Think Bike
Encyclopedia
The Think Bike Campaign was started by biking enthusiasts in South Africa
, and is run by bikers, in the interests of road safety and public awareness. Many motorcycle
accidents happen because of a lack of awareness of the issues among the general motoring public. The aim of the campaign is to correct that through the use of stickers, leaflets, and information distributed in other ways.
During 2005, a number of bikers were using an online forum to discuss the alarming number of unnecessary motorcycle accidents; avoidable accidents caused by inattentiveness, ignorance, incompetence and failure to exercise due care.
The Think Bike sticker campaign started by Tony Day of Cape Town
in the 1980's, and its short life were discussed, and it was decided then and there to revive the campaign and expand on its goals and methods.
Thanks mainly to the dedication, hard work and leadership of the late chairman, Brian Cannoo (Buccaneer), the Think Bike Campaign now has in excess of 1000 paid-up members, over 2000 forum contributors, dozens of sponsors and has to date distributed over 500 000 leaflets, over 200 000 bumper stickers, and reached literally thousands of motorcyclists and motorists with its message.
The campaign, while strongest in the Gauteng province, has representation in Western Cape
, KwaZulu Natal and the Free State
. It has dozens of trained marshals available for various events such as cycle races and is deeply involved in numerous other projects such as the annual Toy Run.
A number of studies have been done in the past, most notably in the USA and UK, that show that an alarming number of motorcycle accidents are directly caused by other vehicles. Being as vulnerable as they are, bikers very often emerge from these avoidable accidents seriously injured, maimed or dead.
It is clear that the accidents we are talking about are the result of ignorance of the issues affecting motorcycles. This campaign is intended to help educate the general public about these issues without pointing fingers or accusing anyone of negligence. Bikers cannot expect motorists to consider their safety if they don't help motorists understand what the roads are like from a bikers' point of view.
The campaign is also aimed at the biking community, to educate about safety issues and encourage the use of protective clothing.
The Hurt Report
, published in the USA in 1981, showed some alarming trends. More than 900 motorcycle accidents were investigated in the Los Angeles
area, and the results showed that:
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and is run by bikers, in the interests of road safety and public awareness. Many motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
accidents happen because of a lack of awareness of the issues among the general motoring public. The aim of the campaign is to correct that through the use of stickers, leaflets, and information distributed in other ways.
During 2005, a number of bikers were using an online forum to discuss the alarming number of unnecessary motorcycle accidents; avoidable accidents caused by inattentiveness, ignorance, incompetence and failure to exercise due care.
The Think Bike sticker campaign started by Tony Day of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in the 1980's, and its short life were discussed, and it was decided then and there to revive the campaign and expand on its goals and methods.
Thanks mainly to the dedication, hard work and leadership of the late chairman, Brian Cannoo (Buccaneer), the Think Bike Campaign now has in excess of 1000 paid-up members, over 2000 forum contributors, dozens of sponsors and has to date distributed over 500 000 leaflets, over 200 000 bumper stickers, and reached literally thousands of motorcyclists and motorists with its message.
The campaign, while strongest in the Gauteng province, has representation in Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
, KwaZulu Natal and the Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
. It has dozens of trained marshals available for various events such as cycle races and is deeply involved in numerous other projects such as the annual Toy Run.
A number of studies have been done in the past, most notably in the USA and UK, that show that an alarming number of motorcycle accidents are directly caused by other vehicles. Being as vulnerable as they are, bikers very often emerge from these avoidable accidents seriously injured, maimed or dead.
It is clear that the accidents we are talking about are the result of ignorance of the issues affecting motorcycles. This campaign is intended to help educate the general public about these issues without pointing fingers or accusing anyone of negligence. Bikers cannot expect motorists to consider their safety if they don't help motorists understand what the roads are like from a bikers' point of view.
The campaign is also aimed at the biking community, to educate about safety issues and encourage the use of protective clothing.
The Hurt Report
Hurt Report
The Hurt Report was a motorcycle safety study conducted in the United States, initiated in 1976 and published in 1981. The report is named after its primary author, Professor Harry Hurt.Noted motorcycle journalist David L...
, published in the USA in 1981, showed some alarming trends. More than 900 motorcycle accidents were investigated in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area, and the results showed that:
- Approximately three-fourths of motorcycle accidents involve collision with another vehicle, usually a passenger automobile.
- In these accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of cases.
- The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.