Tag Archives: bicycles
Just another ice cream dream
Selling the ice cream dream
Hire bicycles!
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
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:
- Exercise due care while passing the cyclist.
- Leave a distance between the motor vehicle and the cyclist of at least one meter.
- 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:
- Make the appropriate use of pedal cycle lanes where these are available.
- Give conspicuous driving signals as contemplated in National Regulations.
- Keep as close as possible to the left edge of the roadway.
- Obey road traffic signs and rules.
- Fit and use effective front and rear lights when riding in hours of darkness and when visibility is limited.
- 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.
- Not ride abreast of another cyclist proceeding in the same direction, except when passing that cyclist.
- 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
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
* To be honest though, so would I, actually. ;)
Hipster bikes!
Grand 1888 – A Dutch bicycle
Dude, where’s my bike?
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
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.