Is it legal to ride on 'M' roads?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

That first one, isetech - is the freeway sign not obscured by the tree growth on the RHS? On Streetview it shows a freeway sign just below the traffic light sign, in front of the speed camera 

 

Reason I ask is that that section of the M4 is most definitely a freeway. 

[eccc whippet]

 

Just to keep you on your toes they have put a few lovely plants

 

 

And of course not forgetting all the glass

[eccc whippet]

That first one, isetech - is the freeway sign not obscured by the tree growth on the RHS? On Streetview it shows a freeway sign just below the traffic light sign, in front of the speed camera

 

Reason I ask is that that section of the M4 is most definitely a freeway.

 

You must be referring to this pic...back in in day when they still paint lines on the roads...look at the date of street view...dont forget we live in KZN...not run by the DA...they dint cut verges and paint lines on the road or fix potholes or use signs anymore or even bother to do law enforcement.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

 

 

 

You must be referring to this pic...back in in day when they still paint lines on the roads...look at the date of street view...dont forget we live in KZN...not run by the DA...they dint cut verges and paint lines on the road or fix potholes or use signs anymore or even bother to do law enforcement.

Yeah. That one. Same section as the first pic in the 3 pic series you posted earlier.

 

Lack of a sign doesn't negate it being a freeway, and that section is definitely a freeway...

 

Still, even if it had still been signposted at that spot, that wouldn't have stopped people from riding it.

[Cois]

But from my own personal sensibilities of seeing drivers in SA, I would never ride on a road where the official speed limit is 100 or higher as it is a recipe for disaster as those poor chaps endured yesterday 

 

So in terms of SA, you will not be able to cycle on any road.  I was on 120km/h on the N4 this morning, and I was the slowest car.  Even the trucks passed me.

On the 60km/h stretch, one BEE candidate tried to intimidate me with his black Audi A4

And then wizzed past me on a solid white line.

 

And to be honest I doubt that anyone can keep to the laws, because no one enforces them anymore.

[BikeLuddite]

So in terms of SA, you will not be able to cycle on any road.  I was on 120km/h on the N4 this morning, and I was the slowest car.  Even the trucks passed me.

On the 60km/h stretch, one BEE candidate tried to intimidate me with his black Audi A4

And then wizzed past me on a solid white line.

 

And to be honest I doubt that anyone can keep to the laws, because no one enforces them anymore.

 

That is true in a way ... hence why I haven't been on my bike in the last few weeks when I normally had no problems before.  I endeavour to stick to very quiet roads and to roads where they are sign posted to be 60Km/h .. As you mention, it doesn't prevent people from driving faster as they usually do, but once again my aim of cycling defensively is to cycle early in the morning when the traffic is not heavy (weekends especially) and to limit my time on these roads. I feel 'safest' when I am cycling in the cradle - it's worth the hassle of driving there ... 

[eccc whippet]

At the end of the day we could argue these points...all day long.

 

The big question is simple...how are we gona make it safer for all cyclist on the road...be it riding from your house to the local supermarket...after today i have come to realize is where most accidents occur ...to doing 100 -200 km rides...

 

Is an attitude change gona help from both motorist and cyclist...law enforcement...cycle lanes.

 

We know there are problems especially between cyclist and motor vehicles...apparently this was made very clear from comments on the radio yesterday.

 

We know there are law enforcement issues...

 

We know there are a lack of cycle lanes...

 

We know there is lack of understanding as to roads which can and cant use...

 

How are we gona overcome the issues???

[RocknRolla]

Caution, cyclist may ride on the road ahead.

Does not make it legal.

Same as the pedestrian sign sometimes seen before informaal settlements on freeways, does not make it legal to cross a freeway on foot, or walk along a freeway.

 

 

Sorry, my post refers to the bicycle in the red triangle posted earlier by isetech, my tapatalk is slow to update it seems. Or it may be the user...

[xdoomx]

Again, just stressing the legal part of this. But if this weekends tragedy were reversed and cyclists DIDN'T lose their lives, but instead a young mother and her daughter rolled their car because they changed lanes to avoid a bunch of cyclists on this stretch of M4... guess who would be charged with culpable homicide, most likely the ones that broke the law.

 

SO. Always good to know which side of the law you're on when you're riding because not only can it affect situations like above, but your medical aid, your life insurance policy, etc.

 

That's the intended purpose of this thread, to establish the legality of riding on this stretch of the M4.

 

I don't think the lack of signs make or break it being a highway or not. But it would be great if there were signs!!!

 

The unconscious rule I've always applied is that if  a 50cc motorbike isn't allowed on the road then my bicycle is not allowed on the road. Simple.

 

Where most of the problems come from (as we're starting to see with SA Champs this weekend) is riders using the roads to TRAIN on as opposed to commute on. I've often commuted the beach road from Blue Lagoon to Umhlanga along Hyper, Fairway, St Lucia and Virginia.. It is a STUNNING ROUTE. One of my favourite rides to do. But if I were 'training' I can see how riding this route can be annoying and I'd want to ride on a lekker smooth surface cos that's what I'll be using when I'm trying to come in the top 1000 in this years Amashova.

 

And this is where some of the problems with cycling as we know it today comes from. The roads are now a SPORTS ground.
When that happens things get a little hairy (see jogging,  skateboarding, bmxing on roads)

[Starvin' Marvin]

 

With the recent tragedy in Durban on the M4 I'd like to have it cleared up once and for all.

 

• I have always been under the impression that it was legal to ride on M roads but illegal to ride on N roads. Is this true or not?
• I've also seen some talk that hints that only Mxx roads are legal and Mx roads are illegal (ie M single digit roads are illegal and M double digit roads are illegal).
• If I have a life insurance policy or medical aid will they still pay out of I ride on an illegal road (eg I get hit while riding the N3)

 

Thanks

 

 

Is the minister correct or incorrect?

 

"KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate spokeswoman Zinhle Mngomezulu said it was illegal to cycle on a highway, unless “it is a controlled event”, such as a race where traffic authorities controlled and limited traffic."

From: 

http://mini.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/two-cyclists-killed-in-dbn-accident-1980954

----------------------------

Mngomezulu says that this stretch of the M4 is not a designated cycling zone. She pointed rather in the direction of the nearby M12 and M21 roads that are off the freeway.

A visit to these roads indicates clear blue cycling signs. 

Mngomezulu advises that cyclists adhere to these designated spaces for the sake of safety. "It has been zoned as a 100 zone but that doesn’t mean cyclists are allowed to be on this stretch of the road. We have the M12 that has got the space designated for cyclists," says Mngomezulu.

From: 

http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/2451c6804b98cde4b09dfb90e75bf5d6/Durban-cyclists-killed-by-alleged-drunk-driver

 

My take on it. Whilst it may be illegal to ride or walk on a M or N road, a motorist is legally bound to drive with due diligence and attention. I'm willing to bet a beer at the CTCT that a defence of " The cyclist or pedestrian was not allowed on the M or N road when they were killed so charges must be dropped" will never happen.

[eccc whippet]

No cyclists will be allowed on the M4 between argyle and Umhlanga ...it you are caught cycling on the that section of the M4...metro will take action

 

from Umhlanga north...still in discussion...should have an answer by the weekend

[ewep]

I spoke to BigH (old Hubber) who plans roads, etc.  Here is what the National Law says (quoted from my question to him on FB):

 

"Hoofweg is 'n pad wat onramps en offramps het wat voertuie toegang gee tot die pad sonder om te stop.

 

Expressway is ook dubbelbaanpad maar maar het platvloerse oorgange maw t-aansluitings kruispaaie ens. Hierdie toegange kan verkeerslig, 4-rigt stop of geen beheer hê nie."

 

So the hoofweg/highway you may not be on, but the Expressway you may.  The road going through Worcester down in the WP and the R59 from Sasolburg to Parys are good examples.

[eccc whippet]

This means that M19...M13 and M7 cannot be used for cycling...unless closed for an event...

this pic is doing the rounds...could be someone training for SA champs

 

 

and yes it has been noted that the bad person who took this pic is doing something just as bad.

[Reden]

It has nothin to do with M or N classification. If that piece of road has a freeway demarcation sign when you get on it, it is illegal to cycle on it. 

 

It is even legal to cycle on parts of the N1

Very true. It's got nothing to do with the road name. Yes, the N1 at some stage shows green boards.

N14 from Centurion to Krugersdorp is blue till the Muldersdrift turn off. Then becomes green boards.

[Lotus]

At the end of the day we could argue these points...all day long.

 

The big question is simple...how are we gona make it safer for all cyclist on the road...be it riding from your house to the local supermarket...after today i have come to realize is where most accidents occur ...to doing 100 -200 km rides...

 

Is an attitude change gona help from both motorist and cyclist...law enforcement...cycle lanes.

 

We know there are problems especially between cyclist and motor vehicles...apparently this was made very clear from comments on the radio yesterday.

 

We know there are law enforcement issues...

 

We know there are a lack of cycle lanes...

 

We know there is lack of understanding as to roads which can and cant use...

 

How are we gona overcome the issues???

I feel your pain and concern. I don't think there are any clear answers, and we know that nothing will be forthcoming from the "authorities". Ever.

 

I guess the way forward is simply to adopt a survival mentality, and use the power of social groups (like clubs, forums and technology) to build a defence network that protects you from danger through awareness and shared local knowledge. The "dangerous areas" sub-forum on this site would be an example.

 

Secondly, think more carefully about the roads that you use. Even if a stretch of highway is legal, the posted speed limit could still make it an unsafe place to ride. I've heard of riders being knocked off their bikes by the slipstream from fast moving trucks, or being killed by trucks on narrow dangerous sections (the number of cyclists being killed inside the yellow lines keeps growing).

 

As I said, the authorities can't be counted on to do anything constructive. And taking an "us and them" posture doesn't help either. "They" don't read these posts, and don't understand or care about our fears (unless it's an election year).

[Martin PJ]

So to sum up, please correct me if I am wrong. In Durban area you may not ride a bicycle on a freeway as per the National Road Traffic Act, there are no local laws and bylaws that have been passed in KZN (as in Western Cape) in addition to this Act. If the road is an M Road that is not a freeway, you can cycle on it.

 

It may not be safe or smart, but you are not committing an offence by riding on it. So this means M4 north of Umhlanga to Ballito is legal, M19 is legal.