99er Close call.

[Joe Low]

I'm referring to the implication that these cyclists had any culpability in the creation of the potential accident recorded on the video as absurd. These cyclists are participating in a sanctioned, marshalled, advertised race and the peleton constitutes a road hazard like any other slow moving vehicle that the drivers of faster vehicles must accommodate and negotiate safely.

 

Tacit in "drivers take chances" is a passivity that states that the guy in the oncoming vehicle and the cyclists should not expect anything but such dangerous driving. Defensive driving and riding where you anticipate the poor moves of the other is a different story). 

 

 

No, but it's fine.

[Eldron]

Open road races are always going to be an issue - especially for trucks that can't nip past quickly. The driver doesn't know/care that there is a race on (he should care of course) so he just gets pissed off that 80 cyclists are all over the road.

 

The race can licensed/official/CSA sanctioned etc but that doesn't mean everyone on that road will be informed/care that a race is on. It also doesn't change the laws of physics. It will always be Truck 1 : Cyclist 0.

[Mamil]

No it's not fine - that's my point. If we keep saying no but it's fine to behaviour like this driver's it will just keep on happening.

 

 

No, but it's fine.

[Mamil]

I called Maersk and hae the email address that complaints about drivers should be sent to.

 

If OP wants to contact me I will give him the address.

 

It doesn't look to me that this truck has a number plate on it's tail.

 

OR

 

http://www.maerskline.com/mt-mt/countries/za/world%20factbook/contact/offices

[Dubbin]

Open road races are always going to be an issue - especially for trucks that can't nip past quickly. The driver doesn't know/care that there is a race on (he should care of course) so he just gets pissed off that 80 cyclists are all over the road.

 

The race can licensed/official/CSA sanctioned etc but that doesn't mean everyone on that road will be informed/care that a race is on. It also doesn't change the laws of physics. It will always be Truck 1 : Cyclist 0.

I really don't know how the roadies manage. I used to do only 3 road race's per year. 99er, Burger and Argus. I stopped doing the 99er because it just felt unsafe on certain stretches. Then again, I don't live in the city and I'm not used to traffic like the roadies. Maybe I was wrong expecting some tolerance from motorists/truckers during a organized road race.

[Iwan Kemp]

I called Maersk and hae the email address that complaints about drivers should be sent to.

 

If OP wants to contact me I will give him the address.

 

It doesn't look to me that this truck has a number plate on it's tail.

 

Good on you. Doubt they will be able to help or did you manage to catch the container number?

 

They are a shipping company; other importers exporters use their containers and book their own transport. Containers are collected by transporters against a shipping agents account who deals with a customer who deals with Maersk. 

 

I was trying my best to catch the name or logo of the transport company on the side of the truck. COuld only get a "fleet number"...think 737...will look again a bit later. 

 

Will try and screenshot the side of the cab as they truck zipps passed and send that to a guy or seven I know in the trucking game. Best bet would be to try and get hold of them direct to deal with the driver.

 

FWIW, what time did this happen?

[Sven137]

I agree! The only problem i see is that this isn't a closed road race and you are cycling as close to the middle white line as you can... You are as much to blame as the truck driver is.

 

 

Sorry mate but thats a silly reply... Cyclists are entitled to use the road and be treated as proper road users...and to be overtaken in the correct manner..

 

Its attitudes like this that put cyclists as a sub category on the road without any rights .. and to be treated like vermin

[Slowbee]

oh dear, I am going to wade into this.

 

But why is the driver of the truck being hung out to dry ? What about the two cars BEFORE the truck? The ones that actually caused the oncoming truck to pull over ? Because they are cars they can get away with it ? 

 

And then, what laws did the truck driver break ?

 

And when does a cycle race allow cyclists to behave as they wish without consequence ?

 

How often do we hear of road users being uphappy with large bunches our training on the weekends and everyone gets the knickers in a knot. But come race day then big bunches are acceptable?

 

EDIT: Sorry guys. I have watched that video time and time again. The truck driver pulled far to the right, gave the cyclists loads of space. In watching the road ahead you cannot see the truck coming down the hill. Even if he was the oncoming truck would have still collided with the first two cars. 

[Patchelicious]

oh dear, I am going to wade into this.

 

But why is the driver of the truck being hung out to dry ? What about the two cars BEFORE the truck? The ones that actually caused the oncoming truck to pull over ? Because they are cars they can get away with it ?

 

And then, what laws did the truck driver break ?

 

And when does a cycle race allow cyclists to behave as they wish without consequence ?

 

How often do we hear of road users being uphappy with large bunches our training on the weekends and everyone gets the knickers in a knot. But come race day then big bunches are acceptable?

Truck driver is being criticized not "hung out to dry", because he drove very dangerously.

 

Other cars are guilty too, should ALSO be held accountable, unfortunately a bit more difficult to make a fuss about them.

 

Law that he broke was simple, he passed when it was not safe to do so. Number plate? Speeding?

 

Not sure those cyclists are behaving "as they wish without consequence" seem to be keeping left of the centre line, well behaved compared to some other cyclists that I have seen.

 

Large groups like that in a training ride is just inconsiderate, rude and selfish. But this was a sanctioned ride with road markin, marshalls and bike marshals. These races only happen a handful of times a year.

 

Edit: Look, I think this is more a storm in a tea cup compared to a coffee ride in JHB, so it's not worth fighting about.

 

BUT crapping on the guy who posted this??? Come on... not worth it guys.

[Slowbee]

Truck driver is being criticized not "hung out to dry", because he drove very dangerously.

 

Other cars are guilty too, should ALSO be held accountable, unfortunately a bit more difficult to make a fuss about them.

 

Law that he broke was simple, he passed when it was not safe to do so. Number plate? Speeding?

 

Not sure those cyclists are behaving "as they wish without consequence" seem to be keeping left of the centre line, well behaved compared to some other cyclists that I have seen.

 

Large groups like that in a training ride is just inconsiderate, rude and selfish. But this was a sanctioned ride with road markin, marshalls and bike marshals. These races only happen a handful of times a year.

 

Edit: Look, I think this is more a storm in a tea cup compared to a coffee ride in JHB, so it's not worth fighting about.

 

BUT crapping on the guy who posted this??? Come on... not worth it guys.

Have to agree, flaming the OP a bit much.

 

But going after the truck driver and finding out who he is etc etc etc, does not seem right either. Blaming the guys on bicycles is not right either. Tolerance for each other should be the right thing to do.

[greatwhite]

All this self rightous stuff about sanctioned races, centre lines etc... Where is the sense of self preservation? Seems race adrenaline and agro (and entitlement?) seem to make people numb between the ears to the environment they are in. Motorists don't know and frankly often don't care that you are in a 'race' (group C is not really racing - no offence). Survival is more important than 30 secs faster.

 

Yes, what the truck driver is wrong, but watching the footage, I didn't see many that were completely blameless. The OP made the comment that they were jockeying for position, but there were massive gaps all over the place and most were freewheeling.

 

Maybe, this 'how close it was' is a warning that many should heed. Remember lycra is useless as protective clothing. Cyclist vs anything else on the road, cyclist loses. Being safe starts with yourself

[Patchelicious]

All this self rightous stuff about sanctioned races, centre lines etc... Where is the sense of self preservation? Seems race adrenaline and agro (and entitlement?) seem to make people numb between the ears to the environment they are in. Motorists don't know and frankly often don't care that you are in a 'race' (group C is not really racing - no offence). Survival is more important than 30 secs faster.

 

Yes, what the truck driver is wrong, but watching the footage, I didn't see many that were completely blameless. The OP made the comment that they were jockeying for position, but there were massive gaps all over the place and most were freewheeling.

 

Maybe, this 'how close it was' is a warning that many should heed. Remember lycra is useless as protective clothing. Cyclist vs anything else on the road, cyclist loses. Being safe starts with yourself

You say the OP isn't blameless?

 

So what was OP doing wrong? What should those cyclist have done better in your opinion?

[Slowbee]

You say the OP isn't blameless?

 

So what was OP doing wrong? What should those cyclist have done better in your opinion?

I think what greatwhite is trying to say is that the cyclists were also partly in the wrong. Greatwhite mentions the large gaps which could have been closed with the riders riding closely together.

 

But as we have said, its racing and it is C batch, and it is cars and trucks. Everyone has to accept a certain responsibility for their own safety and everyone has to accept responsibility to respect other road users.

[Skubarra]

A big cycling group is a "living" thing with constant overtaking speeding up and slowing down.

 

 

^ This

 

Seriously, have anyone who are criticizing the cyclists actually ever participated in a road race? For starters it is called a road race because you utilise the road... If I'm wrong please point me to the races where large bunches race in single file left of the yellow line because I have never seen that.

 

In a race groups of cyclists spread out and bunch up all the time. When and where they do that is not determined by cars & trucks but by the group dynamic & route. As long as you stay left of the white line you are acting within the rules of the race (and are certainly not acting as you please)

 

In a coffee ride you stay left of the yellow lane and if you want to pass you slow down look behind you to see if it is safe and then you pass. If you do that in a race you are likely to cause a group crash and are a far bigger danger to the cyclists around you than any passing vehicle.

[Patchelicious]

I think what greatwhite is trying to say is that the cyclists were also partly in the wrong. Greatwhite mentions the large gaps which could have been closed with the riders riding closely together.

 

But as we have said, its racing and it is C batch, and it is cars and trucks. Everyone has to accept a certain responsibility for their own safety and everyone has to accept responsibility to respect other road users.

The "partly wrong" part, it's not being defined.

 

What are they partly doing wrong?

 

I'm not fighting, I'm asking... what in GreatWhite's opinion, or yours, are they doing wrong? Hell I might even agree wth you, but just saying somebody is wrong without substantiating it.....

[GLuvsMtb]

The problem is that people expect the PPA C batch to have the same bunch skills as a pro continental race peloton. It takes time to ride 200 strong in a bunch so tightly that there is contact quite often.

The C batch were well behaved and did not break any rules.

If we cannot get road closures, perhaps we should insist on motor cycle metro cops that fine motor vehicle offenders and report cycling offenders to the race Commissaire. My understanding is that there are fees paid to COCT in order to close off intersections. Perhaps this should be expanded to include a few motor bike officers in the interest of road safety.