People urged to use bicycles

[Jaco Steyn]

From News24.com

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2207995,00.html

Riding a bicycle is cheap and affordable and could help people save money spent on car fuel and public transport, North West MEC for Transport, Roads and Community Safety said on Wednesday............  More to read in link.

[Willehond]

Great!  Now just get us some safe roads to ride on and make the motorists aware we have the righ to be there!

[linnega]

Roads are safer to ride on than drive on, but making them safer would be great.

 

Cycling as transport is easy to drive - just look at what they UK have done (as an aside cycling mortality rate per hour cycled is worse than ours).  Actively promote cycling as a primary means of transport, require that all offices provide employees with safe storage for bikes and shower and changing facilities, introduce a tax scheme that allows bicycles to be claimed as tax deduction where they are used predominantly to cycle to work and back.

 

 

Build roads with cycling lanes and make special provision for cyclists as vehicels with additional rights in the Road Traffic Act.  All of this could be achieved within a few months, it just needs political will.

 

[noembus]

We alsways gonna have prob with road safety, and it is always the cyclist fault, there are a million other motorist out there that drives worse, and we also have cars, somehow we must start to do something, get cycle rodes or soemthing, what do you think??

[Willehond]

noembus, if I read your typo ridden reply I have to say that I think us cyclists aren't squeeky clean.  MOST cycists jump red robots and hurl abuse when they feel it is warranted.  Never going to win us any friends...

 

Educating motorists about our right to be on the road seems to be the way to go (and local authorities if I read shaunh's article correctly) and behaving like grown ups ourselves.

 

BTW, just read on cyclingnews.com about a long distance rider who ride for charity, who got killed with a fellow rider whilst 27 miles from finishing her ride accross America!  Tragedies happen everywhere, but we need to keep communicate the messge of safe cycling and tolerance.

[Tumbleweed]

BTW' date=' just read on cyclingnews.com about a long distance rider who ride for charity, who got killed with a fellow rider whilst 27 miles from finishing her ride accross America! [/quote']

 

no ways!

[ewep]

Anytime.  Only problem is showers/bathrooms at the offices.  I have commuted to and from work, and have had no problems.  Suprisingly enough, I was treated very well, BUT I did not skip robots, used signs, etc.  Maybe get the SARS to give companies tax breaks for showers, etc and the cyclist tax breaks for cycling to work.

[Tumbleweed]

ewep, how far was your commute?

[ewep]

 

45km one way.  Was great fun, sometimes not so much, but part of it.

 

I still can't believe companies don't have showers in their buildings.  My current company is not even interested.  The joke is making the rounds that if you're fit you want to ride/run/gym, which means less work.  So no shower, no training, more work....

 

ewep2007-10-24 23:28:45

[Tumbleweed]

that's a decent distance. my commute used to be 32kays or so each way.

[ewep]

HR, I think the companies are trying not to get employees to cycle/run to work.  I wanted to cycle back home, but it was such an issue to "store" my bike somewhere at the office that I decided against it.

[Tumbleweed]

my company is quite good about it, when i still manage the occasional friday commute (the boys' school schedule precludes the other weekdays). we have plenty showers (although i once picked up athlete's foot) and my bike sits ride behind me all day. it's like taking a loyal and well-behaved dog to work.

[ewep]

I wish!!  At Dirt Riders company they actually give you place to put your bike.  But my current company, nope, not very helpfull!

[pastapouch]

nooooo.... apparently obesity is a problem in SA, where do you find a bicycle with tractor tyres on

[Tumbleweed]

nooooo.... apparently obesity is a problem in SA' date=' where do you find a bicycle with tractor tyres on[/quote']

 

 

 

[noembus]

willehond, dis waar, maar nogsteeds, ons kan nie almal daai houding kry nie, motors ry ook oor rooi ligte, baie meer as fietsryers, erens moet ons die lyn trek