Attacks on cyclists on the increase – Pedal Power Association

With the festive season in full swing, the attacks on cyclists have unfortunately been on the increase, said the Pedal Power Association (PPA), one of South Africa’s largest cycling organisations.

“We are continuously meeting with local and national government stakeholders to find solutions for the attacks cyclists are faced with,” explained CEO of the PPA, Neil Robinson.

“The violent attacks on cyclists needs to stop and we are making the right noises in the right places to find solutions to the problem,” said Robinson.

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“We encourage cyclists not to cycle alone, not even in areas close to home. The police 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,” said Robinson.

Robinson explained that 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,” he explained.

• Try not to cycle before sunrise and sunset although it’s very tempting and time efficient
• Do not become an easy target, so refrain from talking on your cell phone or riding with earphones – this might seem obvious, but we see it every day out 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 available, please keep an eye on the riders at the back of the group, as they usually become victims of attacks especially if they fall behind.
• Please 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 who are waiting to cross the road. Do not trust anyone standing next to the road and approach bystanders carefully. Many of the criminals jump out from behind bushes or ditches next to the road, which catch cyclists off guard.
• Please report incidents to the police as well as the PPA using our hotline number 083 0439890.

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