Motorists and Cyclists Need To Share

October is ‘Transport Month’ and is a time for all road users to be mindful of how they share the roads. And speaking of sharing – motorists and cyclists always seem to be at an impasse, and yet they are merely opposites of the same coin.

Now let’s keep South Africa moving forward by looking at ways to make our roads a little less frustrating. Here are some tips supplied by the Pedal Power Association.

Let’s Share the Road

Courtesy comes free and leaves both parties feeling better. Acknowledge each other on the road and thank courteous behaviour. As a driver, you may think the road belongs to you but this is not true. Everyone has the right to public roads. By law, a bicycle is a vehicle, so please treat it like one. Thinking like the other person will help to share the road safely.

Realise cyclists are vulnerable: You’re driving a vehicle hugely heavier and more powerful than theirs. In any impact, cyclists will be the losers.

Motorists and pedestrians have rights too: They have the right to expect cyclists to obey the rules of the road and to be courteous. Cyclists should stop at Stop Signs, obey traffic signals and respect pedestrians. Much like cyclists are vulnerable to vehicles, pedestrians are vulnerable to cyclists. Respect goes both ways

Cyclists wear bright clothing: Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear bright colours and have reflectors on your bicycle.

Signal your intentions: Cyclists and motorists should clearly and timeously indicate their intentions. This is especially so when turning.

Appreciate that cyclists are helping you: Counter-intuitive to what you may believe, cyclists, reduce congestion on the roads by not driving cars. They’re cutting the time you spend in traffic jams as they’re taking up so much less space.

Avoid ‘dooring’ cyclists: Dooring means opening your door into the path of a cyclist riding past. Don’t open any doors without checking there aren’t any cyclists coming up behind you. You could easily sweep them clean off their bikes and it won’t be pretty. Think about the width of your door when it’s open; you easily have a 1-1.5m mobile barrier swinging into the road each time you get in or out of the car. It can also be fatal and happens more often than you’d expect.

Be aware and be patient: 84% of cyclist casualties in recent years were caused by careless inattention mainly on the part of drivers. Whilst cyclists should ride responsibly, they are far more vulnerable, and a lapse of attention could result in a charge of culpable homicide.

Pay attention and always be on the lookout for cyclists, especially when turning or reversing. Use your mirrors because cyclists may overtake slow-moving traffic on either side.

They may sometimes need to change direction suddenly, so just be aware of this and observe any indications they give such as looking over their shoulder. Don’t tempt them into taking risks or endanger them.

Allow plenty of space: When overtaking a cyclist, you’re required to give them as much room as you would a car. They may need to swerve to avoid hazards. Always anticipate that there may be a pothole, an oily or wet patch, glass, or some other obstruction in the cyclist’s path that you can’t see.

Don’t drive too closely behind a cyclist, in case they do something abruptly. Unless you have a clear, empty lane in which to pass, slow down and wait until there is room to pass.

Pass them slowly! Remember “Stay wider of the Rider”

Motorist safety = Happy Roads

Drive slowly in restricted or low visibility conditions: On rural roads or those with limited sight distance or low visibility remember that a cyclist could be around the next corner. It could also be an elderly person, a child, an animal, or a tractor turning into a field.

Reducing your speed reduces the risk of something happening. You can’t see ahead on hills and in curves, so slow down when unsure of what’s on the other side.

Make sure you can stop the car at half the distance you can see to be clear. At night, the need to do so is even higher.

Cyclists have a right to claim the lane: Cyclists have as much right as you do to take up the entire lane. You may think they’re being utterly selfish by doing so, but they’re preventing having an accident.

If they try to slow you down, it’s just the safest way for them to cycle. Particularly if there’s a blind bend, a narrowing road, high-risk junction, pinch point, or traffic lights ahead. Additionally, if there’s a narrowing of the road, they’re stopping you squeeze from going through far too cosily beside them.

Cyclists should never cycle in the gutter. It gives no room for avoiding obstacles or space to fall if an accident occurs. This means they could go straight under your wheels – which isn’t good for either party.