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In an occasion held in Lanseria on Saturday morning, members of the biking group and stakeholders got here collectively for the launch of the #Cyclistslivesmatter marketing campaign which is supposed to deliver consciousness to the risks cyclists face on the nation’s roads.
The launch of the marketing campaign comes over a month after an govt of JSE-listed Well-known Manufacturers Andre Piehl (52) was killed, whereas on his approach again from a biking coaching session, by an alleged drunk driver.
Suspect within the matter, Kabelo (Katlego) Nyatlo (30), is believed to have been driving the white Porsche Cayenne SUV that fatally hit Piehl and injured fellow bike owner Je’an du Preez who was biking alongside Piehl on the morning of Saturday January, 29.
“It’s a marketing campaign that hopes to handle the problems across the lawlessness on our roads, the shortage of prosecutions, the shortage of penalties from critical accidents and deaths on the highway, be it cyclists, be it pedestrians,” CEO of Paddle Energy Affiliation Neil Robinson tells Moneyweb.
“We’ve tragically misplaced a bike owner on our roads and the larger problem is that there are very seldom any penalties for the drivers who mow these cyclists down and we’re saying, accidents do occur, however there must be penalties,” director at Cycle labs Andrew McClain tells Moneyweb.
Learn: Suspect accused of killing Well-known Manufacturers exec makes first court docket look
Piehl’s spouse speaks out
Piehl’s spouse, Sharon Piehl spoke out for the primary time concerning the tragic passing of her husband on the occasion.
Visibly emotional, Piehl’s spouse remembers how overly cautious her husband was when biking, particularly when he was biking on the highway, he had misplaced his life, R512 close to Lanseria.
“Andre knew the dangers of being on that highway and day-after-day and each time he went out and each weekend, he knew the dangers and so he was overly cautious about what he did and the way he rode.”
Understanding the risks her husband confronted on the roads, Sharon says she remembers how she would panic if her husband was much more than 10 minutes late from his biking periods.
“Each time he went out, I’d ask him how lengthy he’s going to be and if he was even 10 minutes late, I’d begin to panic and marvel if one thing had gone improper.”
“However on today, not even half-hour after he left, my cellphone rang and my Andre [was] killed by a reckless driver as a result of he selected to exit and do what he cherished. That’s mindless and tragic,” she remembers
Piehl’s spouse went on to name on the South African Police Companies (Saps) and the justice system to guard victims of crimes just like the one her husband succumbed to and known as them to ship justice on behalf of the victims.
Fellow cyclists on restoration path
Je’an du Preez, who suffered extreme accidents due to the identical accident that took Piehl’s life additionally attended the launch of the marketing campaign.
A noticeably weakened model of his previous self, Du Preez expressed gratitude for surviving the accident but additionally famous disbelief that the accident robbed him of his final moments along with his pal.
“With out sounding dramatic, we had been hit by a automobile [driving] at – some individuals estimate – 120/140 kilometres per hour from behind.”
“Andre’s and my parting by no means occurred in my thoughts. There are nonetheless days once I suppose that this by no means occurred. I solely came upon about this in all probability about 10 days later,” Du Preez says.
The recovering cyclists says he sustained quite a few accidents from the accident, together with a damaged fibula, degloved calf and elbow, punctured lungs, and damaged spinal vertebrae.
Learn: Well-known Manufacturers govt killed whereas biking
Insufficient infrastructure to guard Bike owner
In line with McClain, the nation’s biking infrastructure lacks dismally when in comparison with world requirements. He provides that due to this lack of infrastructure, extra cyclists are being compelled onto off-road trails the place it’s safer for them.
“Consider locations like Holland the place each single highway has a motorcycle park on the facet of the highway, I imply within the cradle they do have a biking lane and its probably the most common biking areas within the nation and that’s implausible.
“Sadly, we don’t have that type of infrastructure within the nation, and we’re in all probability by no means going to get that infrastructure as a result of it must be deliberate early on. We’re seeing much more bike owner now using off-road as a result of it’s just a little safer than being on the roads.”
Regardless of how behind the nation’s infrastructure is, McClain says alternatives to enhance the present conditions ought to nonetheless be pursued.
Robertson says the affiliation is working with completely different sectors of presidency to try to fast-track the method of bettering infrastructure, however admits that infrastructure enhancements won’t happen over night time.
“What we’re doing is tackling this piece by piece and strategically in addition to functionally and I consider there’s a will to do that, it’s now only a case of creating it occur,” Robertson says.
He goes additional to say that addressing the infrastructural points that the biking group faces won’t solely create a safer surroundings for cyclists however may also have well being and environmental advantages.
“All we’re saying is, we have to be taken critically, that is a part of a longer-term answer. It raises economical, societal in addition to well being points on this nation, so its not only a cycling-motorist factor … We will actually make a distinction from a optimistic viewpoint if we get this proper,” he provides.
Megan Harrington from Harrington Johnson Wands (HJW) Attorneys — the attorneys representing the victims on this case — tells Moneyweb that every little thing remains to be on monitor for Nyatlo to look in court docket in Might.
“I spoke to the investigating officer yesterday and the blood work has been fast-tracked, which implies the suspects blood will come again very shortly.”
We’re awaiting the information from Porsche — which element what was taking place with the automobile on the time. However the matter remains to be able to proceed on Might 18.”
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