This is why motorists get annoyed

[AdamA]

Okay, so imagine all those cyclists, in a race nogal, riding one behind the other. Might be a constant line of bikes for 10km. How safe would that be I wonder. Its also unrealistic in a race situation and I don't think I have ever seen it anywhere in the world. Feel free to post pics when you find them. 

 

Oh, ya, imagine how terrible your pics would look without a nice bunch to photograph...

 

 

And this is how its done in the WPPPA Races , don't try justify it,... its wrong.

 

 

Section 317 of the National Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and the National Road Traffic Regulations talks about "Races and Sport" on the road...

 

In an Organised Event once permission has been obtained from the MEC of the province, the people concerned with the event are exempt from any other provision of the Act or from any by-law; 

 

In other words:

·         they can ride more than 2 abreast, 

·         they don't have to stop at stop streets

·         they don't have to have reflectors on their bikes

·         they don't have to stick to cycle lanes

 

however this does not give you permission to ride like an idiot… when entering the event you will have to agree to the T&C which would include "to obey marshals and traffic offices" and in some cases stop at stop streets and robots if it is not full road closure

[Velouria]

Everyone talking about patience ... but it's referring to patience for the motor vehicle users 99% of the time ... where would a cyclist ever need to have patience for a motor vehicle user?

 

Cyclists riding all over the road is like the person in the fast lane on the highway doing 70kmph and not moving over ... sure they can do it, but why not just move over to the slower lane and spare everyone the frustration of being stuck behind a slower vehicle? It seems like the social aspect far outweighs the training side, what other reason is there for cyclists to ride next to each other and all over the road?

 

 

I can say that on my daily commutes, I get held up by motorists more than I hold them up. And I still haven't opened a thread on a motoring forum moaning about cyclists getting annoyed! 

 

And then there is the risk of dying when a motorist makes a mistake. I make a mistake and it's a dent in a door panel, or an off road adventure down the grass verge. I have yet to see a motorist die at the hands of a cyclist.

 

The universe gave me the perfect test situation earlier this week. A digger-loader and I were dicing it out on Main road (2 lanes in either direction) in Somerset West - he was a little too slow for me, but I was quite happy to ride behind him. Then he decided to get into the right hand lane in preparation for a right turn in 300m. So we had this interesting situation where there was a digger-loader in the right hand lane, and a cyclists in the left, doing roughly the same speed. Cars patiently waited behind the digger-loader, yet I got hooted at as I dodged the low hanging branches that creep into the left hand lane.

 

So don't tell me motorists can't be patient - they choose not to be patient with those road users who they see as more vulnerable (much like cyclists pick on joggers and pedestrians...).

 

* I'm aware of the generalisations here. Most motorists, like most cyclists are decent, law abiding, considerate road users who just want to get to work and back in one piece!

[Bateleur1]

I can say that on my daily commutes, I get held up by motorists more than I hold them up. And I still haven't opened a thread on a motoring forum moaning about cyclists getting annoyed! 

 

And then there is the risk of dying when a motorist makes a mistake. I make a mistake and it's a dent in a door panel, or an off road adventure down the grass verge. I have yet to see a motorist die at the hands of a cyclist.

 

The universe gave me the perfect test situation earlier this week. A digger-loader and I were dicing it out on Main road (2 lanes in either direction) in Somerset West - he was a little too slow for me, but I was quite happy to ride behind him. Then he decided to get into the right hand lane in preparation for a right turn in 300m. So we had this interesting situation where there was a digger-loader in the right hand lane, and a cyclists in the left, doing roughly the same speed. Cars patiently waited behind the digger-loader, yet I got hooted at as I dodged the low hanging branches that creep into the left hand lane.

 

So don't tell me motorists can't be patient - they choose not to be patient with those road users who they see as more vulnerable (much like cyclists pick on joggers and pedestrians...).

 

* I'm aware of the generalisations here. Most motorists, like most cyclists are decent, law abiding, considerate road users who just want to get to work and back in one piece!

 

Couldn't agree more.

[Patchelicious]

I can say that on my daily commutes, I get held up by motorists more than I hold them up. And I still haven't opened a thread on a motoring forum moaning about cyclists getting annoyed! 

 

And then there is the risk of dying when a motorist makes a mistake. I make a mistake and it's a dent in a door panel, or an off road adventure down the grass verge. I have yet to see a motorist die at the hands of a cyclist.

 

The universe gave me the perfect test situation earlier this week. A digger-loader and I were dicing it out on Main road (2 lanes in either direction) in Somerset West - he was a little too slow for me, but I was quite happy to ride behind him. Then he decided to get into the right hand lane in preparation for a right turn in 300m. So we had this interesting situation where there was a digger-loader in the right hand lane, and a cyclists in the left, doing roughly the same speed. Cars patiently waited behind the digger-loader, yet I got hooted at as I dodged the low hanging branches that creep into the left hand lane.

 

So don't tell me motorists can't be patient - they choose not to be patient with those road users who they see as more vulnerable (much like cyclists pick on joggers and pedestrians...).

 

* I'm aware of the generalisations here. Most motorists, like most cyclists are decent, law abiding, considerate road users who just want to get to work and back in one piece!

They CAN be patient, and often are.

 

But they loath cyclists, this is often a factor of our own doing.

 

People will show a lot more patience when stuck behind a digger loader/truck/granny driver/hand cyclists than being stuck behind two MAMILs having a fat chat on their R50k toys thinking that they are more important than everybody else.

 

Edit: So not so much about them being bullies with regards to cyclists being vulnerable, its is more about their "belief" that cyclists are knobheads, based on previous interactions and stories around the braais etc. Edit edit: AAAAND angry "can I see the manager" types on Facebook groups....

[Mojoman]

Gotta love this time of year in the Cradle....!

[V12man]

Not only a braggart but a name dropper too.

 

So it is a love hate relationship between you two then.

Friends with benefits...

[Fat Boab]

Gotta love this time of year in the Cradle....!

 

cyclists.jpg

 

Ironically these images show some relatively well behaved riding compared to some of the WTF riding that I've seen in the last few weeks.......

[andydude]

Hey guys, let's try to get a few opinions across from both sides! We are all cyclists and drivers. Maybe we can learn something from both perspectives and change our behaviour and attitude.

 

Cyclist: I dislike when cars look like they're not going to stop at a side stop street where main road has right of way. I always get a fright. Drivers: Perhaps approach stop streets slower and stop behind line.

 

Driver: I dislike when cyclists suddenly swerve from their line (whether from broken road, glass, but I can't see). I always get a fright. Cyclists: Perhaps signal your manouver and also look behind to see if it's safe to swerve across. And lift your hand afterwards to say thank you for the trouble.

['Kaze Pete]

Ironically these images show some relatively well behaved riding compared to some of the WTF riding that I've seen in the last few weeks.......

 

I agree. It was mayhem today with the annual 94.7 cycle CHALLANGARS! using the yellow lane and a bit, then to have massive cyclelab groups overtake them, and while this is going on, having tribe multisport overtaking them again. Needless to say, that at least half the width of the tarred surface is being used.

 

And all of this while there are cars coming from the front dodging cyclists on their side of the road. 

 

This seems to be more of an issue on the flatter sections (road to/from Mrs. Pless' caves)

[Patchelicious]

Gotta love this time of year in the Cradle....!

 

cyclists.jpg

Ok look, I am all for driving change in our behavior, but this driver is moaning about 20cm.

 

Some people just dislike other people and nothing will change that. 10 000 years ago, his tribe would have probably kicked him out, and he would have been eaten by a lion solving the issue. But these days we must accept boneheads like this.

[Bonus]

I don't see anyone riding "in the middle of the road" in that pic?  

 

Cry me a river bru!

 

:-)

[carbon29er]

Driver: I dislike when cyclists suddenly swerve from their line (whether from broken road, glass, but I can't see). I always get a fright. Cyclists: Perhaps signal your manouver and also look behind to see if it's safe to swerve across. And lift your hand afterwards to say thank you for the trouble.

Guaranteed to cause a swerve in 78.569% of cyclists.

[Mojoman]

That Kdorp thread is up to 50 comments, excitable bunch....

[Patchelicious]

Guaranteed to cause a swerve in 78.569% of cyclists.

Was taught a trick to reduce this to almost 0%

 

Place your right hand on the back of your saddle, then look over right shoulder.... Bike stays straight, still do it like this.

[Ferro]

Mojo that FB post is becoming a gem. 116 and growing. Just read some the comments. Joh!

[andydude]

Guaranteed to cause a swerve in 78.569% of cyclists.

I thought about that and yeah could be a problem. Maybe time for a small rear view mirror attached to the handlebar Or see patches solution.