Tumbleweed Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 When last did you see: 1 . A pedestrian stopped and arrested for J walking' date=' or walking through a red man robot? [/quote'] yeah, that's one that gets my goat too. every day i drive past the smal street mall?and nearly every day i have to brake suddenly when a pedestrian walks out in front of me.
linnega Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 I think Kamikaze has missed the point entirely even though he alluded to it about halfway through his rant. Cyclists are lumped together as "you cyclists" - that is a fact. I like to return the favour and lump all motorists together to include taxi and truck drivers, as "you motorists" as I think its only fair.Having said that, the point is that "badly" is not properly defined even within cycling circles (and even more so outside of the "community"), so our behaviour is unlikely to have any impact on the perceptions of greater society. Some define riding badly as riding two abreast or in the lane, where the law allows the former and requires the latter. Others define not wearing a helmet as bad behaviour, where the research points to helmets being about as useful as spittle in preventing serious injury. Others may define running lights as bad behaviour (it is against the law after all), but there are many cases where it is the safest behaviour. The simple solution is to practice tolerance and understanding within and outside our little community. Don't worry about what others are doing unless it affects you directly and rather keep your righteousness to yourself, especially if said righteousness is based on "common wisdom".
Icycling Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 So then the pedestrian is putting your life at risk and that is not on!!! Should we cyclist not start Facebook groups also ..........................??
Tumbleweed Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 So then the pedestrian is putting your life at risk and that is not on!!! Should we cyclist not start Facebook groups also ..........................?? nah, just gonna buy a cattle prod.
Icycling Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 I must admit back in 9991 I was riding home for work with a 36 head duty spanner (good 1kg worth maybe more) in my right hand on the brake hood! Not on motorist or taxi hooted!!!
Oskika Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 So then the pedestrian is putting your life at risk and that is not on!!! Should we cyclist not start Facebook groups also ..........................?? nah' date=' just gonna buy a cattle prod.[/quote'] - H.R. - I found the perfect deterrent for unruly pedestrians - anywhere - an old Black, noisy L.R. defender with a bull bar and an mirrors sticking out like horns on a rabbid beast... the noise alone of the old '90' engine sent them scurrying....
Tumbleweed Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 So then the pedestrian is putting your life at risk and that is not on!!! Should we cyclist not start Facebook groups also ..........................?? nah' date=' just gonna buy a cattle prod.[/quote'] - H.R. - I found the perfect deterrent for unruly pedestrians - anywhere - an old Black, noisy L.R. defender with a bull bar and an mirrors sticking out like horns on a rabbid beast... the noise alone of the old '90' engine sent them scurrying.... not quite there, but i'm trying my best with a 3.0 v6 hardbody?with bull bar!
Willehond Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 I must admit all road users (99.999999999999999%) don't obey the rules of the road - so as long as you don't endanger yourself or others while disobeying road rules where is the problem? ............Rules are for the guidance of wise men and for fools to follow! Yes, in those two sentences the general attitude of South Africans towards the law is encapsulated. No wonder... Anyway, just remeber we are talking about laws here, not rules, but who am I kidding? They do not relate to YOU now do they? Might as well just do as you please then you will feel like you have some sense of control over things amidst all the chaos.
Gasping Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Wllehond, are they actually rules or merely rough guidelines?
Willehond Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Wllehond' date=' are they actually rules or merely rough guidelines?[/quote'] ...or maybe even worse: The evil antiquated tools of the previous Apartheid regime intent on deviding society and causing distrust amongst (previously) harmonious groups of inherintly good people.... Ignore them and free yourselves from mental slavery!!!Willehond2009-10-26 05:12:45
TNT1 Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 I must admit all road users (99.999999999999999%) don't obey the rules of the road - so as long as you don't endanger yourself or others while disobeying road rules where is the problem? ............ Rules are for the guidance of wise men and for fools to follow! Yes' date=' in those two sentences the general attitude of South Africans towards the law is encapsulated. No wonder... Anyway, just remeber we are talking about laws here, not rules, but who am I kidding? They do not relate to YOU now do they? Might as well just do as you please then you will feel like you have some sense of control over things amidst all the chaos.[/quote'] well said willydog, however, you have heard that expression, something about talking to a brick wall, again, that sums up most south africans when confronted with morals, laws, ethics as you are suggesting.
Icycling Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Yes and when the rules laws put my life at risk? Ultimate Hubber Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Online Status: Online Posts: 851 Quote Icycling Replybullet Posted: 23 Oct 2009 at 11:57am Bottom line you drive your car, cycle your bike, ride your motor cycles and I will do the same for what is safest for me at the time - I have a brain an access each situation for its merits. I just want to get home safely and without a head ache from other road users! So: 1. In Switzerland I don't use a helmet - the fellow road users respect other road users and I feel safe. Been riding a bicycle for 27 years and in the past 15 have never caused myself injury! 2. If at a red robot in JHB at 2 in the morning in my car - I treat it as a stop street. I don't want to be hijacked and been from the Cape I do not know which areas are "safe"! 3. Often start riding ahead of a robot when it is about to change green - as I am normally out my saddle and thus using more of the road space - once again my safety. 4. If pissing with rain and cold, and I am out riding - not that often - I will tend to go through more robot than normal. Swine flu kills! I don't really want to get sick. Just a few example of me putting my personnel safety above the general law! Rules are for the guidance of wise men and for fools to follow! I really don't care how other react / think or feel as long as it is safest for myself.
TNT1 Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 I really think the law of the country is the law. You may not like it, but if you live there, then you should live within the confines of that law. Justifying reason's for breaking it is not a solution. If you find the laws untenable, move to a country where the law suits you, or lobby your parliamentarian to change the laws, but if you are a citizen of this country, surely it is your right, your duty and responsibility to uphold the law? Surely it is not your duty to justify breaking the law by pointing out others that break laws? What good does it do pointing fingers even at the law officers who in your eyes are inept? Can you imaging the outcry on this very forum if a cyclists was stopped and fined for contraveneing the road traffic act? You lot would all be baying for the traffic cops' blood. The only thing wrong with this country is the attitude of men who ought to know better and do nothing. TNT12009-10-26 05:31:59
porky Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Quite correct TNT1, its a South African mentality, everyone talks about changing the "OTHER", nobody thinks about changing "HIMSELF".!
leet22 Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 I agree fully that the law is the law and it should be up held. But we all break the rules sometimes speeding etc and we should make sure that we dont endanger anyone elses life in anyway.I will ride through a red traffic light where i live as it only changes when a car is there and a carbon cycle is not going to change it. But I do stop at it and make sure it is clear before i go across. I ride with a hemut not because its a law but because it is safer to do so. I try ride in the yellow line for the same reason .
Icycling Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 LEET22 - Just pointing out it is not only unsafe in RSA to ride without a helmet as you have pointed out already, (probably more because of the danger of other road users causing an accident in RSA as apposed to you causing yourself injury) but it is also now law that you must ride with a helmet - this law was passed about 3 to 4 years ago!
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