PPA warns of more attacks against cyclists during festive season

The Pedal Power Association (PPA) has condemned the growing violent attacks on cyclists in the country.

According to the association, attacks on cyclists tend to escalate during the festive season.

“The violence of these attacks is extremely worrying,” said PPA president Neil Robinson.

“We are continuously meeting with local and national government stakeholders to find solutions for these attacks. The violent attacks on cyclists need to stop and we are making the right noises in the right places to find solutions to the problem,” Robinson explained.

He encouraged cyclists to never cycle alone, not even in areas close to home.

“The SAPS are trying their best to patrol the areas of concern whenever they can, but criminals do not always attack in the same spot, they move around,” he said.

Robinson explained the PPA is paying attention to every incident and is actively working behind the scenes to assist in helping resolve these criminal activities.

“I know this might seem hollow given the violence and trauma of these incidents, but we are making progress.”
The PPA has urged cyclists to be more alert than ever during the festive season.

• Try not to cycle before sunrise and sunset, although it’s very tempting and time efficient.

• Do not become an easy target. Refrain from talking on your cellphone or riding with earphones – this might seem obvious, but we see it every day on the roads.

• When cycling in a group, it is preferable to have a backup vehicle following the group. If there is no backup vehicle, keep an eye on the riders at the back of the group, as they usually become victims of attacks especially if they fall behind.

• Practice ‘situational awareness’. In other words, always pay attention to your surroundings and constantly be on the lookout for potentially dangerous situations.

• Stay alert if you are approaching persons waiting to cross the road. Do not trust anyone and approach bystanders carefully.

• Many of the criminals jump from behind bushes or ditches next to the road, which catches cyclists off guard.

Please report incidents to SAPS as well as the PPA using our hotline number 083 0439890.

“What is happening in South Africa presently is unacceptable to the PPA. It’s why we have put our safety program centre to our business and we hope in the long term to make a positive dent in some of these horrendous road incidents and accident statistics. After all, behind each statistic is a human being with a family,” Robinson concluded.

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