Cape Town - A Durbanville man cycling to work was run over and killed when he apparently swerved to avoid traffic and fell under a bus early yesterday - the second city cycling fatality in eight days.
The latest death has re-ignited the argument about whether vehicles should give cyclists a 1.5m berth.
EMS spokeswoman Keri Davids said paramedics declared the cyclist dead shortly before 7am in Durbanville Avenue in Durbanville.
The Golden Arrow bus was en route to Durbanville.
Police spokesman Andre Traut did not want to release the 31-year-old cyclist’s name, as requested by the family.
“We have opened a case of culpable homicide but have not charged the bus driver. We will investigate all leads,” Traut said. Traut could not confirm whether the cyclist was wearing protective or reflective gear.
Last week cyclist Koos Roux of Bloemendal was killed on Bottelary Road in Kuils River when he was hit by a bakkie. In April a cyclist was killed and another injured when they were struck by a vehicle in Prince George Drive near Muizenberg.
Golden Arrow Bus Service spokeswoman Bronwen Dyke said the bus driver was unaware of any cyclist at the time of the incident.
“According to the bus driver she pulled away and heard a loud bang. She stopped and got out of the bus to find the cyclist under the bus,” Dyke said.
She said their preliminary investigations indicated: “The cyclist swerved out for other vehicles into the bus and landed beneath it.”
Dyke said a pupil waiting at the bus stop was too traumatised to provide reliable information. They were still investigating the tragedy. The driver had been suspended until the investigation was complete.
Pedal Power Association chairman Steve Hayward renewed their call for a 1.5m distance between cyclists and motorists on all public roads. “We believe that the accidents are due to disrespect most motorists have for cyclists. When there is a horse cart or slow-moving truck, you have to wait to overtake. Why can’t the same be done for cyclists?”
MEC for Transport and Public Works Robin Carlisle said:
“By law the distance between motorists and cyclists on all roads is one metre. Adding another 0.5 metres would not be a good move. If there is a cyclist, that car should wait to overtake.”