Bicycle licence fees

[Danger Dassie]

Definitely Trumpish ..... 

 

I am an astute and dedicated individual who always seeks a challenge. I thrive under pressure and enjoy making contact with new people from all backgrounds and cultures. I have a keen interest in linguistics and expect only the best effort and quality of work from people around me and within the industry. 

 

I am an avid political/social activist, who believes in raising awareness on the options citizens have in their choices concerning human rights and mainstream belief. I speak 7 languages and my career has allowed me to live and work in 11 different countries across Africa and Europe. I enjoy writing about various topics and try to keep it simple, informative and sometimes even funny.

[Bateleur1]

A bicycle license won't change motorist attitude to other road users.  The drivers license is suppose to deal with that and in SA that fails miserably.  Moving on ...

[Mamil]

A mandatory part of obtaining a driver's license should be to make no fewer than 10 trips by bicycle of 15k from the suburbs to the CBD of the town in which the test takes place.

 

This individual would change his tune very quickly if he had this experience. 

[Bonker]

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.

Was about to write this, but you did it better 

[RocknRolla]

another person with access to a big audience... all I see is blah blah blah blah blah.

 

(much the same as some people see my posts)

[carbon29er]

I love these guys. Half a brain and a soap box.

 

My reply to his article:

 

Really? The paltry amount you pay per annum for a licence disc entitles you to be completely entitled and misinformed about the actual costs motorists inflict on society.

 

If you think paying R1,500 per annum is all it costs to provide you with a road to drive a 3,000 kg SUV you are sorely mistaken. But on this basis, I am more than happy to pay a R3.50 licence fee for my bicycle, in addition to the fee I already pay for my vehicle which I do not use when I ride. But I am fortunate as I have choices. What about those less fortunate than you and I who cannot afford a motor vehicle?

 

By way of fact, the annual licence fee goes to the province where you reside and forms part of general revenues. In 2015 Western Cape received R1,2 billion from motor vehicle licenses yet spent R3,12 billion on provincial roads. That does not even include what municipalities spent. City of Cape Town budgeted to spend R1,4 billion on ALL transport capital items in 2015-2018, of which R1,2 billion is on the Wetton Lansdowne corridor.

 

So clearly motorists are a huge drain on the economy as the licence fees they pay contribute almost nothing towards the cost of providing the roads that they want to use in a privileged and exclusive manner.

 

Who goes to all the trouble of writing an article ranting against an economically neutral user group without actually checking the facts and the feasibility of what they advocate?

In addition your list of road menaces in completely based on your misinformed opinion being passed off as fact.

 

The biggest road menace is entitled people texting while they drive or driving drunk. And those who think they are smart who deliberately endanger other road users.

 

Your bio says you have traveled the world and lived in many countries. Such a pity you learned nothing while there.

 

But then again it does not take much intellect to rant against cyclists
as a menace to society. And you clearly do not have an abundance of intellect spare.

 

[bikebloke]

 

I love these guys. Half a brain and a soap box.

 

My reply to his article:

 

Really? The paltry amount you pay per annum for a licence disc entitles you to be completely entitled and misinformed about the actual costs motorists inflict on society.

 

If you think paying R1,500 per annum is all it costs to provide you with a road to drive a 3,000 kg SUV you are sorely mistaken. But on this basis, I am more than happy to pay a R3.50 licence fee for my bicycle, in addition to the fee I already pay for my vehicle which I do not use when I ride. But I am fortunate as I have choices. What about those less fortunate than you and I who cannot afford a motor vehicle?

 

By way of fact, the annual licence fee goes to the province where you reside and forms part of general revenues. In 2015 Western Cape received R1,2 billion from motor vehicle licenses yet spent R3,12 billion on provincial roads. That does not even include what municipalities spent. City of Cape Town budgeted to spend R1,4 billion on ALL transport capital items in 2015-2018, of which R1,2 billion is on the Wetton Lansdowne corridor.

 

So clearly motorists are a huge drain on the economy as the licence fees they pay contribute almost nothing towards the cost of providing the roads that they want to use in a privileged and exclusive manner.

 

Who goes to all the trouble of writing an article ranting against an economically neutral user group without actually checking the facts and the feasibility of what they advocate?

In addition your list of road menaces in completely based on your misinformed opinion being passed off as fact.

 

The biggest road menace is entitled people texting while they drive or driving drunk. And those who think they are smart who deliberately endanger other road users.

 

Your bio says you have traveled the world and lived in many countries. Such a pity you learned nothing while there.

 

But then again it does not take much intellect to rant against cyclists

as a menace to society. And you clearly do not have an abundance of intellect spare.

 

you should post this as a reply to his original blog post on news24

[EmptyB]

 

I love these guys. Half a brain and a soap box.

 

My reply to his article:

 

 

Really? The paltry amount you pay per annum for a licence disc entitles you to be completely entitled and misinformed about the actual costs motorists inflict on society.

 

If you think paying R1,500 per annum is all it costs to provide you with a road to drive a 3,000 kg SUV you are sorely mistaken. But on this basis, I am more than happy to pay a R3.50 licence fee for my bicycle, in addition to the fee I already pay for my vehicle which I do not use when I ride. But I am fortunate as I have choices. What about those less fortunate than you and I who cannot afford a motor vehicle?

 

By way of fact, the annual licence fee goes to the province where you reside and forms part of general revenues. In 2015 Western Cape received R1,2 billion from motor vehicle licenses yet spent R3,12 billion on provincial roads. That does not even include what municipalities spent. City of Cape Town budgeted to spend R1,4 billion on ALL transport capital items in 2015-2018, of which R1,2 billion is on the Wetton Lansdowne corridor.

 

So clearly motorists are a huge drain on the economy as the licence fees they pay contribute almost nothing towards the cost of providing the roads that they want to use in a privileged and exclusive manner.

 

Who goes to all the trouble of writing an article ranting against an economically neutral user group without actually checking the facts and the feasibility of what they advocate?

In addition your list of road menaces in completely based on your misinformed opinion being passed off as fact.

 

The biggest road menace is entitled people texting while they drive or driving drunk. And those who think they are smart who deliberately endanger other road users.

 

Your bio says you have traveled the world and lived in many countries. Such a pity you learned nothing while there.

 

But then again it does not take much intellect to rant against cyclists

as a menace to society. And you clearly do not have an abundance of intellect spare.

Post this!! Let's see what he says...

[carbon29er]

you should post this as a reply to his original blog post on news24

 

 

Post this!! Let's see what he says...

I did. Before I posted it here.

[bikebloke]

I did. Before I posted it here.

 

good man

 

well that should annoy neil and a bunch of trolls and motorists ...

 

I look forward to flipping them off next time they hoot at me when im out riding my unlicenced bicycle

[Stretch]

is Rob Booth a hubber? cos he owned him

[V12man]

is Rob Booth a hubber? cos he owned him

Duh.... Rob is a hubber... the steel26er in drag..

[Patchelicious]

Go Rob, you tell them!

[Mamil]

I invited Mr Holtzhausen to come on a 30 minute ride on the streets of Cape Town with me - just to get a feel for what it's like facing the average South African motorist on a bike. I very much doubt he will take me up on it but hey ... 

[BenReaper]

Mr Holtzhausen sounds like another middle aged guy whose bored with his own life and thus projecting his feelings of inadequacy onto others, in this case cyclists who 'irritate' him.

If not us then it would probably be towards surfers spoiling his view of the ocean or pigeons sh!tting on his car........

[Frosty]

Meanwhile, in North Dakota...
https://twitter.com/velonews/status/821783186397134849
 

http://www.bicycling.com/culture/advocacy/nd-bill-could-help-drivers-avoid-liability-in-cyclists-death

 

ND Bill Could Help Drivers Avoid Liability in Cyclists' Death

A new bill introduced in the North Dakota state legislature would legally relieve drivers of responsibility for hitting cyclists who impede trafficA

BY ROBERT ANNIS

 

Cyclists often quip that motorists have a license to kill, given the lack of prosecutions after car-bike crashes. But in North Dakota, the dark joke may soon become reality.

 

Both local riders and transportation advocates became alarmed when Rep. Keith Kempenich ® introduced House Bill 1203 on January 9 in the North Dakota House of Representatives stating that “a driver of a motor vehicle who negligently causes injury or death to an individual obstructing vehicular traffic on a public road… may not be held liable for any damages.” 

 

Kempenich introduced the legislation after his mother-in-law nearly struck a Dakota Access Pipeline protestor with her car. He did not respond to a request for comment.

 

The nebulous language of Kempenich’s bill could give drivers the green light to crash into and kill anyone—including cyclists—who they consider to be impeding traffic, with little or no criminal or civil ramifications, says attorney Megan Hottman, who specializes in cycling cases. 

 

“This [bill] seems to give room to folks driving cars to hit anyone, pedestrian or cyclist, and likely not be held liable,” Hottman says. “Every insurance company in civil claims in North Dakota would use this as a basis to deny claims by any cyclist injured or killed by a motorist. …The language here is so broad and sweeping, it really does open the door for all claims against a negligent motorist to be denied.”

 

If read strictly, the language specifying “pedestrians on roadways” at the top of the bill might prevent it from being used against cyclists, but that’s not necessarily a given. Hottman suggested the legislature could do away with the ambiguity by adding an exception for bicyclists legally riding on roadways, but that has yet to happen.

 

“I do worry that this would become a slippery slope,” Hottman said. “It feels to me like [this bill and any similar bills following it] really start to empower motorists to drive however they want and to worry less about being safe and careful.”  

 

Sara Watson Curry, a cycling advocate with Great Rides Fargo, calls the bill “really silly.” She says she fears it could encourage vehicular violence against protestors, cyclists, and pedestrians. North Dakota needs legislation “to make it easier and safer for people to walk and bike, not less,” she says.

 

Kempenich’s fellow legislator, Rep. Gretchen Dobervich (D), says the legislation is an emotional, knee-jerk reaction to the Dakota Access spotlight. Her Transportation Committee will hear the bill Friday.

 

Dobervish says she hadn’t considered how the bill might impact cyclists until she began getting calls from bike-riding constituents who were afraid that if it passed, they might have targets on their backs.

 

“We’ve been having some informal talk about the bill and the potentially huge legal ramifications, [in essence] legalizing vehicular homicide,” Dobervich says. “The bill isn’t logical, it’s not productive, and it doesn’t move us forward as a society. I think it’s going to die a quick death in committee and won’t be reintroduced in the future.”

 

If the bill does happen to move forward Friday, it would be up for a full vote later in the session. (The full text of the bill can be read on the state legislature's website.) The North Dakota legislature is currently majority Republican.