Cycling Safety

[Pretorim]

I sent this open letter this morning to CSA and to Dept Transport, following increasing number of close-calls, decided to see if we can increase awareness. Quick response from Secretary General CSA received - undertaking to refer to Exco and relevant commissions for comment and feedback.

 

Quite interested to hear what the situation is like in rest of country..

 

OPEN LETTER TO CSA.pdf

[andydude]

Well done [emoji106]

[daniehat123]

I sent this open letter this morning to CSA and to Dept Transport, following increasing number of close-calls, decided to see if we can increase awareness. Quick response from Secretary General CSA received - undertaking to refer to Exco and relevant commissions for comment and feedback.

 

Quite interested to hear what the situation is like in rest of country..

Lets see what there feedback will be

[daniehat123]

document well put

[GMan]

Great job, well done.

[carbon29er]

I sent this open letter this morning to CSA and to Dept Transport, following increasing number of close-calls, decided to see if we can increase awareness. Quick response from Secretary General CSA received - undertaking to refer to Exco and relevant commissions for comment and feedback.

 

Quite interested to hear what the situation is like in rest of country..

Factually these statements are incorrect:

 

Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other road users. Both motorists and cyclists need to consider each other and share the road safely. Drivers are required to give a minimum of one metre when passing a cyclist where the speed limit is 60 km or less, or 1.5 metres where the speed limit is over 60 km.

Cyclists can legally ride side-by-side, so motorists should be patient as they approach, and only overtake when safe.

 

They would be nice to have but in SA are not part of the law. There is no passing distance stipulated in any of the national legislation but in Western Cape a 1 metre law is in place although it is not enforced.

[Odinson]

Factually these statements are incorrect:

 

Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other road users. Both motorists and cyclists need to consider each other and share the road safely. Drivers are required to give a minimum of one metre when passing a cyclist where the speed limit is 60 km or less, or 1.5 metres where the speed limit is over 60 km.

Cyclists can legally ride side-by-side, so motorists should be patient as they approach, and only overtake when safe.

 

They would be nice to have but in SA are not part of the law. There is no passing distance stipulated in any of the national legislation but in Western Cape a 1 metre law is in place although it is not enforced.

 

National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996)

 

Regulations National Road Traffic Regulations, 1999 Chapter X : Rules of the road and matters relating thereto

 

Part I : Rules of the road 311. Riding on pedal cycles

 

1) No person shall ride a pedal cycle on a public road unless he or she is seated astride on the saddle of such pedal cycle.

 

2) Persons riding pedal cycles on a public road shall ride in single file except in the course of overtaking another pedal cycle, and two or more persons riding pedal cycles shall not overtake another vehicle at the same time.

 

3) No person riding or seated on a pedal cycle on a public road shall take hold of any other vehicle in motion.

 

4) No person riding a pedal cycle on a public road shall deliberately cause such pedal cycle to swerve from side to side.

 

5) No person riding a pedal cycle on a public road shall carry thereon any person, animal or object which obstructs his or her view or which prevents him or her from exercising complete control over the movements of such pedal cycle.

 

6) A person riding a pedal cycle on a public road shall do so with at least one hand on the handle-bars of such pedal cycle.

 

7) Whenever a portion of a public road has been set aside for use by persons riding pedal cycles, no person shall ride a pedal cycle on any other portion of such road.

 

8) A person riding a pedal cycle on a public road or a portion of a public road set aside for use by persons riding pedal cycles, shall do so in such manner that all the wheels of such pedal cycle are in contact with the surface of the road at all times.

[Allrounder]

Thank you for helping the cause!!

[carbon29er]

 

National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996)

 

Regulations National Road Traffic Regulations, 1999 Chapter X : Rules of the road and matters relating thereto

 

Part I : Rules of the road 311. Riding on pedal cycles

 

 

 

I'm aware of the Act.  More than most I would say.

 

Rather tell me where I am wrong than post the act as it relates to cyclists.  Because no where in your post does it say bike riders can ride side by side. Unless you think overtaking is side by side.

 

So why did you post this section?

[Odinson]

I'm aware of the Act.  More than most I would say.

 

Rather tell me where I am wrong than post the act as it relates to cyclists.  Because no where in your post does it say bike riders can ride side by side. Unless you think overtaking is side by side.

 

So why did you post this section?

 

2) Persons riding pedal cycles on a public road shall ride in single file except in the course of overtaking another pedal cycle, and two or more persons riding pedal cycles shall not overtake another vehicle at the same time.

 

 

Thus, no riding abreast, except in the case of overtaking.

[Pretorim]

I'm aware of the Act.  More than most I would say.

 

Rather tell me where I am wrong than post the act as it relates to cyclists.  Because no where in your post does it say bike riders can ride side by side. Unless you think overtaking is side by side.

 

So why did you post this section?

I understand same as you, I copied- and pasted the AA article as is and gave them credit for writing.Point I'm trying to make is exactly to get Authorities involved in discussion.

Technically, if you're passing someone, you are riding next to another cyclist.  What if the group is training in a pace-line - briskly passing all the time, but always two abreast.

What happens is that some motorists would appoint themselves as enforcers, just to show you how wrong you are.

My thinking is to look at existing research indicating that it is safer riding in a bunch (More visible Unit) and see how/ or if it could be implemented here. Of course SA has unique conditions and one will no doubt look at number of lanes, how wide lanes would be etc.

Incidentally, my friend Dave was in single file when he was hit from behind...

[Napalm]

As much as I applaud your effort, CSA is useless. Even when they did have money. No they don't have any.

[carbon29er]

Thus, no riding abreast, except in the case of overtaking.

You clearly did not read what I posted. I quoted from the letter to CSA the OP where he stated the items that I said where factually incorrect. I then added that they would be nice to have in SA.

 

Reading is a gift.

 

Do you not understand what "factually these statements are incorrect" means? That was the exact wording I used above an excerpt from his letter to CSA.

[Odinson]

You clearly did not read what I posted. I quoted from the letter to CSA the OP where he stated the items that I said where factually incorrect. I then added that they would be nice to have in SA.

 

Reading is a gift.

 

Do you not understand what "factually these statements are incorrect" means? That was the exact wording I used above an excerpt from his letter to CSA.

 

Your assessment of the factual correctness is incorrect.

 

The user of a pedal cycle is LEGALLY ALLOWED to ride two abreast.

[carbon29er]

Your assessment of the factual correctness is incorrect.

 

The user of a pedal cycle is LEGALLY ALLOWED to ride two abreast.

No they are not. Not in South Africa. At all.

 

Overtaking is allowed. That is not riding 2 abreast.

 

In fact single file is mandated in every regulation and act.

 

I suggest you get you facts right before you make a fool of yourself. You even highlighted the relevant section in blue. How can you do that and not understand what it means?

 

Or are you being deliberately obtuse?

[Hairy]