How can you drive into cyclists?

[KlapperKnop]

I am a cyclist and motorist. I do not have any problem if a motorist hoots for me to get out of the way. I value my life much more than be killed by a motorist because of arrogance and stupidity.

Sometimes, motorist must also understand why cyclist can not ride on the edge of the road (if there is no shoulder lane). Tyres of a bicycle is in the region of R400-R1000 and unlike car tyres, the bicycles tyres get cut/punctures easily. Sometime traveling at 40-50 km/h is as fast as 160km/h in a car; when you on the bicycle, you do not want to get onto the gravel as you will fall.

About riding 2/3 abreast, fighting the motorist; well to me that is selfishness and stupidity from the cyclists part. Any cyclists know they will not win the fight against a car and especially a motorist that gets peeded off with an arrogant cyclist.

Respect is earn both ways ... I believe cyclist should show respect first; generally the motorists will follow.

 

[Sash]

I dont get this thread a bunch of angry motorists complaining about cyclists and yet a cyclist has to fear for their life against bad motorists - cyclists dont have the cover of metal to protect them.

What is it, somehow cyclists are not allowed to use the road because they dont pay road tax? i'm both a car driver and a cyclist and dont have any issue whatsoever with cyclists. What drivers need to do is obide by the rules of the road and exercise some patience and respect for other road users, thats all it needs.

Somebody mentioned taxis, something i fear the most on a bike, if it looks bad in a car, try being diced up by one on a bike.

 

[reech]

I am happy for you that you ride 10km to work almost every day. Do you want a medal?

you made n assertion:

If you are out on your bicycle, I am sure you are there for leisure or fitness purposes.

I was responding to your assumption.

The majority of cyclists are not travelling to work I can assure you, and even if they/you are, there is nothing to stop you having a bit of respect for other road users or from having a bit of class. Maybe that is a bit much to ask...

I'd rather you didn't assure me of anything.

I've got plenty of respect for motorists that respect me. However there seem to be many motorists out there that share a mind-set with some of the motorists on this thread with an almost irrational, violent hatred of cyclists using 'their' roads and perhaps holding them up for a few seconds.

 

[shadowfox]

I don't have an issue with all cyclists per se ... I rather have an issue with the arrogant type - which I encounter more often than not - that, if you hoot at them or make them give way (which is what any slower vehicle should technically do - it's not law, but simple ettiquette), they look at you as though you are intruding on their personal space.

Cyclists are welcome to use the road, but simply stated, if a car approaches, give way. Don't get into a competition with the damn thing, you're going to lose. It's the same when I'm in my car and I see a truck barreling up behind me (usually going way over the speed limit). I hop as far left as I can and let the bugger past - I can be a prick and hold him up if I want, but what's the point?

 

[Thugscub]

The old rule of Africa. If its bigger than you get the f**k out of the way. To the cyclist who did a U turn in front of me. ABS saved your ass. No ABS you would have been toast, bloody ants.

 

[shocked]

WOW!!! Here I thought all the news articles about "brain drain" were sensationalist, but it certainly does appear that there are very few people of true intelligence left in SA.

By law cyclists MUST ride in the road. By law the cars MUST overtake when SAFE to do so.

The roads do NOT belong to cars only, nor were they built for the exclusive use of car drivers. They are built mostly out of tax money - and cyclists (especially recreational ones) tend to be in the upper income bracket and thus pay more tax than most people. So there goes that silly little argument.

The South African road infrastructure is for the use of ALL "vehicles" - horse carts, bicycles, motorbikes, cars, trucks, busses, etc. Each one of these, when using the road, is ENTITLED TO A LANE. So legally the cyclist MAY use the entire lane. Same applies to motorbikes (as a biker I've had many a BMW try to push into a lane next to me). I take it that most of the idiots on the roads who think that they can push in next to the vehicle ahead of them in a lane are also users on this here forum?

Now will all of you misguided souls who say "the road are meant for cars and everyone else must give way to us" (or anything in that line) kindly go and read the entire Road Traffice Regulations - you can find them at www.acts.co.za

YES, there are cyclists who ride 2 or more abreast - these are idiots but it doesn't mean we have a right to kill or main them. There are also BMW and other luxury-car drivers who disobey the road rules every day - can I go kicking their cars in and breaking their mirrors off as I please? Wearing leathers makes it very easy to do this - same way that being in a car makes it easy to drive over a cyclist.

Hopefully God will give all of the self-centred "the-road-is-mine-because-I-drive-a-car" lot of you mechanical problems (blown engines and burst tyres, etc) in situtations where you can't get your silly little cars out of the way of traffic - so that you get subjected to a whole lot of people annoyed at you for being on "their" road and blocking their way.

And just for the person early on in the thread who said that cyclists should buy cars and that they are lazy for not doing so... My guess that that is some extremely overweight beer-swilling person. Riding a bicycle is not easy and certainly not the "lazy" approach to life. I've tried it.

 

[shadowfox]

see next post

 

[shadowfox]

Oh ... and this little bit ...

WOW!!! Here I thought all the news articles about "brain drain" were sensationalist, but it certainly does appear that there are very few people of true intelligence left in SA.

... was unnecessary. You have a view ... and you're welcome to air it. Don't start your statements by insulting people ... we'll be less likely to pay attention to you.

 

[noxibox]

Citizen's arrest.

For a traffic offense? Expect to face legal action yourself. Citizen's arrest rights are extremely limited.

My opinion only of course, but anyone who cycles to work with our taxis on the road needs an appointment with the shrink.

Motor cyclists are a regular target so a cyclist is simply cannon fodder.

Doesn't bother me in either case. It is in particular not a good idea to mess with motorcyclists.

that, if you hoot at them or make them give way (which is what any slower vehicle should technically do - it's not law, but simple ettiquette), they look at you as though you are intruding on their personal space.

Absolute rubbish. Try that with a car travelling slowly. Do they obligingly pull over, onto the pavement if necessary, to allow you past?

Cyclists are welcome to use the road, but simply stated, if a car approaches, give way. Don't get into a competition with the damn thing, you're going to lose. It's the same when I'm in my car and I see a truck barreling up behind me (usually going way over the speed limit). I hop as far left as I can and let the bugger past - I can be a prick and hold him up if I want, but what's the point?

I am not obliged to give way and I never do so unless the road allows it which is typically not the case because if there were enough room the car could get past without me moving. I don't get out of the way of trucks in my car either. If I think they might try something like attempting to squeeze past when there really isn't enough room I make sure it is obvious by moving to the right.

Cyclists behave as they do because motorists act like they're the only ones entitled to be on the road, because they hoot and attempt to pass when there really is insufficient room. You cycle long enough and you realise that being arrogant, taking up your space and holding your line is the best option.

 

[daveza]

You cycle long enough and you realise that being arrogant, taking up your space and holding your line is the best option.

And then you end up in hospital or deceased when someone who had a bad day at the office loses patience.

Is it worth it ?

 

[noxibox]

To the cyclist who did a U turn in front of me. ABS saved your ass. No ABS you would have been toast, bloody ants.

As far as I am aware ABS does not reduce stopping distance.

I have hit a cyclist who turned without evening looking back. While riding a motorcycle.

 

[daveza]

I have hit a cyclist who turned without evening looking back. While riding a motorcycle.

Took me a while to work this one out

 

[PeterCH]

Sometimes, motorist must also understand why cyclist can not ride on the edge of the road (if there is no shoulder lane). Tyres of a bicycle is in the region of R400-R1000 and unlike car tyres, the bicycles tyres get cut/punctures easily. Sometime traveling at 40-50 km/h is as fast as 160km/h in a car; when you on the bicycle, you do not want to get onto the gravel as you will fall.

Driving at 160km/h is stupid and extremely dangerous, not to mention illegal.
Driving at 40km/h if it's comparable to 160km/h in a car is likewise stupid and extremely dangerous. Just because you choose to be reckless with your life
and do dangerous things does not mean that I who stick to the speed limit should be disadvantaged by your death wish.

 

[PeterCH]

I dont get this thread a bunch of angry motorists complaining about cyclists and yet a cyclist has to fear for their life against bad motorists - cyclists dont have the cover of metal to protect them.

Because most of us motorists don't drive to work in the morning or at other odd times of day or night for pleasure. Cyclists on the other hand, tend to be on the road at various times of the day in their aerodynamic spandex outfits
with sporting gear and chiefly cycle for recreational or health purposes.
There is surely a group who drive to work or for other non entertaining purpose but most cycle on tarred roads instead of say cycling on the beach or on a race-track, or even better, cycling at home on a cycle-the way one cycles in a gym.

What is it, somehow cyclists are not allowed to use the road because they dont pay road tax? i'm both a car driver and a cyclist and dont have any issue whatsoever with cyclists. What drivers need to do is obide by the rules of the road and exercise some patience and respect for other road users, thats all it needs.

Bicycle owners tend not to exercise patience themselves and on top of that,
they tend to mostly cycle for non-essential reasons. If you're cycling to get fit for a race or for your health, consider cycling in a safer environment with
less pollution instead of adding hazards to roads already overloaded with poorly maintained vehicles, bad drivers, taxis, motorbikes and jaywalking idiot pedestrians.

Somebody mentioned taxis, something i fear the most on a bike, if it looks bad in a car, try being diced up by one on a bike.

Then cycle on an empty road, or on the beach, a race track or a designated lane. Cycle at home even, but don't be an obstinate, narcissist and cycle for your own benefit only to make things more difficult for the rest of us who need to be on the road at a particular time.

 

[porn$tar]

cyclists (especially recreational ones) tend to be in the upper income bracket and thus pay more tax than most people. So there goes that silly little argument.

Aah, the old "I earn loads more than you, so that entitles me to behave like an ass" argument.

 

[porn$tar]

I think most of you are missing the core issue here, which is not whether cyclists are allowed on the road or not, but rather those cyclists who disregard the laws of the road and endanger themselves and other cyclists. The worst offenders are those who ride up to 3-abreast.

 

[shadowfox]

I am not obliged to give way and I never do so unless the road allows it which is typically not the case because if there were enough room the car could get past without me moving. I don't get out of the way of trucks in my car either. If I think they might try something like attempting to squeeze past when there really isn't enough room I make sure it is obvious by moving to the right.

You're right. You're not obliged to give way at all.

Which brings me back to my point about simple etiquette and respect for others. You obviously don't have any.

 

[CathJ]

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.

Actually, there is a minimum speed limit, and if the cyclists aren't travelling at that minimum speed they should keep to the side out of the traffic.

 

[Thugscub]

Now! How about idiots in the center lane and right lane going 100km/h. Are they lost/stupid/foolish/got licence in lucky packet or just plain ignorant? Or all of the above. Keep left pass right.

 

[hj2k_x]

For a traffic offense? Expect to face legal action yourself. Citizen's arrest rights are extremely limited.

No, they are not. I said it more in jest than anything, but that does not change the falseness of your statement.

I am not obliged to give way and I never do so unless the road allows it which is typically not the case because if there were enough room the car could get past without me moving. I don't get out of the way of trucks in my car either. If I think they might try something like attempting to squeeze past when there really isn't enough room I make sure it is obvious by moving to the right.

Cyclists behave as they do because motorists act like they're the only ones entitled to be on the road, because they hoot and attempt to pass when there really is insufficient room. You cycle long enough and you realise that being arrogant, taking up your space and holding your line is the best option.

Yes, fine. Then for heaven's sake don't complain like little kids about being hated and villified by motorists if you know full well that it is your own INTENTIONAL behaviour that is resulting in you being treated that way. Honestly.