Dear Fellow Cyclist

On behalf of Pedal Power Association, we wish you every success for 2009 and sincerely hope that the year will see your cycling club growing from strength to strength.

It is that time of year when the tension between motorists and cyclists moves up a gear as cyclists prepare and train for the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour on 8 March 2009.

Of late, many radio DJ’s and the media have been reporting on the fact that cyclists on the road show scant regard for traffic laws. Cyclists are seen jumping red traffic lights, proceeding through stop streets without stopping and cycling in groups of more than two abreast, thereby obstructing traffic. Although only a few errant cyclists practice these actions, it does give the perception that all cyclists behave in this manner.

At our PPA fun rides we have, and will continue to enforce the “white line rule” to ensure safety: Cyclists must stay left of the white line at all times. To this effect, we are disqualifying offenders and are in the process of employing additional motorbike marshals.

PPA is appealing to you as an official cycling club to convey our concerns to your members in the hope that it will lead to mutual respect from the motoring fraternity and the traffic authorities, especially in this lead-up time to the Cycle Tour.

Best wishes
Steve Hayward
Chairman: Pedal Power Association.
23 January 2009

Queries: info@pedalpower.org.za