Local cyclists ride in honour of Stander
EAST LONDON'S cycling community silently claimed the city streets on Thursday in the largest expression of grief and concern over the turbulent and dangerous relationship between motor vehicles and bicycles ever seen in the city.
They had come – all 320 of them in white T-shirts and cycling tops – to mourn their champion, Burry Stander, 25, killed in a collision with a taxi while training near Shelley Beach, KwaZulu-Natal last week Thursday.
A case of culpable homicide has been opened against Njabulo Nyawose, but Stander’s father, Charles, who was working in the family cycle shop a few hundred metres away and was quickly on the scene, has reportedly said the family bears no grudge towards the driver.
The mood among the East London riders was sombre.
East Cape Cycling’s road commissioner Cathi Watson described the opening prayers in the Sparg’s parking lot in Beacon Bay by local Methodist priest and much-loved cyclist, Llewellyn Mount-Ford, 74, as “a lump-in-the-throat moment”.
Stander’s last words to his Springbok cyclist wife, Cherise, had been: “I love you,” said the priest, who broke ribs and a collar bone last year when he took a tumble from his bike while cycling in rain from Port Elizabeth to East London to raise money for the St Bernard’s Hospice.
Mount-Ford described Stander as a dedicated family man who was obsessed over safe cycling behaviour, especially keeping and holding a line while riding in a group, and obeying traffic rules.
He said: “We have all been touched and made alert to the tragic deaths on the roads.”
The growing campaign for motorists and cyclists to maintain a 1.5m distance between them, was the message held up by the front riders as the procession, which stretched at times over a kilometre, slowly made its 9.3km way to the Orient Theatre.
Motorists and cyclists were patient, but at the Moore and John Bailie intersection near the Windmill, a motorist was bellowed at to “Stop!” by passionate cyclist Gary Gravett and a law enforcement officer turned on a siren.
Gravett said the driver appeared confused, did not slow down and came close to clipping riders.
A child lost a pedal and crank arm near Marina Glen, which was repaired by a father.
Young East London Springbok cyclists Reynard Butler, 24, and Jevandre Pauls, 18, wearing their green and gold national kit, praised local cyclists for showing support and camaraderie.
Among the dangers cyclists face include motorists turning in front of cyclists without indicating, or who switch lanes and cut in front of the riders.
But some drivers are patient and wave – such as hundreds of motorists witnessed by the Dispatch yesterday, giving the cyclists the freedom of the road. — mikel@dispatch.co.za