Motorists vs Cyclists.... again (still there)

[Tomik]

To those that said the cyclists are at fault, have you ridden down Chappies?

It appears the cyclist on the right is passing the slower cyclist on the left (perfectly legal to do). No-one rides abreast DOWN Chappies on that side as the road is narrow with tight turns, it's just not possible)

They do not have to ride far left as that promotes close passing on a narrow road (again, perfectly legal)

They are probably going a similar speed to most cars (except the impatient Polo driver) so are not causing anyone inconvenience. 

The joggers are allowed to be there, so the only person breaking a law is the Polo driver (crossing solid white line when unsafe to do so, and probably well above the speed limit).

[Bro Derek]

Is anyone actually aggrieved or in imminent danger in the picture?

Looks to me like 3 groups of road users existing in a space together 

It may not be 'legal', but if no cars are coming the other way (which you can see for about 3 years before that point) then it's basically just 3 groups of road users each being as illegally congruent as each other

It's a non event

[Andreas_187]

2 hours ago, Tomik said:

To those that said the cyclists are at fault, have you ridden down Chappies?

It appears the cyclist on the right is passing the slower cyclist on the left (perfectly legal to do). No-one rides abreast DOWN Chappies on that side as the road is narrow with tight turns, it's just not possible)

They do not have to ride far left as that promotes close passing on a narrow road (again, perfectly legal)

They are probably going a similar speed to most cars (except the impatient Polo driver) so are not causing anyone inconvenience. 

The joggers are allowed to be there, so the only person breaking a law is the Polo driver (crossing solid white line when unsafe to do so, and probably well above the speed limit).

They are pootling along having a chat. If the cyclist was pedaling and overtaking he would have left the car for dust

[Mook]

2 hours ago, Andreas_187 said:

They are pootling along having a chat. If the cyclist was pedaling and overtaking he would have left the car for dust

Cyclist(s) on the right was overtaking a slower rider. Look closely at the guy on the right and you will see the right shoe of another cyclist on whose wheel he sits as they pass the slower rider.

The VW, despite a solid line, had unobstructed view of approaching traffic. You will noticexthecroad ahead snaking upwards, turning to the driver side rrom where the driver would have had a rather clear view. Yes, solid line hence no overtaking BUT whom of us have never taken a calculated risk like this after doing your risk assessment before overtaking safely.

A terriblycrisky call by thecdriver was not pulling this move on a solid line but doing so by squeezing between joggers and cyclists.

Situational awareness was tossed out the window by everybody in the picture, yet the motorist ran the biggest risk of killing somebody by pulling this stunt at that exact point.

This incident was a perfect storm.

Stay safe ya'll and have a great new years celebration. 🥳

 

[DieselnDust]

Driver is a ducking funt. End of story

[The Ouzo]

Chappies is very wide and very safe, compared to what I've just seen in Mauritius.

 

I had contemplated renting/borrowing a bike for my stay there, but after seeing the roads and the way people drive I decided very quickly to rather find other ways to get some activity done during the day.

We complain here, and rightfully so, but other places just seem to have is so much worse.

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, The Ouzo said:

Chappies is very wide and very safe, compared to what I've just seen in Mauritius.

 

I had contemplated renting/borrowing a bike for my stay there, but after seeing the roads and the way people drive I decided very quickly to rather find other ways to get some activity done during the day.

We complain here, and rightfully so, but other places just seem to have is so much worse.

we compare our environment  to Europe and not Africa.

Still, if the general driving population want to live in European type environment then they should accept that bicycles are big part of that. Instead we apply selective desires. We want empty roads for fast cars and no cops sp we can drink and drive but we want the state polices because we don;t want the other side wandering around our neighbourhoods making us feel unsafe.

[Danger Dassie]

2 hours ago, The Ouzo said:

Chappies is very wide and very safe, compared to what I've just seen in Mauritius.

 

I had contemplated renting/borrowing a bike for my stay there, but after seeing the roads and the way people drive I decided very quickly to rather find other ways to get some activity done during the day.

We complain here, and rightfully so, but other places just seem to have is so much worse.

Cycled a fair bit and worked on events in Mauritius. Always been fine and enjoyable, despite how chaotic it can seem. 
There’s a small but passionate cycling scene there and a much healthier adherence to common decency on the road. Was quite an eye opener during their Tour du Maurice, rolling traffic stops with traffic stoppping/yielding with no major issues.

Something we couldn’t get right with ToSA.

[dave303e]

just my 2c, maybe it will fall on the correct ears and save a life.

MTB riders riding on the N4 Highway between donkerhoek offramp and the Rhenosterfontein road or rail bridge please reconsider your route. I saw it a lot over December, worst case was on Saturday, 2 abreast in the yellow line towards traffic on a dual carriageway. It may not seem like a dangerous section or a long stretch but twice I have seen cars veer off the road in that area, I drive it a lot. I know it is convenient, but it is not a good idea.

Why is it so unsafe you may ask?

People do u turns under the rail bridge to avoid paying toll. They merge into traffic at the bottom of the hill and a few times I have seen guys have to avoid an idiot taking a gap that is not a gap or not realising how slow someone is going in the fast lane. etc
The cops also speed trap there, same thing, guys hammering the brakes to stop for police, then the guy behind needs to avoid and loses control.
You don't want to be anywhere near those shenanigans on a bicycle.

What you do to avoid that section and not cross over to mamelodi side of the highway is use the mooiplaats road past the council for geoscience core library, it takes you to the donkerhoek/rosemary hill road safely on dirt. it is scenic, not much more distance or climbing, the mooiplaats section is usually quiet enough to ride2 abreast very safely. 

[Headshot]

There was recent case highlighting somewhat inconsistent US justice system  in Tulsa (google Tulsa fire truck accident trial). A woman allegedly under the influence of cannabis turned in front of a speeding fire engine (lights on and siren blaring) which resulted in the deaths of five people including the woman's own children.

She was tried for "manslaughter" i.e culpable homicide in our law. A telephone call from prison in which she expressed the desire to smoke a joint on getting out made the judge "angry" and she was handed five life sentences. The reports don't detail the legal reasoning behind the finding or all the facts relied on but it seemed to me there was negligence on the part of the fire truck driver as well. (edit - if I recall correctly the accused pleaded guilty or "no contest" in US lingo meaning that an enquiry into her culpability may not have been performed. Bad advice or decision on her part I think)

Be that as it may, I've posted this to to illustrate how severe the sentence was for negligent driving causing a death. I think our country is far too lenient and perhaps we need to be heading this way...

(I suspect that the sentence may well be overturned on appeal and I think the legal reasoning was flawed but that's another story)

Edited January 14 by Headshot

[Mamil]

https://www.news24.com/opinions/columnists/opinion-cape-towns-cyclist-heaven-tag-under-lethal-threat-how-many-more-must-die-20260118-1080

Worth amplifying and commenting

[DieselnDust]

11 hours ago, Mamil said:

https://www.news24.com/opinions/columnists/opinion-cape-towns-cyclist-heaven-tag-under-lethal-threat-how-many-more-must-die-20260118-1080

Worth amplifying and commenting

Can’t read it without a subscription 

[Shebeen]

Veedub rolled off Chappies. Oke survived

 

Comment#1

 

[ChrisF]

17 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Veedub rolled off Chappies. Oke survived

 

Comment#1

 

 

Shoulda bought something that can handle the Bendz ....

[Harold m]

In my 35 years of cycling (road and Mtb) I saw alot of things. Bad things from both parties. And yes majority from roadies.... Yes say what you want. The arrogance and attitude is what caused me to permanently withdraw and do Mtb. When riding in groups talking up a hole lane and the when motorists use their horns to warn them to make way,,, comments like" F off drive around!'" is acceptable. 

The roed is primarily there for motorists. If you get hit by a car because the car had to stay in it's lane to avoid head collision with another car. Then tough S#! T. 

Just use your brain. Please. 

And I never said no driver are guilty. They are out there. But dont give them reason and opportunity to something stupid. 

Be the clever safe on. 

PS. Mountain bike is far more safer and rewarding 

 

[Robbie Stewart]

On 1/19/2026 at 6:17 PM, DieselnDust said:

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