Is it legal to ride on 'M' roads?

[mazambaan]

I noticed that one Carlos Esteves, a senior engineer (probably a deputy head or something) with eThekwini Municipality, said he had never been able to establish a liaison committee or ongoing discussion group with local cyclists. Now Carlos is the guy that can (and will) get lines painted and road signs put up plus he is a well qualified, very experienced and reasonable engineer. He will definitely tell you where you can and can't cycle.

 

Please form some sort of group and go and talk to him, if it has not been done already.  Before he retires; can't be too long now.

[xdoomx]

Good idea. I think someone in Durban has contacted him, will update this thread when I hear back.

 

 

All directional signage blue - freeway.
All directional signage green - other.

[ricochet_rabbit]

just curious, perhaps someone in motor insurance could comment. 

 

would insurance refute a claim if a learner driver had an accident on a highway as I recall that learner drivers are also not allowed on highways?

[Dicky DQ]

I really wish Cycling SA / PPA or any other body that takes our money every year for licences (that actually do nothing for you  )  can get more involved to clarify roads allowed / roads not allowed to ride. - in the whole of South Africa

Why? it is very clearly legislated, anyone that has a licence should know this. Now you want money to be spent clarifying what is clear and covered by statutes.

 

There is no ambiguity, confusion or whatever at all.

[Dicky DQ]

Great, the blue highway sign thing makes sense. It's a pity there isn't a 'no bicycles' sign to go along with it. This might be a good idea to implement on this section of the M4 so that riders know they're breaking the law.

 

But that is what the sign says.

 

The sign donates the road type and everything that goes with it. So you want them to say no Cycles, no motorcycles under 125CC, no donkey carts etc. It would have to be a huge sign. 

[Dicky DQ]

So to sum up, please correct me if I am wrong.  <Snip>

 

 If the road is an M Road that is not a freeway, you can cycle on it. <Snip>

 

You are wrong, you may ride on ANY road (N,M,R, etc) as long as it is NOT MARKED AS A FREEWAY.

[ricochet_rabbit]

But that is what the sign says.

 

The sign donates the road type and everything that goes with it. So you want them to say no Cycles, no motorcycles under 125CC, no donkey carts etc. It would have to be a huge sign. 

 

not being facetious but how is a 16 year old kid , who doesn't have a drivers license or even a learners licence, or an adult commuter who doesn't have a drivers licence & may even be illiterate be expected to know which roads he can and can't cycle on?

 

since these roads are mostly in urban areas it's unlikely there will be too many horse and carts around so the idea of a no-cycling sign to do away with any ambiguity is probably a good idea. riders or 50cc motorcycles and learner drivers would have recently passed a learners exam so one would expect them to be knowledgeable with respect to the road signs. 

[J∆kk∆ls]

M4 is legal to ride on! Cape Town. 

[Dicky DQ]

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]

I know Endomondo won't allow you to plot a route on freeways. I think Strava is the same, but have not checked. 

[Martin PJ]

You are wrong, you may ride on ANY road (N,M,R, etc) as long as it is NOT MARKED AS A FREEWAY.

Lol, you are wrong.. but actually you are not wrong.

[Dicky DQ]

not being facetious but how is a 16 year old kid , who doesn't have a drivers license or even a learners licence, or an adult commuter who doesn't have a drivers licence & may even be illiterate be expected to know which roads he can and can't cycle on?

 

since these roads are mostly in urban areas it's unlikely there will be too many horse and carts around so the idea of a no-cycling sign to do away with any ambiguity is probably a good idea. riders or 50cc motorcycles and learner drivers would have recently passed a learners exam so one would expect them to be knowledgeable with respect to the road signs. 

If you are trying to be obtuse, go for it.

 

However that not withstanding; if you give your under 16 year old a bike and you do not accompany him/her or have not informed him/her as to the rules of the road and where and where not to ride you are a delinquent parent.

 

Simple. Ignorance is not a defense.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Lol, you are wrong.. but actually you are not wrong.

yeah, it's not the marking, it's the designation. 

[Martin PJ]

This thread has been very informative. For me it means I can't ride up Field's Hill M13 anymore. Used to do the ride inland a lot, also M19 is off limits.

 

Only one we can still ride is M4 north of Umhlanga, which is a pretty dangerous road.

 

What is the best way from Pinetown to Kloof without using Field's Hill / M13? I came down through Wyebank a few months ago and the whole road was dug up, not the easiest way to cycle from Pinetown to Kloof.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

This thread has been very informative. For me it means I can't ride up Field's Hill M13 anymore. Used to do the ride inland a lot, also M19 is off limits.

 

Only one we can still ride is M4 north of Umhlanga, which is a pretty dangerous road.

 

What is the best way from Pinetown to Kloof without using Field's Hill / M13? I came down through Wyebank a few months ago and the whole road was dug up, not the easiest way to cycle from Pinetown to Kloof.

the way I used to ride to school was that exact way. Through New Germany, past the old MOTH hall and up Sanders (?) road, to the top and past Lyndhurst Primary, Spy's Hill, then through Wyebank and eventually up the back roads of Kloof to Thomas More college. Was a kaaaak hilly route, but a good one. Not sure how it is right now though. Haven't travelled that road in a long time. 

[Martin PJ]

the way I used to ride to school was that exact way. Through New Germany, past the old MOTH hall and up Sanders (?) road, to the top and past Lyndhurst Primary, Spy's Hill, then through Wyebank and eventually up the back roads of Kloof to Thomas More college. Was a kaaaak hilly route, but a good one. Not sure how it is right now though. Haven't travelled that road in a long time. 

 

When I came down a few months ago, there was no tar road. A huge water pipe was being laid in the actual road at a depth of 5 to 10 m or so, literally the entire length of the road from Pinetown to New Germany. We were riding off road on the road bikes. It was fun coming down, but riding up would be another story.

[jimmycool]

This thread has been very informative. For me it means I can't ride up Field's Hill M13 anymore. Used to do the ride inland a lot, also M19 is off limits.

 

Only one we can still ride is M4 north of Umhlanga, which is a pretty dangerous road.

 

What is the best way from Pinetown to Kloof without using Field's Hill / M13? I came down through Wyebank a few months ago and the whole road was dug up, not the easiest way to cycle from Pinetown to Kloof.

Last time I checked there are non-freeway sign boards at every onramp to the m13 all the way from 45th cutting to hillcrest. The very last onramp at shongweni has the freeway sign on it so as far as I can work out you may cycle all along the m13 but you cannot pass the shongweni intersection.

When I came down a few months ago, there was no tar road. A huge water pipe was being laid in the actual road at a depth of 5 to 10 m or so, literally the entire length of the road from Pinetown to New Germany. We were riding off road on the road bikes. It was fun coming down, but riding up would be another story.