A man in his 30s was injured on Wednesday morning when he was knocked off his bicycle by a bakkie on the R103 in Bothas Hill, KwaZulu-Natal.
Russel Meiring, ER24’s spokesperson, said when paramedics arrived at the scene just after 7 am, they found the man lying on the side of the road.
Meiring said the cyclist had suffered a serious injury to his leg, leaving him in a serious condition. He said the man was taken to RK Khan Hospital.
“The driver of the bakkie, fortunately, escaped injury. Local authorities were on the scene for further investigations,” said Meiring.
Cyclists have the same responsibilities as motorists to make sure that everyone that uses our roads are safe. SafelyHome compiled a list of safety precautions to follow when you go cycling:
- Make use of pedal cycle lanes where these are available.
- Keep as close as possible to the left edge of the roadway.
- Obey the traffic signs and signals.
- Ride with traffic, not against it.
- Watch out for the opening of car doors in your path.
- Be visible. Wear bright coloured clothing at daytime. At night, wear reflective clothing.
- Fit and use effective front and rear lights when riding in hours of darkness and when visibility is limited.
- Use hand signals when turning or changing lanes.
- Be aware of hazardous road conditions.
- Be aware of other road users, especially at intersections.
- Ride in a straight line.
- Wear a helmet that fits properly.
- Never ride with headphones.
Laws for cyclists
There are laws, both national and provincial, in place to protect the rights of all road users, including cyclists. These laws apply to everyone using our roads and they cover various aspects to make sure that you and your fellow road users are safe at all times. The National Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and the National Road Traffic Regulations is the national legislation and applies to everyone in South Africa.
- Always stop at red traffic lights and stop signs.
- Give way to pedestrians and stop before pedestrian crossings.
- All cyclists must ride with the flow of traffic on streets, whether it’s a two-way or a one-way street.
- Cycling without a helmet is illegal.
- Always ride on the left of the road.
- You must be seated in your saddle when cycling.
- You must ride in single file.
- You may not deliberately swerve your bicycle from side to side.
- You must use the bicycle lane if there is one.
- You may not cycle on freeways (like the M3, M5, N1 and N2) and all other roads which indicate they are off limits to bicycles.
The other important legislation that cyclists should follow is the Western Cape Provincial Road Traffic Administration Act, 2012.
- Motorists must leave a distance of at least 1 meter between them and cyclists.
- Cyclist must ride in a single file unless overtaking.
- Cyclists riding at night must have lights fitted on the front and back of their bicycle.
- Bicycles must have front and rear reflectors.
Motorists should also respect the rights of cyclists using the roads.
- Yield to cyclists, especially at intersections.
- Leave a distance between the motor vehicle and the cyclist of at least one metre.
- Check your blind spots and look before opening the car door.
- Don't drive, stop or park in a bicycle lane.
