Cyclist Killed

[dfm1]

We keep on hearing of cyclist been killed and injured by motorist, and nothing been done about it. Maybe its time that we unite as cyclist to adress this porblem, because noboby else cares.  A fair number of you hubbers are IT specialist, and maybe what we should do is create a web page where we can list motorist and trucks that that place us in danger. With companies its easy, we just start boycotting them, with idividual motorist, we just advise the world that this person is actively endangering cyclist, so if he/she ever hits and kills a cyclist there will be proof that its intentional, thus the person can be charged with murder and no man slaughter, thus goi to jail for life, not get a slap on the wrist, thus make motorist think twice before they try and pass within 2mm of me when i am on my bike. We need to make these people understand, that just like them, I have a wife and children that depend on me and that are waiting at home for me to get back. We need to put a face to cyclist and we need to make motorist aware that as a community we have the power to fight back.

[American Flyers]

I agree with you and we need to stand together. The drivers don't want to slow down and give us space. They will rather squeeze between us and oncoming traffic.  They will rather knock cyclist than get themselves killed.  

Maybe we must open new website and record all the numberplate of dangerous drivers. If it happens twice, we lay charge that driver. What do you think?

[dfm1]

That's the idea, case in point, a friend of mine was hit by the driver of FURY FORD in Febr this year, when the driver jumped a red robot. He was badly injured and his bike was a write off. They basically gave him a cold shoulder and there atitude was that there was nothing that he could do. So what are they going to do if 500 cyclist arrive there on Saturday morning on there bicycle's to hand over a petition to them, how will they explain to their customer's, 1 of which might just be a cyclist, who will most probaly walk away and not buy any further cars from them.

UNITED WE STAND, DEVIDED WE GET KILLED

[mbaymike]

We keep on hearing of cyclist been killed and injured by motorist' date=' and nothing been done about it. Maybe its time that we unite as cyclist to adress this porblem, because noboby else cares.  A fair number of you hubbers are IT specialist, and maybe what we should do is create a web page where we can list motorist and trucks that that place us in danger. With companies its easy, we just start boycotting them, with idividual motorist, we just advise the world that this person is actively endangering cyclist, so if he/she ever hits and kills a cyclist there will be proof that its intentional, thus the person can be charged with murder and no man slaughter, thus goi to jail for life, not get a slap on the wrist, thus make motorist think twice before they try and pass within 2mm of me when i am on my bike. We need to make these people understand, that just like them, I have a wife and children that depend on me and that are waiting at home for me to get back. We need to put a face to cyclist and we need to make motorist aware that as a community we have the power to fight back.[/quote']

 

What about arranging a countrywide movement to make everybody aware of us.  Drivers, other cyclists and everyone else.  It might just get people that little bit more interested and aware of what we do as a sport.  Even if it is just a little bit....it might just save the lives of a few more cyclists.

 

[slowpoke]

why not get more involved with the THINK BIKE initiative? yes, the focus is motorbikes but we are trying to get cycling included. the "take it to the streets" day had a big impact (we are still getting feedback about it) but WHERE WERE THE CYCLISTS on that day??? ruari was on a business trip and i had a launch so i couldn't get to work a bit late.

 

c'mon guys... get involved.

 

heck, TB clearly have the clout to achieve things - check the digital SANRAL signs on the highway that show "before you change lanes, look out for bikes"; then there's the fact that WE have been put in charge of the "nasty" intersection in 94.7 instead of Metro; and there are always other things in the pipeline

[Evan Andreou]

Agree Slowpoke

Also look at Sign-up, the initiative run by ShaunH wrt putting up signs warning motorists to be aware of cyclists

 

There are some great initiatives on the go

 

Give them support and who knows what can be achieved

[slowpoke]

wolverine - precisely. as the saying goes "united we stand, divided we fall". people should stoip trying to go off and do their own thing with only one or two peeps and rather get together and join forces with existing established initiatives working towards the desired goal. imagine how much stronger sign-up would be if everyone who bitched and moaned helped shaunh out?

[no.one.knows]

Alas guys and girls, this protest ride and movement has been done and still no change ianj organised a protest ride, the JMPD guys were there and about 2000-3000 riders, it was huge, most of the elites and everything, handed over a memorandum and nothing as far as i know has been done.

 

We can try, its always worth the effort, just saying it probably will fall on eaf ears.

but im behind you with it, either way.

 

[Sonic]

Alas guys and girls' date=' this protest ride and movement has been done and still no change ianj organised a protest ride, the JMPD guys were there and about 2000-3000 riders, it was huge, most of the elites and everything, handed over a memorandum and nothing as far as i know has been done.

We can try, its always worth the effort, just saying it probably will fall on eaf ears.
but im behind you with it, either way.
[/quote']

 

SignUP came out (indirectly) of that ShaunH helped IanJ organize the protest ride, and has put a lot of work into SignUp

[goofs]

I like to think the efforts starting with the inititiave ride by IanJ, and ShaunH  signs has had some impact. Not long ago Widget commented on his experience with a truck driver on the Lido route. I have also noticed more of a driver awareness on the route. 

 

The tragic thing is it took pvt guys with a passion and concern to drive this out, nothing from the Gvt and cycling bodies.  

[riveter]

join a cycling club or assosiation and support them in their efforts to get government to do something both csa and ppa are lobbying gov. to do something

[no.one.knows]

sorry, thought i put shaunh in my post. study brain, or lack of brain. sorry shaun

[Tumbleweed]

guys, all these ideas are getting  tired. i am a contributor to the sign-up campaign and will be helping shaun at his 94.7 stall. but what about getting behind the "critical mass" campaign that the omnimotion guys are into? let's make a big statement

[slowpoke]

the problem is that so many people do one thing and then expect to see miracles happen overnight. one protest ride will achieve nothing, but do something on that scale 2 or more times a year and it will start to have an effect. when shaunh started there wasn't much impact after 2 or 3 signs, but as he got more signs up the improvement started to show. it is this negative attitude of "i did ONE thing and the world didn't change so now i'm going to leave it to everyone else to do something" that results in minimal happening. get involved on a regular basis and things might start to happen.

[Kiwi]

OK Guys, I have been in contact with Shaun at Sign-Up and I have been able to set up an SMS donation number for him through Cycling ETC.

SMS donate cyclingetc to 33003 to contribute R30

http://www.cyclingetc.co.za will have more details soon for larger donations or corporate donations. They are in the process of creating a link that will be offered to cycle club websites and online stores etc for anyone that really does want to help making cycling safer.

I have also arranged to have a banner printed for Shaun @ Sign-Up who will have a both at the 94.7 Expo this week.

Support Shaun as he is actually doing something to make our rides safer and has put a heck of a lot of effort into this. An article about Sign-Up is in the current issue of Bicycling.

See also http://www.sign-up.co.za for more info!

Kiwi2007-11-04 23:50:57

[ewep]

SP, I agree with your statement.  Another thing is that the CYCLISTS (me and you) should start setting an example.  Why is it when we talk about this subject we ALWAYS point the finger to the other party (old South African problem, PM me and I'll give you a list of examples).  Why can't WE, the cyclists, take the lead and do things correctly?  When you see it gets busy, start riding in single file, not 2 abreast anymore (I KNOW what the law says, it's been discussed to DEATH on this forum, but this will get US some respect).  Signal your intentions.  Ride predictable.  If you train later during the day (busier roads), don't run the red lights, etc.  This might just get us the much needed respect we crave for and save lives!!!!