Is it legal to ride on 'M' roads?

[Shebeen]

There shouldn't be a debate on this.

 

There should be signs clear as night and day on the relevant sections.

It shouldn't be up to Google maps to see where freeways stop and start.

 

If the road traffic authorities need to clarify where the go/no go areas are then they have not done their job with signs. The amount of confusion here suggests just that.

 

 

* as an aside I see the accused is a plumber in his 30s living with his folks but driving a fancy golf gti... Thats twisted priorities in my book

[eccc whippet]

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.

Unfortunately i cannot answer this question for you...i am just as confused as i am sure many others are...

 

a good example is the M4 from umhlanga north...it "seems" it is a highway like the part between argyle and umhlanga...but there is a sign indicating that you need to be aware of cyclists...whether or not you are allowed to cycle on that section of the "highway" you will need to speak to metro or other relevant authorities and find out where you can and cant ride your bicycle.

 

the other catch is unless you belong to a club...or reading this thread....the info shared here are just bit and pieces collected from info some of us are collecting from whatsapp groups...you will not be aware of any developments being discussed with the authorities.

 

hopefully they are going run an awareness program for all the people who dont know all the rules and regs or dont have a drivers license...like the many cyclist i see riding along the N3 commuting to and from work everyday.

 

would it be fair to fine these people if they dont know the road rules and there are no signs indicating that they are not allowed to ride on the N3?   what happens if one of them are killed by a motor vehicle?

 

I noticed yesterday while driving around that the new intersection in springfield...it  has lots and lots of no walking signs up everywhere.

[Martin PJ]

Unfortunately i cannot answer this question for you...i am just as confused as i am sure many others are...

 

a good example is the M4 from umhlanga north...it "seems" it is a highway like the part between argyle and umhlanga...but there is a sign indicating that you need to be aware of cyclists...whether or not you are allowed to cycle on that section of the "highway" you will need to speak to metro or other relevant authorities and find out where you can and cant ride your bicycle.

 

the other catch is unless you belong to a club...or reading this thread....the info shared here are just bit and pieces collected from info some of us are collecting from whatsapp groups...you will not be aware of any developments being discussed with the authorities.

 

hopefully they are going run an awareness program for all the people who dont know all the rules and regs or dont have a drivers license...like the many cyclist i see riding along the N3 commuting to and from work everyday.

 

would it be fair to fine these people if they dont know the road rules and there are no signs indicating that they are not allowed to ride on the N3?   what happens if one of them are killed by a motor vehicle?

 

I noticed yesterday while driving around that the new intersection in springfield...it  has lots and lots of no walking signs up everywhere.

 

The part of the M4 north of Umhlanga that is not dual carriageway, like it is before Umhlanga, so it can't be a freeway.

 

There were stories about all M roads being off limits the past week. However, if it is not a freeway you can ride it.  I haven't spoken to anyone in Metro police, spoke to some SAPS police and the only rule that they know is that you cannot cycle on a freeway.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

The part of the M4 north of Umhlanga that is not dual carriageway, like it is before Umhlanga, so it can't be a freeway.

 

There were stories about all M roads being off limits the past week. However, if it is not a freeway you can ride it.  I haven't spoken to anyone in Metro police, spoke to some SAPS police and the only rule that they know is that you cannot cycle on a freeway.

That's it. As simple as that.

 

What people are trying to determine now, though, is what roads are freeways. 

 

I also did a little experiment on my way home yesterday, along the N7, N1, M5, N2, M3 and so on (coming back from the trails)

 

As SOON as the road changes from a normal road (be it dual carriageway or single) to a freeway, the signs change from green to blue. If you're on a road with Blue signage, it's a freeway. 

 

It'll also be noted (at the change from non-freeway to freeway status) by a freeway sign. But that sign will not be repeated on the freeway itself, only on the off-ramps (in the form of the crossed out freeway sign) and the onramps (in the form of the freeway sign)

 

At all other times - check the colour of the signs. If blue, you're NOT allowed there. If green, you're fine. If at any time the signs change from green to blue, you should get off that road, or you should have taken the last exit. 

[eccc whippet]

Just becareful which signs you are looking at... the signs hidden in the grass on the M7 are green...however there are blue signs indicating it is a freeway.

 

Today was the first time i have actually taken note of the blue and green signs.

[Joe Low]

It's not difficult and all the old Hubbers learnt from BigH, back in the day.

 

As MM said in his post (paraphrasing):

 

Green signs - good.

Blue signs - bad

 

Rs, Ms and Ns are not the issue.

 

Roads with overpasses & on / off-ramps are your other clues as to where you shouldn't be.

[xdoomx]

Seconding that last post then to round this topic up.

From all of this conversation it would appear that the rule is quite simple:

 

• Blue signs of any kind indicate highway. No bicycles, no 50cc motorbikes
• Green signs. Bicycles and 50cc motorbikes allowed.

 

 

 

Example below. You are legally allowed to ride a bicycle on this road.

 

Just becareful which signs you are looking at... the signs hidden in the grass on the M7 are green...however there are blue signs indicating it is a freeway.

Today was the first time i have actually taken note of the blue and green signs.

[Martin PJ]

Seconding that last post then to round this topic up.

From all of this conversation it would appear that the rule is quite simple:

 

• Blue signs of any kind indicate highway. No bicycles, no 50cc motorbikes
• Green signs. Bicycles and 50cc motorbikes allowed.

 

 

 

Example below. You are legally allowed to ride a bicycle on this road.

 

From the Tour Durban communications and police information about people training on the route before the race, you are not allowed on the M7 with a bicycle. You may end up in the back of a police van.

[jimmycool]

As far as I can tell though the m13 is fair game all the way up to the shongweni offramp if you are brave enough.

[eccc whippet]

From the Tour Durban communications and police information about people training on the route before the race, you are not allowed on the M7 with a bicycle. You may end up in the back of a police van.

You are correct...dont look at these green signs...they are all along the "freeway" part of the M7...according other blue signs on the M7...you need to look at the big signs.

 

Today i have been working all over from pinetown to umlazi to Woodlands to bluff ........taking note of blue and green signs as i travel...most signs are pretty clear and some even have little freeway signs on them.

 

This a good example of a sign indicating you can ride on this road (green) but if you go north you will go onto a freeway (blue)...imagine that another part of the M4...which is a freeway.

 

 

Anyone tried to plot a route on strava where a freeway is part of the route.

 

The reason i am wasting time with this ***...just imagine if i decide to go back on the road...and taken out and life insurance turns around to my wife and says sorry dear...ooops... he shouldnt have been riding on that road...like committing suicide...no payout [emoji57]

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

You are correct...dont look at these green signs...they are all along the "freeway" part of the M7...according other blue signs on the M7...you need to look at the big signs.

 

Today i have been working all over from pinetown to umlazi to Woodlands to bluff ........taking note of blue and green signs as i travel...most signs are pretty clear and some even have little freeway signs on them.

 

This a good example of a sign indicating you can ride on this road (green) but if you go north you will go onto a freeway (blue)...imagine that another part of the M4...which is a freeway.

 

 

Anyone tried to plot a route on strava where a freeway is part of the route.

 

The reason i am wasting time with this ***...just imagine if i decide to go back on the road...and taken out and life insurance turns around to my wife and says sorry dear...ooops... he shouldnt have been riding on that road...like committing suicide...no payout [emoji57]

That won't happen. 

[Bub Marley]

What about R roads? 

 

I take it these roads are perfectly legal?

[eccc whippet]

The M19 from pinetown to springfield...has big blue signs and freeway signs and end of freeway signs at the off ramps

 

The M13 has no freeway signs...and no end of freeway signs from essex rd at 45 th all the way to St johns off ramp...however all the big signs are blue...

 

All the small signs indicating e&w on the M routes are all green...speed limit 100 km/hr max

 

All the smalls signs on the N2 amd N3 are all blue speed limit 120 km/hr max

 

By the way Myles...i wouldn't take the chance...

 

When i claimed for my right arm...i was told my hospital plan didnt cover my arms and kegs...i had to pay the bill.

 

When i was told by the doctor that i would never use my right again...they informed me that due my qualification and years of experience...i could get a job as a supervisor...i would need to paralyses from neck down to claim.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

By the way Myles...i wouldn't take the chance...

 

When i claimed for my right arm...i was told my hospital plan didnt cover my arms and kegs...i had to pay the bill.

 

When i was told by the doctor that i would never use my right again...they informed me that due my qualification and years of experience...i could get a job as a supervisor...i would need to paralyses from neck down to claim.

Ise, this is my bread and butter.

 

The reason for non payment by hospital plan is that it was a hospital plan, in the old style of the word (probably a liberty medical lifestyle) which offers a daily payout for hospital for stays for certain diagnoses. It is not a medical aid, and is quite frankly a kaaaaaak product.

 

As for your disability benefit, that would have been an occupational disability benefit based on your ability to do your own or any reasonable occupation, as based on their interpretation of your expertise and experience. That is an older style disability benefit, and since about 2003 the majority of disability benefits have included medical disability AS WELL AS occupational disability.

 

The have also changed to take into account your particular occupation's metrics ie manual, administrative etc component.

 

If you had a newer style disability benefit, that would not have happened.

 

In addition. Life cover is life cover. The only thing that is not covered is suicide within generally the first 2 years if a policy or in a war etc.

 

Your mate would have been covered in this case.

[Friedpiggy]

On the topic of a sign stating pedestrians ahead not making pedestrians on freeways legal. If you hit a pedestrian on a freeway, you are guilty, the pedestrians crime is s overlooked. The fact that he should not have been there never enters into it.

 

So if that is the case, why is the whole "cyclists shouldn't be there" even an issue?

[Joe Low]

On the topic of a sign stating pedestrians ahead not making pedestrians on freeways legal. If you hit a pedestrian on a freeway, you are guilty, the pedestrians crime is s overlooked. The fact that he should not have been there never enters into it.

 

So if that is the case, why is the whole "cyclists shouldn't be there" even an issue?

 

Classic unsubstantiated assertions and whataboutery.

 

It's illegal to cycle on freeways and that's for cyclists' safety more than anything else.