Commuting to work

[kosmonooit]

Agreed innocently slipping through a red light miffs those unfortunate souls stuck in their cars, but I commute with hardtail mtb often on the pavements, so taking that route at traffic light intersections goes unnoticed (if possible). Sometimes traffic lights are useful (like crossing Louis Botha) but you will be making a fatal mistake if you think other vehicles wont fly through after its Red (taxis the worst)

 

Generally my rule is treat all cars, trucks, taxis in fact any other motor traffic as your enemy. Also watch out for rat runners at Stop Signs in the 'burbs esp. SUV's in Houghton!

[Slave]

so she was jaywalking?

 

Er, no, I was crossing against the light, I think I was jay-cycling.

[Hairy]

oi....you lot...I was joking man...wanted to see how many of you I can work up on Friday afternoon. Anyway, I am out of here. Will see some of you at the K2C

 

Cheers

 

I like you alot more now

 

I do take the commuting topics and road rules topics rather seriously I commute 5 days a week come rain or shine. I have also been commuting long enough to have the unfortunate knowledge of far too many cyclists killed on my route from TV to CT and I do believe in building rather than ruining relationships on the road.

 

Good Luck with the K2C and stop at the red lights will you

[linnega]

Hairy - I assume you mean karma of some sort (your Darwin reference?). If karma were real there would be a lot more dead motorists on the road. Considering the idiot that complains about a cyclist skipping a red light is more often than not the same chop that has passed said cyclist illegally a few moments previously. Over 20 years of commuting has me believing that the priority should be cyclist safety first, rules second, cyclist convenience next then motorist convenience. I've only collided with a motorist once and it was 100% her fault as she simply turned left into a side road and took me out.

[Stretched@Birth]

I am just down the road from you at Melrose. Commute from Alberton fairly regulalrly. Go through Houghton all the time.

Hi Slave, would love to know what route you take to get to Melrose. I'm also in Alberton and would like to try riding to Linbro Park, not sure though of the safest way to get to Louis Botha from Alberton.

[Slave]

Hi Slave, would love to know what route you take to get to Melrose. I'm also in Alberton and would like to try riding to Linbro Park, not sure though of the safest way to get to Louis Botha from Alberton.

 

I go along Swatkoppies to Klipriver, up over butchers. Along Klipriver (at the Engen before Southdale, I turn right then immediately left. Wander down Bellavista and then right up to Eloff Street Extention. Go left up to Frederick and then left to Rissik. Up past the Civic centre and down Hospital hill along to the top of Oxford.

 

At Empire you could turn right and get to Luis Botha, but like that route is full of taxis man.

 

(But then again, so is Oxford and it gets a bit hairy going down that steep section paralel to the M1 because you have that Oxford offramp and the cars merge at speed.

 

I have found most of the route I use to be relatively safe. Safer than most any other route available. I can give you a few ideas to get onto Louis Botha over Silvias pass, but like to get there is a bit hectic going through Malvern.

[Hairy]

Hairy - I assume you mean karma of some sort (your Darwin reference?). If karma were real there would be a lot more dead motorists on the road. Considering the idiot that complains about a cyclist skipping a red light is more often than not the same chop that has passed said cyclist illegally a few moments previously. Over 20 years of commuting has me believing that the priority should be cyclist safety first, rules second, cyclist convenience next then motorist convenience. I've only collided with a motorist once and it was 100% her fault as she simply turned left into a side road and took me out.

 

http://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/

 

No problem with cyclist safety first ... big problem with running a red light ... even if there are no cars coming across from the green light side.

 

Had enough close calls and a couple of bumps over the years.

 

Many of the recent ones are from drivers talking on their phones

[Danger Dassie]

I am just down the road from you at Melrose. Commute from Alberton fairly regulalrly. Go through Houghton all the time.

 

Ah yeah. My route goes through Bryanston/Randburg a bit of the Spruit and then up through Parkhurst and Rosebank.

 

Have to say that I've rarely had any issues, stop at lights and stop streets, use hand signals and ride defensively. If I get caught out bad light I have flicker lights on which definitely do the job of being seen on the road.

[Stretched@Birth]

I go along Swatkoppies to Klipriver, up over butchers. Along Klipriver (at the Engen before Southdale, I turn right then immediately left. Wander down Bellavista and then right up to Eloff Street Extention. Go left up to Frederick and then left to Rissik. Up past the Civic centre and down Hospital hill along to the top of Oxford.

 

At Empire you could turn right and get to Luis Botha, but like that route is full of taxis man.

 

(But then again, so is Oxford and it gets a bit hairy going down that steep section paralel to the M1 because you have that Oxford offramp and the cars merge at speed.

 

I have found most of the route I use to be relatively safe. Safer than most any other route available. I can give you a few ideas to get onto Louis Botha over Silvias pass, but like to get there is a bit hectic going through Malvern.

Tired just reading that... Agree with the Malvern thoughts, a little hectic out that part of town. Have considered Germiston, Fishers Hill, Edenvale, Modderfontein, Linbro. May try it on a weekend, but riding home over Fishers Hill is a little daunting. Thanks for the info though!

[Bin Laden]

Coenie: 20 post on and still no routes to speak off in Kaapstad. So hear goes my 2 cents.

I commute to work in Hazyview. Home to work 4km on dirt. No cars,no Jaywalkers, but sometimes need to avoid cows, Egyptian geese, mongoose and the odd hippo. **** the traffic in this place.

[Slave]

Tired just reading that... Agree with the Malvern thoughts, a little hectic out that part of town. Have considered Germiston, Fishers Hill, Edenvale, Modderfontein, Linbro. May try it on a weekend, but riding home over Fishers Hill is a little daunting. Thanks for the info though!

 

Another problem is that from Alberton, to get to Malvern, you have to go through City Deep and there are hundreds of those container trucks that use that section of road.

 

Firghtening stuff indeed. At least Melrose is only about 30 km from Alberton (at least the ay I ride home which is a slightly different route.

 

Hey Danger Dassie. I used to live in Parkhurst as a young boy. 15th street. Used to ride from there to Rosebank and Sandton city for fun with my mates. For fun one day try riding up Bompass.

[AndreZA]

http://www.yehudamoon.com/images/strips/2008-02-04.gif

[Christopher Brunsdon]

LOL ... thats me All my petrol savings go back into the bike with interest