IN Europe, the big push is for electronic mirrors to see cyclists better and by-laws to keep the “swarms of cyclists” from using the inside lane across which trucks have to turn, as reported here.
In this campaign, the graphic above is used to show cyclists how big the blind spots are for truck drivers looking straight ahead.
In KwaZulu-Natal, truck drivers say the problem is not “swarms of cyclists”, but mountain bikers who are “basically standing still” in the middle of the road.
A truck brake mechanic who wants to remain anonymous says parts of the R103 — especially at Hilton and Drummond ‘ are wipe-outs waiting to happen, with cyclist “wobbling and wheezing” in the middle of the narrow road that is also used by hasty delivery drivers in bakkies and small trucks
who have schedules to keep.
who have schedules to keep.
Local trucking fleet manager Dean Redelinghuys agrees mountain bikers are creating very dangerous situations, and he is mystified that these cyclists, or “pedalists” as he calls them, get very aggressive when challenged.
To change the mindsets, he has adapted the “think bike” sticker to bluntly order cyclists who ride two abreast to “think car” instead.
“These pedalists have to listen for traffic coming from the rear and then move over, instead of rudely giving drivers the finger. They are the ones creating the risk, and theirs is the responsibility to share the road. We’ve had enough tragic vehicle-cyclist collisions in SA, and it is never the vehicle that loses,” he said.
