Road rage

[Mojoman]

Yup its a pretty sad situation really. 

I have been working from home for a little over a year now, whenever I need to drive somewhere Im reminded why I like working from home.

In a 5km drive I will see at least 10 people breaking traffic rules, almost get driven into at least once and often more than once have someone in a double cab bakkie driving up my ass (Im driving at the speed limit)

 

The cost of living is going up substantially and everyone is paying more and more to municipalities and government that give nothing in return.

Life in general in SA is both frustrating and infuriating in equal measure.

There are still some wonderful sides to it though, being 2 minutes away from a relaxing walk on the beach or enjoying the sunshine still keeps me just happy enough not to leave yet.

I fully agree. I live and work in a small town and seldom venture out (the joys of being able to buy almost everything online these days!) but when I do its more like a crazy GTA video game out there....If you can make it to town and back incident free you can consider yourself pretty fortunate....

[ChrisF]

Easy to see that you have done your fair share of riding on the road.

 

Unrealistic dream I know, but I would love for people to be forced to commute to work on the bicycle after getting their Learner License for 12 months before they may apply for a drivers license.

 

1. They will see how scary it is when a car passes you at speed, within close proximity, thus they will give cyclists a wide berth whenever they become drivers.

 

2. They will see it is actually liberating to ride to work instead of drive to work, so some might stick with riding to work, which equates to less cars on the road and then everyone wins.

 

....

 

Most interesting thread .... more to the point, most interesting to see those with blinkers on 

BOTH sides of the argument .....

 

I am a fair weather commuter.  And YES, it is an eye opener when cars pass so close to you !!  I am fortunate that I can alter my routes to some extent to get some extra margin of safety to the 4-wheeled-cages .....

 

Weekends I do a fair stretch of tar on the bike to get to the trails .... traffic is quiet on the out ride, coming back is downright frightening !

 

 

At work I get in my car and drive a lot each day to various project sites.  For the last few days I have been thinking of this thread while driving, what can only be described as "dodgems" on our roads ....  It is freaken scary what so many drivers get up to, while they should be paying attention to the road !!!

 

 

"rules", "owning the road", etc etc means NOTHING to these absent minded drivers !!

 

 

my humble opinion - "cycle to stay alive"

 

For me that means stay as far left as possible.

My bikes allow me to use gravel next to the road when it becomes too narrow or just too busy.

LIGHTS, lights and some more lights .... be visible ....

CAREFUL at intersections !!

 

And when I am in a 4-wheeled-cage I am aware of cyclists, and make sure to allow them safe passage.  

[SwissVan]

I used to notice that when return to Gauteng from holidays in Eastern cape or KZN. The minute you hit the Jozi freeways your moermeter redlines quickly negating all benefits of the holiday.

 

Gauteng is a stressful place to live.

When we are in Jozi my wife always tells me:

“5 minutes and you already behaving like the rest of them....” referring to the aggro driving

????

 

When Rome, behave like a Roman

[Ozzie NL]

When we are in Jozi my wife always tells me:

“5 minutes and you already behaving like the rest of them....” referring to the aggro driving

 

When Rome, behave like a Roman

Rome is a good comparison.....drivng there is truly petrifying even by Jozi standards. As is Paris, A'Dam or New York.

 

Coming to think of it: Is it maybe a big city thing (Slaapstad is a dorpie remember)

[IceCreamMan]

Rome is a good comparison.....drivng there is truly petrifying even by Jozi standards. As is Paris, A'Dam or New York.

 

Coming to think of it: Is it maybe a big city thing (Slaapstad is a dorpie remember)

I have driven in big city’s. No, Jozi has a pretty unique stress level when out on the road.

[DJR]

Rome is a good comparison.....drivng there is truly petrifying even by Jozi standards. As is Paris, A'Dam or New York.

 

Coming to think of it: Is it maybe a big city thing (Slaapstad is a dorpie remember)

I found Rome a doddle compared to Jozi. Nearly every car I saw in Rome had a few dents, but although there is a lot of hooting and gestures, there is almost none of the aggression. But yes, the Italians are all driving their Fiat 500s like they are F1 Ferraris.  

[stefmeister]

I have driven in big city’s. No, Jozi has a pretty unique stress level when out on the road.

Driving in Joburg is a pleasure. That Allandale rd can get quite interesting, and when there’s load shedding things get a bit crazy. But it’s 10x better than CT. People are just next level useless here.

Rome and Colombo’s traffic has been the worst I’ve been in, but didn’t came close to Main reef rd without any traffic light working.

[Vetplant]

SNIP

For the last few days I have been thinking of this thread while driving, what can only be described as "dodgems" on our roads .... It is freaken scary what so many drivers get up to, while they should be paying attention to the road !!!

 

 

"rules", "owning the road", etc etc means NOTHING to these absent minded drivers !!

 

Just had to share:

Driving on my way to work past Menlyn on the N1 this morning I notice the tell tale signs of a distracted driver in front of me:

-Not matching the speed of traffic around her.

-Late to react

-etc

 

So I pass and try to see if it is another cellphone-watcher...

 

But I kid you not, the lady had her A4 size book open on the steering wheel, reading! Looked like the type of book that you used to make study notes in!

 

Face-palm moment of note for me.

[peetwindhoek]

*snip*

Cyclist who rides like a tjop doesn't have to die. This isn't Game of Thrones....

*snip*

 

Hehe, or Hunger Games.

 

I have commuted for long periods with car, motorcycle and bicycle. And as someone on this forum once remarked: "where there are people, you will find idiots". Honestly, sometimes I have been the idiot and in the end do to others as you would have them do to you.

 

At least here we do not have Magpies trying to take your eyes out: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49711147

[Eldron]

South Africans are generally angry people, its not really our fault either, there is a lot to be angry about in this country.

Anger is like drinking poison in the hope that the other person will die...

[Mohs]

these last 13 pages are a Psychologist's wet dream....

[IceCreamMan]

Driving in Joburg is a pleasure. That Allandale rd can get quite interesting, and when there’s load shedding things get a bit crazy. But it’s 10x better than CT. People are just next level useless here.

Rome and Colombo’s traffic has been the worst I’ve been in, but didn’t came close to Main reef rd without any traffic light working.

Not so much the sheer volume of traffic just the houding. If I am going 140 on the highways the ous behind will flash lights and threaten me so I move over kind of thing. That needle and that extent just is not found in Europe even if I am doing 60 on the autobahn ppl have more patience.

[Vetplant]

Hehe, or Hunger Games.

 

I have commuted for long periods with car, motorcycle and bicycle. And as someone on this forum once remarked: "where there are people, you will find idiots". Honestly, sometimes I have been the idiot and in the end do to others as you would have them do to you.

 

At least here we do not have Magpies trying to take your eyes out: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-49711147

To tie into this, TheGCNShow incidentally hit the nail on the head with the episode posted just now.

 

Cyclists don't break rules, people do!

 

To extend that to the other side:

Drivers don't break rules, people do!

 

We will find twats breaking the rules no matter what group you want to single out.

 

https://youtu.be/uq91C5gWixc

[Sebastian_57]

Thanks so much to everybody who assisted in tracking the guy down regarding the incident on Saturday morning on William Nicol Drive. Justice will be served!. How can you attack people the way this guy did and cowardly disappear into thin air, thinking you are untouchable if you haven't got a number plate as ID. As a cyclist myself I am ashamed of such cowardly behavior, doesn't matter what the circumstances were, his behavior was unacceptable, but the PI appointed to track him down did a tremendous job! Well done!!

[Vetplant]

Thanks so much to everybody who assisted in tracking the guy down regarding the incident on Saturday morning on William Nicol Drive. Justice will be served!. How can you attack people the way this guy did and cowardly disappear into thin air, thinking you are untouchable if you haven't got a number plate as ID. As a cyclist myself I am ashamed of such cowardly behavior, doesn't matter what the circumstances were, his behavior was unacceptable, but the PI appointed to track him down did a tremendous job! Well done!!

Thank you so much for going through the effort to create a profile yesterday and come on here to give some feedback, the original poster has just gone AWOL without any more details.

 

You seem to be close to the victims, would you mind sharing some of the details you have or links to Facebook/other site posts with any more details for this cycling loving community to understand what has happened in the meantime?

[Sebastian_57]

I am close to the victims, indeed. I am also the CEO of the company who's vehicle was involved in the attack.

 

The investigating detective phoned us yesterday with the request that the guy who caused the damaged and fled the scene wants to meet with us at the Police Station today.

 

I will definitely post the outcome later today.