Author Topic: No more lane splitting for the Western Cape? (Read 6872 times)

vigilant · « **Reply #40 on:** February 18, 2013, 11:35:04 am »

It's a stupid idea, and here in the city of grey death we see on a daily basis how stupid this idea is.

I lane split the N1, it's not lane splitting bikes that i'm picking up everyday, it's the plonkers in the suicide lane that keep trying to kill themselves. If you ban lanesplitting, there will be more suicide lane riders, which equals a greater likelihood of a smash.

Had some plonker on a silver yama nearly take me out this morning. Thinking like a cage, he rode towards the suicide lane as fast as his bike could carry him, NOT CHECKING THE BIKER LANE FIRST! Blerry twatwaffle. Then, THEN when i rev to get his attention, he shouts at me to slow down

The next schmuck who does that had better watch the freak out.

Soundboi · « **Reply #41 on:** February 18, 2013, 11:36:42 am »

I think its a fantastic idea.
Implement it right after wearing seat belts, using your indicator to turn or change lanes and not using your cellphone in a car, once EVERYBODY in a car does those things then we will stop lane splitting.

Soooooo....

Never.

Obviously this bloke is a retard and should be taken up as such.

Alan · « **Reply #42 on:** February 18, 2013, 11:38:14 am »

I've sent him a decent email.. I'll post his response. I've emailed him before bitching about the Speed limits along Otto Du Plessis.. Will see if he responds.

Nothing stopping all and sundry from emailing him your thoughts, and complaints about the Taxi's, and peeps talking and smsing on cel phones etc.. help him to see the light guys.

Alan · « **Reply #43 on:** February 18, 2013, 12:29:26 pm »

Here's his reply.

"Please note that I am asking for comment on this matter, not introducing it as a law.
Further, that I am trying to save lives of motorcyclists, which is the only category of road fatalities which is rising.
Also, that the bulk of our fatalities are perpetrated by drivers of sedan cars. Taxis used to contribute 11% of our fatalities. This is now down to 5% precisely because we have taken very firm action in this area. Over 3000 taxis have been impounded; resting periods and speed limits enforced.
As a result we have not had a major taxi accident since Nov 2011.
The speed limits you refer to are within the City of Cape Town, which, as I have informed you before, does not fall in my jurisdiction.
We take action to save lives on the road, and despite your misgivings, have been spectacularly successful.
Nowhere in the world has the death rate on the roads been reduced by 30% in 3 years."

I'm not in a position toa rgue his points sufficiently, if there are dogs who know more, I invite you guys to take him up on his invitation and discuss it further, otherwise if they DO pass this as law, we can't then jump up and down and say we weren't giving the chance to debate on it..

the_BOBNOB · « **Reply #44 on:** February 18, 2013, 12:32:44 pm »

ask him if the number of people using motorcycles have stayed the same

if the number of people on motorcycles have increased (which i suspect has due to fuel prices) would it not make sense that the % of accidents would go up

if we ban all busses then bus accident rates would be zero and that would mean you are successful in policing bus accidents

Grrrr.... · « **Reply #45 on:** February 18, 2013, 12:33:43 pm »

I got nothing back.

But maybe I shouldn't have called his idea monumentally stupid in my email...

vigilant · « **Reply #46 on:** February 18, 2013, 12:42:35 pm »

Can also ask what POSITIVE steps the city is taking.

Like training etc.

Alan · « **Reply #47 on:** February 18, 2013, 12:42:44 pm »

Grrrr.... · « **Reply #48 on:** February 18, 2013, 12:50:18 pm »

Here is my reply:

"Hi Grrrr, I am but a humble MEC, but I want to save lives on the road.
Over the last 3 years we have brought down road fatalities by 29%. During the same period, motor cycle deaths went up by 33%.
Obviously I am concerned, and must seek causes and remedies.
Your feedback is therefore part of that process
Many thanks.

Regards
R"

Jacobsroodt · « **Reply #49 on:** February 18, 2013, 12:55:15 pm »

Twice in two weeks I witnessed and reprimanded people skipping red lights. The last one was a black guy in a Isuzu bakkie skipping the red light in Koeberg Road in a northerly direction. He had a child standing on the seat and neither wore a seat belt. I counted 5 after the light went red and he went through. When I confronted him he said "No, no, no.. It's not like that", and when he ran out of options he said "Your time is up" - meaning you white people's time is up.

Four times in two weeks I had to stop while people skipped stop streets in the southern part of Table View. I had to stop so that they could skip their stop streets - not to be overrun! One white guy under 30 was selecting CD's - says he did not see me (I know why), one was a taxi - driver had Zim drivers license, and one was my own staff member! in a C class Merc (I drove a Kombi with daylight driving lights on at the time)!

This despite my bike looking like a Christmas tree with amber light covers, spots and LED driving lights in the hand-guards! IMHO people have just become Laissez-faire - not using indicators, using cell phones, not being alert while driving.

AgentK · « **Reply #50 on:** February 18, 2013, 12:57:24 pm »

A non-biker recently asked me why no-one has petitioned the government to make the right hand "emergency lane" on freeways a bikers only lane during peek traffic hours only, similar to the bus lanes.

At the moment the likes of the sliver Yama referred to by Vigilant earlier are using these lanes indiscriminately.
Why not regulate it and put some control in place?
You will always have the a-hole screwing it up for the rest, but if such a regulation is passed and effectively communicated to the motorcycle community (clubs, dealers, forums, etc), I think it might just work.

We (motorcyclists) can sort out the a-holes ourselves...

I for one think that it is good idea.
Rather implement ideas like this, instead of banning lane splitting.

Grrrr.... · « **Reply #51 on:** February 18, 2013, 01:07:40 pm »

I just sent him another email.

Robin

I understand you are a busy man but one last thing.... You say motorcycle deaths have increased but could that not be because the number of motorcycles on our roads have increased?

Also, have you ever been rear ended by another car while in traffic when out driving? I have, twice in the last two years while driving my car and while it was a fender bender it would have been much worse if I was on my motorcycle being forced to ride/drive like a car.

I know you are trying to save lives and this is still just a thought at this stage but banning lanesplitting is not the way to go. Better training of "new" riders entering the daily commute in and out of Cape Town and getting tougher on motorists that keep on using their cellphones and jumping red lights would be a better start in my book.

Thank you for your response.

Regards,
Grrrr....

jimjim · « **Reply #52 on:** February 18, 2013, 01:13:21 pm »

Quote from: Frog on February 18, 2013, 07:39:41 am

Not sure if already posted but I read today that Robin Carlisle, Western Cape transport MEC said yesterday " I am contemplating a regulation that will prohibit motorcyclists from riding between lanes - because that is where they die" "I am not saying we are going to implement but I am thinking about it"

Statistically correct? It will help if we know the actual statistics - gory as they may be - and rather make recommendations from an actual motorcycle rider point of view.

Grrrr.... · « **Reply #53 on:** February 18, 2013, 01:15:19 pm »

Everybody here that commutes should send him a email.

Unless you like sitting in traffic....

Alan · « **Reply #54 on:** February 18, 2013, 01:46:42 pm »

Grr, he's also responding to me, So it's good debate. his recent reply he claims the WC Motorcycle Association on KFM this morning said they came out AGAINST lane Splitting!!

Oh well.. Should they force this law, I'll rename myself Billy the Kid, cos I'm gonna be a wanted outlaw.. No farking chance I'll NOT lane Split, thats the entire reason we ride bikes I'd think.

Kobus · « **Reply #55 on:** February 18, 2013, 01:53:00 pm »

Quote from: the_BOBNOB on February 18, 2013, 10:17:03 am

maybe we should rather be emailing mrs zille

tell her in no uncertain terms that he is going to cost her votes

I did that with the reduction in speed limit story.

PS: WC Motorcycle Association............. who the F^% are they. We must spam them.

Grrrr.... · « **Reply #56 on:** February 18, 2013, 01:55:47 pm »

Quote from: Alan on February 18, 2013, 01:46:42 pm

Grr, he's also responding to me, So it's good debate. his recent reply he claims the WC Motorcycle Association on KFM this morning said they came out AGAINST lane Splitting!!

Oh well.. Should they force this law, I'll rename myself Billy the Kid, cos I'm gonna be a wanted outlaw.. No farking chance I'll NOT lane Split, thats the entire reason we ride bikes I'd think.

Who the @#$% is this WC Motorcycle Association? I don't belong to them and they sure as shit don't speak on my behalf....

Again, you guys reading here not emailing him, get off your g@t and do something to show these people it is a k@k idea. That or buy a bus pass...

RobC · « **Reply #57 on:** February 18, 2013, 02:08:49 pm »

Quote from: Alan on February 18, 2013, 12:29:26 pm

Here's his reply.

"Please note that I am asking for comment on this matter, not introducing it as a law.
Further, that I am trying to save lives of motorcyclists, which is the only category of road fatalities which is rising.
Also, that the bulk of our fatalities are perpetrated by drivers of sedan cars. Taxis used to contribute 11% of our fatalities. This is now down to 5% precisely because we have taken very firm action in this area. Over 3000 taxis have been impounded; resting periods and speed limits enforced.
As a result we have not had a major taxi accident since Nov 2011.
The speed limits you refer to are within the City of Cape Town, which, as I have informed you before, does not fall in my jurisdiction.
We take action to save lives on the road, and despite your misgivings, have been spectacularly successful.
Nowhere in the world has the death rate on the roads been reduced by 30% in 3 years."

I'm not in a position toa rgue his points sufficiently, if there are dogs who know more, I invite you guys to take him up on his invitation and discuss it further, otherwise if they DO pass this as law, we can't then jump up and down and say we weren't giving the chance to debate on it..

My comment to him would be... how about this you political cretin "City of Cape Town, which, as I have informed you before, does not fall in my jurisdiction." and that is where most lane splitting is done... flipping retard.

Dusty Rusty · « **Reply #58 on:** February 18, 2013, 02:34:54 pm »

http://www.mawc.co.za/contact-us/

Dogmatix · « **Reply #59 on:** February 18, 2013, 02:41:57 pm »

My mail to him..

Dear Mr Carlisle

I refer to the article in Die Beeld regarding the possibility of banning lane splitting by motorcyclists in the Western Cape.

I commute daily on the N1, M5, N2 and M3 highways between Monte Vista and Steenberg. I always lane split and it is both economical and safe to do so. I would suggest that before you legislate something that you at least understand the reasons for the behaviour you deem so dangerous.

Being on a motorcycle is inherently dangerous, nobody disputes that. However that is a choice we make, especially for commuting as it save a lot of time being able to safely pass vehicles that are moving slowly or stopped due to the volumes of such vehicles. Motorcycles do not need to stop and line up behind one another but can safely pass the obstacles in short time. As you are well aware congestion plays a major part of our city’s traffic problems. Being on a motorcycle means you are not responsible for any congestion. In my 70km daily commute I am seldom disappointed in the gracious and respectful manner the thousands of cars I pass behave. There is always space to move between the cars and they now expect motorcycles to use the ‘biking lane’.

Another aspect to consider is the fuel saving a motorcycle allows. We are not sitting idling in traffic for kilometre after kilometre but are able to safely move at a very fuel efficient pace through the stationary traffic.

As more and more people cotton on to the benefits of riding a motorcycle to work every day it is to be expected that the number of accidents involving motorcycles will also increase. I have noticed an increase of at least 40 % in the number of people on motorised two wheelers in the last 8 years since I began riding to work every day. This is sure to rise due to the increase of the fuel price. A few of the riders do tend to ride too quickly between the cars it is true, but that is an educational issue and should not be used as ammunition against the multitude of riders who do not. I have yet to hear of a fatality involving a motorcycle lane splitting. I am sure there may be a few but the majority of fatal motorcycle accidents tend to involve a car / truck / taxi who has done something illegal, not a lane splitting motorcyclist.

Our safety is paramount to us and any move made to improve our space on the road is welcomed, however banning lane splitting is not the answer at all.

I offer to take from your place of residence to your offices in the early morning when the traffic loads are at their highest. That way you will gain first hand knowledge of the benefits of lane splitting safely.

Sincerely
Dogmatix