[Image: Freerange Stock]
On Saturday morning, a cyclist was struck and killed in a tragic accident on the Main Road in St James.
Witnesses report that the cyclist was knocked off his bike after colliding with an open car door, causing him to fall into the road, where a passing truck then hit him.
Falsebay Echo reports that police arrived to find medics tending to the cyclist who was later declared deceased at the scene. It is also reported that police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. This amounts to an unlawful act that results in a person’s death but is not equivalent to murder.
Ward 64 councillor Izabel Sherry informed residents in a social media post of the traffic delays, noting how “Traffic is at a standstill on the Main Road, Kalk Bay to Muizenberg at Albertyn crossing in both directions due to a fatal accident in St James.”
This incident has sparked a flurry of debates over who is to blame, with renewed calls for motorists to be more vigilant, especially when opening car doors on busy roads.
“Both motorists and cyclists should be more cautious, I’m not apportioning blame to either party though,” a member of the public commented. “It’s difficult to judge an approaching cyclists speed and it may have appeared as a speck in the motorists mirror.”
Especially considering, as News24 pointed out, how this accident is similar to the one that occurred in Sea Point last year when a teenager from Bonteheuwel passed in a similar manner. In that incident on Tuesday 11 June last year, 17-year-old Calib de Kock died when he collided with a car door which a motorist opened at the time.
Pedal Power Association CEO Neil Robinson appealed to motorists and cyclists to respectively give each other space on the road, especially on narrow roads with no cycling lanes.
“We also appeal to cyclists to please ride single file at all times and to please slow down in busy urban or business nodes, especially where cars are parked.”
Meanwhile, motorists should take care when stopping, parking and getting out of their vehicles, he said.
“Try and use your left hand when opening the car door as this allows you to turn around to see if there is any danger before getting out of your vehicle, such as another car or a cyclist. Respect the laws, respect all road users, and get there safely.”
Another resident noted how there is simply not enough space for cyclists and motorists to safely share Main Road in the St James, Kalk Bay areas.
“Cyclists should avoid Main Road in St James, there is no space and they often cycle next to each other and cars become impatient and overtake which is also very dangerous.”
Another mentioned that everyone needs to exercise more patience and gracefully make way for each other.
This time of year is especially busy with the upcoming Cape Town Cycle Tour, which will see more cyclists on the roads in preparation. Stay safe, everyone!
[Source: News24]
