Not above the Law

[LeoKnight]

My perspective is I'd rather either be illegally blocking the road, have someone illegally block the road for me while I cycle or have another car illegally block the road in front of me so that I don't for whatever reason happen to drive through an intersection with cyclists in it because accidents happen, brakes fail, people have seizures... 

 

 

It becomes a slippery slop when you think the general public have the capacity to determine which rules they should comply with and which ones not to, just because it does not suit them. And with that I am not at any way or form disputing your view that it may be the right and appropriate thing to do given the situation on the roads. 

 

But who makes that call when it is ok and when not.  Because the next guy is going to believe that he can drive at 180km/h on the highway because he has a great car, been on a advance driving course and feel confident in his ability.. is it ok for him to weave through traffic?  And you can probably apply the same logic with lots of rules and laws, somewhere someone will find a justification on why it does not suit them and should not apply to them and it would materially hurt others and they need to man up and not get upset

[Paul Ruinaard]

Or just take the law in to your own hands and dish out some justice with a pump:

 

http://road.cc/content/news/231837-video-rider-filmed-attacking-team-staff-tour-hainan-china

 

[Eldron]

Cyclists feel unsafe so they break the law.

Motorcyclists break the law because they want to be safe.

Cars break the law because they're tired of dodging lawbreaking cyclists and motorcyclists.

Trucks break the law because...

 

Ah fark it. You know where I'm going with this.

 

Here is Denmark everyone takes the people around them into account - man it is so refreshing after years of South African "screw you mate - it's all about ME!!"

[Stretch]

I am dangerous with the finger when tired

I used to flip the bird until I flipped it to a guy trying his 4x4 skills in the forest where it clearly states no vehicles. Little did if know he exited at the bottom and then drove round to the top to wait for me and wanted to donner me.... Now I keep the bird neatly tucked away

[peetwindhoek]

The thumbs down wins, but I only recently learnt of this

[LeoKnight]

Cyclists feel unsafe so they break the law.

Motorcyclists break the law because they want to be safe.

Cars break the law because they're tired of dodging lawbreaking cyclists and motorcyclists.

Trucks break the law because...

 

Ah fark it. You know where I'm going with this.

 

Here is Denmark everyone takes the people around them into account - man it is so refreshing after years of South African "screw you mate - it's all about ME!!"

 

Could not put it better.. everyone feels they need to break the law because someone else is frustrating them... so it just keeps escalating.

 

Only thing to add is the advocates.. so please don't call any party out for their behaviour, because someone will argue that their actions are completely justify because (choose common reason) 

[porqui]

Yep it's all clear now.

 

Monday is the new Friday

 

Could not find Friday last week it was all bland.

[Coolspin]

The behaviour that many are complaining about seems to be more common before a big event like 94.7.

Most of the year seems pretty subdued regarding bad behaviour by cyclists but have noticed that there are a LOT more weekend riders hitting the roads over last month or so, bound to be more incidents.

Was in cradle a couple of weeks ago, crazy busy, saw people riding in middle of road etc quite a few times.

On Sat morning saw huge Cycle lab groups heading to cradle ( gotta be tough to get that many people up the road without inconvenience to motorists at some areas.)

 

Will likely get better after the 94.7 ?

[LeoKnight]

The behaviour that many are complaining about seems to be more common before a big event like 94.7.

Most of the year seems pretty subdued regarding bad behaviour by cyclists but have noticed that there are a LOT more weekend riders hitting the roads over last month or so, bound to be more incidents.

Was in cradle a couple of weeks ago, crazy busy, saw people riding in middle of road etc quite a few times.

On Sat morning saw huge Cycle lab groups heading to cradle ( gotta be tough to get that many people up the road without inconvenience to motorists at some areas.)

 

Will likely get better after the 94.7 ?

 

Then it moves to the Argus training.. I mean Cape Town Cycle Tour...

[Coolspin]

Eish, didnt think of that, prob remain busy on weekends for a bit longer then.

 

Went to ride the mudbike at Northern farms last week on Sunday morning, Saw about 10 other riders on the trails in total, was awesome, everyone must have been in the cradle.

[Halfdoesyn]

Moral of the story... again... Don't be a dwis, be lekker!

[GrahamS2]

just a thought...would it not be better to use a motor cycle as a backup vehicle with flashing lights etc...especially on narrow roads ? a motor cycle would be able to go next to the cyclist without taking up 2 lanes to keep the bunch in order....it just makes a lot more sense than blocking the entire lane...i saw this on the ride we did to pmb and back...motorist were getting pretty worked up by the time they could pass. 

 

road like the M4 to balito have got so bad that you cant even ride in the orange line due to the lack of maintenance....the trucks cut the bush back as they pass

But they're busy with road works in 4 sections of the M4? I drive it twice a day for my sins. The big issues on that road is the trucks driving like taxis

[Pure Savage]

Cyclists feel unsafe so they break the law.

Motorcyclists break the law because they want to be safe.

Cars break the law because they're tired of dodging lawbreaking cyclists and motorcyclists.

Trucks break the law because...

 

Ah fark it. You know where I'm going with this.

 

Here is Denmark everyone takes the people around them into account - man it is so refreshing after years of South African "screw you mate - it's all about ME!!"

Probably because if a car was to hit a law abiding cyclist they will go to jail. Unlike here. Denmark probably doesnt have such a bad drunk driving issue either.

[Fat Boab]

Re original post:

 

1. Junction blocker car - not legal, sure. But a working solution for some, yes. As we know the 'threat' of the law doesn't protect us to any practical level, so some would rationalise it this way.

 

2. The right tone of response when engaged by other road users? Clearly not. 

 

In summary - the wrong approach undermined a pragmatic attempt at protecting riders. And so to Friday.....

[Escapee..]

Re original post:

 

1. Junction blocker car - not legal, sure. But a working solution for some, yes. As we know the 'threat' of the law doesn't protect us to any practical level, so some would rationalise it this way.

 

2. The right tone of response when engaged by other road users? Clearly not. 

 

In summary - the wrong approach undermined a pragmatic attempt at protecting riders. And so to Friday.....

 

On the one or two occasions where our group had a support car that blocked off the traffic at an intersection, 90% of the group will say thank you to the drivers waiting for us. Usually a smile or a wave is given back.

 

It is amazing how far a bit of manners and common decency goes.

 

The "late for church on a Sunday morning driver" is a different animal though!!   

[droo]

It must have been so awful for you to wait those extra few minutes for the cyclists to get through that intersection, while their vehicle illegally blocked it. I'm so sorry for you. I hope you manage to recoup those few minutes somewhere. 

 

 

My sentiments exactly... They probably have had a few close calls in the past where cars have almost t-boned them as they cycled through an intersection.... so erring on the side of safety, much better for the cyclist to have their back-up vehicle illegally block it as they went by.

 

Pity those 2 cyclists on the M4 did not have a back-up vehicle looking out for them when they were ploughed into and killed !!

 

And yes while it might have caused some inconvenience for drivers time wise I doubt any serious harm or delay came of it.

 

Edit: well it shouldn't have ... especially to rant over nothing really!!

 

"I'm just gonna look after myself and the rest of the world can eat a giant bag of knobs"

 

Congratulations. The world really needs more of that kind of thinking.