This is why cyclist are hated

[Eldron]

My solution:

Do not share the road with cars. I'm not saying I've nailed this issue, but after a few close encounters I vouched to only touch my road bike in thee places. Either riding at suikerbosrand (too few cars to piss off), at the cradle (only the parts with shoulders, not including the N14 to kloofzicht stretch and neither the beyers naude stretch past heia safari) and at races with full road closure. Nothing else. For the rest I ride my MTB and stick strictly to dirt and sidewalks.

 

I'm with you there.

 

Apart from 94.7 once per year I don't really ride my road bike much on the road.

 

SBR is my favourite haunt - other than that I'll ride super early before the cars come out to play or on quiet roads with a yellow line so we don't have to share the same tar.

 

In the current reality of knackered roads, poor cycling infrastructure, irate motorists, high stress levels and anything lycra being associated with the devil - training on the road is virtual no no for me.

 

What I do find rather ironic is that when I do venture onto the roads more cyclists than not jump red lights (yes - that old chestnut). On this thread there are people asking why motorists can't wait 1 minute to pass a cyclist...so why don't cyclists have 1 minute to wait for a red light?

[Cois]

Okay, let me put it this way. I do not cycle on that stretch of road at all. Why. It is a dangerous road. I have been taken out by a taxi on that road that decided that the speedhump would slow him down. I was in his way, so got taken out.

What is nice about that road. About 3,5 km of uphill (okay might be less, but is always a mission to ride there)

Now lets dump in road works. People are already steaming about the road conditions as the road that was narrow just got relaid and about 30cm narrower.

 

Now lets add cyclists into this equation. Not in single file, but riding next to each other. Lets add people on their way to church as well, or the dreaded people coming from their worship service where the Dominee took longer than his allotted 45 minutes for his sermon.

 

Now lets add all this up and see why I posted this. Do I care that they had a car behind them? No I do not care. But the people behind me sure did care. Oh and my fiancee also went off on how inappropriate this was. She's not a cyclist.

[jcza]

Okay, let me put it this way. I do not cycle on that stretch of road at all. Why. It is a dangerous road. I have been taken out by a taxi on that road that decided that the speedhump would slow him down. I was in his way, so got taken out.

What is nice about that road. About 3,5 km of uphill (okay might be less, but is always a mission to ride there)

Now lets dump in road works. People are already steaming about the road conditions as the road that was narrow just got relaid and about 30cm narrower.

 

Now lets add cyclists into this equation. Not in single file, but riding next to each other. Lets add people on their way to church as well, or the dreaded people coming from their worship service where the Dominee took longer than his allotted 45 minutes for his sermon.

 

Now lets add all this up and see why I posted this. Do I care that they had a car behind them? No I do not care. But the people behind me sure did care. Oh and my fiancee also went off on how inappropriate this was. She's not a cyclist.

Thanks for your contribution

[bullet77]

Yip! This is what I also do. Only cycle on the roads very early before the rush, or hit the trails.

[GLuvsMtb]

And the reason I will never go to Bruce Reyneke Cycles again

 

 

Well done you idiots. You just pissed off about 15 cars.

Keep up the good work you idiots!

I am a fellow cyclist and would like to share my concern for our safety here. On Sunday at ??:?? I was unfortunate enough to be stuck behind this group who with their support vehicle showed very little consideration for other road users by ??? <still trying to figure out what they could have done differently, so please add in here> I know that it sounds petty that people coming from a lovely church service would be agitated by this, but perhaps the dominee preached hell and brimstone and everyone was still fixed on being evil sinners who will burn if they don't give their 10th to the church.

My fiancee who took the pictures from the passenger side was also quite agitated by this. I am having a hard time trying to get her to like us lot as it is and this type of situation is not helping.

 

In the spirit of sharing the roads in such a way I am asking that cyclists training in groups please be considerate to other road users to ensure that our already tainted image is not done further damage.

 

Can someone please send me Bruce Reyneke's contact details so that I can give him a call to discuss this and find a possible solution to the back-up vehicle effectively blocking traffic. Perhaps a motor Cycle would be more appropriate for this type of back-up.

There, I fixed it. Next time try this approach and see how people respond.

[Pabloesque]

Okay, let me put it this way. I do not cycle on that stretch of road at all. Why. It is a dangerous road. I have been taken out by a taxi on that road that decided that the speedhump would slow him down. I was in his way, so got taken out.

What is nice about that road. About 3,5 km of uphill (okay might be less, but is always a mission to ride there)

Now lets dump in road works. People are already steaming about the road conditions as the road that was narrow just got relaid and about 30cm narrower.

 

Now lets add cyclists into this equation. Not in single file, but riding next to each other. Lets add people on their way to church as well, or the dreaded people coming from their worship service where the Dominee took longer than his allotted 45 minutes for his sermon.

 

Now lets add all this up and see why I posted this. Do I care that they had a car behind them? No I do not care. But the people behind me sure did care. Oh and my fiancee also went off on how inappropriate this was. She's not a cyclist.

don't marry her Edited August 25, 2014 by Pabloesque

[Long Wheel Base]

There, I fixed it. Next time try this approach and see how people respond.

ROTFL love your work man!!!

[GLuvsMtb]

ROTFL love your work man!!!

Not trying to be clever here, but when I read post #1 I thought "here we go again". A one-post wonder coming into a room full of people, shouting "Jou ma se porche" and then just leaving. With 4800 odd posts one would expect a more eloquent reaction than simply insulting a group of people.

[eelvio]

I am sorry for those who have lost loved ones whilst cycling. Many of the reported incidents are accidents and many of late seem to be with intent and something goes very wrong.

 

There are people on this thread that advocate blatant breaking of the law.

If we are already struggling with the attitude of motorists that only fuels the fire.

 

We are NOT allowed to ride abreast no matter where. We are NOT allowed to drive in convoy on weekends without special authority and a traffic police escort, and this is exactly pretty much that and will probably get you injured. The self entitlement is shocking.

 

They are not the only shop that do this regularly and it is selfish of any cyclist to act in this manner, it is not about slowing someone down it is about abiding by the rules of the road. WE want to argue our rights, then we must exercise them in accordance with the law. Enough is enough, clean your own house first.

 

Simple - There is no other argument, two wrongs do not make a right and the person, regardless of anything but frustration, will make a harsh overtaking decision due to your ignorance, of the consequence, on the other side of your story. "I did it to protect, but broke the law and forced someone else to react with disregard as well" sorry people does not work.

Edited August 25, 2014 by eelvio

[GTRacing]

I quit road cycling.... Period!!!! Jy soek jou net K@K daar.

[DIPSLICK]

I quit road cycling.... Period!!!! Jy soek jou net K@K daar.

its just lekke commuting, and riding with mates working together, and touch wood havent been knocked down had a "few" moments, but i enjoy my commutes, get home training is done and you have forgotten about work ***, and now you have family time,

[Vetseun]

its just lekke commuting, and riding with mates working together, and touch wood havent been knocked down had a "few" moments, but i enjoy my commutes, get home training is done and you have forgotten about work ***, and now you have family time,

Amen Dipper

[GaryvdM]

We are NOT allowed to drive in convoy on weekends without special authority and a traffic police escort.

 

The section on convoys from the NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 93 OF 1996 with all the up to date amendments:

 

318. Convoys on public road

(1)

No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle forming part of a convoy of motor vehicles

which are being delivered to a motor dealer or other person -

(a)

between the hours of 18h00 on a Friday or, in the case where such Friday is a public holiday,

the Thursday immediately preceding such Friday, and 06h00 on a Monday, or in the case where

such Monday is a public holiday, the Tuesday immediately succeeding such Monday; or

(b)

between the hours of 18h00 on the day immediately preceding Christmas Day and 06h00 on

the day immediately succeeding the Day of Goodwill, to the extent to which such hours do not

already fall within a period contemplated in paragraph (a).

(2)

In a prosecution for a contravention of subregulation (1), it shall, in the absence of evidence to the

contrary, be presumed that the motor vehicle concerned was in the process of being delivered to a

motor dealer or other person.

 

The act is very clear on which part of it applies to "motor vehicles", "pedal cycles" and all "vehicles". As you can see, this section only applies to motor vehicles.

 

From the definitions:

“convoy of motor vehicles” means six or more motor vehicles which are operated in a group on a public road;

 

So 1 motor vehicle, and 100 bicycles operated in a group does, by the acts definition, not make a convoy of motor vehicles.

[Eldron]

So 1 motor vehicle, and 100 bicycles operated in a group does, by the acts definition, not make a convoy of motor vehicles.

 

Law aside - if every gaggle of cyclists had a vehicle following them the problem would worse not better.

 

It is a logical answer to the problem of cyclists getting mowed down - just not a practical one.

[eelvio]

The section on convoys from the NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 93 OF 1996 with all the up to date amendments:

 

 

 

The act is very clear on which part of it applies to "motor vehicles", "pedal cycles" and all "vehicles". As you can see, this section only applies to motor vehicles.

 

From the definitions:

 

 

So 1 motor vehicle, and 100 bicycles operated in a group does, by the acts definition, not make a convoy of motor vehicles.

 

Well done you found a loophole in the wording which I have now fixed in my post, self entitlement nonetheless. Goes to prove my point of what we seem to be fighting for. Rather find fault in others than in ourselves and our riding.

[Tubehunter]

Well done you found a loophole in the wording which I have now fixed in my post, self entitlement nonetheless. Goes to prove my point of what we seem to be fighting for. Rather find fault in others than in ourselves and our riding.

 

Whilst you make a good point on the validity of the laws, the simple fact is that the majority of them are being broken by both cyclists AND MOTORISTS. The difference between who breaks them however has a very skew consequence. When cyclists break them, motorists are inconvenienced. When motorists break them EVEN when cyclists are obeying them, cyclists die, however obediant or correct their actions were. I can understand why a group of cyclists such as this cycle store, that have buried family members and close friends, would go to this extent to protect their passion and livelihood.