Tag Archives: bicycles

Hire bicycles!

Hire bicycles!
Cape Town isn't the most bicycle-friendly city in the world - you won't find many bicycle-only lanes, and other road users are often bemoaned for not paying proper attention to cyclists (and motor-cyclists for that matter).

But, that said, Cape Town is actually a very cycle-able city on weekends and public holidays when traffic isn't so heavy. One sees a great deal more bicycling the city streets than one would from a bus or car. This time of the year is the perfect time to cycle the city - the sun isn't nearly as hot as it is in summer and the wind tends not to blow much at all.

Take a look at one of the bicycle-hire companies - most of them even offer guided tours of the city, vineyards, or MTB trails. Take a look at RentABicycle, Bike & Saddle, and AWOL Tours.

A safer 1m passing gap

A safer 1m passing gap
After several accidents involving reckless drivers and cyclists, and in an effort to keep our cycling community safe, the Western Cape Government instituted the 2013 Safety of Cyclists regulations that outline the responsibilities of both motorists and cyclists using our roads.

The basics of the law is that cyclists must keep left (except under specific conditions) and not ride abreast (as in this photo), and cars must be darn careful and maintain a 1 meter gap at all times (as in this photo), and may cross the solid white line to abide by this law (as long as it's safe to do so).

Below is a summary of the responsibilities I mentioned:

The Regulations Require a Driver of a Motor Vehicle to:

  1. Exercise due care while passing the cyclist.
  2. Leave a distance between the motor vehicle and the cyclist of at least one meter.
  3. Maintain that distance from the cyclist until safely clear of the cyclist. However, motorists may cross a solid barrier line to pass a cyclist provided that it can be done without obstructing or endangering other persons or vehicles. If it is safe to do so, it can and is done for a period no longer than is necessary to pass the cyclist.

The Regulations Require a Cyclist to:

  1. Make the appropriate use of pedal cycle lanes where these are available.
  2. Give conspicuous driving signals as contemplated in National Regulations.
  3. Keep as close as possible to the left edge of the roadway.
  4. Obey road traffic signs and rules.
  5. Fit and use effective front and rear lights when riding in hours of darkness and when visibility is limited.
  6. Not ride on the right-hand side of a motor-vehicle proceeding in the same direction, except when passing that motor vehicle or turning right at the intersection.
  7. Not ride abreast of another cyclist proceeding in the same direction, except when passing that cyclist.
  8. Not ride while wearing a headset, headphones or any listening device other than a hearing aid or while carrying another person on the pedal cycle, unless the pedal cycle is specifically equipped to carry more than one person.

Source: Safety of Cyclists and Blue Lights Regulations Announced

Finally, then, to clear up some confusion (that I certainly had) - the law requires a minimum 1 meter gap be maintained when passing a cyclist, but the Pedal Power association promote keeping a 1.5 meter gap. The 1.5 meter gap is probably just to play it safe, in case motorists underestimate how far 1 meter actually is (and because trucks 'n trailers sometimes have pointy bits that stick out wider than the driver may realise).

So, I reckon we try to keep that 1.5 meter gap whenever possible - and let's be a little more careful with people's lives. Ok? :)

Not so very naked World Naked Bike Ride

Not so very naked World Naked Bike Ride
Last year I happened upon the World Naked Bike Ride, but this time around I was reminded by someone's post on Facebook, and decided to go along to get a few pics to share.

The strange thing that I noticed while walking around the gathering spot was that there was (a) way more clothing this year, (b) way more spectators, and (c) far fewer riders.

Now, the reason why (in the title of this post) I'm focusing in on the fact that there was way more clothing this year is that... this is the World Naked Bike Ride, so I'd expected there to be a fair amount of nakedness - and there just wasn't, and that was weird.

The organisers made it perfectly clear that the amount of naked is everyone's choice (which I'd agree is a sensible position to take), but as a group the WNBR really wasn't a WNBR, in my opinion. :)

Come to think of it... I believe this is the first year that the ride has had an official permit - and I wonder if a more modest appearance was a proviso of the permit? Perhaps I missed the memo.

Not a hipster

Not a hipster
This bike has definitley seen better days. It's clearly been very well used, and given that it looks like both wheels have been flat for some time, I'd hazard a guess that it's purely an ornamental piece, a not-so-trendy bicycle that Cape Town's hipsterati would certainly pass up in exchange for a more fitting mode of bicycular transport.*

* To be honest though, so would I, actually. ;)

Dude, where’s my bike?

Dude, where's my bike?
In light of a recent comment by Dieter on this post, this post's title makes reference to a silly movie that holds good memories for Kerry-Anne and I. Surely you can guess the movie's name?

Fortunately (well, unfortunately actually) the bike attached to the Wheel of Excellence wasn't a prank. Rather, the bike was an advertisement by the wheel's sponsor, The Cape Epic - an annual MTB race which (this year) started on the 27th of March and ended on the 3rd of April seeing about 1200 entrants complete a 707km journey. And wait for it... wait for it...

Now that's epic! :P

Cycling around Cape Town

I've been thinking of getting back into cycling again - but after 12 years, I can only imagine the amount of pain that I'll endure while whipping this relaxed body of mind back into form.

We live about 25km outside of the city - and I've often though how awesome it must be to live in the city center, or anywhere around Table Mountain in fact. Compared to the mountain and ocean routes of the Cape Town area, our Northern suburbs residential roads are plain boring.

If you're visiting Cape Town, consider hiring a bike - you'll see far more than you would by car, and cover far more ground than you would do walking. You could also consider doing a cycling tour - it's probably safer and you may even make a few new friends.