Motorists vs Cyclists.... again

[ChrisF]

39 minutes ago, The Ouzo said:

so here's the thing though, how much later are you going to get to work because a group of cyclists inconvenienced you ? 

And this is not aimed specifically at you, its just that you happened to mention it. It is the type of logic that prevails on our roads, which is why we have aggression and impatient drivers.

change those cyclists to a slow moving car/truck/bus, does the motorist still feel that same ? most of the times not so much.

 

 

Yes, you are correct ... minutes at worst

 

But for that person about to miss a meeting it is fine line between a rational mind and road rage .... 

 

We see it even when one car slows another down.

[Milosh]

1 minute ago, ChrisF said:

We see it even when one car slows another down.

Try being in the car when a learner driver stalls !!! 

It is a 50/50 , sometimes no sweat at all and life is good,  than that one oke trying to make up time on the road who forgets he once had a big L sticker on his car. 

[Shebeen]

18 minutes ago, Milosh said:

Try being in the car when a learner driver stalls !!! 

It is a 50/50 , sometimes no sweat at all and life is good,  than that one oke trying to make up time on the road who forgets he once had a big L sticker on his car. 

there are instructors that takes L students on main road during peak traffic. 

[Robbie Stewart]

2 hours ago, Milosh said:

My take is there are two kinds of cyclists

1- Those that cycle to work and need a cycle path 

2- Those who pay tax, normally on the upper end, have cars and pay licenses, etc that have contributed to society and deserve something back  like a cycle path 

You're in luck. You got given one. It begins in Paarden Island and ends at the Cape Town Station. Now you can go forth and enjoy whether you ride for fun or commute, whatever you fancy. Oh, wait. Nevermind.

[117]

This is better than the N1 no go bridge everyone carries on bridge thread 

And Cecil was a colleague/customer of mine so please dont assume that im being insensitive 

 

[Mook]

12 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

You're in luck. You got given one. It begins in Paarden Island and ends at the Cape Town Station. Now you can go forth and enjoy whether you ride for fun or commute, whatever you fancy. Oh, wait. Nevermind.

Sounds like a pyramid scheme to me 😵

[Hairy]

19 hours ago, Milosh said:

My take is there are two kinds of cyclists

1- Those that cycle to work and need a cycle path 

2- Those who pay tax, normally on the upper end, have cars and pay licenses, etc that have contributed to society and deserve something back  like a cycle path 

K@K, you can be both no. 1 & 2

[Milosh]

13 minutes ago, Hairy said:

K@K, you can be both no. 1 & 2

With respect that is then your take 😉

[Robbie Stewart]

14 minutes ago, Milosh said:

With respect that is then your take 😉

so people who cycle to work may not also cycle for recreation? Someone should tell @Hairy 

[ChrisF]

22 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

so people who cycle to work may not also cycle for recreation? Someone should tell @Hairy 

 

Getting worried now .... so when I commute to work, am I not allowed to use the cycle lane to the trails for recreational riding, before commuting back home on roads that dont have cycling lanes ....

 

 

Aaaa damn this ... time to go RIDE my bikes ....

 

Oops, sorry for the double space 😉

[Milosh]

Guys, it's not Friday yet and we are splitting hairs.

Allow me to rephrase. 

In my take, there are two major groups, some smaller groups, and even some overlaps. 

 

[droo]

46 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

so people who cycle to work may not also cycle for recreation? Someone should tell @Hairy 

Does he still ride bikes recreationally?

[W@nted]

The problem is much broader. The issue is the general selfish mentality in SA. Only once I have experienced the mentality of motorists towards cyclists in the Netherlands, did I realise how selfish the typical driver in SA is.

Here in our town, residential areas the speed limit is 30 km/h, 50km/h in the more "open" areas. I am sure that getting doored while doing 30 km/h will be less severe than at 60 km/h.

There are cycle paths all around, but in the city, wherever a road is shared between cyclists/commuter and motorist, there is a general respect between all. Motorists are constantly on the lookout for anyone on a bicycle. If the car cannot pass safely, they are more than happy to drive behind a bicycle/s until it is safe to do so. Even no issues while a motorist rides/waits behind young kids doing 10 km/h. The general rule here is that if you hit a cyclist while driving a car, you are guilty and in serious trouble.

A person on a bicycle is not seen as someone who cannot afford a car. Commuting by bicycle is not frowned upon, hell, even our site manager cycles to work. I think the difference is then that some/most motorists will be a commuter on their bicycle at some stage, so there is mutual respect between both parties.

In SA, the most drivers mentality is mostly: I am late, I need to get to work, I need to get my kids to school, Get out of my way, stop blocking my way with your stupid bicycle. 

I am not sure what will help to change this in SA, but with the pretty scenery and amazing weather in SA, it is a pity that it is not the norm to commute to work on a bicycle.

 

 

[Mamil]

Cycling to work is recreation for me

[NotSoBigBen]

I'm not sure about where most of you ou's come from but at least here on the Highveld bicycle commuters (the correct name for those going to work?) ride into oncoming traffic and don't give 2 hoots about cycle lanes ....

[Zebra]

32 minutes ago, W@nted said:

In SA, the most drivers mentality is mostly: I am late, I need to get to work, I need to get my kids to school, Get out of my way, stop blocking my way with your stupid bicycle. 

(As an avid cyclist who also commutes by car 4 days a week - Hout Bay - Paarden Eiland, & back again, here is what the CYCLISTS mentality seems to be - including this morning...)

"I wear ASSOS, I am riding Carbon, my body fat is 6.4%, the cycling top I am wearing today is Natural Stone, we are riding 2 abreast since we are discussing The Donald, my bike is 1x SRAM GX Eagle, and please chillax driving in on your way in to work at 7.10am - I only start at 9am/10am/11am, or...whatever...these damn cars are SO annoying...

Tongue partly in cheek...! 😉