Sport on our roads

There is a new danger on South African roads. In a previous blog I expounded on the moronic idea that recreational cyclists should be allowed to practice their sport on public roads at the expense of motorists. It has been decided by the powers that be, without the consent of motorists, that we should pass cyclists at a distance of 1.5 metres. This entails crossing a barrier line to give them sufficient space, particularly if they are not riding in the gutter.

Yesterday, while travelling in fairly heavy traffic in both directions, there were no less than 3 occasions where someone with a sheep mentality blindly followed his latest instruction from the authorities and swerved across the barrier line in the face of startled oncoming motorists who then had to swerve onto the verge. Did these people not understand that the basic rules of the road still apply and that, when spotting a cyclist, the world should not revolve around them? Apparently not.

This leads to the very obvious conclusion that, in the face of oncoming traffic, the cyclist must be allowed to dictate the pace of the traffic. This situation cannot be allowed to become the norm, as the common man becomes subjected to more and more restrictions applied by people who should never have the authority to impose them.

There is currently a video going viral on the web of a youngster skateboarding down Kloofnek in Cape Town and being flashed by a speed camera, which was the object of the exercise. One can only admire his courage as he flies down one of the best slaloms in the world, while feeling sympathy for the oncoming motorists who must have been horrified at the possibility of a potentially fatal crash, and as he took a sharp right between two cars, I also feared for his life. The most thrilling thing for me was that he actually had the guts to do it and with such skill. Throughout the world, children are no longer allowed to climb trees or playground equipment, nor are adults allowed to climb ladders at work, all in the name of Health and Safety, in a very successful plan to take away personal freedom to make all our own decisions and live a life of nothingness. The traffic department have declared the stunt reckless and plan to prosecute this daring young man. I think it is their way of giving him a speeding fine, as the law probably doesn't cover prosecution of speeding skateboarders.