Bicycle licence fees

[Mojoman]

Not sure if this has already been posted:

 

When it comes to fighting for road space, living in a city is a pain to say the least.  Motorists and motorcycle riders alike, continuously fight for dominance in traffic.  One can understand that being licensed as a road user, driving a car, bus, truck or motorbike affords you the same right to road use, but then of course you also get cyclists…

Many a plea has been issued by the cycling community to the public asking for consideration to cyclists.  It even stirred new pro cyclist laws into force in 2012 in the Western Cape.  Much has been done to avoid unnecessary deaths on the roads.

If you live in Cape Town, I am sure you would agree the worst road users are:

1.) Minibus taxis

2.) Cyclists

3.) Bikers… (but that’s another story)

The WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL ROAD TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION ACT, 2012 (ACT 6 OF 2012): SAFETY OF CYCLISTS REGULATIONS, 2013

Clearly states the most important rules for cycling:

1.) Motorists may not come closer than 1 meter to a cyclist.

2.) Cyclist may NOT ride abreast of another cyclist unless overtaking.

3.) Cyclist may not ride while wearing a headset, headphones or any listening device other than a hearing aid.

4.) Cyclist must keep as close as practicable to the left edge of the roadway.

5.) Bicycles must have lights on, front and back, between sunset and sunrise.

6.) Bicycles must have front and rear reflectors.

Reg 323 for rules on freeways – where cyclists are prohibited

(1)         No person shall operate on a freeway—

(a)       in a vehicle drawn by an animal;

(b)        on a pedal cycle;

©        on a motor cycle having an engine with a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimeters or which is propelled by electrical power or which is a vehicle as contemplated in paragraph (b) of the definition of motor vehicle in the Act; ‘

Yet, the problem remains.

1.) Cyclists do not obey the laws of the road and even think themselves above the law.

2.) Cyclists misinterpret the law by allowing themselves a meter from the left edge, plus having one or two and I have even seen, three cyclists cycling next to each other in a single lane.

3.) Cyclists do not stop at stop signs and red traffic lights.

4.) They regularly exceed the speed limit in town.

5.) They cycle on the freeway even though this is not allowed even for 50 cc motorcycles.

Of course not all cyclists fall into this category, but the majority who do, gives the sport a bad name and leave motorists fuming.

Where must we as tax paying road users drive?  Why must we endanger ourselves and our vehicles to oncoming traffic because you need a wider berth?  Why must we waste unnecessary fuel to and from work while constantly having to wait for you?  Why should we as motorists take the blame for knocking a cyclist over?

I say this is absolutely absurd…  It is high time that laws get passed at National level and enforce road tax and licensing fees on cyclists.  Who knows, maybe we can then build them cycle lanes everywhere with the fees.

If you want a say and be afforded the same rights as road users, you should also get trained and tested by the licensing authorities.  Failing that, motorists shouldn’t be charged when cyclists get run over.

http://voices.news24.com/neil-holthauzen/2017/01/road-tax-and-license-fees-for-cyclists-a-must/

 

[bikebloke]

well Neil Holtshausen is clearly a facist 4x4 driving cyclist hating twatwaffle  and who cares what he thinks ..

[Suidwes Boytjie]

He's clearly not a cyclist.

[Mojoman]

well Neil Holtshausen is clearly a facist 4x4 driving cyclist hating twatwaffle  and who cares what he thinks ..

That last line is a bit of dick thing to say.....Motorists shouldn't be charged if cyclists are run over....

 

 

[Duane_Bosch]

As far as I understand vehicle licenses are assessed roughly on what they weigh because of the damage/maintenance costs they cause on the road.

 

For the sake of convenience lets round the numbers off. My double cab weighs about 2 tons and costs +- R1000 to license every year. That's 50cents per kilogran. I'll happily pay R4 to license my bicycle. Will that make the road any safer? I doubt it.

[Guest]

Ja no I fully agreee. And pedestrians as well. I see them all over the road, they must get licences as well. And if I knock one over I shouldnt be in trouble if he doesnt have a licence.

 

Here in Kzn I also see lots of goats in the road. We must have a licence for these goats, they are a nuisance, period.

 

Also I think taxi drivers should get licences as well.

 

This I think will solve all our problems.

Lets all get licences and be happy.

[coppi]

I remember as a kid in the eighties going to the local library to buy my bicycle license and was issued with a metal disc to be fastened to the bike

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Butterbean]

Actually, I'm fine with that thought process. If I can pay a licence fee, but ensure a murder charge for a driver who knocks a cyclist over resulting in death, that's cool with me.

 

If it means that serious punishment comes for people who do drive into cyclists, then it's really cheap at the price. No problem.

[bikebloke]

neil is an overprivileged blogger who thinks his opinions matter ......shame

 

https://twitter.com/intent/follow?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fvoices.news24.com%2Fauthor%2Fneil-holthauzen%2F&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&region=follow_link&screen_name=HoltshausenNeil&tw_p=followbutton

[Spinnekop]

Never mind....

 

Another day....another hater.

I wonder if a cyclist ran off with his boyfriend?

[Jurgens Smit]

Sho dude, maybe use some spacing so we can read better.

[Mojoman]

Sho dude, maybe use some spacing so we can read better.

Sorry, I just did a copy and paste, visit the link for the formatting:

 

http://voices.news24.com/neil-holthauzen/2017/01/road-tax-and-license-fees-for-cyclists-a-must/

[EmptyB]

"Waste unnecessary fuel" waiting for cyclists....seriously!! This oke is trying to hard.

[Danger Dassie]

Is he a ghost writer for Donald Trump? 

One thing alone that puts paid to Neil's self righteous rage (whilst in the safety of his cage) is that there is no such as 'road tax' perse. 
Collections for roads come from all taxes, which most of us pay in some form or another. Many road users also pay with their lives.

 

[Danger Dassie]

"Why should we as motorists take the blame for knocking a cyclist over?"

 

Because Neil, more often than not it is actually the drivers fault. Especially in the case of hit and runs offences. 

[Moriarty]

As far as I understand vehicle licenses are assessed roughly on what they weigh because of the damage/maintenance costs they cause on the road.

 

For the sake of convenience lets round the numbers off. My double cab weighs about 2 tons and costs +- R1000 to license every year. That's 50cents per kilogran. I'll happily pay R4 to license my bicycle. Will that make the road any safer? I doubt it.

Exactly! You said it, would also pay a related fee in order to get some rights and protection.