Pure Savage Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Ok so I didn't read any of the crap but while scrolling picked up a few remarks like , awareness and protest and be heard . Nobody is going to care about a bunch of cycling hipsters on their fixies.You need to face the direction the assholes are coming from.... Oh please dont tell me you cycle into the traffic. All that will change is you will see the assholes face as he runs you over.
Pure Savage Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 I must say though, my wife drives around in JHB a bit and compared to CPT she says she says she is suprised any of my "Hub friends" from JHB are still alive. When she indicates to over take a cyclist in JHB and only overtakes when safe to do so the other drivers lose their minds, the oncoming traffic from miles away started flashing headlights and the merc behind was hooting. She says in Cape Town the vast majority of S/S drivers treat cyclists with a lot of respect. i know Constania, Town and Claremont even the taxi's wait till its safe most of the time to pass me. Lets not paint everyone with the same brush.
Bateleur1 Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 This is good.Systemic change toe shape the predominant culture of road users that is so negligent. Was there ever a time, pre 1994 or post 1994 when the culture of mutual respect was good?Nope. All this is a reflection of our nationhood. True. Anybody thinking this is a new problem is living in a pipedream. This culture started looong ago (you know driving drunk and 'fooling a traffic cop' nad bragging about it later you know). It got worse after 94 for many reasons which include more corruption, more vehicle owners, etc, etc. That is why the problem is so big.
Hennie VR Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 I stand to be corrected here because this is something I was told, not something I saw myself, but on a holiday trip to SA back in the late 90's I was told specifically NOT to stop at Stop Streets at night but rather to roll through them - due to the high danger of "someone jumping out of the bushes beside the road and hijacking me" The person who warned me had a friend who was shot and killed at a stop street a little while before. Just wondering if this was the root of the problem? Yes there are some hotspots where crime can cause people to rather roll through a stop sign and I can sympathize with that. Unfortunately it has become the norm to now roll through any intersection anywhere even in built up "safe" neighborhoods. I can still accept it if people slow down to say 5-10km/h look and then proceed but now days its like they approach a intersection shave 10-20km'h off their speed whilst checking if there's other cars and if there's no cars they just speed through the intersection. I even see parents speeding up to the school's front gate, stop drop the kid and speed off. There's no more riding cautious around schools anymore. When last did anyone see someone stop at a pedestrian crossing to let people pass safely over the street? I myself am to scared to do it because the guy behind you may very well ride into the back of you or overtake you and hit whoever is crossing the road (this happened the other day as I stopped to let kids cross the road in front of their school - I stopped, kids started to cross the road and guy behind me just starts to overtake me as the kids were in front of my vehicle. Don't know what scared them the most, my hooter warning them to stop or the guy in the car that suddenly appeared next to my car) We have adopted a aggressive/reckless driving style in SA and not the defensive style taught in driving school. Motorists need to be held accountable for the minor offences they commit on the roads and they wont try their luck with major offences. It's because people get away with the small offences that they start to break bigger laws and this is the same for all laws in the country not just traffic laws.
Wannabe Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Like the only way anything gets achieved in SA - protest, withhold taxes until they use your taxes to build cycling lanes. And how do you propose we go about this?With the Tax (revenue) collection system as it is....
Bonus Posted February 1, 2017 Author Posted February 1, 2017 Just so no one thinks the "Bad Driving" problem is unique to South Africa . . .some of Britains finest Muppets on show here . . . . https://youtu.be/0V4kHbxs2BU
mudda Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 this is how it is these days .. Solve this first ... https://youtu.be/pvFRy2bQ3cY
Bonus Posted February 1, 2017 Author Posted February 1, 2017 There is NO way I would ride a motorbike in Jo'burg or even the suburbs.
Delgado Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Anyone got any good ideas? I'm looking to see why/how road cycling is so safe here in Spain. What are the differences etc.When I have some useful info I will pass it on. Bonus.Law & order for a start Spain is a civilized society inhabited by civilized people who can can see the consequences of their actions. When I am in Europe I see long lines of vehicles behind cyclists when unsafe to overtake even when cyclist is going 10 kays an hour uphill. Then there is za.. I will no longer cycle from my house on my road bike, will shlep it to the cradle an cycle. Sad but can't leave my wife worrying about me..In a nutshell !! Accountability and responsibility should be something to go with the ubiquitous "rights" of humans in SA
Hairy Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 I already said the solution is unfortunately to get off the roads. So bicycle lanes is a good solution. It is simply too dangerous and unfair on your family to risk your life for a hobby/sport by cycling on car traffic roads.getting off the roads is not a solution, just simply giving up The 1.5m campaign did have an impact on motorists, I say this based on personal experience with motorists who have brought it up in conversation. Obviously done believe the road belongs to them, some again think out is a good idea. The basic fact is that the wc government have introduced a 1m rule and motorists certainly are aware of this. So the campaign did have a positive impact.
Spock Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 getting off the roads is not a solution, just simply giving up The 1.5m campaign did have an impact on motorists, I say this based on personal experience with motorists who have brought it up in conversation. Obviously done believe the road belongs to them, some again think out is a good idea. The basic fact is that the wc government have introduced a 1m rule and motorists certainly are aware of this. So the campaign did have a positive impact.Getting off the road IS a solution to avoid being killed. Every few weeks one of us die on the road and we are all up in arms. But we need to be realistic. In the short term NOTHING is going to change. I'm 100% sure of that. And considering the negative trend in road deaths in general, things my even get worse.
Frosty Posted February 2, 2017 Posted February 2, 2017 Below is a link to a survey generated by one of my wife's customers - she does their design and layout for the magazine. Sure, it's a truck magazine, but the editor has a passion about safety in general and will welcome comments and suggestions from anyone and everyone. They are also allowing photos to be sent, so here's your chance to send through something that you've seen/witnessed, as well as have your say. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away - have your say and let's see what happens. He is also well connected with some of the traffic officials, people at DOT and the trucking industry. I've spoken to him a few times over the years about the way people drive, and he agrees that one death on the roads (car, truck, cyclist or pedestrian) is one too many. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJ79EiXRdd9tCOlZdsewCh-xnBk9-P1PCchYmj06RMMwdwaw/viewform?c=0&w=1 edit: from their Facebook page:FleetWatch is once again in the process of compiling our annual 'Road Safety Report' due to be published in February. As before, we are asking all personnel from the trucking industry to submit suggestions as to how they think the mayhem on South Africa's roads can be reduced and we are asking you as a the road user for your suggestions and remarks!Please take a moment to fill out these simple questions. You do not have to be in the trucking indutry to contribute!
Hairy Posted February 2, 2017 Posted February 2, 2017 Getting off the road IS a solution to avoid being killed. Every few weeks one of us die on the road and we are all up in arms. But we need to be realistic. In the short term NOTHING is going to change. I'm 100% sure of that. And considering the negative trend in road deaths in general, things my even get worse.I choose to keep cycling.
stefmeister Posted February 2, 2017 Posted February 2, 2017 Not to be a negative nancy, but our roads will just get worse. With more and more unlicensed drivers and cars on the roads, and nothing being done by our law enforcement and/or repercussions to any offenders the odds are stacked. And lately, I see the same disdain for any road rules developing in the Western Cape as what can be seen in Gauteng, with the idiots from the Northern Subs (especially those CF cars) leading the pack with driving like absolute assholes.It's almost like an orange/red traffic light means drop a gear, or if you need to turn left you don't need to stop at all when it's red.You only need to drive around in Brackenfell on a weekend morning to witness the previous night's carnage with lampposts and traffic lights flattened aroud intersections.It's like a virus and it is spreading.
Wannabe Posted February 2, 2017 Posted February 2, 2017 True stefmeister, it is rapidly getting worse.
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