Pedestrians on the N1

Awesome initiative, can we do the same thing in the afternoon?

Absolutley - the more the merrier - Nicky (aka Buzz Lightyear on wild dogs) is there almost everyday - You and I could stop on the going up side in the am and the into town side in the pm. Anybody else

Shaded,no "gloving" of pedestrians!:-)

Guys just be careful. It's illegal to stop on a National road and yes I know it's also illegal to walk on a National road (or walk across it) Remember taking the law into your own hands accomplishes nothing and two wrongs does not make it right. You actually have know right to tell somebody to use another road, this thing can quickly turn into a racial heat wave. Best thing you can do is to be extra aware when you ride on the N1 past Canal Walk. You know people run across the road. I stand up when I ride past there and I can see them from a mile away and I never have close shaves with them. Please don't take this personal :-) Happy days :-) Regards, Corné

Corne - thanks for the comments. We had the traffic cops actually stop and chat to us - there where supportive of what we are trying to achieve - they drove off - we carried on sending people back. It has nothing whatsoever to do with race - but rather to do with danger. save there lives and our own - a female pedestrian was taken out there on saturday - if a bike had hit her the rider would have been Man / Woman down as well - Not nice.

I won't "glove" anything - I SWEAR! :P Steve, great idea. WWBLD? (What would Buzz-Lightyear do?) As for stopping on a National Road - we're on GS's - and as long as you're 2 metres from the Shoulder line, it's no longer illegal (AFAIK), so we can just park our bikes in the bush off to the side.

I've posted the idea on WD - hoping someone will pick it up and run with it there too. If I'd known, I'd of been on the N1 this morning at that time too. Would love to help. I've seen what happens to someone that gets hit at around 120km/h trying to cross a road. The Fire Engine was called in to wash down the road afterwards.

I fully understand what you saying Steve and I hope you guys get something good out of this. Just as a side note. These people run over the road because it's the shortest route to get home or to work. Now just imagine you've done some hard labour the whole day for peanuts and now you have to walk home (probably a few kilometers) and somebody tells you that you have to walk a longer way round? It’s not the peoples fault that there is not a proper pedestrian bridge, infact that stretch of road needs about 3 pedestrian bridges. Best thing to do IMHO is to take it up with the people that should build these pedestrian bridges. Regards, Corné

Ek dink jy't dalk die verkeerde kat aan die stert beet hier ou maat. So, ek werk hard, ek kan ook maar sommer doen wat ek wil, maak nie saak wat die wet se nie? Die lewe werk nie so nie - sommige tye, is dit maar sleg, but we build a bridge and get over it. Just because you've had a long day, doesn't entitle you to disobey the law and put the lives of others in harms way - I don't agree with your Statement at all Pantsula.

There are two bridges less than 500 meters apart - they walk between them - so i dont really buy that as an excuse - But you are - right a couple of pedestrian bridges would definetly help

Enthusiasm releases the drive to carry you over obstacles and adds significance to all you do. - Norman Vincent Peale, Protestant preacher and author Riding is life (especially on two wheels)

Hear hear HedleyJ

Not true, go measure again. Those bridges are more that 2km apart. Okay I don't want to get into semantics here. The fact is people run across the road because it's not easy to use the bridges at the moment. Look at the bridge on the N7 side next time you drive past (or stop). There is no easy way to get onto that bridge. people have to crawl thought a fence and go up an unpaved slope that gets muddy and slippery when wet. Regards, Corné My blog - http://cornekloppers.blogspot.com/

Ok - there are actually three bridges then - many pedestrians use the rail bridge (also illegal i am sure - but safer than crossing the road) - that is the one I was referring to - you see them walking over your head everyday. As to your comments - this is exactly what is needed - if a few steps cut into a bank will help to solve the problem then it should be done. Right now the problem is being ignored. Personally i would rather negotiate a slippery slope than a freeway with cars flying past in excess of 120kms per hour. The objective is to create awareness - get a presence there - let people see what is going on - create pressure to force corrective action. (Thanks Hedley)

Pantsula, How do people get to that bridge to begin with? The N7, which crosses the N1, is the northern offramp closest to it, and sable road, the southern, both CROSS the N1, neither require steep muddy slopes to be traversed. If taxi's are dropping them off there - I have to ask why? They should be dropped off at proper Taxi stop/drop points, we know that's not going to happen though, so they should be dropped off on the bridges. If they're getting there any other way, they're already climbing through fences they shouldn't be. As far as I see it, there is no excuse whatsoever, no matter how far apart the closest bridges are.

Okay I've could have said a few more things related to this topic however my `new` form conduct is that of happiness and composure :-) Alan and Steve take care and keep it safe! I will be the first to applaud and congratulate you guys when something good comes out of this. No worries :-) Pantsula

Steve, Buzz has started a google calendar so that we can collate the who and whens, send him your google account details and he'll share it to you too. If anyone else is willing to lend a hand / interested - let us know.

Forgive me - What is a Google Calendar?? Corne Thanks for the support and the constructive comment - lets hope something good does come out of it. Steve

It's a calendar that runs through Google / Gmail, you can schedule appointments, share the calendar with other google account holders etc (and it's FREE)

I agree with Corne 100% on this, let's pool our imaginative thinking and come up with a campaign/approach that does not involve breaking the law ourselves.It is illegal running across a freeway, but it is very convenient for the blokes who uses the public transport. IMO the Western Cape Government should be providing a pedestrian bridge/subway to serve the very obvious need of the pedestrians. My 2c TbK

That is exactly what we are trying to achieve!

I gave this some more thought. Here is my proposal. Let approach this whole thing with one goal in mind, “The Safety of the Pedestrians” We could hand out some soft drinks (cokes or juice) and ask the people to rather use the bridge and inform them about how dangerous it is to cross the N1 between cars. We all know how dangerous it for us bikers but rather focus the whole campaign on them, hopefully that way you actually get the message to them that we care about their safety just as much as we care about our own safety. Let’s set this up! Get permission from the road traffic department, get the newspapers there, get a sponsor for the juice or soft drinks and hand them out to the people that we lured to rather use the bridge and put a positive spin on this whole thing. We could also make a small flyer with a short message on (in all 11 languages) about the dangers in crossing a national road N1. It’s our road, let’s make it safer for everybody! Regards, Corné

Pantsula, I like the new Forum-you. I don't think the people running over the N1 enjoy what they are doing. There is a very real need to shorten their walk to the train station. I applaud all the effort/ discussion about this problem, as it affects me personally on my commute by car and when I use my bike. However it is not for us to police this matter. Contacting the Mayor's office might be a better option, by all accounts she'll make sure something gets done! Also spare a thought for those people who run across the road to get to public transport after a days work being confronted by a couple of guys telling them to walk a couple more kms to get to catch the train; try and place yourselves in their shoes! Imagine what they are thinking whist walking the extra distance, maybe missing their train, their connecting taxi and having to walk to their tin shacks.There is such disparity in our great country , lets not create a situation of "them and us".

Excuse me, get a life, new pedestrian bridge over the R300, the next day two people were killed under it, too much effort to walk up the stairs. New bridge over N7 at Joe Slovo and Bonteheuwel, nobody uses it.

I wish I'd had a camera with me on the N2 recently. There were people running across the N2 and climbing over the centre barrier, while cows were walking across the footbridge above them. Any effort to keep pedestrians (2 or 4 legged) off the roads will be helpful though. Much safer for us. ''If you can dream it you can do it!''

You're Excused! Your comment that I should "get a life" is quite off! I, as you are a member to this forum and entitled to my opinion.I did not attack anybody, I am just trying to caution against vigilante action. The issue of possible violence against our "do gooders" was raised on WD, now this is really stupid! Putting yourself and fellow bikers in a possible position of danger whilst "Policing" the law. You my friend, missed my point entirely; I agree that running across the road is both illegal and dangerous and must be stopped, it is just not for us to go and physically stop them. Live and let live William & allow other people to voice their opinion it will open a whole new world of interesting discussions and interaction. Tertius

All the comments have truth and validity. William is correct, the building of a pedestrian bridge is unlikely to help, as the 'Shortest Route' will most likely still be used, for 2x reasons: time and excitement/challenge...(much the same reasons we use/ride bikes). I do think we ought to try. I also think,that although it is not legal, it may work to hand out cool-drinks and encouraging people to use the bridge (with press involvement....William??) is more likely to work for NOW than plain letter writing and quicker too, as bridge there will take a while to plan and build with bureaucracy. But!!! send the letter it's election time! It does seem some form of action is needed,if we're acting unselfishly, as Corné and others have proposed, not just for 'bikers' some good will come out of it.

Some of the Forum posters may lack a little finesse in their choice and usage of words...let it pass and look for the gold in them....it may keep things cooler. As to the vigilante/ violence concerns, I may be mistaken but I did not read into any of the posts, that anyone ought to try to forcibly prevent people from crossing, polite verbal persuasion is always best (as previous posts highlight!:-)) On a lighter note: we had best act swiftly, cows breed their relatives may appear on the N1 soon.:-)

Neil read this topic on WD were one comment was made that the particular enforcer suggested that should the occasion arise he has protection ready.... now call me stupid but this is asking for trouble

If we are going to respond to this situation on the N1, it would be best we do it soonest, as once it gets darker and the rains come it will be far more dangerous for all, and the longer these actions continue the more difficult it will be to encourage change. tbk I did re-read the WD's postings, the sense I have is not one of aggressive stopping of the crossers, yes some beer type talk, but on the whole positive and dignified. The gent, a WD who started doing something is to be congratulated, it is good to see people standing up looking for greater good. I hope this thread stays on track and a positive outcome results.