House of Paint team on N2

[Stretch]

so....Was driving by ballito on the North Coast and lo and behold there was the House of paint team (about 7 or 8 in total) on the N2, 3 astride, in the emergency lane with a support car driving behind them. Despite being bl00dy stupid and irresponsible it is also illegal the last time I checked.

 

Now I know that this was discussed in Feb but I thought I would raise it again as well as summarise some key points from that.

1. The Astana team also claim to train on the National roads

2. Some people use the argument of "well, people do also sorts of illegal things on the National roads (walking etc), so why shouldn't I, which still does not make it legal and is the primary reason why we are so lawless

 

Despite all the challenges associated with training elsewhere, does this make it right? I dont believe so. Can you imagine what will happen.....A cyclist will see a team training and decide what a good idea, then another and another...suddenly our freeways will have cyclists training all over the place....and then someone or many will get knocked down and then....chaos. There is enough pressure on cyclists due to some irresponsible people who skip lights, right many abreast etc, can you imagine the uproar that will ensue when cyclists are taking over the freeway.

 

I also drive that section of Road and there are trucks/taxis etc in the emergency lane all over the place. How will they overtake them? by going into the traffic land most likely?

 

Also, I believe there are plenty of suitable alternatives in the area to training on the freeway.

 

I am probably going to phone the CSA and complain, although what will that really do?

 

I think we need to nip it in the bud now!

[stewie911]

Also saw a guy riding alone on the N4(Coming from rustenburg side towards pta) on Sunday.

 

There's a right and there's a wrong. Wrong can never be right

[Guest coenie]

Just remember the N does not make it a Highway.....ie into Cape Town where the speed changes fro 120 to 80...apparently it is no longer national road there.

 

Another point...trucks / Taxis are not suppose to drive in the emergency lane...Hope you "report" them also....

[Aurora]

Was this the Coastal side freeway or the one more inland?

[Stretch]

Coenie, I think you are missing my point here. Allowing it to continue will result lots more doing it and then all hell will break loose. The point of reporting it would thus try and alleviate that. And, as i said, just because others are breaking the law does not make it fair game to follow suit. Why i would report this is because it is directly related to a sport I take part it in, and I can see the consequences.

 

Secondly, it's the Friggin N2 - 2 to 3 concrete lanes each way, with a centre median. It goes from mozambique to almost the western cape, I dont thin you get more national than that

[PRO-beerder]

I’m planning a trip from Pta to Durban on the bike. It would be heaven if we could use the freeway. Will also be 200km less riding. Think I will skip the freeway, afraid I will get a speeding fine.

 

Please go ahead and complain.

[Guest coenie]

Coenie, I think you are missing my point here. Allowing it to continue will result lots more doing it and then all hell will break loose. The point of reporting it would thus try and alleviate that. And, as i said, just because others are breaking the law does not make it fair game to follow suit. Why i would report this is because it is directly related to a sport I take part it in, and I can see the consequences.

 

Secondly, it's the Friggin N2 - 2 to 3 concrete lanes each way, with a centre median. It goes from mozambique to almost the western cape, I dont thin you get more national than that

 

 

Then my question is DO you report the trucks and taxis? Or don't you care that all breaks loose with them?

 

Why do cyclist target cyclist...and then pretent to want to do good.....

 

If you want to make a change then report Taxis, busses, truck everyone....but no you report the "soft targers"

[Stretch]

Was this the Coastal side freeway or the one more inland?

the more inland side between ballito and umhlali, just before umhlali

[Rapunzel]

As far as I understand - bicycles are allowed on national roads but not on freeways (ie with high speed feed off/in). It's arguably safer and less inconvenient to other road users to train on wider roads using the shoulder when there's a following vehicle. Blocking a minor road at 35km/hour with a backup vehicle would be perfectly legal but I don't think motorists would appreciate it too much

[rock]

I remember seeing a guy with no helmet and no light riding a fixie in the dark along the main road.........thats brave/stupid.....

[Stretched@Birth]

Then my question is DO you report the trucks and taxis? Or don't you care that all breaks loose with them?

 

Why do cyclist target cyclist...and then pretent to want to do good.....

 

If you want to make a change then report Taxis, busses, truck everyone....but no you report the "soft targers"

Coenie, I think you are missing the point. Cycling on a highway is illegal and dangerous, and here a pro team is setting a bad example to our young up and comers (like my kids). We have a governing body, CSA, who can do something about it.

 

Agreed, trucks, taxis, etc. using the emergency lanes should also be reported, and if the responsible truckers and taxi drivers took Stretch's approach and reported it to their respective governing bodies, maybe the world would become a better place. Gotta start somewhere!

[Willehond]

WHAT? They were sitting IN FRONT of the car? Real roadies would sit behind the car and be motor-paced and the weak would fall off and be left on their own! Sort of natural bicycle selection...

[Stretch]

Then my question is DO you report the trucks and taxis? Or don't you care that all breaks loose with them?

 

Why do cyclist target cyclist...and then pretent to want to do good.....

 

If you want to make a change then report Taxis, busses, truck everyone....but no you report the "soft targers"

I think you are being a little bit facetious here. Yes, I phone the company if a truck is doing something stupid that may endanger lives, no I dont phone for every sole I see walking on the freeway, nor every taxi that takes a short cut. However, when I see something that will result in people saying derogatory things about cyclists just as they do about taxi's and I have the opportunity to say something, you Damned right I will.

[Stretched@Birth]

As far as I understand - bicycles are allowed on national roads but not on freeways (ie with high speed feed off/in). It's arguably safer and less inconvenient to other road users to train on wider roads using the shoulder when there's a following vehicle. Blocking a minor road at 35km/hour with a backup vehicle would be perfectly legal but I don't think motorists would appreciate it too much

Are the road signs blue or green? Blue = no bicycles/pedestrians/50cc bikes allowed Green = bikes allowed. As far as I know that piece of road is blue...

 

Also, the biggest issue on our highways is not so much speed, but the speed differential, here you have cars doing 120km/h+ vs. bicycles doing say 35...

[Tumbleweed]

I remember seeing a guy with no helmet and no light riding a fixie in the dark along the main road.........thats brave/stupid.....

 

 

Name and shame…

[Bat-ass]

Posted Today, 11:30 AM

 

rock, on 13 August 2010 - 11:04 AM, said:

 

I remember seeing a guy with no helmet and no light riding a fixie in the dark along the main road.........thats brave/stupid.....

 

 

 

Name and shame…

 

 

errr.... Sipho,,,, i see hundreds where i live.. Black steel fixies, blue overall, black jersey, and obviously no lights!!!!