Cyclists behaving ...... badly!!!!!!

[Gasping]

 

Perhaps you should change your name to George Washington or Mahatma Ghandi.

... or capecyclist2' date=' you seem related !
[/quote']

 

[bruce]

My random comments:

 

2) Regardless of who is wrong and right and what is legal and not legal a car will always win a fight with a bicycle - ride your bike according to this rule.

 

This is where it all breaks down!  People on this forum perpetuate the belief that a bicycle has less rights on the road than a car because a car can do more damage to a bicycle than the inverse.

 

When you are driving your car do you pull over to the side of the road when a truck is behind you, endangering yourself because the truck is bigger than you?

 

A bicycle has a legal right to be on the road.  Cyclists do not have to have licenses, because they are not a threat to other road users.  We do not have to pay road taxes because we don't use petrol, and we don't do any damage to the road.  This does not give cyclists the right to cause problems for other road users, but it also does not give other road users the right to endanger our lives!

 

Be visible, use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more!

[Gasping]

My random comments:

 

2) Regardless of who is wrong and right and what is legal and not legal a car will always win a fight with a bicycle - ride your bike according to this rule.

 

Be visible' date=' use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more!

[/quote']

 

Bruce, you are right. So is Eldron - I believe what was inferred in his post was that you need to ride defensively.

[Dirt*girl™]

You guys seem frustrated today. again. (*sigh*)

[AndreZA]

Be visible' date=' use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.? You'll find that other road users respect you more![/quote']

 

 

 

and acknowledge, thank and or apologise to motorist for doing some "wrong" or giving you a gap or waiting for you.

[bruce]

My random comments:

 

2) Regardless of who is wrong and right and what is legal and not legal a car will always win a fight with a bicycle - ride your bike according to this rule.

 

Be visible' date=' use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more!

[/quote']

 

Bruce, you are right. So is Eldron - I believe what was inferred in his post was that you need to ride defensively.

Defensive riding does not mean that you should not be assertive.  Not being assertive leads to dangerous situations.  There is no fight between bicycles and motorcars, bicycles are entitled to their space and do not have to yeild in every situation.

bruce2009-09-29 02:43:13

[bruce]

Be visible' date=' use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more![/quote']

and acknowledge, thank and or apologise to motorist for doing some "wrong" or giving you a gap or waiting for you.

Fair point!

[Gasping]

Be visible' date=' use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more![/quote']

and acknowledge, thank and or apologise to motorist for doing some "wrong" or giving you a gap or waiting for you.

Fair point!

 

Absolutely! Common decency never hurt anyone. I am from the East Rand - we understand common.

 

So far we are almost all in agreement. Does this mean that this thread will now die?

[Bionic man]

 

Be visible' date=' use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more!

[/quote']

 

I thought I was one of the few who still signals when turning, stopping etc.    You actually get a thank from motorists when doing this wierd thing, try it some time.

 

'take up your rightful place on the road' does not mean next to your buddy on a blind rise.

 

One should open a K53 school for cyclists, that will be fun

[Jackes]

 

 

Be visible' date=' use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more![/quote']

 

 

 

and acknowledge, thank and or apologise to motorist for doing some "wrong" or giving you a gap or waiting for you.

I drive past a black man on my way to work every morning, while we are heading in opposite directions.  Amazing to see how he signals his turn into universitas suburb from at least 50 meters out each morning   To use one example, show respect and you'll get it in return.  Don't wait onto others to start a solution, create one yourself

Jackes17542009-09-29 02:51:43

[Captain Slow]

 

  To use one example, show respect and you'll get it in return.  Don't wait onto others to start a solution, create one yourself

 

This is exactly what we should be doing!! Well said!

 

[Guest Big H]

 

Be visible' date=' use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more!

[/quote']

 

I thought I was one of the few who still signals when turning, stopping etc.    You actually get a thank from motorists when doing this wierd thing, try it some time.

 

'take up your rightful place on the road' does not mean next to your buddy on a blind rise.

 

One should open a K53 school for cyclists, that will be fun

 

Maybe the time is verrrry ripe that recreational cyclists should start paying a yearly licence...... not your racing license. They should also then be obliged by law to have a "number plate" or licence disk on the bicycles to identify them when they get pulled over by a traffic official so a fine can be issued. A nice little plastic card attached the same way "Elites" attach their race numbers. Embossed on the card is your piccie, ID number and contact details.

 

The contact details can also be used in an emergency if you get hurt...... like when you keep on insisting to use the full road like the characters in Vishoek!!!!!!!!

[scotty]

Reminds me of a few years back, i was riding and stopped at a traffic light when an oom in a battered bakkie pulls up next to me and starts ranting at me about a group of cyclists he had come across earlier taking up the road and not adhering to road rules, i was quite taken aback and all i could say was "sorry oom" and "askie's oom", once he got that off his chest he calmed down and wished me an enjoyable ride further. Of course i could have gotten all defensive and angry and told him to make a sexual departure which appears to be a usual cyclist response but then he would have continued to think that all cyclists are the same, whereas now he realized that we cannot all be lumped together.

[Guest Big H]

My random comments:

 

2) Regardless of who is wrong and right and what is legal and not legal a car will always win a fight with a bicycle - ride your bike according to this rule.

 

This is where it all breaks down!  People on this forum perpetuate the belief that a bicycle has less rights on the road than a car because a car can do more damage to a bicycle than the inverse.

 

When you are driving your car do you pull over to the side of the road when a truck is behind you' date=' endangering yourself because the truck is bigger than you?

 

A bicycle has a legal right to be on the road.  Cyclists do not have to have licenses, because they are not a threat to other road users.  We do not have to pay road taxes because we don't use petrol, and we don't do any damage to the road.  This does not give cyclists the right to cause problems for other road users, but it also does not give other road users the right to endanger our lives!

 

Be visible, use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more!

[/quote']

 

The damage a car does to a road in negligable. Bruce...... why do we pay taxes becuase we use petrol..... maybe you can enlighten on this????? When designing a pavement the amount of E80's or 80kN loads per axle is used. Nowadays some road are designed by using an E100 value. I cannot remember offhand but I think 70 cars equates to one E80 load. (I may be incorrect on the 70 cars figure)

 

In essence it is overloading that damages pavement. The damage caused is exponential as the load (tonnes) increase.

[Captain Slow]

BigH, I agree with the licensing issue. I have discussed this in depth with the Gauteng DOT and have not had any joy yet. Will pursue this once the 2010 is over as they (DOT) have a new structure (personnel) in place and everyone is busy with all the roadworks in and around Gauteng, but this is a very logical solution to this problem and whether it will work I just don't know the answer to that.

[bruce]

My random comments:

 

2) Regardless of who is wrong and right and what is legal and not legal a car will always win a fight with a bicycle - ride your bike according to this rule.

 

This is where it all breaks down!  People on this forum perpetuate the belief that a bicycle has less rights on the road than a car because a car can do more damage to a bicycle than the inverse.

 

When you are driving your car do you pull over to the side of the road when a truck is behind you' date=' endangering yourself because the truck is bigger than you?

 

A bicycle has a legal right to be on the road.  Cyclists do not have to have licenses, because they are not a threat to other road users.  We do not have to pay road taxes because we don't use petrol, and we don't do any damage to the road.  This does not give cyclists the right to cause problems for other road users, but it also does not give other road users the right to endanger our lives!

 

Be visible, use signals, and take up your rightful place on the road.  You'll find that other road users respect you more!

[/quote']

 

why do we pay taxes becuase we use petrol..... maybe you can enlighten on this?????

 

Because road taxes are part of the petrol levy maybe?  Alternatively tolls are used, but that is a small percentage of overall roads and the only time I ride on a toll road is in the Bakwena race.