Safety car for group rides!

[Dickie]

Hi all, there has been plenty of discussion about the tragedies in KZN recently and the protest/awareness ride that didn't go as planned. How about a club member/budding entrepeneur driving a car or van behind groups of riders for protection. The riding community is generally not short short of cash and would pay for the services of the following car. I see some cycling clubs have 'team' cars which would serve well as back-up safety cars.

Surely if there is a vehicle with its hazzards flashing driving at the back of the group,other cars using the roads will be aware and hopefully more careful. 

I know that there are many different rides that take place on any given morning, but maybe they could combine to ensure safety(meet at one or two designated spots). I don't think we will change the motorists mindset over night, so we need to take the initiative to protect ourselves.

Just an idea...

[slowpoke]

Dickie, car or even a motorbike - it's still bigger and heavier and scarier than a cyclist so cagers will be more likely to see it.

[Iven]

Our regular training group has a driving roster from Monday to Thursday whereby each person on the list takes a turn driving behind the group. We are about 26 cyclists in total (not that they all ride everyday) so it means you get to drive once every 6 weeks.

We've been doing this for about 18 months and it certainly does help. Its also nice for things like punctures where you have a foot pump in the car.

Mr Price - way to go!

[Derek20]

A couple of clubs in the south of JHB do this and it seems to work. I also think the bunches are too big sometimes when cyclist meet and this then creates the problem of being all over the road.

[Sammajoor]

There is a legal implication to this.  We do the same in Pretoria, have a back up vehicle and a bike rack, so that if you drop behind, you can be picked up,  the vehicle also has a basic first aid kit and most of us have first aid knowledge some more than others.

 

The traffic police are just not to keen on the idea as you are blatantly blocking traffic.

 

But they understand and know the dangers involved, so most of them turn a blind eye.

 

But there is a way to get permission to do it, and it can be done.

 

Makes the ride so much more safer

 

[IanC]

Maybe this should be discussed with traffic departments in the different areas. There might be a possibility of a patrol car following riding groups.

(Wishfull thinking I know, but might be worth a try.)

[Edition 507]

There is a legal implication to this.  We do the same in Pretoria' date=' have a back up vehicle and a bike rack, so that if you drop behind, you can be picked up,  the vehicle also has a basic first aid kit and most of us have first aid knowledge some more than others.

The traffic police are just not to keen on the idea as you are blatantly blocking traffic.

But they understand and know the dangers involved, so most of them turn a blind eye.

But there is a way to get permission to do it, and it can be done.

Makes the ride so much more safer
[/quote']

 

I don't see how the cops can do anything about a safety vehicle riding behind the bunch. Yes it blocks traffic to a degree but there is no minimum speed limit on most roads we cycle on so there is really nothing they can do about it.

 

I think you have a good point Dickie, I would be more than happy to pay someone to do so on all training rides, like a student for example, as it would work out far cheaper than hospital bills or prosthetic legs as in the case of the most unfortunate Oswald Kydd. Most of my training is done indoors on my TACX for that very reason. I consider the R10,000 I forked out for it to be a good investment in my ongoing health and ability.