it's a ROBOT - actually quite scary...imagine coming out of the cinema after a bad sci-fi movie with robots and your gf says "watch out, the robot is red"!

 

[controlc]

First of all: It's a RED TRAFFIC LIGHT! A red robot is R2D2 when he's overheating!

nono' date=' in South Africa it's a ROBOT
[/quote']

 

Nope, it's a TRAFFIC LIGHT, no matter what country you're in.

 

It's only a "ROBOT" if you're speaking Afrikaans... [and even then it's not linked to any country]