How can you drive into cyclists?

reech said:
Arrogant motorists are far more dangerous than 'irritating' cyclists.

Cyclists have every right to be on the road and ride 2/3 abreast; you can OVERTAKE if you like. There is no law obliging cyclists to 'stick to the side' - in fact it's probably more dangerous as you get clipped by wing mirrors. Assertive cycling it where it's at.
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Actually there is - try reading the National Road Traffic Regulations
http://www.transport.gov.za/library/regulations/1999/roadregs10.html

(2) Persons riding pedal cycles on a public road shall ride in single file except in the course of overtaking another pedal cycle, and two or more persons riding pedal cycles shall not overtake another vehicle at the same time.
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So, one small kid gets runover and killed, it's the driver's fault, but runover a cyclist and it's the cyclist's fault.

Amazing, the driver is the one who is supposed to be driving safely and being alert and ready to counter ANY road dangers, but, it's not the drivers fault.

Pfffft.

Bipedheit!
 
It goes both ways.

Under the Road Traffic Act, bicycles are also classified as vehicles, and the onus rests on both drivers to drive safely and responsibly - and honestly, just going by what I've seen, a lot of cyclists don't.

I've actually seen a cyclist get knocked down because he was swerving through traffic, and the car he was swerving in front of started pulling forward. He was coming from the right-hand side, by the way - not driving on the side of the road as he was supposed to.

He then had the temerity to jump up and attack the driver of the vehicle that knocked into him. That's the sort of thing we're talking about here.
 
stoke said:
So, one small kid gets runover and killed, it's the driver's fault, but runover a cyclist and it's the cyclist's fault.

Amazing, the driver is the one who is supposed to be driving safely and being alert and ready to counter ANY road dangers, but, it's not the drivers fault.

Pfffft.

Bipedheit!
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A cyclist is also a driver and as an adult shares responsibility on the road.

Adults are mostly regarded to ‘think’ for children and as such the approach to children in accidents.

There are roads in Pretoria North and Akasia that are cycle friendly (have cycle lanes). But they are only for short distances and not suitable for the ‘Árgus’type cyclists.

Off topic a bit. I am recovering from a back operation and have to walk a few km’s every day. It is amazing how pedestrian unfriendly our roads and road entrances to shopping centers are. It is really scary.
 
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Grimspoon said:
Not to mention that some of them think riding half way into the road is a good idea
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1m from the pavement is the correct distance. Single file though. Not riding side-by-side. If the road is such that a meter from the pavement would give the motorist the impression they might be able to squeeze past when doing so will in fact be dangerous, then it is best to ride further out and block the road.

Cyclists operate in a hostile environment and most quickly learn that in general motorists must be greeted with maximum aggression.
 
TELESPHORE said:
Off topic a bit. I am recovering from a back operation and have to walk a few km’s every day. It is amazing how pedestrian unfriendly our roads and road entrances to shopping centers are. It is really scary.
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totally agree - town planning has devolved to simply cater for the car - there is virtually no room for pedestrians or cyclists.
 
noxibox said:
1m from the pavement is the correct distance. Single file though. Not riding side-by-side. If the road is such that a meter from the pavement would give the motorist the impression they might be able to squeeze past when doing so will in fact be dangerous, then it is best to ride further out and block the road.

Cyclists operate in a hostile environment and most quickly learn that in general motorists must be greeted with maximum aggression.
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On a bicycle...Good luck with that :rolleyes:
 
ZA.Schmidt said:
Well we have cycle lanes everywhere in Cape Town and they still ride in the road.
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That is because they are in general narrow, dangerous and cross roads at inappropriate places. I always recommend staying off them.

Cyclists are entitled to ride on the road.

There is far more idiocy coming from the cagers than anyone else.
 
noxibox said:
I'd love to meet you on the road and have you try to mess with me. You will regret it. Even taxis have quickly learned that lesson.
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LOL @ the cycling tough guy. This is exactly the problem. Look at your attitude man. It's called respecting other people on the road. And you wonder why your kind is hated so :rolleyes:
 
Would be awesome owning a bulldozer, just scoop up the cyclist in your way and keep going :D
 
noxibox said:
I'd love to meet you on the road and have you try to mess with me. You will regret it. Even taxis have quickly learned that lesson.
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wow that is a great attitude....You don't stand a chance. You dam cyclists all have such a K@K attitude? What’s up with that??? We not out there to drive anyone down and respect that we all need to use the road, but you oaks are seriously k@k riders (well most of you). You swerve in front of use, ride next to each other, and you still have the cheek to threaten us when we run you over? Please man don’t be an idiot. The road is for cars, if there is a bicycle lane, great, if not then if you choose to ride on the road you do so at your own risk. Drivers can't be held responsible for your idiotic riding styles.
 
Grimspoon said:
wow that is a great attitude....You don't stand a chance. You dam cyclists all have such a K@K attitude? What’s up with that??? We not out there to drive anyone down and respect that we all need to use the road, but you oaks are seriously k@k riders (well most of you). You swerve in front of use, ride next to each other, and you still have the cheek to threaten us when we run you over? Please man don’t be an idiot. The road is for cars, if there is a bicycle lane, great, if not then if you choose to ride on the road you do so at your own risk. Drivers can't be held responsible for your idiotic riding styles.
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Agreement.
 
Grimspoon said:
wow that is a great attitude....You don't stand a chance. You dam cyclists all have such a K@K attitude? What’s up with that??? We not out there to drive anyone down and respect that we all need to use the road, but you oaks are seriously k@k riders (well most of you). You swerve in front of use, ride next to each other, and you still have the cheek to threaten us when we run you over? Please man don’t be an idiot. The road is for cars, if there is a bicycle lane, great, if not then if you choose to ride on the road you do so at your own risk. Drivers can't be held responsible for your idiotic riding styles.
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A bit more aggressively stated than I would like, but I have to agree.

Motorists don't own the road, but by the same token, neither to cyclists.

Legally speaking, you are not allowed to ride side-by-side unless you are passing another cyclist, and here ... the same thing applies when one car passes another on a dual-carriage road - when you pass a car in the left-hand lane - do you not check behind you for faster traffic?

Cyclists seem to ignore this rule (along with many others) and just expect cars to give way. Pay attention here ... a car has a much harder time changing direction when something hops in the way than a cyclist does.

And I'm speaking from experience ... I used to cycle as well ... and I damn well made sure I kept my eyes open and kept to the side. Somehow, I have failed to get knocked over by any car - maybe cos I was obeying the rules of the road - as they apply to EVERYBODY.
 
shadowfox said:
A bit more aggressively stated than I would like, but I have to agree.
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my bad, I tend to get a little worked up especially when people start getting all tough and threatening. Anyway.


Bottom line is that we are not out there to kill cyclists or pedestrians, or anyone for that fact, but cyclists make it very difficult for us not too drive into them, and then still put the blame on us. End of the day when I see cyclists coming I always prepare myself for the worst and try and make sure that if he/she should do something idiotic I am prepared for it.
 
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