From Fourways to Cape Town, cyclists raise safety awareness
From CycleLab Fourways to Cape Town, a brutal bike ride was launched to promote cyclist safety.
Stage One of the Pedal Power Association Toyota Ride for your Life South Africa Tour saw over seventy riders taking part in the first leg of the Johannesburg to Cape Town journey.
The first stage began with a 70 km mass ride from CycleLab to the Cradle of Humankind in support of Cyclists Stay Alive – a safe cycling campaign which urges motorists to pass cyclists with a safe berth of 1.5m.
Cherise Stander, a professional USN athlete, participated in the first stage from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein and Andrew McLean, pro-rider and owner of CycleLab, accompanied riders for roughly 35 km of the first stage until they reached the turnaround point at the Lion and Rhino Park.
At this point, a ‘ghost bike’ – a bicycle painted white – was displayed in memory of those cyclists who have lost their lives on the country’s roads.
When asked what she hoped the tour would achieve, Stander said, “We need the tour to create awareness to try and get motorists to see cyclists as people and human beings with families waiting for them at home and to give cyclists a gap when passing them. It might cost a motorist one minute to pass a cyclist safely, but it might cost a cyclist his or her life if/when that motorist doesn’t.”
Stander was widowed earlier this year when her legendary mountain biking husband Burry died while on a training ride in KwaZulu-Natal
CycleLab’s McLean said he hoped the tour would succeed in making motorists and cyclists more tolerant of each other.
After reaching the turnaround point, the tour riders continued with their journey which will see them cover more than 500km during the first stage of the tour.
Stage One ended on 11 September when the cyclists arrived in Bloemfontein.
Stage Two takes place between Bloemfontein and Oudtshoorn from 14 September until 20 September.
Details: www.pedalpower.org.za
