road rules

[Cornelis]

This might get some peoples blood boiling, as it should. I have been cycling for sixteen years, ten of which I spent on the tar.

We hear about hit & run's and reckless driving every day and I dread the day a car takes me out.

But, there is much to say about reckless and maverick cyclists, who treats the roads like they own it. Every single day especially in summer there's a group of six strong cruisng through Stellenbosch on the R44 shoulder to shoulder, for those who don't know, Stellenbosch is not some sleepy hollow with 50 cars and 200 people, and the R44 has no shoulder in the town section. Half past six in the morning is not the best time to cruise with your buddies all lined up with hundreds of cars pouring out of town heading to Cape Town.

These hanchos also have no reservations about dishing out gestures and verbal exchanges if they feel their space was intruded.

Stop streets and robots are also optional extras for this clan, setting a exceptional example for all, but the first to complain about a taxi stopping in the middle of nowhere, where it was clearly not allowed.

I have had a few run in's with this said group, one getting quite heated, after failing to notice my bikerack on the roof of my car, and accusing me of not having a clue what I was talking about. I carefully pointed out to the general of the group, I have probably spent more time on a bike than the group combined, and my dismay is that their self rightous attitude will lead to more motorists not given a damn, and simply clipping you of the road.

 

So shape up, and if your one of these morons who has a chip on the shoulder, don't point fingers when your getting out of the ditch.

 

[TNT1]

Yeah... 99% of cyclists are their own worst enemy when it comes to road usage issues. 

[shaunh]

As the saying goes, " Cyclists seem invincible the moment they put on Lycra'.

 

I had a meeting with one of the head engineers at Gauteng with regards to erecting W309 signs in Pretoria. The first thing he said to me and  quote," Why must I help the cyclists when they ride like they own the road!'.

 

Come on guys, let's do the right thing out there especially as the summer season approaches.

[slowpoke]

interesting that this came up now... just last night i was chatting to a friend from PrimeMedia... they did a "study" in the cape last year after one of their announcers had been knocked off his bike... turned out that of cyclists observed over 80% were NOT visible (ie had no lights or reflective bits on their gear) or were dangerously breaking hte rules of the road (ie riding multiple abreast and/or jumping lights/stop streets)

[ShortLegs]

Name and shame buddy, name and shame!!!

[fandacious]

yeah - i agree.. name and shame the clowns

[calabash]

Cyclist who behave like idiots on the road are fair-game for a paintball attack.

[butafly]

name & shame. what kit were they riding in.

[mallo]

Simply post a pic of the culprits.

[linnega]

As the saying goes' date=' " Cyclists seem invincible the moment they put on Lycra'.

 

I had a meeting with one of the head engineers at Gauteng with regards to erecting W309 signs in Pretoria. The first thing he said to me and  quote," Why must I help the cyclists when they ride like they own the road!'.

 

Come on guys, let's do the right thing out there especially as the summer season approaches.

[/quote']

Shaun - I hope you told him to grow up.  I don't see cyclists calling all motorists bad drivers based on the actions of taxi's for example.

 

This expectation that cyclists should somehow be models of law abiding citizens before they expect to be treated as rightful occupants of the road is ludicrous.  When motorists (all of them) stop speeding, running lights, changing lanes without indicating etc then we can start that discussion.  Until such time it is a non-issue.

[Dirty Twin]

Well be safe out there guys.

 

Your life in your own hands.

 

Cause it is clear that drivers don't give a hoot about cyclists so no need to antagonise them any more than we already do.

 

Car vs Bike Car always wins.

We need to be visible and always on the lookout for the idiots in cars.

 

Shaun are we puting the W309 sign or something like that onto the new Hub cycling kit.

 

 

My $90000000000000000000000000 Zim dollars worth of opinion

[Bateleur1]

I am with Linnega on this one.  ALL road users should clean up their act! Not just one group.  Wether you are on a bicycle, on foot, in a car, etc.  How many motorists stop dead a stop sign?

[Zatek]

VIVA

[Cornelis]

linnega

I totally agree with the premise of what your saying, problem is this is not a " non-issue"  as you call it.

To keep the old cliche out of it two wrongs don't make a right was not the point I was getting at, neither was shut up and accept bad driving.

 

The problem is there's 99% of motorist who are willing to accomodate cyclist on the road, by having the attitude of " you behave then I behave" you will soon add another few percent of motorist who doesn't care.

And like it or not numbers here are not in your favour, so go ahead and ride four abreast and skip the lights. Just keep in mind your 7kg super-carbon fiber means ditto against 2000 kg of steel.

 

 

[Rookie101]

See, it is not just me complaining about these oaks earlier on....

Now we have hard evidence they do think the road is owned by them....

Cornelis, I agree with you, they should be more considerate, they even cycle like that when they go on Baden Powell road which is halfway narrower than usual because there is road works!!!

[Skye]

Take a picture of them with your mobile's post these pictures on the hub as I am sure someone will be able to identify them.

 

If they belong to a club, let the club/s know and it will be dealt with accordingly.