This is why motorists get annoyed

[Bonus]

In other Cradle news: The past weekend cyclists had to dodge wannabe try-athletes running in the cycling lane.

 

Aaargh I hate those guys! They run two abreast, they talk to each other while they're running, they are so much slower than me on my bike! They make me so angry I may just go out and shoot someone in a rage. . . and if I do it will be THEIR fault for running in my way and turning me from being such a cool dude into a raving nutter. . . .

 

 

:-)

[V12man]

Perhaps you will want to have another look at the rules of the road - It says very clearly Keep Left, Pass Right. Bicycles are normal road users and have every right to the road - just ride behind each other, NOT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, unless in the process of passing. That is my frustration with road cyclists - they have your attitude, and think it is their right to ride in bundles all over the lane.

Left of the centerline - NOT left of the left hand lane... the wording is identical to that for motor vehicles.

[V12man]

Share the road!

 

Pedestrians on the pavement

Cyclists in the gutter

Motorists on the road

 

With approx. 20,000 deaths every year on our roads maybe its time to get annoyed about dangerous driving, drunk driving, speeding, texting etc.

And not worry about the 50% of road deaths that are pedestrians? The logic of pedestrians in SA is often non existent - Jay walking and crossing against lights is endemic here - compounded at night by dark skins and/or dark clothing -.this really needs to become a focus of the arrive alive campaign as well as against speeding and drunken driving - add drunken and dumb pedestrian behaviour to their program.

[eddy]

Prepare for the odd dent if you do this when I am around....

 

.

Last Friday morning, we were riding in single file and turning left via a one car width slip-lane, defined by a hard curb on both sides, when a tannie eating her breakfast AND talking on her phone overtook my cycling mate and forced him into the pavement.

 

I think she would have preferred dents in her car when he caught up with her at the next traffic light. He was reasoned but determined in explaining to her the potential consequences of her actions.

[King_Crispy]

the solution is social education.....you know, teaching people (drivers, cyclists, an old lady with a zimmer frame) to respect other people.

 

respect would resolve all these issues I believe.

 

human beings on bicycles would behave on the roads

human beings on motorcars would respect the human beings on bicycles

human beings need to learn to be human beings

 

laws are laws and are a means to control / promote good social living between human beings .... with no respect, the laws mean nothing, and hence good social living means nothing

 

looking in the mirror and asking one self some tough questions is the way to world peace.....

My good man, these points are all very valid.

Buy that man a bottle of Bells

[V12man]

Last Friday morning, we were riding in single file and turning left via a one car width slip-lane, defined by a hard curb on both sides, when a tannie eating her breakfast AND talking on her phone overtook my cycling mate and forced him into the pavement.

 

I think she would have preferred dents in her car when he caught up with her at the next traffic light. He was reasoned but determined in explaining to her the potential consequences of her actions.

I have it on good authority she does have a dent... at the first traffic circle where she drove on... the second stop at the traffic light gave her a slight verbal bollocking... pity the light changed or she might have gotten some free capsicum.

 

Phones and food while driving don't mix...

[andydude]

Did You Know? https://t.co/hHrIUZwlvF

 

[andydude]

Oops [emoji1]

 

8 times more drivers than cyclists caught breaking red lights in Dublin https://t.co/NJtnnhCt5b #Garda #allocate4cycling https://t.co/q1D9UcBMl9

[Loose cog]

Hey! Leave the Irish out of this.

[Grease_Monkey]

This is a bit of moot point and one that upsets motorists.

 

On a road like this I would, If on my own, would ride where the 2nd row of cyclists are riding. From a safety perspective (Own the road and all)

 

So in fact I do not care who rides on my left, but yes motorists see this as an issue.

 

So the question is if they were all riding single file in the middle of the lane, what would the comment be?

Yeah you are right... if I was riding on my own I would be riding in in the same line as the 2nd row of cyclists - but if a car wanted to come past I would move over...

 

Just common sense that cyclists going 30km/hr should move over formotorists going 60km/hr.

 

The "make space for everyone on the road" rule applies for cyclists too - the only point I am trying to make.

 

And Im not taking sides here - I am a cyclist so obviously want the road to be safe for all. Just dnt think pulling the proverbial middle finger at motorists is helping anyone's case.

[Stretch]

couple of weeks ago I saw a guy on the road between Nottingham road and Howick with a big trail of cars behind him...in the middle of the road...talking on his phone

[carbon29er]

The "make space for everyone on the road" rule applies for cyclists too - the only point I am trying to make.

 

 

Cycling safety in this country is a huge battle not helped by campaigns being diluted to one of share the road as if it is a greenbelt that cyclists are now starting to use.

 

Bicycles ARE ALLOWED on the road and are a vehicle with the right to a lane.

 

Using a campaign slogan of Please Share the Road makes it look as if bicycles should not be there.

 

The "make space for everyone on the road" you refer to is seen by motorists as you being in their space rather you being in your own space that they should respect.

 

In my opinion, any watered down message like share the road is useless as it reinforces the notion that cyclists are encroaching in motorists space.

 

Very few, I'm not going to say none, cyclists get hit when "owning" a lane and riding well in from the gutter. The reason? They are visible and force the motorist to overtake as they would another vehicle. Accidents occur when the cyclist is "sharing the road" by riding in the gutter and the motorist does not overtake. The motorist just drives on a straight path thinking there is enough space for both the cyclist and the motor vehicle. But we all know there is not.

 

The most dangerous situation is on a left hand bend. The motorist cuts the corner and there is nowhere for the cyclist to go. As a result experienced commuters move into the middle of the lane at left hand bends. In Cape Town think Rondebosch Main Rd and St James and Muizemberg Main Rd in the direction of Cape Town.

 

I have hours of footage of these 2 scenarios taken with on bike videos.

 

Be safe by being visible. Lights and hi viz clothes can only do so much if you feel you should not be there and are riding in the gutter as if you don't want to be seen as you are sharing the motorists' road rather than your own road. A bit like a rogue rider sneaking through a bit of off limit greenbelt.

[Pure Savage]

couple of weeks ago I saw a guy on the road between Nottingham road and Howick with a big trail of cars behind him...in the middle of the road...talking on his phone

Photo or it didnt happen...

[Patchelicious]

Cycling safety in this country is a huge battle not helped by campaigns being diluted to one of share the road as if it is a greenbelt that cyclists are now starting to use.

 

Bicycles ARE ALLOWED on the road and are a vehicle with the right to a lane.

 

Using a campaign slogan of Please Share the Road makes it look as if bicycles should not be there.

 

The "make space for everyone on the road" you refer to is seen by motorists as you being in their space rather you being in your own space that they should respect.

 

In my opinion, any watered down message like share the road is useless as it reinforces the notion that cyclists are encroaching in motorists space.

 

Very few, I'm not going to say none, cyclists get hit when "owning" a lane and riding well in from the gutter. The reason? They are visible and force the motorist to overtake as they would another vehicle. Accidents occur when the cyclist is "sharing the road" by riding in the gutter and the motorist does not overtake. The motorist just drives on a straight path thinking there is enough space for both the cyclist and the motor vehicle. But we all know there is not.

 

The most dangerous situation is on a left hand bend. The motorist cuts the corner and there is nowhere for the cyclist to go. As a result experienced commuters move into the middle of the lane at left hand bends. In Cape Town think Rondebosch Main Rd and St James and Muizemberg Main Rd in the direction of Cape Town.

 

I have hours of footage of these 2 scenarios taken with on bike videos.

 

Be safe by being visible. Lights and hi viz clothes can only do so much if you feel you should not be there and are riding in the gutter as if you don't want to be seen as you are sharing the motorists' road rather than your own road. A bit like a rogue rider sneaking through a bit of off limit greenbelt.

Ok so thats lots of "what doesnt work" in your opinion.

 

What should we as cyclists do in your opinion? What can I go and do different TODAY to make a difference?

 

And would a multi tiered approach not work?

 

1: to change the motorist behaviour (your point of: Bicycles ARE ALLOWED on the road and are a vehicle with the right to a lane.) 

2: to change our behaviour. (my point that cyclising like dwisses doesnt help)

 

Surely it can be both, not either.

[andydude]

Hey! Leave the Irish out of this.

Saw this joke recently [emoji1]

 

Edit: the one I saw was in an irish pub and with guinness

 

[carbon29er]

Worldwide I think all cyclists want is to get to their destination alive and safely.

 

To do this all we require is space. I can't be hit if a motor vehicle is a minimum of a metre away from me. More at higher speeds.

 

We can do a lot too. All really simple stuff.

 

Be visible. Have a rear red light or two. Even in day light.

Ride in a straight line, don't weave.

Indicate your intentions.

Acknowledge a motorist who hoots with a hello wave rather than the bird.

Thank motorists with a wave when they respect your space.

Don't get hit up, shout and swear.

Stop at traffic lights and stop streets where not stopping would affect others.

If someone does cut you off, and you feel the need to chase them down, be polite and explain what they did wrong to endanger you. We are all more receptive to politeness. Wait for them to threaten you before you use the pepper spray,...

Put a Stay Wider sticker on your car.

 

Be a nice person when on a bike, not a "dwisses" as you term it.

 

But does it really matter if you see a cyclist doing things differently to what you would? The guy without a helmet, the guy with ear buds, the guy who rides in the emergency lane on a very flat section of the M5 in Kenilworth. Does creating a thread about it and waxing lyrical about how stupid they are or posting photos on twitter really help anyone?

 

It's unlikely to change anyone's behaviour and just fuels the antagonistic, justifying their hostility towards cyclists.  Rather just don't do what you don't like them doing.