Staying Alive
Article from the March 2013 issue of Ride Magazine.
Riding bikes on South African roads is not for the meek. But you can arm yourself with knowledge and a few simple techniques, and make your next ride your safest yet.
The Basics
It all starts with knowing what the law actually says about bicycles. Start by going to www.acts.co.za and looking up the National Road Traffic Act of 1996.
It is not a simple operation, unfortunately, as there are numerous sections, subsections and addenda to wade through, but there is some interesting reading along the way, so stick with it. Without knowing exactly what our rights are on the road, how can we expect the same of motorists?
To save us all the trouble (but don’t forget to go there yourself – there is much more!) here are the pertinent rules as they currently apply to bicycles.
Firstly, a bicycle is seen as a legitimate road user and the rider is seen as a driver. A driver is defined as “any person who drives or attempts to drive any vehicle or who rides or attempts to ride any pedal cycle”.
Regulation 311. Riding on Pedal Cycles
- No person shall ride a pedal cycle on a public road unless he or she is seated astride on the saddle of such pedal cycle.
- 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.
- No person riding or seated on a pedal cycle on a public road shall take hold of any other vehicle in motion.
- No person riding a pedal cycle on a public road shall deliberately cause such pedal cycle to swerve from side to side.
- No person riding a pedal cycle on a public road shall carry thereon any person, animal or object which obstructs his or her view or which prevents him or her from exercising complete control over the movements of such pedal cycle.
- A person riding a pedal cycle on a public road shall do so with at least one hand on the handlebars of such pedal cycle.
- Whenever a portion of a public road has been set aside for use by persons riding pedal cycles, no person shall ride a pedal cycle on any other portion of such road.
- A person riding a pedal cycle on a public road or a portion of a public road set aside for use by persons riding pedal cycles, shall do so in such manner that all the wheels of such pedal cycle are in contact with the surface of the road at all times.
323. Special Provisions relating to Freeways
- No person shall operate on a freeway:
b) a pedal cycle.
152. Brakes on Pedal Cycles
No person shall operate on a public road any pedal cycle unless it is equipped with at least one brake, which shall operate on the rear wheel or wheels.
This is by no means an exhaustive list; there are plenty more regulations that govern aspects of equipment, loading, passengers and more, but these are the bits that will keep us alive, and popular. There is some interesting reading here, that dispels some of the myths we perpetuate on our Sunday morning rides.
Firstly, no two-abreast riding. Here it is in black and white. Even if it seems to be safer to do so, it is against the law. If we have a problem with that, we need to have the law changed through the appropriate channels, and abide by it until then. If there is a cycle lane, we are obliged to use it. If we don’t want to, we must find another route. Simple. This is more relevant in the Cape, where there is a growing bike lane network, but as these roll out through the rest of the country, let’s be aware.
The other area that raises the ire of motorists (and is just plain stupid, let’s face it) is riding on freeways. The basic rule is that we may not. A freeway is designated by a blue sign with the dual-carriageway motif. If the entrance to your chosen route has one of these, go another way. If a public road does not have this sign, you are allowed to ride on it, even if it is a national road. And even if it seems silly. But if it seems silly, maybe you shouldn’t: 120km/h versus you does not end happily, for you.
While we are looking at the Act, here is one bit that shows the lawmakers are aware that we exist:
No person shall operate on a public road a motor vehicle carrying any goods … on the roof thereof, in the case where such vehicle is a motorcar, if the height of such goods measured from the highest point of such roof exceeds one half of the height of the motor car, measured from ground level, provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not be applicable in respect of pedal cycles being transported on the roof of a motor vehicle.
The Burry Gap
The soon-to-be-implemented 1,5-metre law has received a large amount of press coverage in the aftermath of Burry Stander’s death, and become known, informally, as the Burry Gap. It was passed, in the Western Cape, in November 2012, and is due to be applied from mid-2013 sometime. The 1,5-metre law is an interesting development, in that it will provide government with a vehicle, so to speak, to promote bike safety (nobody will listen to rehashes of an old law, but a new one has impact). It also criminalises hitting a cyclist with a car, no matter the circumstance, and that will make prosecutions far simpler. Actual enforcement of the law – we can’t see traffic cops carrying tape measures on their belts – is secondary to the awareness it will create. Let’s hope it is a success, and rolls out to the rest of South Africa sooner rather than later.
Riding in the emergency lane
This is an interesting one. Technically, we shouldn’t be riding left of the yellow line, because no road user should, except, according to the Act:
The driver of a motor vehicle may, during the period between sunrise and sunset, drive such motor vehicle on the shoulder of a public road which is designated for one lane of traffic in each direction, while such motor vehicle is being overtaken by another vehicle; and if they can do so without endangering themselves, other traffic, pedestrians or property, and if people and vehicles are clearly discernible at a distance of at least 150 metres.
Because we are constantly being passed by cars, we tend to fall onto the legally correct side on this one, just…
Top Tips
The Ride team has stayed in one piece (approximately) on our roads for a collective hundred years or more. Part of that is through luck, but there are some simple things that make any ride safer.
Choose well
We have stopped riding at sparrow’s fart on the weekends, simply because that’s when the majority of the negative interactions with cars seem to happen. Party time runs through from the previous night and the drunk drivers are still weaving their way home in the early hours. A slightly later start has reduced our oh-s$%t moments drastically. More generally, routes with wide shoulders and lighter traffic loads work better than congested ones. That seems obvious, but we don’t always think properly…
Ride bright
Dayglo is back in fashion, so work it. A number of helmet manufacturers make hideous lumo options that might just save your life. Brightly coloured cycling clothes help, too, and flashing lights, front and rear, will also help, even in broad daylight. Think of the added few grams as better training, and imagine how you’ll fly when you take them off for racing.
Eye contact
Our simple rule is that if the little old man in the hat has not looked you in the eye, he hasn’t seen you. And you will probably know he is turning across you before he does. Sometimes they look and still drive. We need to accept that those who have never ridden a bike are sometimes unaware of the speed we can ride at.
Anticipate
Riding into the back of a taxi that has stopped suddenly is as much your fault as his. Seriously. One of the vital survival skills is anticipation and reading the flow of the traffic. The more you ride, the better you will get at this and the next stupid thing a motorist does should not surprise you. With time, you will learn who is likely to pull out without warning, whether the erratic behaviour ahead is from a cellphone call or a cigarette being lit, and when a door is about to fly open.
Take your place
Being assertive is critical, too. The law says we must ride as far left as is safe, and we have found the safest place to be is about a half a metre from the edge/parked cars/pavement. This gives you enough time to react to any sudden door or dog moment without blocking traffic. If you are on a particularly narrow road, rather than move further left and tempt motorists to squeeze into an impossible gap (they will hit you before an oncoming car, any day), move out a little more and take the decision away from them. When it is safe for them to overtake, they can. Until then, hold your position and stay safe, no matter how much pressure you feel.
Interact
Signal every intention, whether it be turning, moving out for a parked car, or stopping. The more motorists know about your next move, the happier they will be. And thank them, even if all they were doing was obeying the law. “You didn’t pull out in front of me, thanks!” You will be amazed how much better they will feel. Do the same when they have waited patiently behind you on a narrow road. Even if patiently meant hooting and swearing. A wave and a smile will make it safer for the next rider.
Listen
What. Is. This. Thing. With. Wearing. Earphones. While. Riding. Bicycles? How can you expect to react to impending danger when you can’t hear. Leave the earphones at home, all the time. Even with one earphone in, you are partially deafened, and totally concentrating on something other than staying alive. Even if Travolta is playing.
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