Tumbleweed Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 In the aftermath of the latest fatalities, I heard callers to radio stations going on about how people ride their bikes - two, three abreast; arrogantly; ignoring robots, etc - but what struck me was when people mentioned where they see this behaviour. Names of busy thoroughfares like Witkoppen, Great North, etc kept being brought up. Yeah, I know we have a right to ride on the roads, but why court disaster by mostly using roads with loads of traffic. Years ago, when I used to commute to work I started off taking Great North. Despite it being early in the mornings, I had some close calls. So I decided instead to make my way through the suburbs. It added little time if any at all to my commute and felt way safer. I would like to know why cyclists seem to gravitate to busy roads...
Oufy MTB (Roadie) Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 I specifically ride early to avoid being on busy roads. However, in the afternoon commuting home one don't really have a choice, so I favour my MTB where I wlll hop onto pavements when it gets tricky
Brickleberry Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 It's a catch 22 , busy roads tend to be the ones with wide yellow lanes to cycle "safely" in. Back roads don't. I feel less safe on a backroad with no shoulder , when a truck or taxi decides I'm in his way and drives right next to me , as there is no space for me to go. Issues only start when taxis and some cars decide to drive in yellow lanes cos thy are too good to wait in traffic, otherwise the business of the road , should have no impact on a cyclist
J∆kk∆ls Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 Sometimes busy roads are safer as drivers pay more attention to the roads when they are packed!
Lurch the stalker Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 It's a catch 22 , busy roads tend to be the ones with wide yellow lanes to cycle "safely" in. Back roads don't. I feel less safe on a backroad with no shoulder , when a truck or taxi decides I'm in his way and drives right next to me , as there is no space for me to go. Issues only start when taxis and some cars decide to drive in yellow lanes cos thy are too good to wait in traffic, otherwise the business of the road , should have no impact on a cyclistI definitely agree.Personally, I had had way more close calls on quiet roads with some idiot pulling out a driveway without bothering to look than I have on busy roads.
DJR Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 ........because there are too few dedicated safe cycle lanes?
hayleyearth Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 There is also not always back roads to get places, like if one wants to go to the Cradle from Randburg (as an example) - the road I think most people use is Cedar of which there isnt really a back road option (as far as I know). Then I guess there is Malibongwe, Beyers Naude, Hendrik Potgieter and Ontdekkers - non of which are good 'alternatives'... What I do not get is when there is a road with double lanes (for traffic both ways) and the cars INSIST on riding in the lane closest to the cyclist even though there isnt another car within a 2km front or back or in the furthest lane - what's up with that? Been hooted at multiple times for this - then I just think "use the other damn lane"
Uni Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 there's 2 risks a cyclist faces - 1. carnage from vehicles and 2. criminals. cycling on a quiet road would make one more vulnerable to no. 2 but safer from 1. but there are times when I think cyclist should exercise some self preservation. case in pt.:Harry Gaulaun road in Midrand is super busy, single lane dual carriage. Yesterday there was a guy riding along (sans helmet) and he was on the left, cars travelling very slowly. I was behind the taxi that was alongside him. It's impossible to give the guy 1m let alone 50cm gap. The dude started to reach round to grab his phone from his backpack, he swerved out, I actually held my breathe as I was sure this guy was gonna go down in front of me. Cars then came to a stop and he went and rode down the middle between the 2 lanes. I really wanted to ask the dude WTF he was doing. we're not going to change driver behaviour in a hurry. Choose your roads carefully. That's all. Stay safe ppl
Uni Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 ........because there are too few dedicated safe cycle lanes? On Zuurfontein Rd in GP, it was a huge thoroughfare for commuters from Tembisa to Kempton and east rand suburbs, as it had a huge (2m) emergency lane allowing relatively safe commuting. Commuters rode facing traffic - legal or not - but it allowed them to see taxis that decided to drive in the emergency lane. they since ripped up the emergency lane and replaced it with a 30cm one, added a lane for the cars and they're building a Rea Vaya bus lane. I asked City of JHB and they said they're going to include cycle lanes - but the construction has been going on since Oct last yr so the commuters are having to dice with death till then.
NelAndre Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 I drive to venues like Heia, Avianto etc as I do not feel safe on the roads. Have to say I have seen cyclists on Cedar Road etc on the way to the Cradle and they operate like people on suicide missions. Wrong side of the road, 4 abreast, no lights/reflectors. It seems like when cyclists are in groups the pack mentality kicks in with potential danger for themselves and other road users. 1 accident or 1 death is simply 1 too many, as cyclists we need to be extra cautious to protect ourselves.
Belgarath Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 Yeah, I know we have a right to ride on the roads, but why court disaster by mostly using roads with loads of traffic. Years ago, when I used to commute to work I started off taking Great North. Despite it being early in the mornings, I had some close calls. So I decided instead to make my way through the suburbs. It added little time if any at all to my commute and felt way safer. I would like to know why cyclists seem to gravitate to busy roads... On training rides I choose roads with dirt shoulders. I have a little route worked out through trial and error. Commuting is unfortunately another story. I have to go from Pretoria to Midrand. Mostly I can still choose dirt shoulders, but the choke point still is Fountains. Wide enough yellow lane for the most part, except over the bridges. Not too fond of those sections... It's probably because, while training, people (mostly roadies) look for long stretches of road, because having to stop at every intersection in the suburbs is annoying. I don't like busy roads, and really try to avoid them. The "catch 22" as mentioned is more danger from unmentionables on less traveled roads.
madbradd Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 Another point nobody has mentioned directly.... To do a 3 hour ride on "not busy" is impossible - because it means riding in suburbs and never crossing a main road. When on a road bike, most of the enjoyment (for me at least) comes from the feeling that you get when you're going fast, get into a rhythm and sit there for a while, and even more so when you're in a group. To do that on suburban roads is not possible.
Patchelicious Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 If I ride on my own, I tend to stick to busier roads for safety from criminals, but if I have a buddy, we will stick to back roads to avoid traffic.
Headshot Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 Another point nobody has mentioned directly.... To do a 3 hour ride on "not busy" is impossible - because it means riding in suburbs and never crossing a main road. When on a road bike, most of the enjoyment (for me at least) comes from the feeling that you get when you're going fast, get into a rhythm and sit there for a while, and even more so when you're in a group. To do that on suburban roads is not possible. Yes, and when you start early and ride for 4 hours the roads become busy. A quick hour spin is a different story...
guineapig Posted February 10, 2016 Posted February 10, 2016 Today coming down from Pinetown, +/- 12:30pm there was a female in Lotto cycyling gear behind her pace car on the M13 near the N3 split to Durban.The car had Limpopo plates on and the hatch was open. Unfortunately no team branding on the car. She would have been in the centre lane at some stage before the split. Cars doing 100kph.... don't know how that will work when she hits the hills. And we wonder why motorists see us as a menace.
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