Durban cyclist hit by van in cycle lane

18 February 2016 - 14:38 By Jeff Wicks
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A cyclist was injured when he was hit by a courier vehicle while using a dedicated cycling lane on Durban's Masabalala Yengwa Avenue on Thursday morning.

Cyclists. File photo
Cyclists. File photo
Image: iStock

This comes two weeks after two cyclists - Richard da Silva and Jarred Dwyer - were killed after being hit by a car while they were cycling on the M4 Ruth First Freeway.

The cyclist, who has not yet been identified, sustained minor injuries when he was hit by the light delivery vehicle.

The latest incident has further galvanised the local cycling community.

Naeem Adam, who was cycling just behind the injured rider, said the courier vehicle "drifted into the cycling lane".

"Fortunately, there were no serious injuries and he is going to see a doctor today. All cyclists are so conscious of incidents occurring, considering what happened in the past couple of weeks," Adam said.

He said the injured rider had made a real effort to make himself visible by using front and rear lights.

"He had both front lights and rear lights as a precaution to make himself visible, but it doesn't make a difference," he said.

Another cyclist, Greg Albert, said that the cycling community was united in their concern.

"This just again highlights the need for motorists to be aware of cyclists and to give them space when overtaking.

"The cyclists were in the cycling lane, which is designated for cyclists only between 04:00 and 06:30 and [one of them] still got hit," Albert said.

Source: News24

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