Crime is killing the sport we love

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Its just so sad to here of all the crime against cyclists and it seems it killing the sport.

 

I look outside and see the most epic day to jump onto the saddle and hit the trails up Sir Lowry's Pass but there have been so many attacks recently that its a question of where on the trail you will be hit and not if.

 

Then I read my international cycling safety twitter feeds with daily stories of similar crimes in the US & UK (but with less fear of loss of life).

 

 

One also needs to consider the absolute lack of respect by motorists throughout the world towards us as well.

 

I hope the sport can find a turnaround solution as I would hate to see cycling limited to console simulators.

[Johny Bravo]

I dont think its killing the sport, Cycling is bigger than ever, people are training indoors and using races as training. safety in numbers. But ja, lot less people out on the trails in some places, here by us, more and more cyclists on our trails, as other places become dodgy.

[Capricorn]

its the increased number of cyclists Bravo mentioned above, that is increasing the incidence of crime. Its like when Apple was hammering microsoft the number of virus infections. Case of the biggest sails catching the most wind. with the high prices of bicycles, its become a case of meals on wheels.

[Mr X]

Its just so sad to here of all the crime against cyclists and it seems it killing the sport.

 

I look outside and see the most epic day to jump onto the saddle and hit the trails up Sir Lowry's Pass but there have been so many attacks recently that its a question of where on the trail you will be hit and not if.

 

Then I read my international cycling safety twitter feeds with daily stories of similar crimes in the US & UK (but with less fear of loss of life).

 

 

One also needs to consider the absolute lack of respect by motorists throughout the world towards us as well.

 

I hope the sport can find a turnaround solution as I would hate to see cycling limited to console simulators.

 

Sorry this is not the same everywhere in the world, if this happened in Europe or US the police would have taken the scumbags out asap, but here crime pays, and the thugs sit there and await their next victim without fear.

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Sorry this is not the same everywhere in the world, if this happened in Europe or US the police would have taken the scumbags out asap, but here crime pays, and the thugs sit there and await their next victim without fear.

 

Not what I'm reading, you put too much trust into what you see in movies.

[Christopher Brunsdon]

I dont think its killing the sport, Cycling is bigger than ever, people are training indoors and using races as training. safety in numbers. But ja, lot less people out on the trails in some places, here by us, more and more cyclists on our trails, as other places become dodgy.

 

I stopped cycling my Sunday route a few years back after many Hubbers got attacked. One even ended in hospital. This is on open road with lots of traffic.

 

Our local trails up the road from me are starting to experience a lot of problems. A lot does not end up on this forum to warn others.

 

Soon we will be limited to expensive trails when we need to start paying for visible security. Its rather sad.

[DJR]

I stopped cycling my Sunday route a few years back after many Hubbers got attacked. One even ended in hospital. This is on open road with lots of traffic.

 

Our local trails up the road from me are starting to experience a lot of problems. A lot does not end up on this forum to warn others.

 

Soon we will be limited to expensive trails when we need to start paying for visible security. Its rather sad.

 

As much as I tend to be a loner, the answer is simply to ride in groups and to support each other.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Yah, its not an excuse but crime is everywhere. I think one just has to accept it and do what you can to keep yourself safe, whatever that may be indoor cycling, riding in groups, finding a different route, whatever.

 

As you most likely know I now live in Canada, and although its a hugely safe city where forgetting to lock your front door at night is quite common and leaving your car window open at the mall will get you a big sticker on the windscreen telling you that you are INVITING crime and perhaps next time remember to lock the car and close the window, thats probably the worst thing that will happen...... there is still crime, domestic violence, battery etc and although its usually related to drugs (which in the US is a major issue) and usually a lot less violent its still there if you want to focus on it.

 

The difference in my opinion is sadly S.Africans focus on crime, we fret about security, we live in fear and we become victims, this I find largely no existent in the US, crime is relegated to "something that happens", but "we dont want to hear about it" and we wont live in fear or as victims. Maybe its a mind set, I dont know, but theres certainly not the same level of concern over it as here.

 

Anyway, just to lighten things up a bit I was in the supermarket recently and ahead of me in the line was a middle aged guy who, on hearing my accent asked me where I came from (very usual, I get asked almost daily) when I said South Africa and he sort of turned away and I thought "Oh Okay here comes the lecture on crime, apartheid etc" then he looked back at me and said "You guys got the best Avocado pears in the world, whenever I see South African Avocado pears in the shop I buy as many as I can, just the best"

 

......and with that we went on our way.

[Ozzie NL]

 

 

Sorry this is not the same everywhere in the world, if this happened in Europe or US the police would have taken the scumbags out asap, but here crime pays, and the thugs sit there and await their next victim without fear.

 

I am not sure what you base this comment on. It is simply not true that cycling is more dangerous here in terms of crime vs. Europe. Last year one of the pro teams was robbed of all their kit in Italy.

 

What is true is that crime here tends to be more violent.

[Mr X]

I am not sure what you base this comment on. It is simply not true that cycling is more dangerous here in terms of crime vs. Europe. Last year one of the pro teams was robbed of all their kit in Italy.

 

What is true is that crime here tends to be more violent.

 

In SA there is a much better chance that you will be killed, and/or raped if you are a woman, but you say "It is simply not true that cycling is more dangerous here in terms of crime", this does not make sense.

[Mr X]

People from overseas are always shocked to find out it is not safe to ride on your own in SA because they simply are not exposed to the same crime levels overseas.

[VicanZA]

Grow a pair, I'm not going to let the minority dectate to me how I'm going to live my life. I only ride open trails and do most of it on my own.

 

If u gonna be scared there's very little left for u, Make sure ur insurence is up to date and that you life has been well lived.

 

Sorry but I'm not gonna indulge this "crime" destroying the sport I love. Every time I jump from a perfectly good plane crime is the last think on my mind.

[Mr X]

The increasing crime will not kill the sport but it will take away your freedom to ride where you want. There will be less safe places to ride, and no the gym does really count as a safe place to ride for me, it is only a safe place to do mind-numbingly boring training.

[ThaStig]

I am not sure what you base this comment on. It is simply not true that cycling is more dangerous here in terms of crime vs. Europe. Last year one of the pro teams was robbed of all their kit in Italy.

 

What is true is that crime here tends to be more violent.

Make that, "at least two of the pro teams"

[Ozzie NL]

People from overseas are always shocked to find out it is not safe to ride on your own in SA because they simply are not exposed to the same crime levels overseas.

 

I am from overseas (Holland) so would like to think I know what I am talking about

[Mr X]

I am from overseas (Holland) so would like to think I know what I am talking about

 

I am not sure what you base this comment on. It is simply not true that cycling is more dangerous here in terms of crime vs. Europe. Last year one of the pro teams was robbed of all their kit in Italy.

 

What is true is that crime here tends to be more violent.

 

So the crime is not more dangerous just more violent?