F*!KEN TAXIS

[Joe Low]

Sorry it's not what you want to hear but survival of the fittest means adapt or die.

 

If you've been hit six times by vehicles then the thing for a clever, smaller animal to do is to change their behaviour.

 

Came home to an accident where my son was witness to a guy knocked off his motorbike by a car pulling out of the garage at the end of our street last night. 

 

Quite messy but no malice, speed or drink involved - just an accident.  It shows that the streets are helluva dangerous. Also, taxis aren't the only, or even the main problem imo. but a convenient prejudice.

 

 

 

 

[Super_mil]

It would seem that the Arrive Alive guys have a web page where you can report bad driving http://www.arrivealive.co.za/report.aspx and a number you can call 0861-400-800.

 

I've never used it but I guess it's worth a try.

[Da2lip]

Yes I know things happen but come on.. Are you more aware when you are driving a car than the average person?? I ask you why?? If us as cyclists can do it then everyone can do it.

[TNT1]

 

This guy pull out and hit me from behind.. How to you ride defensively agains that.. Please tell me..

 

Those in the know say that machine guns are only really effective in a front facing mounting. For rear facing, the reckon oil slick or smoke screen. I believe the russians are working on some rear facing mounts for automatic small arms. Will update you.

 

[Sean Badenhorst]

 

I am calm. Just pissed. As for comuting I have been doign this for 5 years. Also got a MTB but need to be doign training for the DC.

 

I can't believe your attitudes towards this. From what I undrstand you seem to only care if somebody is seriously injured. If thats the case then people will never learn.

 

It is about time that somebody did something.

 

 

 

You know what jhag6969, we actually do care. We're just realistic. When I was new to cycling like you, I also used to take on taxi drivers that almost killed me. I used to ride up next to them and squirt water in their faces while swearing at them. Or I'd kick their doors with my cleats, or whack their side mirrors to give them a fright.

 

But you know, it never changed the way taxi drivers drove. It just got me all worked up and bitter and it made them even more resentful of cyclists no doubt. Now I ride defensively, expecting taxi drivers to do stupid things and am grateful every time I get home from a ride unhurt.

 

Unfortunately, nothing you do will change the way taxi drivers are. Take some deep breaths, appreciate your health, climb back on your bike tomorrow and ride the same route more defensively. You have no control over them, but you have control over you.

 

 

 

 

 

[Da2lip]

See now that is worse than I have ever done. Wha tI'm saying in all this is enough is enough..; How many poeple must die before things start to happen. Last time I checked should ther be an accident between 2 raod users it must be reported within 24 hrs. Thats the law and can't be changed. If enought people start doing something about it.. What need to happen is the laws needs to do something about it. People have tried the Aware Bike and it has worked. As for new to this, I think not. As I said I have been riding to work for +- 5 years now, not sure you want ot call that new but hey thats your opinion. I'm not hear to pick a fight with poeple her at all. Yes I'm a realist too but you know what.. You have a voice so use it. If enough people shout somebody will hear you. It seems that things only happen when the worst has already happened. I bet you guys would not be sitting reading and saying all this if I ended up under the car. Be honest here. The only thing that saved my life is it all took place at 8km per hr. Saying all that I could have bouonded into the middle of the road nad been hit by another car. If I was in the wrong or if it was a true accident that cool, not a problem, but this was not.. I was in the middle of the intersection for him. anyway not the point of this thread....

 

 

[shaunh]

Turn you anger into positive energy. Leave 15 minutes early on your commute tomorrow and stop all the other cyclists you see on the route and ask them if they are willing to contribute funds towards Cycle Safe signs on this road. Approach your company and others on this route and ask them for financial assistance and make a difference.

 

If you need help just shout.

[Sean Badenhorst]

Well then if it makes you feel better, jhag6969, go and report the accident at your local police station. If the law does something about it, then please let us know so we too can have hope.

 

I'm genuinely glad you weren't injured or killed and I wish you many, many more years of safe, enjoyable cycling.

 

[Da2lip]

Ok.. So guys would anyone on here be willing to contribute to soemthing like this. See what we could do for the entire country.. If everyone gives say R200. I'm sure we could do something..

 

 

[jeremyd]

sheesh, what I am reading here is such a defeatist attitude, granted realistic but nevertheless, defeatist. I don't know the law but common sense says go and report it. You have his number plate, go into the police station and lay a hit and run charge. My general understanding is that if he refused to give his details, it's the same as not stopping. If they refuse to take a statement, take down their names and ask for the station commander. Then write to Helen Ziller and contact the complaints department of the police force.

 

If we all simply accept this as the norm, it stays the norm. Everything here though s an inconvenience and takes time but that's how a flea eats an elephant, one bite at a time.

 

Should this taxi go on to kill someone, at least there will be a prior charge laid against him. Sometimes we don't see what goes on behind the scenes and occasionally the cops do come through.

But we need to start somewhere like ShaunH's signs. It s start, a small one but a start. 

[shaunh]

OK jhag6969, you obviously been out of the loop for a while.

 

Various fund raising efforts have been done on the Hub to raise these funds and signs have been erected in & around Gauteng. Thanks to those that gave unselfishly.

 

I think if you can get those that actually use this route to contribute you will achieve success. Appeal to those guys here on the Hub and I am sure one or two other hubbers will contribute as well.

 

If you belong to a club, approach them and discuss various fundraising efforts with them. Hold a nite race for road bikes at Killarney and charge an entry fee. Get companies (there are many cycling distribution companies in the Cape) to sponsor prizes. Appoach the Cape based Bicycling magazine and ask them to assist with this.

 

If you need help send me a mail shaun@sign-up.co.za

 

IF we all contribute (not just financially) we can start to make a difference.

 

GOOD LUCK!!

[Da2lip]

I know thanks for your concern.. I have just hit my boiling limit now.. enough is enough..

[Square-circles]

I am calm. Just pissed. As for comuting I have been doign this for 5 years. Also got a MTB but need to be doign training for the DC.

 

I can't believe your attitudes towards this. From what I undrstand you seem to only care if somebody is seriously injured. If thats the case then people will never learn.

 

It is about time that somebody did something.

 

 

 

Thats not the case at all, but unless we get every single driver in the saddle and into the situations we face they won't ever learn.

 

I don't know about you but I don't want to see how a taxi drive handles a bike if the idiots can't even keep those people killers they drive going in a straight line

[NC_lurker]

sheesh' date=' what I am reading here is such a defeatist attitude, granted realistic but nevertheless, defeatist. I don't know the law but common sense says go and report it. You have his number plate, go into the police station and lay a hit and run charge. My general understanding is that if he refused to give his details, it's the same as not stopping. If they refuse to take a statement, take down their names and ask for the station commander. Then write to Helen Ziller and contact the complaints department of the police force.

If we all simply accept this as the norm, it stays the norm. Everything here though s an inconvenience and takes time but that's how a flea eats an elephant, one bite at a time.

Should this taxi go on to kill someone, at least there will be a prior charge laid against him. Sometimes we don't see what goes on behind the scenes and occasionally the cops do come through.
But we need to start somewhere like ShaunH's signs. It s start, a small one but a start.  [/quote']

 

[Da2lip]

jermyd: thanks mate.. I already have the mail addy and I'm already starting the mail I could not agree with you more....

 

anybody else from capetown or even the country want the email addy.. If more than 1 person writes in they will surely do something.. Even if they don't at least we as a comunity are doing something now... to be honest there are signs to stop people from speeding but they do not really help. What stops them is force. Once way or another.. Either in the wallet or jail time..

 

 

[amateur]

This weekend we went for a training ride, IanJ and the Thug were waiting for us at an intersection, that is used as a taxi rank. One of the taxi drivers showed allot of interest and was checking out there cleats and how they work and how your feet stick to the pedals etc. Then when we rode off he cam up behind us (leaving on his route) and hooted and waved at us, and gave us a thumbs up etc, he also went past us in the other lane and not brushing past us like usual.

 

IanJ had a very good idea there after by saying maybe we should introduce like a taxi rank awareness thing, we alot of us go to the ranks and do some PR work for cyclists! ShaunH maybe we can build something like that into the cycle-safe program. Or use the hub ride for something like that, get in touch with a taxi assoiation and go do some PR??

 

Just a thought, well IanJ's idea