#becyclistaware

[gummibear]

Lets get this trending to make motorists aware of us on the roads.We are reading far to often of a cyclist/commuter getting killed or injured on the road.

 

 

Thanks sheriff for the pic

[droenn]

Dear cyclists, you are probably also a motorist and once behind the wheel are guilty of all the things you get angry at others for.

 

Its not something that can be solved with an "us and them" approach.

[BarHugger]

Dear cyclists, you are probably also a motorist and once behind the wheel are guilty of all the things you get angry at others for.

 

Its not something that can be solved with an "us and them" approach.

 

So lets just make a general statement and throw it out there as fact.......or do you have objective and substantive proof for the comment made..........please share so that the necessary scrutiny can take place (although Friday is still far away).

 

You are PROBABLY making a big ASSumption. What approach do you suggest then in order to increase the awareness and solve the problem of cyclists being killed on our roads.

 

Maybe this will help you come up with some constructive suggestions.......instead of throwing bait onto the water.

 

[Yusufm_11]

If only our law enforcement dealt with such issues in such a manner. However I also do think that us as cyclists are a tad bit at fault for things that we do... I was recently on a ride which uses part of the M4 highway in Durban which goes down to Ballito and the yellow lines at certain areas are exceptionally thin so we end up sticking a bit into the left hand lane and although it's just a bit, when it's only a two lane highway, it can cause for some serious accidents.

 

Regardless I think that there has to be some sort of common understanding between motorists and cyclists. I myself when driving and see a cyclist slow down to allow him in front and try to switch lanes because I know the feeling of hesitance when I'm on a bike and you're not sure about the car next to you or as you approach a circle or even a stop street. Witt regards to taxi's... A lot (I'm not stereotyping) don't really worry about cyclists as to them the quickest time frame from A to B results in a bigger cash taking at the end of the day. I think cops need to come down harder on them in all areas from vehicle safety to the way they disobey rules on the road.

 

#BECYCLISTAWARE

[RocknRolla]

It's easy.

 

Obey 100% of the rules of the road 100% of the time.

 

No matter what mode of transport.

 

The end.

[droenn]

So lets just make a general statement and throw it out there as fact.......or do you have objective and substantive proof for the comment made..........please share so that the necessary scrutiny can take place (although Friday is still far away).

 

You are PROBABLY making a big ASSumption. What approach do you suggest then in order to increase the awareness and solve the problem of cyclists being killed on our roads.

 

Maybe this will help you come up with some constructive suggestions.......instead of throwing bait onto the water.

 

 

South Africa has 31.9 road fatalities per 100,000 people putting it 7th highest in the world.

 

Cyclists are going to be part of that until there is a general shift to better road safety.

 

Just around here, the amount of drunk drivers, speeding, driving in yellow lanes, no clue how to use circles and people wandering all over the road are the real problems that need to be addressed.

 

And, I see plenty of bad driving from cars with bikes on the back.

 

So, as we all drive cars it seems silly to keep on dividing this into bikes vs cars, when overall the roads are ****** and its chaos out there. There needs to be a better road safety and enforcement of this, because Joe Taxi or whoever you want to blame is not going to give a **** about an open letter and a hashtag at this point in time.

 

I'd sincerely love to be proven wrong.

[Frosty]

I think we need more than just cyclists to get behind this campaign. With the number of people killed on our roads, it is a frightening statistic - these are people too with family that are affected - be it pedestrians, cyclists, motorist or passengers in a vehicle.

 

 

I will support this this campaign but see it as one step in a series of steps that will (hopefully) force government to do something about it. Government are quick to say the death toll has come down, but it you look at the figures for each month, why only the festive season or Easter holidays - it's almost the same for each month.

[RocknRolla]

Here's an easy one:

 

Obey the speed limit.

 

Force the cops from out the bushes, to do enforcement of the other equally important rules.

[BarHugger]

... I was recently on a ride which uses part of the M4 highway in Durban which goes down to Ballito and the yellow lines at certain areas are exceptionally thin so we end up sticking a bit into the left hand lane and although it's just a bit, when it's only a two lane highway, it can cause for some serious accidents.

 

#BECYCLISTAWARE

 

 

Ooops.....reg 323 of the National Road Traffic Regulations:

 

Reg 323.(1) No person shall operate on a freeway—

(a) a vehicle drawn by an animal;

(b) a pedal cycle;

 

South Africa Highway (N)/Freeway (M) classification.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Ooops.....reg 323 of the National Road Traffic Regulations:

 

Reg 323.(1) No person shall operate on a freeway—

(a) a vehicle drawn by an animal;

(b) a pedal cycle;

 

South Africa Highway (N)/Freeway (M) classification.

M4 is only a freeway in sections, BH. Same as the M3 down here, and the N2. Cycling is allowed on certain non-freeway sections. 

 

EDIT: The M stands for Metropolitan, N for National & R for Regional road. It doesn't denote whether it's a freeway or not. 

[Tumbleweed]

Ooops.....reg 323 of the National Road Traffic Regulations:

 

Reg 323.(1) No person shall operate on a freeway—

(a) a vehicle drawn by an animal;

(b) a pedal cycle;

 

South Africa Highway (N)/Freeway (M) classification.

 

M4 is only a freeway in sections, BH. Same as the M3 down here, and the N2. Cycling is allowed on certain non-freeway sections. 

 

What was that about ASSumptions?

[karma]

Dear cyclists, you are probably also a motorist and once behind the wheel are guilty of all the things you get angry at others for.

 

Its not something that can be solved with an "us and them" approach.

 

How about we stop looking for excuses why it won't work?

 

Everyone (including myself) is very quick to judge an initiative, then sit back, but moan when something happens and then only "we must do something"....

[Andrew Steer]

South Africa has 31.9 road fatalities per 100,000 people putting it 7th highest in the world.

 

Cyclists are going to be part of that until there is a general shift to better road safety.

 

Just around here, the amount of drunk drivers, speeding, driving in yellow lanes, no clue how to use circles and people wandering all over the road are the real problems that need to be addressed.

 

And, I see plenty of bad driving from cars with bikes on the back.

 

So, as we all drive cars it seems silly to keep on dividing this into bikes vs cars, when overall the roads are ****** and its chaos out there. There needs to be a better road safety and enforcement of this, because Joe Taxi or whoever you want to blame is not going to give a **** about an open letter and a hashtag at this point in time.

 

I'd sincerely love to be proven wrong.

 

Some good points... It is a bloody war zone out there on the roads

 

I also cringe at how 'acceptable' it is for the average South African to have 4/5 beers and head home. Seen many a cyclist do it too.

 

Another line of thought:

 

SA's priority scale:

1. Education

2. Crime

3. Rape

4. Unemployment

5. Inequality

6. Cosatu

7. Taxis

8. Violence

9. Welfare

10. Russian Nuclear Deal

11....

...

...

...

186: 300 cyclists mowed down by motorists a year

 

In my view, nothing is going to change anytime soon (this is not just a problem in SA for the record) - ride with eyes in the back of your head, ride defensively at all times (your rights on the road mean buggerall if you are dead), ride sensible routes, make yourself visible.

 

Be safe out there guys 

[BarHugger]

M4 is only a freeway in sections, BH. Same as the M3 down here, and the N2. Cycling is allowed on certain non-freeway sections. 

 

EDIT: The M stands for Metropolitan, N for National & R for Regional road. It doesn't denote whether it's a freeway or not. 

 

 

MM....thanks for the clarification about the N and M categorization.

 

I am familiar with all the roads you indicated and am aware that certain sections are maybe not classified as a freeway/highway, especially the N2 section past Mosselbay (and all those other nice small holiday destinations). The cyclist might know that certain sections are not falling under the legislation, but does the driver of a vehicle travelling between 70-120km/h know?

 

And that is where the dilemma lies. Sometimes you must think about the possibilities and assess the situation, instead of just assuming that all will follow the rules.

 

M4 according to Google Earth:

 

 

Small yellow line barrier, combined with truck travelling at 80km/h and oncomming traffic.......I rather be called chicken then!

 

 

Highway. High speed (70 to 80 km/h urban, 80 to 120 km/h rural), continuous, vehicle priority route. In urban areas they are characterized by widely spaced co-ordinated traffic signals. Can have grade separated, priority or roundabout intersections but these are less common.

 

Freeway. Physically divided, grade separated, dual roadway with access via ramps; designated as such in terms of the National Road Traffic Act.

 

(South African Road Classification and Access Management Manual, August 2012)

[BarHugger]

What was that about ASSumptions?

 

 

You are such a joker...........but you are really trying to hard.

 

Realx a bit on the Fixie 

[Tumbleweed]

You are such a joker...........but you are really trying to hard.

 

Realx a bit on the Fixie 

 

Are we getting worked up and typing a wee bit too fast?