Red Light Runners

[casspir]

Being arrogant will only flame the problem. 

 

Last night I took my son to meet a committee of a sport (not cycling related) he is interested in.  The chairman asked if I also took part in this particular sport to which I answered no, I rather cycle. He immediately informed me of the early morning bunches on the coastal road riding 3 and more abreast and not allowing any vehicle safe passing by.  He is so irritated that he is considering throwing thumb tacks along the road. 

 

I have previously mentioned my experience of a positive attitude by drivers in general (taxi's included) in PE.  I have also mentioned a bunch occupying the whole oncoming lane and 1 idiot even riding in my lane. 

 

We have to change the way the common road user (vehicles) see us as cyclists.  That implies we have to behave according to rules and norms. 

 

Ride sensibly!

 

regards,

 

c

 

[Reg Lizard]

But then I want the same privileges as a motor vehicle' date=' like riding in the middle of the lane which I choose to ride in at the speed that I want to.

[/quote']

 

For you, we will reserve the fast lane on the N12

 

Going to start practising to get the cadence up to 200-250

Damn, now I will have to wake up at 2h00 tomorrow morning instead of 4h00 to get that extra training in.

[Sean Badenhorst]

 

 

Topic: Red Light Runners

Posted: Today at 10:56am By lurker

Personally

I think it's a respect issue. If you want other road users to respect

your right to be there, then respect the rules of the road.

It's simple, if the light is red, stop.

Oh and before we start ranting on how motorists don't respect cyclists, if you want respect, you've gotta earn it first.

 

I'm

afraid CycleLab's official spokesperson needs to have a think about his

statement. Any club with the sort of exposure that they enjoy should be

"man" enough to police their members correctly and to advocate adhering

to the rules of the road AT ALL TIMES.

 

Anyway,

having to stop at red lights allows you to do a short interval once the

light goes green, consider it additional training.

 

 

--

 

Lurker, I see your location is Western Cape. This probably means you've never done the Engen ride in Jhb northern suburbs, so I'll put you in the picture:

 

This is not a Cycle Lab-only ride. It is a ride open to anyone that many Cycle Lab and Club 100 members do because it is near where they live. If anything, having a Cycle Lab use it as a regular weekday ride improves the safety because they have a large Cycle Lab van that drives behind the slowest bunch or rider for the entire duration of the ride. The van also provides assistance to stricken riders (punctures, chain hassles etc) and transport back to the Engen garage if necessary.

 

The van is really only meant to support stricken riders in Cycle Lab kit, but I've seen it stop and help anyone. It also ensures cars approaching from the back are aware there is a bunch (or bunches) ahead.

 

It's mix of riders (as many as 500 or more this time of the year) so to expect Cycle Lab to 'police' them all is unfair and impractical.

 

Oh, and by the way, I am not a member of Cycle Lab Club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[slowpoke]

kiwi, shaunh and lurker - you are my kinda ride partners. and yes, the big groups don't have the "incidents" with cars cos you lot just p#$$ them off then they take it out on the next small group/solo rider cos they know that if they do something to the big bunch there are enough guys left standing to m03r them. so all you achieve as a big bunch jumping lights / ignoring the law is to risk the lives of the more considerate cyclists by giving cylists a bad name.

 

oh, and the next big-bunch-cyclist who complains about taxis near me had best remember that they are ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT.

 

 

[scotty]

As per usual interesting debate but no agreement.

[linnega]

Being arrogant will only flame the problem. 

 

I fear you misunderstand.  I don't propose anyone inconvenience anybody else unnescessarily.  However, safety is always the first concern and if by making my ride safer, a motorist is inconvenienced, that is too bad.

 

BTW: you missed a golden opportunity to inform the gentleman that it is illegal to pass another vehicle in the same lane in any case, so the cyclists in a bunch were just helping him stay within the law.

[Delgado]

Red Light Runners?

 

Thought this was an '80s band led by Dexy.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeh' date=' and just like Dexy, it's probably OK to do it at Midnight !!

[/quote'] What??? Come on Eileen!!!

 

Sorry couldn't resist!!!

[E1A104]

Is she related to Rudolph Strauli?

[Nettie R]

 

As for the original debate about running traffic lights' date=' I believe that if you want to stop at lights because of how motorists will perceive you, you are wasting your time.  Motorists do not want cyclists on the road - their perception is already there and a few guys stopping at a traffic light will make no difference.  Stop at traffic lights because it is the safest thing to do.  [/quote']

 

Spot on! Most SA drivers are aggresive. They buy the fastest, biggest car they can (can't) afford and terrorize the other road users by rage, speed and total disregard. Not to mention frustration from work/other situations that has an effect on their mindset.

Metro Police has let us down. Enforcing road rules, roadworthiness, drivers' licenses, driving under influence etc etc ...

[Wannabe]

Linnega, good to hear your voice of good reasoning again (hell even miss BigH on this one)

Please correct me if I'm wrong, the road traffic act actualy states that a Cyclist can pedal in the MIDDLE of the road lane, as he is considered to be a road user. It is the responsibilty of the CAR DRIVER to slow down, give enough space for cyclist to proceed, and then only to pass when safe, and do it in a safe manner. The only restriction I can remember that is placed on a cyclist/s is that you are not allowed to use roads where there is no T junctions for roads joining from the side, only "slipways", and that cyclist MAY NOT PEDAL TWO OR MORE ABREAST.

But, that is in a perfect world (maybe Europe, etc) where those rules are in force and adhered to.

[linnega]

The road traffic regs don't specifically state that you can ride in the middle of the road.  In fact they give no guidance.  They simply state that all vehicles must keep left (ie in the left lane) and pass right, and that no vehicles may pass another in the same lane except pedal cycles (that may pass another pedal cycle) and motorbikes.

 

The only roads that are not allowed to be ridden on are freeways which are defined by the access points (on- off-ramps only) and cannot have bus stops and other similar interference.  Roads that have bus-stops, traffic lights, adjoining roads would all not be considered freeways and therefore vehicles with less than 50cc engines may use them.

[Wannabe]

By implication you are allowed to cycle in middle of road, i.e when approaching big intersections with left turn lane and you want to go straight, cross the road to turn right , etc. The motorvehicles must then give you the opportunity to proceed unhindered.

 

Alas, that is not the case in this wonderfull country of ours.

[shaunh]

Lin's it is now 125cc minimum for motorcyclist' s and 200rpm cadence for cyclists

[Wonder Woman]

Shaunh, it's good to see that you have your sense of humour back. Must be on the mend, you better be, you have been sick long enough now

[MichaelH]

I'm with Slowpoke on the red light issue (here it comes - the but part) BUT ...

 

there are times, like when our group is stopped at a red light towards the end of our ride, when the roads start getting busy (read Jan Smuts/Willam Nicoll) and we are being crowded by vehicles, I push off long before the light changes and to hell with the glares I get. I will not compromise my safety by being involved in the dash to cross the road when the light first changes.

 

So, the point is, sometimes for the sake of safety you HAVE to go through a red light!

 

[shaunh]

I'm with Slowpoke on the red light issue (here it comes - the but part) BUT ...

there are times' date=' like when our group is stopped at a red light towards the end of our ride, when the roads start getting busy (read Jan Smuts/Willam Nicoll) and we are being crowded by vehicles, I push off long before the light changes and to hell with the glares I get. I will not compromise my safety by being involved in the dash to cross the road when the light first changes.

So, the point is, sometimes for the sake of safety you HAVE to go through a red light!
[/quote']

 

then for sake of safety, that road is not safe to use!!!!