[Event] PPA Memorial Ride

[Events Bot]

Event Name: PPA Memorial Ride
When: 6 May 2017
Where: Greenpoint Urban Park parking area, Western Cape
Category: Road

“The law has to protect cyclists,” says PPA CEO, Robert Vogel. Hit-and-run incidents have become a common phenomenon in South Africa with few, if any, of the drivers being prosecuted, fined or jailed. In January 2017, the Pedal Power Association was shocked to hear about the tragic deaths of Daleen Boonzaaier and Greg Basson who both died in hit and run crashes in the Western Cape.

 

“We are organising a memorial ride in Cape Town on Saturday 06 May in honour of cyclists killed and injured in crashes. We would also like to express our dissatisfaction with the current situation,” Vogel says. All cyclists in and around Cape Town are invited to join the protest ride.

 

In 2013, a law was promulgated in the Western Cape which makes it compulsory for drivers to pass cyclists with a berth of at least 1m. “Families and friends of those who have been affected by hit and run crashes agree that there is a lack of interest on the side of the authorities to prosecute and proceed with these cases in court. Since the inception of the ‘one metre law’ in 2013, not a single driver has been prosecuted, which means that the law is not being policed,” explains Vogel.

 

“This memorial ride is our way of expressing our immense frustration with the current situation,” says Vogel.

 

“The safety of cyclists on our roads is of utmost importance. Since 2011, we have invested Millions in various safe cycling campaigns to secure safer roads and awareness for cyclists, and to advocate mutual tolerance and respect amongst road users,” says Vogel.

 

The memorial ride will start at 08h00 from the Greenpoint Urban Park parking area. The ride will follow the various cycle paths along Somerset Road to Adderley Street and Government Avenue, where a letter stating PPA’s grievances will be delivered to representatives of the MEC of Transport, City of Cape Town and the SAPS. “We would, however, like to urge everyone attending the ride to write your own letter of grievance and bring it along to hand over,” Vogel says. “If you cannot attend the ride, ask a friend to bring your letter along. It’s time that the authorities hear from all of us.”

 

There will be marshals to assist during the ride but no road closures and all cyclists participating in the memorial ride are expected to obey all traffic rules and wear helmets. Please wear your ‘Stay Wider of the Rider’ cycling jersey, should you have one.

 

DETAILS AT A GLANCE

Date: Saturday 06 May 2017

Start Venue: Greenpoint Urban Park parking area

Start: Meet from 07h40 to depart at 08h00

Distance: Roughly 6 km one-way

 

For more information, please visit www.pedalpower.org.za.

Go to Event Page

[Tektiks]

While it is admirable of PPA to arrange this awareness ride I feel it falls short of maximising the impact of the event. This is a matter that should be of concern to everyone, not just parliament. As such, this campaign needs to be more visible across all suburbs and not just the CBD. Could PPA not have engaged the various cycling shops and make arm-bands available to riders joining the ride to wear as they perhaps cycled towards Greenpoint and thereby increasing visibility and awareness across the mother city? Let's think bigger folks...this needs to be in the hearts and minds of every road user, wherever they find themselves. How about radio and TV adverts for the future?

[LeoKnight]

While it is admirable of PPA to arrange this awareness ride I feel it falls short of maximising the impact of the event. This is a matter that should be of concern to everyone, not just parliament. As such, this campaign needs to be more visible across all suburbs and not just the CBD. Could PPA not have engaged the various cycling shops and make arm-bands available to riders joining the ride to wear as they perhaps cycled towards Greenpoint and thereby increasing visibility and awareness across the mother city? Let's think bigger folks...this needs to be in the hearts and minds of every road user, wherever they find themselves. How about radio and TV adverts for the future?

As far as I am aware, they have this year increased their visibility again, from last year, with lamppost boards, banners at certain shopping centres, putting up stands at certain intersections, as well as number of radio discussions on stations in Cape Town.  

 

Then I am not even talking about the number of stickers that are distributed that can be placed on your vehicle that will further increase the awareness.  Are they doing all that can be done, maybe not, are they doing something, for sure.  

 

The idea of arm bands is actually for me a nice idea, to increase the sense of community of all cyclist on the road, not sure how many will actually wear it.