UPDATE: Cyclists fuming over M4 danger following fatal accident

The North Coast’s M4 has for many years been a popular route for avid cyclists – be it for training or long weekend rides.

But the safety of local cyclists using this stretch of road is continuously brought into question following multiple accidents, another of which proved fatal last weekend.

Tragedy struck when a minibus taxi drove into a group of cyclists on the M4 south bound just before the M27 Umdloti off-ramp on Sunday.

Durban cyclist Craig Diedericks died in hospital, while two other cyclists, Senzo Memela and Takashi Yaegashi, are recovering from minor injuries.

This recent incident has left cycling clubs fuming, according to one of Diederick’s fellow riding club members, Shaun Petersen.

Also read: Hanging wire seriously injures cyclist on M4

Petersen, who is a member of the Cycle Specialists Cycling Club based in Durban North, has been cycling for many years. He said he has avoided riding on the M4 after having a close call with a minibus taxi himself.

“We as cyclists do abide by the rules, but certain sections of the M4 are quite narrow, and in certain places the sand blows onto our lane and some of the trees are not trimmed, pushing us onto the road,” said Petersen.

Club vice chairman, Aroon Patel, said Diedericks was an experienced cyclist who was passionate about the sport. He had been part of the club since its inception three years ago and had ridden with Patel for the past five years.

“We are very concerned about the number of accidents on the M4,” said Patel.

“Following the accident involving Richard da Silva and Jared Dwyer who were hit from behind by a car while out on a training ride in 2016, we started the Ethekwini Cycle Safe Forum.”

The forum was an attempt to create a platform for stakeholder groups to engage in improving cycling safety on our roads.

Also read: Cyclists warned to be vigilant on early-morning rides

“Stakeholders included traffic officials, taxi associations, city planners, city officials and the cycling community, but it has not had the traction it needed.”

“We do not buy into the thought that we need to have less cycling in the city or on certain roads to reduce, in the public’s eye, the risk of having an accident.”

Patel said there needed to be increased awareness of vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.

The club is planning a memorial ride following Diedericks’ funeral on Friday.

The funeral will take place at St Anne’s Catholic church in Sydenham at 11am.

“We hope that the memorial ride will be an opportunity for us to restart the Ethekwini Cycle Safe Forum and get those stakeholders on board.”

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