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Why I ride a bike
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My son-in-law, Pierre Delport, recently 'liked' a page on Facebook that allowed Facebook users who were also cyclists, to relate what it was that inspired them ride a bike. I thought I need more space to express my view, and so rather than comment on the page, I chose to put together this page. I titled it, 'Why I ride a bike, the literral and figurative ups and downs'.
I guess I started riding because it was a convenient way of exercising, and was also a form of exercise that strengthens one's core muscles. So I started quite soon after I had experienced a problem with my lower back, and had also had surgery to try and correct the problem. My impression is that cycling does wonders for my lower back. I invariably get off the bike after a ride feeling a whole lot better for having exercised, and also a lot less aware of my lower back problem. It also helps me control my weight, but here the gains are offset by me making sure that my body has enough fuel for the rides. This even extends to the odd Bar One (Mars Bar). But I guess the most important benefit has to be that a ride almost always leaves me feeling better than when I set out.
I currently live in the Town Bush Valley and while it is hilly, it is also green and lush, and a great place to ride.That said, riding a bike on suburban roads in South Africa is dangerous. However there are campaigns to improve this, and I do believe they are working. Cycling has also become very popular of late, and the extra exposure of cyclists on the road, has I believe contributed to making cycling safer. The Town Bush Valley and adjoining valleys are also ideal for Mountain Biking, and the area has become the mecca for the sport in South Africa. This too has contributed to the increased popularity of cycling in the region and greater awareness of cyclists on the road.
While I will occasionally hitch my bike to the back of the car in order to ride it elsewhere, I mostly ride from home. Most of my rides also start with a climb of around 220 metres to the junction of Link and Old Howick Roads. This ride takes me through Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve. Besides being a climb this is a ride through idyllic countryside that is best described by the photographs and their captions that are included below. From the junction I could climb another 300 metres to World's View, or 400 meters to Hilton. Irrespective of the choice, the ride then continues with an exhilarating descent along Old Howick Road to the base of Town Hill and the edge of the Pietermaritzburg (PMB) City Center. That would be followed by a climb back up Old Howick or via Town BusH Road to return home.
When I am climbing Old Howick or Town Bush Road, I mostly do so by riding on the pavement where possible for safety reasons. This brings me into direct contact with the pedestrians using the pavements, and I defer to them as best as I can. These are almost exclusively black folk doing some walking as part of their daily commute. The rest of the commute would be by means of a Mini-Bus Taxi as there is no urban buss service as such. I attempt to greet everyone I pass and the response is more often positive and this interaction makes my rides that much more enjoyable. Another reason for riding a bike.
Sometimes I take time out to explore PMB on my bike, and we all know that one gets to cover more ground on a bike than one would cover on foot. It is in my opinion probably the best way to tour a city. Driving a motor vehicle simply does not compare and and is probably not that practical. Going on foot is an option, but I guess if I am honest, most folk would think twice before setting out to tour PMB on foot. When I set out on such a tour, I always take a camera, and have used it to record the highs and lows of each such tour or ride. Links to my documentation of these tours or rides is provided below. If you take a look at these you will realize how effective such bike tours are in terms of the sites visited, and the ground covered.
While I cannot find a reason for not encouraging others to ride a bike, my own riding experience in PMB has a down side. It allows me to experience the extent to which infrastructure has decayed within the City Center and the Town Bus and Cascades valleys. You will see evidence of this decay, if you look through the photographs I have taken whilst out riding. This is not an exhaustive catalogue, but rather examples pertaining to the road and pavement networks, the telephone network, the drainage network and the street lighting network. The decay is marked and is continuing to advance despite efforts to deal with it.
For the past two years I have spent the month of January in Perth, Western Australia. Perth literally does not have too many ups and downs. It is flat. Given its Mediterranean climate, it is also hot, dry and windy during January. However, what it does have, is truly excellent facilities for riding a bike, an enormous water front, and many picturesque routes to ride. Another big plus is the behaviour of motorists, as they generally observe the rules of the road, and cyclists and pedestrians are expected to do the same. It is a good example of how cooperation creates space for everyone.
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Takes a while to load, but then proceeds quite smoothly. Looses image aspect ratio for portrait images i.e., squashes them.
If you have any comments, corrections, suggestions or plain criticism, I would appreciate it if you would communicate the same to me.
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[email protected] |
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Google+ | www.robdempster.com |
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