Traffic rules

[casspir]

Whilst on this subject, what are the rule(s) regarding cycling on the N1, N2, ......

casspir

 

[Witrot]

Apparently you may not ride on the national highway, but for some of us in the Free State(Bloemfontein) is it the safest road to use, due to the yellow line that protect us. Other roads only limit us to 10km of yellow line and then we have to risk it to ride on the small roads.

 

Some of us where fined by traffic cops because we used the national highway ( but other times they just great us very friendly).

[linnega]

 

Linnega' date=' some of the rules you quote are outdated

don't need reflectors except on public roads after dark

red flashing lights are not illegal

car & "pedal cycle" are treated differently, so the yellow lane rule doesn't apply

& don't have to have a bell; a hooter will do

 

[/quote']

Those are the self same rules.  The rules related to pedal cycles are additional to those that relate to vehicles.  For more detail you can have a look at my article on Chainwheel under road safety from 18 months ago.  Obviously you don't need reflectors during the day.  Any flashing lights are illegal - the rules relating to pedal cycles simply supercede the need to have lights that can light up the road the same distance as would be expected from a car.  Driving in the shoulder is illegal for all vehicles - motorised or not.  There is no mention of where a bicycle should be ridden except it must be in the left lane.  Yes you may have any warning device in working order - it could be a siren.

 

As for freeways, you are not allowed to operate a vehicle under 125cc (I think) on any freeway.  That would include a bicycle.  Freeways include all dual carriage-ways with on-ramps and off-ramps, so it is not just national routes.  For the guys in Bloem and East London you are absolutely not allowed to ride on the N1 and N2 respectively.

 

[Witrot]

Thanx Linnega

 

But we have to many times been pushed of the roads by bad motorists and almost all trucks. You wanne get more than 100km training in our area, than it is the safest to use the highway.

 

Know that is the law but safety first!!!!

[cat-i]

 

Those are the self same rules.  The rules related to pedal cycles are additional to those that relate to vehicles.  For more detail you can have a look at my article on Chainwheel under road safety from 18 months ago.  Obviously you don't need reflectors during the day.  Any flashing lights are illegal - the rules relating to pedal cycles simply supercede the need to have lights that can light up the road the same distance as would be expected from a car.  Driving in the shoulder is illegal for all vehicles - motorised or not.  There is no mention of where a bicycle should be ridden except it must be in the left lane.  Yes you may have any warning device in working order - it could be a siren.

 

As for freeways' date=' you are not allowed to operate a vehicle under 125cc (I think) on any freeway.  That would include a bicycle.  Freeways include all dual carriage-ways with on-ramps and off-ramps, so it is not just national routes.  For the guys in Bloem and East London you are absolutely not allowed to ride on the N1 and N2 respectively.

[/quote']

 

not exactly. as i read it, a cyclist may have a red light at the back ... it doesn't say a red flashing light is illegal ... in this road traffic act there seems to be a difference to the way motorised vehicles and "peddle cycles" are treated ... no-where do i read that all the above rules for cars, plus extra, do apply.

i also don't condone riding on freeways at all ...

 

be that as it may, my point remains that cyclists who are riding irresponsibly, are irritating motorists - and that in turn might make it dangerous for me.

 

last year about this time there was a big whoo-ha about a motorist who wrote a letter somewhere, about cyclists misbehaving, & he ended the letter with "the next cyclist i see dies"

 

it's that kind of behaviour (from cyclists) that i strongly disagree with ... because i might be the "next cyclist"

 

& yes, i do have a bell on my bicycle - a remnant from touring in holland, & i kept it because it's very handy.   & no, you won't see the light on my bicycle tomorrow, because i'm riding on my roadbike ... so tomorrow i WILL be illegal, but that happens only twice a year or so

 

 

[linnega]

There is no separate rule list for cars.  A pedal cycle is a vehicle and therefore all laws relating to vehicles apply to pedal cycles.  In there you will read that all lights are to be solid beam.  In the UK they have been fighting that law for years and only seem to be winning now - here we just ignore the rule and do what is safest.