NelAndre Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 Eish this topic is depressing......we must buy cameras etc to become policemen, drunk drivers KILLING people and then just seemingly get away with it. I have no solution to offer other than I am trying to be the best ambassador I can be for cyclists when using the roads. I do the same when I drive my car (try my best, some days my best is better than other days). I have a dream today.....a dream that we can just jump on our bikes and cycle in safety, experiencing and practicing mutual respect for and from all other road users.
carbon29er Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 I realise that motorist are not aware of cyclists and pedestrians. What blows my mind is the weekly occurrence of nearly being taken out cycling back from Jonkershoek by massive 4x4's with a couple of bikes on the back.Which is why I advocate NOT riding in the gutter. In single file of course. If you (the cyclist, not Napalm) are in from the gutter riding in the lane roughly where a motor vehicle's left wheel will be there is a higher statistical probability that you will be seen and treated differently. There is no doubt that slinking along the very side of the road gives a motorist courage to ignore you as you are already behaving as if you have no right to be there. Then add in the perception that they can sneak past without having to change direction at all and it's easy to see where these accidents originate. The accident on the M4 where a drunk driver drove into the back of a group of cyclists is the exception, accidents where a motorist just ploughs into the back of a cyclist are rare compared to clipping cyclists while passing.
nathrix Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 Eish this topic is depressing......we must buy cameras etc to become policemen, drunk drivers KILLING people and then just seemingly get away with it. I have no solution to offer other than I am trying to be the best ambassador I can be for cyclists when using the roads. I do the same when I drive my car (try my best, some days my best is better than other days). I have a dream today.....a dream that we can just jump on our bikes and cycle in safety, experiencing and practicing mutual respect for and from all other road users.That's one of the reasons i got a camera. Imagine everyone riding with cameras and uploading bad behaviors for all to see (wishful thinking i know)...it does help to get people's attention and it will definitely help when you get into a sticky situation to use as evidence.
Hairy Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 This is why I want to buy a steel frame and modify it so the top tube can be removed. that way I have something to "explain" to said motorist why its a bad idea to not think before running over another human being. Not talking about beating on said motorist, talking about taking out a few of their windows.pssstttt...let's not degrade ourselves to be like the comments found on the motoring forums by screaming violence as a solution from behind our keyboards / smart phones / tabs
V12man Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 pssstttt...let's not degrade ourselves to be like the comments found on the motoring forums by screaming violence as a solution from behind our keyboards / smart phones / tabsJa - lets stop talking and start DOING.... Note - above in comic sans
Headshot Posted October 21, 2016 Author Posted October 21, 2016 Thanks for the wishes and comments. This wasn't about bashing driver's per se, just a reality check ( another one!) in response to some of the comments on other threads. I think the answer is to expect the worst and to ride even more defensively than ever. That's also how I drive my car.
Hairy Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 Thanks for the wishes and comments. This wasn't about bashing driver's per se, just a reality check ( another one!) in response to some of the comments on other threads. I think the answer is to expect the worst and to ride even more defensively than ever. That's also how I drive my car. commuting by bicycle makes one a far better driver I recon.
Patchelicious Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 commuting by bicycle makes one a far better driver I recon.But commuting by car does not make one a better cyclist.... So, commute by bike badabing badaboom
Velouria Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 I've found that the best way to guarantee my safety is to thank those motorists that give you the slightest gap, not only to show gratitude, but because there seems to be some sort of ripple effect. Thank the first car for giving you a bit of room, and suddenly every car behind him also gives you more space - like there is social pressure to not be the guy who squeezes the cyclist. Works everytime. Doesn't mean I don't call out those that squeeze me, but I prefer to try change their behaviour through kindness than through aggression.
nathrix Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 Charged, formatted, locked and loaded...camera my only self defence weapon. Will mount the new GoPro Session on the rear as soon as it arrives in the country...
eccc whippet Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 The accident on the M4 where a drunk driver drove into the back of a group of cyclists is the exception, accidents where a motorist just ploughs into the back of a cyclist are rare compared to clipping cyclists while passing. 4 cyclist hit from the back by drunk drivers in 2 incidents in less than a year...another cyclist hit from the back on the bridge behind me while i was taking pics of the accident on the M4...the driver said he couldnt see the cyclist because of the sun in his eyes...i have only heard of 1 being clipped in the cycling lane in Durban and one side swiped on sunday in blue lagoon after the shova.
lechatnoir Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 I've found that the best way to guarantee my safety is to thank those motorists that give you the slightest gap, not only to show gratitude, but because there seems to be some sort of ripple effect. Thank the first car for giving you a bit of room, and suddenly every car behind him also gives you more space - like there is social pressure to not be the guy who squeezes the cyclist. Works everytime. Doesn't mean I don't call out those that squeeze me, but I prefer to try change their behaviour through kindness than through aggression. When a motorist is holding back from passing and waiting until it's safe to do so becomes the biggest cardio interval ever! I make sure to wave thanks with a thumbs-up when the do pass by.
carbon29er Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 I've found that the best way to guarantee my safety is to thank those motorists that give you the slightest gap, not only to show gratitude, but because there seems to be some sort of ripple effect. Thank the first car for giving you a bit of room, and suddenly every car behind him also gives you more space - like there is social pressure to not be the guy who squeezes the cyclist. Works everytime. Doesn't mean I don't call out those that squeeze me, but I prefer to try change their behaviour through kindness than through aggression.We did a study of driver behaviour when passing a cyclist. If the 1st car passed wide all the following cars passed wide. If the 1st car passed without deviation from their path the following cars mostly did not deviate to give the cyclist more space. When one motorist did pass wider than the vehicle in front of them the following motorists passed wider. It only takes one one motorist to change behaviour when driving in a queue of motorists. Yes, there will always be the important sod who does not give a toss about anything around him. I haven't worked out how to get to him yet.
carbon29er Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 Charged, formatted, locked and loaded...camera my only self defence weapon. Will mount the new GoPro Session on the rear as soon as it arrives in the country...I totally agree with the sentiment you expressed earlier that if enough of us use social media to highlight the really bad things that motorists do to endanger others it has to have an effect on some of that behaviour. Why not look at the Fly6 cycle specific camera rear light, cheaper than the session. I believe Cycle Factory in the Cape have a few in stock and as a dealer and activist I'm sure you'll get a bargain.
Bonus Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 Some good clips here: https://youtu.be/1B3derOrYz4
leeubok Posted October 21, 2016 Posted October 21, 2016 Some good clips here: https://youtu.be/1B3derOrYz4JO! The oke that hit the deer went down hard!
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