Anticlimb Posted January 6, 2014 Share Don't know if it is legal or not , and I don't care . On Friday , one of the busiest days of the holidays I was passing Bloem on the N1 HIGHWAY . Low and behold , 2 roadies was cycling in the yellow lane as if it was the safest road in the world . Don't look for trouble ! The MTBer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awesme Posted January 6, 2014 Share Not to worry, had a similar experience in Feb, sommer an entire race leg on the N1, with no Traffic visible anywhere as I passed them. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Dale Posted January 6, 2014 Share It's occassionally used for racing, I think.Some locals have become accustomed to rolling there. Dangerous?Yebo Yeah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vetseun Posted January 6, 2014 Share Stupid. They are looking for trouble. Coming back from my mtb ride on saturday in the veld near the N1. I saw at least 10 roadies on the N1.Riding in the area where those cyclists were hit by a truck the other day. Edited January 6, 2014 by Vetseun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_David_ Posted January 6, 2014 Share "’n FISIOTERAPEUT en ma van drie jong kinders veg om haar lewe in ’n Bloemfonteinse hospitaal nadat sy en haar man gister deur ’n vragmotor op die N1-hoofweg van hul fietse afgery is." http://www.thehubsa....60#entry2151815 Edited January 6, 2014 by d@vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garfield2010 Posted January 6, 2014 Share The N1 around Bfn is safer than the Cradle believe it or not. In the last 20 years there was 1 fatality (that I know of). I do however agree that it is dangerous this time of the year. I have to use it (or at least 5km of it) to get on the Dewetsdorp road which is the safest road around Bfn..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JA-Q001 Posted January 6, 2014 Share Ja, one towns crazy is anothers normal. Yes those cyclists were hit while cycling on the N1, the only incident I know of on the N1 in my 17 years cycling. Special permission was granted to cyclists a few years back. Then if you consider that people have been knocked off of their bikes more often on the Dealesville road, while cycling in the yellow lane, and that a friend of mine died when a truck drove into him on the Petrusburg road. Go cycle there with people that know the region and you will soon notice why the N1 is used. Saying that, most people also know to avoid the N1 on certain times of the year. Edited January 6, 2014 by JA-Q001 Garfield2010 and Patchelicious 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowashell Posted January 6, 2014 Share I noticed this about 3 years ago when I started making frequent trips between Bloem and Johannesburg. I moved to Bloem about 10 months back and from what I have seen it seems to be the norm here. I also travel to Kzn a lot and have noticed cyclists in the emergency lane on the motorway there as well, not as many as here in Bloem though. As I said, I stay in Bloem now and from what I have seen, it is bloody dangerous to ride in the suburbs here. These motorists scare the crap out of me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbies05 Posted January 6, 2014 Share I lived in BFN up until 3 months ago, i have to agree in town its Russian Rolette, the freeway is a breeze, when handled correctly, and at certain times of the day and year, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garfield2010 Posted January 6, 2014 Share Look the problems with the "rural" roads are that firstly they don't have shoulders, are in a crap condition,and the cars driving there are in an even worse condition and they don't expect cyclists. The N1 has a big shoulder, the cars are in pretty good condition and people are more aware in general on the high way. Just don't ride there this time of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no calves Posted January 6, 2014 Share We ride on the N1 in the Hexvallei all the time. safer than the local roads believe it or not. cyclist get hit when motorists veer LEFT into the yellow line to see what is going on infront of the vehicle infront of them. The biggest fright is always the intercape busses as you dont hear them with their engines situated at the rear. just my 2c worth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanievb Posted January 6, 2014 Share We did a ride on the N2 towards KWT the week after Christmas (nice wide yellow lane). It was the first time I did it while not doing a race and I must say that I felt a lot safer cycling on the freeway than on any other of the regular routes around East London especially the notorious N6. On our return leg we were however stopped by our friendly local traffic officer and "educated" (his words) not to use our bicycles on the freeway when not being escorted by traffic officials i.e. during races. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garfield2010 Posted January 6, 2014 Share On our return leg we were however stopped by our friendly local traffic officer and "educated" (his words) not to use our bicycles on the freeway when not being escorted by traffic officials i.e. during races. Well as mentioned before we are allowed legally to ride on the N1 here in Bloem. There is a very good reason that we are allowed legally. It was discussed in detail and in the end the conclusion was that it is safer on the N1 than any other road around Bfn. Don't think these are just cyclists with no value for their lives who ride on the N1. I even went as far as to confirm with my broker that my life policies will indeed pay out should something happen on the "N1". Having said this, since that incident the other day (which was a total freak accident) I have not managed to get back on the N1 except to use it to get to another road for training... fanievb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Giant Posted January 6, 2014 Share I lived in BFN up until 3 months ago, i have to agree in town its Russian Rolette, the freeway is a breeze, when handled correctly, and at certain times of the day and year, But Bloem is so flat, when you chase your dog away you can see it running away for weeks! Carbon Junky, slowashell, Transporter and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanievb Posted January 6, 2014 Share Well as mentioned before we are allowed legally to ride on the N1 here in Bloem. There is a very good reason that we are allowed legally. It was discussed in detail and in the end the conclusion was that it is safer on the N1 than any other road around Bfn. Don't think these are just cyclists with no value for their lives who ride on the N1. I even went as far as to confirm with my broker that my life policies will indeed pay out should something happen on the "N1". Having said this, since that incident the other day (which was a total freak accident) I have not managed to get back on the N1 except to use it to get to another road for training... I grew up in Bloem and knowing the type of roads around town I agree that it is by far the safest option due to the limitations you mentioned above with regards to the shoulders etc (Old Kimberley road comes to mind). I just wish we were as fortunate to legally cycle on the freeway as this is by far the safest option around EL, and it doesn't hurt that its a great route if you want to do some hills esp the pull from Hemmingways to Nahoon Dam . I think I should contact someone at EC Cycling and see if we can't come to the same kind of arrangement with the local traffic department as the BFN guys have regarding the N1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabs Posted January 7, 2014 Share Aren't pedestrians, cycles and small motorcycles below 150cc banned from highways, and the minimum speed limit is 40km/hr? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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