On the subject of cyclists hit by drivers

[Andreas_187]

Nearly every cyclist here has either:

 

A. Driven drunk at some point in their life

B. Had friends round their house who have drunk more than a few beers and driven home.

C. Been out to eat with friends who have drunk too much and known that they drove home.

 

The point is this is not a cyclist vs motorist issue, this is engrained in SA society.

[BigDL]

One of the things I really struggle with when going home to SA is the drinking and driving culture. I was as guilty of it as anyone until we first moved overseas in 1999 for a stint, but I like to think I grew up.

 

All of the bull**** excuses about lack of public transport, unfair laws etc are *** excuses.

[BigDL]

To shed light on this subject as one of Nino who passed away best friend,his wife/widow is my wife's best friend and as I lay here tonight hearing my wife sob in pain for her best friend and constantly asking why why why,I can only say this much and perhaps more.

Yesterday Nino was not riding 3 abreast, yesterday Nino did not ride through a red robot.

Some selfish turd who probably goes to the gym to drink coffee on a Monday to recover from an over indulged weekend took his life.

And many if not most cyclists here,and myself at one stage a seasoned road racer ,but now a mountain biker as I have lost 3 friends due to selfish motorists,and years prior ad a 6 hour comrades runner lost 2 friends to a drunkard, can say this much.

We sometimes ride abreast because if we didn't we would be pushed into the gutter by motorists and if we didn't we would not be as visible.

Yes I agree ,motorists get to use the phrase think bike,cyclists don't use the phrase think car.

But the again we don't walk into every drinking hole on the weekend and bully motorists before they get their inconsiderate drunk lazy asses behind the wheel of a motor car,so why should they being in a lethal weapon get to bully and destroy us.

Why everytime a car or truck approaches should we ship our tights.

Enough said.

 

Sorry for what you guys are going through

[Gen]

Make the jols close at 12..

 

We had to leave on Saturday for school sport..on my way to school I passes a pub..it was still rocking with people arriving at 5am.

 

It's not going to stop drunk driving but it may just get people off the road at an earlier time.

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Tabula Rasa]

Not that it's relevant, but I always tell my mates that early weekend mornings are the most dangerous times to ride because that's when the hardcore clubbers/drinkers are heading home.

 

I just got into Road riding in Dec and I already feel like giving it up after hearing about this latest tragedy. It just doesn't feel like it's worth it anymore. One moment your getting ready for a race, the next you're in a morgue.

 

RIP Nino.

[Paul Ruinaard]

This post isn't to do with the circumstances of the accident and loss of life over the weekend - i cant seem to find details so cannot comment. Its a tragedy every way and a hit and run even more deplorable. 

 

When someone dies on a bike and it often makes us question our commitment to riding in general. Often good comes out of this - lets not lose another one if we can do simple things to possibly avoid the circumstances that caused a death.

 

FWIW: If i remember correctly somebody lost their life in this race last year or the prior year when they were pulled under the wheels of a truck as well. Its very tragic. Not sure though

 

However there are some clear things which we can all take responsibility for:

 

1.) Stop at Robots/Traffic Lights. 

2.) Make yourself visible i.e. rear and front flashing lights. Big bright ones

3.) Ride in single file on narrow roads.

4.) Avoid narrow roads as much as possible especially with heavy traffic on them. Races seem to not understand this. Avoid races that dont obey this rule.

5.) Understand this is not France or a European country and people have a lot less regard for you on your bicycle. Be careful. Ride with this in mind. Think ahead. The drink driving laws and corrupt cops are what they are. Dont ride near places where drunk people are leaving casinos at 5 am etc.

6.) In the case when a car and a bike meet in an accident the cyclist never wins. Start from that point of view. Avoid any potential conflicts by not putting yourself in the line of fire.

 

Its Argus time and the amount of people on the roads is at an all time high. Every year people die from something happening when they are out riding which could potentially have been avoided by some of the above measures.

 

And to the relatives of the deceased in this case at Berge and Dale - you have my condolences at the senseless loss of your loved one. 

 

Lets not let it be in vain...

[dave303e]

I think a lot of the disrespect between cars, busses, motorcycles and taxis can be described by birds sitting on the levels of a telephano pole. the bottom birds look up and all they see is a** holes, and the top birds look down and all they see is sh***

[Mntboy]

Make the jols close at 12..

 

We had to leave on Saturday for school sport..on my way to school I passes a pub..it was still rocking with people arriving at 5am.

 

It's not going to stop drunk driving but it may just get people off the road at an earlier time.

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I agree with you but it will be a hard sell as even in places like Mossel Bay, that's relatively quiet, the earliest the pubs clubs close is 2am. And those that host small bands only start the shows at around 9pm. Those pubs and clubs will say that they need the revenue that it generates and that it allows the small bands get the name they need to become well known bands. Sadly as others have pointed out SA is far too much of a me first society.

 

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[DirtyDan]

How do you guys reckon we can influence each other to try be more considerate towards each other in SA?

Not just in the motorist-cyclist, but across all interactions.

[Mamil]

Latest research shows too much time in the saddle leads to shortfalls in attention and concentration capacities.

 

 

 

I tried to read it, twice. Makes my head hurt so I left it.

 

 

No post with such blatant disregard for paragraphing, deserves to be taken seriously.

 

 

My mind was OK with the first 2 paragraphs. But when it sensed the next one was infinitely long it basically gave up.

 

[ShanRam]

The problem that we are experiencing is much bigger than our small cycling community. This problems affects pedestrians; passengers in bakkies, taxis, cars, busses; and so on. We have heard of Nino (RIP) because of this forum but we have not heard of the countless other deaths on our roads this weekend, many of which actually went unreported even to SAPS. 

 

We have good laws in this country but the problem is LAW ENFORCEMENT or the severe lack of it. I remember growing up with speed cops around that would stop and ticket you for not coming to a complete stop at a stop street. We were afraid of those guys but they are long gone. The point mentioned above about it taking 4 hours just to process a drunk driver is madness for the cop but so is the loss of life.

 

Our communal problem is law enforcement in every aspect. If that were improved, even us as cyclist will ride single file.     

[Sepia]

This post isn't to do with the circumstances of the accident and loss of life over the weekend - i cant seem to find details so cannot comment. Its a tragedy every way and a hit and run even more deplorable. 

 

When someone dies on a bike and it often makes us question our commitment to riding in general. Often good comes out of this - lets not lose another one if we can do simple things to possibly avoid the circumstances that caused a death.

 

FWIW: If i remember correctly somebody lost their life in this race last year or the prior year when they were pulled under the wheels of a truck as well. Its very tragic. Not sure though

 

However there are some clear things which we can all take responsibility for:

 

1.) Stop at Robots/Traffic Lights. 

2.) Make yourself visible i.e. rear and front flashing lights. Big bright ones

3.) Ride in single file on narrow roads.

4.) Avoid narrow roads as much as possible especially with heavy traffic on them. Races seem to not understand this. Avoid races that dont obey this rule.

5.) Understand this is not France or a European country and people have a lot less regard for you on your bicycle. Be careful. Ride with this in mind. Think ahead. The drink driving laws and corrupt cops are what they are. Dont ride near places where drunk people are leaving casinos at 5 am etc.

6.) In the case when a car and a bike meet in an accident the cyclist never wins. Start from that point of view. Avoid any potential conflicts by not putting yourself in the line of fire.

 

Its Argus time and the amount of people on the roads is at an all time high. Every year people die from something happening when they are out riding which could potentially have been avoided by some of the above measures.

 

And to the relatives of the deceased in this case at Berge and Dale - you have my condolences at the senseless loss of your loved one. 

 

Lets not let it be in vain...

Words of Wisdom right there.

 

Let's respect ourselves and others by staying alive.  CONSIDERATION and not, I, Me, Mine and the individualistic selfish society we created!

Edited February 26, 2018 by Sepia

[Bateleur1]

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/165834-how-to-stop-the-cycling-carnage-on-sas-roads/

[sa-shooter]

I thank those who took the time to read my seemingly poorly written opinion. I stand to be corrected on many fronts and this post was to serve as a vent and potentially a healthy debate on a sensitive and serious issue.

 

To those who seem to wish to attack me based on poor writing ability, grow up. The fact that I am not a writer does not render my opinion moot or invalid, it is merely an opinion after all. I may be ignorant but I have quite a thick skin, something that I am going to need here by the looks of it, and I am happy to learn and be corrected as I go along.

 

I do apologize for the state in which I posted the initial body, I was on my mobile at the time of writing. I have edited to make the post more legible.

Edited February 26, 2018 by sa-shooter

[Bateleur1]

I thank those who took the time to read my seemingly poorly written opinion. I stand to be corrected on many fronts and this post was to serve as a vent and potentially a healthy debate on a sensitive and serious issue.

 

To those who seem to wish to attack me based on poor writing ability, grow up. The fact that I am not a writer does not render my opinion moot or invalid, it is merely an opinion after all. I may be ignorant but I have quite a thick skin, something that I am going to need here by the looks of it, and I am happy to learn and corrected as I go along.

 

I do apologize for the state in which I posted the initial body, I was on my mobile at the time of writing. I have edited to make the post more legible.

 

This topic was discussed at lenght not too long ago and if I remember correctly also after some tragic accident/hit-and-run incident.  It has been discussed many time and normally at some point in time falls into a downward spiral of stupid remarks.

 

What you have addressed is not invalid but there has been a fairly good discussion on this on the thread I posted above and lots of good opinions and suggestions came.  That thread also eventually died, but it might be a good read for you as you are new on the hub. 

[cat-i]

How do you guys reckon we can influence each other to try be more considerate towards each other in SA?

Not just in the motorist-cyclist, but across all interactions.

 

By starting with myself.