Fat Boab Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 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!! It is amazing how true this is, and also how practising this, makes your ride so much more positive. I utilised the thumbs-up thank-you on this morning's ride: a car drew up beside me and then slowed down to drop off to turn left off the road behind me, instead of t-boning me if he'd gone in front. Thumbs-up buddy. (Pity his mate in the car in front didn't practise the same as I was grabbing some brakes to avoid going into him! Positive reinforcement.....just like for animals. )
Mojoman Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 Read this poor guys story,,,,https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/cyclist-on-the-mend-after-second-hit-and-run-11888299
Eldron Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 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.Not at all - Danes aren't motivated to do good because of the potential consequences - they do good because good is the right thing to do. It was a massive (and pleasant) culture shock for me.
Eldron Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 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.Not at all - Danes aren't motivated to do good because of the potential consequences - they do good because good is the right thing to do. It was a massive (and pleasant) culture shock for me.
Pure Savage Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 Not at all - Danes aren't motivated to do good because of the potential consequences - they do good because good is the right thing to do. It was a massive (and pleasant) culture shock for me. Yeah, South Africans just care about numuro uno
Escapee.. Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 Yeah, South Africans just care about numuro uno Jacob Zuma?
Stretch Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 Not at all - Danes aren't motivated to do good because of the potential consequences - they do good because good is the right thing to do. It was a massive (and pleasant) culture shock for me.To a point I would say.. The underlying fact is that having points docked is a major inconvenience and they would ultimately rather avoid the chance of that happening.. and the net result of being aware of Pedestrians and cyclists... Well... That's the sense I get here... The Danes are probably a little not civilised than the Irish [emoji23]
eccc whippet Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 Another thing to look at is being more capable of riding on the road...and when you do...keeping the bunch compact...as they do in the UK i am told. one of the issues with riding in SA...the roads certainly arent designed...built or maintained for the huge growth of cycling in this country...just imagine if all the mtb bikers also decided to take up road cycling. when you see one cyclist on the road...you can pass no problem...even if you only miss the handle bars by 300- 500 mm...the cyclist is going to be ok...might get a spook...but no harm done...it happens to me a lot...gets a bit tricky when a bus passes on a left corner...shouldnt be an issue for motorists not drunk or texting while driving. as the bunches grow it becomes more difficult to pass...add in a couple slower riders and you have an even bigger problem...put a backup vehicle in the mix...and the odd cyclist wanting to overtake or a whole bunch need to overtake a slower group...so the issue compounds....bottom line most roads especially roads where the cars are traveling over 80 km/hr...it becomes extremely dangerous...backup vehicles should be compulsory. ...narrow line country roads...a motor cycle would be a better option. as what happened to me on on Saturday...i looked back there was a bakkie way back in the distance...so i proceeded to overtake (at about 60 km/hr down a hill and did go wider than i should have)...by the time i got next to the other cyclist...the driver was on the hooter...behind me...i made a mistake...misjudged the speed and distance of the bakkie...was the bakkie speeding...could he/she been a little more patient...who knows...the point is i messed up and it could have cost me my life and maybe others in our group...if there was a backup vehicle behind us...this would not have happened...that bakkie would have had to slow down because of the backup vehicle or the backup vehicle could have signaled to me with 2 taps of the hooter...or whatever. with regards to blocking side roads...as i progress with the road cycling i have realised how complex it gets....2 years ago if i read this thread...my response would have been what a bunch of knobs for blocking the intersection...once you get to the level like some of the riders here on the hub...the bunch becomes a compact unit...a vehicle pulling out in the front of the group while they are travelling at 50 km/hr could result in a massive pile up....a simple thing like a runner who decides to go past on the right instead of sticking to the left ...as i saw happen one morning... could cause a huge pile up....are the roads going to improve and become more cycle friendly...i doubt it...the budget speech the other day indicates the roads are only going to get worse...so maybe the cycling community should be looking into ways to improve our situation to prevent this kind of thread...clubs and cycling communities should be joining and coming up with solutions....but as mentioned...everyone is out for themselves....we all want change...but nobody is prepared to step up and make the change. like after the accident on the M4...such a big thing was made of it...groups where setup...things were going to change and improve...well here we sit years later...nothing has changed...i am yet see a road block ...an RTI or metro police vehicle on the Road between Umhlanga and Balito...no speed prosecution nothing...just more and more cyclist risking their lives...more with backup vehicles.
SuperDooperSnooper Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 I really wonder what it must be like to live in a society where: - motorists considered the welfare of cyclists and pedestrians on the road in general- motorists passed cyclists patiently with a friendly wave because, hey, we all have equal rights to use the road- motorists stopped at intersections when there is a stop sign or (even about to turn) red traffic light because not doing so may somehow put another human life in danger- motorists always refrained from using their mobile devices or any distracting behaviour whilst on the road as this may also kill someone- cyclists did all of the above in equal measure We would probably all be in disagreement about proper sock length or bib short colour... Alas, dreamtime over. Back to work.
mecheng89 Posted November 7, 2017 Posted November 7, 2017 I can smell this one going all the way through the Friday! <div class="tenor-gif-embed" data-postid="5822667" data-share-method="host" data-width="100%" data-aspect-ratio="1.0"><a href="https://tenor.com/view/typing-laptop-cat-gif-5822667">Typing Laptop GIF</a> from <a href="https://tenor.com/search/typing-gifs">Typing GIFs</a></div><script type="text/javascript" async src="https://tenor.com/embed.js"></script>
eccc whippet Posted November 8, 2017 Posted November 8, 2017 this is something i am yet to see...a fast bunch overtaking a slower bunch of social riders spread out over 2 km with a backup vehicle on a busy road. as the backup driver...do you pull to the left and open the gap for the faster group to pass or do you pull to the right and open a gap...or do you close the gap between the slower riders and keep left ...so that the faster riders can overtake? do you think we should encourage backup vehicles blocking intersections when there is a big group riding...for the safety of the cyclist in the group? Do you feel the drivers of the backup vehicles should have so sort of training or experience before they follow groups...especially if it is just the cyclists wife/husband or parent...what if a driver had to panic...watching these races and how the motor bikes plough into the riders...thank goodness we havent had an incident yet...or maybe we rather just wait until there is one then address the problem when it happens? personally i believe we should be looking into this...and figuring out a "South African solution" to make it safer for cyclist on the road...the use of backup vehicles...how groups should ride on the road...the size of groups...visibility...hand signals...for both other cyclists and vehicles...some form of training for inexperienced riders who are going to ride in clubs or groups... if i had a bike shop...i would be offering seminars/courses on safe cycling for newbies...i would be encouraging people who purchase a new/second hand bike (not only road bikes...lots of mtbs on the road) to attend the course...taking riders out on training rides to educate then on road cycling...hand signals and the rules of the road...especially youngsters...people do it for mtb skills yet we dont for road cycling...a lot more dangerous to ride on the road.
Patchelicious Posted November 8, 2017 Posted November 8, 2017 “He who cycles least, has most to say.” - Some Random
eccc whippet Posted November 8, 2017 Posted November 8, 2017 “He who cycles least, has most to say.” - Some Randomus older people take longer to recover...lots of free time
shaper Posted November 8, 2017 Posted November 8, 2017 “He who cycles least feels entitled, has most to say.” - Some RandomFixed it for you !!
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