THINK BIKE...COOL or BULL

Armand · THINK BIKE...COOL or BULL

Would like Opinions on Think Bike Initiative. Bikers seem to abuse and expect the courtesy of space to pass through. I generally adhere to speed limits (do we have a choice with the condition of our Freeways under construction?) and move as far as it is safe. These guys are posing a safety risk for themselves (more) and others. They are constantly ending up in the back of or under trucks etc... Lanes on Freeways are shrinking therefore I feel they should be patient as everyone else is in peak traffic.

Daleen

Ditto.

Lazer

Armand, have you ever ridden a superbike? You can't stand still in traffic, it will overheat in a flash!

The Think Bike initiative is a good idea - it is more to make motorists more aware that there could be a bike somewhere and that they should open their eyes. That's also why they are selling these neon bibs for bikers to wear.

On the other hand, you also get bikers who are careless and downright dangerous. When you're on a bike you need to know that motorists can't always see you and are not always on the lookout for bikes, but some bikers just ignore this fact. Maybe they should start a Think Car campaign for these guys!

All in all, it's all about balance. It's nice if a car moves out of the way for you when you're on a bike, but as a motorist you must also not put your own car into the railing to try and move away. Everybody should just try a bit more to understand the other party!

Bats_197

Tough one...

Personally, yes these guys do take chances but regarless you're in a car, they're on bikes, even if they act like t1ts, I will respect them and move over as far as possible / slow down to make a gap, whatever it takes to make sure they pass at least my car safely...

Here's one for you though, with this whole highway revamp initiative, would it really have been that much effort for them to add in a lettle bike only lane ???

Shark

@ Dawie well said bud..

@ Bats good idea on the bike lane but I reckon every taxi in Jozi would also try to use it..

With the amount of pot holes, construction works / cr@p & trucks on our roads a bike is a dangerous place to be IMO..

HanroR26

grapjas

I don't mind bikes lane splitting on the highway or any road with more than one lane so I do try and make space.
Allot of bikers abuse this though and try and lane split on a single lane road which is illegal and extremely dangerous.
The think bike idea is a step in the right direction but unfortunatly I for one won't take them seriously untill they behave better themselves.
Go and have a look on their website. They have allot of guys condoning driving and speeding without plates and smacking of mirrors.

if they want to raise awareness and improve safety then they should start with their own members.
I was with my dad once in a car already parked at a robot in centurion when some mullet on his mid life crisis mobile decided the car was not parked far enough to the side of the lane so he decided smashing the mirror as he squezzed through was a great idea.

Its behaviour like that that makes motorists angry at all bikers when in fact only small percentage are behaving like idiots.

WillieG

I agree with most of the statements so far. But using the word BIKERS are a very touchy subject. It is similar than saying all nurses are Who#rs. A few of them do wrong and everybody gets judged under the same umbrella. What you will find with this bad attitude of motorcyclists it that there are basically two groups using bikes on a daily basis. The " biker" group and the "commuter" group. The biker group will most probably be the guys who lift a hand or nod the head to acknowledge to a car who gave way to allow them through. They will also be the group who does lane splitting but in such a manner that they travel about 20km/h faster than the cars. Now the bunch of crunts who are only using their bikes to cummute to work are the most likely crowd who are trying to play tough and have this distorted vision of what a biker is. He is the guy who screams through the rush hour traffic at a rate of knots, and think that cars should move out of the way when they approach. These are the crunts who gives bikers a bad name. I myself sometimes feel like chasing one down and give him one moerse klap cause of his ** CENSORED ** attitude. we as bikers are trying our best to builtd a better relation ship with motorists but it is these idiots who breaks down what has been acheived so far.
But as been said - a difficult one to judge.

Lourie

I for one also make way for bikers as in 90% of the time I have encountered the very decent bikers who drive extremely safe and make sure they are seen and only do lane splitting safely.

I mean - common guys and gals. Do you really want to sit in rush hour traffic for 2 hours if you can do lane splitting saely and get there in 20 minutes?

Just saying.

Robbie

i think a bike lane is a good idea but dnt think SA will do it right. Go into DBN we have a bus/taxie lane and it is on the far right......that is so pointless

FuzzRS

the question one has to ask is, why buy a bike? personal preferance plays a part, but its coz they are cheaper to run and quicker in traffic. i know if i were to have a bike again, id use it to save time! that being sed, that does not exclude respecting the road and respecting its users. if the oppertunity presents itself, then id say ride on, but as everything else in life, it has its limits, and they need to be heeded! BTW, i ALWAYS move out of the way, i think riding a bike is a smarter option when it comes to traffic, especially in jhb! as 1 biker means 1 less 4.5m car standing between me and my home, but I lost it with one @$$hole yesterday on a bike... couldnt believe that my mirror was still attached and not scratched...

Lino

Thats the thing... there is no more space... and most cars dont give a damn about the bikers no more and start blocking them... Why... just move over and let the dude through.... simple... but no block him off let him wait... why cause he has a big bike and he can wait like we do... no it doesnt work like that they are more smaller compact etc.... then a car... now the problem comes in when an idiot block the dude...makes a big joke and boom mirror off the right hand or left hand side broken... cause why... doesnt make sense.... then you get the Aholes that drive like they own the road... and just bash their way through the cars... i have seen this happen... kicking doors in Etc... cause they motorist didnt give way... that is wrong..., now im a biker as well and i ride to work now and then... and i can say for sure... that the lanes have gotten smaller for the bikers... and that the motorists are been aholes when one wants to pass.... you will get about 60-80% that will see you and let u through, and the rest that think why must he go through he can wait and cut you off.

Their is no respect for bikers anymore... and this is why i think they do what they do... just my 2c.....

P.S if i see a meg or clio that doesnt give way to me... im reporting you on the forum