Taxi kills girl on scooter

The BMW club is very quiet about this

http://www.arrivealive.co.za/news.aspx?s=1&i=1224

Lots on the other forums - especially TB - have about 50 bikes attending the funeral if the parents give permission.

Also looking at a mass demonstration a bit later - other forums and clubs also wanting to get involved.

See following threads for more:

http://www.tbforum.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=26028

http://www.tbforum.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=25978

...also TB media release...

Think Bike media release on fatal scooter accident

25 February 2009

It is with great shock that we heard of the tragic death of Bernadine Kruger, a learner of Hoërskool Garsfontein.

We want to express our sympathy with Bernadine’s family. Our prayers are for grace and the necessary strength to support each other after this terrible loss. Because we have had a lot of enquiries from the biking community, we approached Bernadine’s father, Mr Koos Kruger, for permission to attend the funeral service. We are thankful that the family will allow us to support them.

Think Bike is a safety awareness campaign and our concern is over the fact that yet another motorcyclist has died in an accident. We are not expressing any opinion on the circumstances that led to the accident.

We offered the services of our Marshals, who will lead the funeral procession from the Dutch Reformed Church Moreletta Park. All motorcyclists are welcome to show their respect to Bernadette. The Think Bike Marshals will control the traffic to ensure that the procession will reach the cemetery without interruption.
Other motorcyclists who want to join the procession will receive directions from the Marshals prior to departure.

Think Bike wants to make is clear that our, and other motorcyclists’, attendance of the funeral service is not a protest action. Our attendance is not an attempt to score political points. We will attend the service to pay our last respects and express our sympathy with the unnecessary death of a young motorcyclist. Protest action may follow later, but not now. Our first concern is the grief of the Kruger family.

We want to urge other motorcyclists who will be joining us to attend the service in this spirit. Let us support the Kruger family and contribute to the dignity of the occasion.

Issued by Réhann Coetzee, media officer, Tel 084 587 3770

Very, very sad...........

We have a 16 year old daughter who rides a scooter..............my head has been working overtime since this incident ..........more questions than answers I'm afraid

Is the club thinking of joining as a group?

Not sure who is aware of this initiative - I will not be able to make it.

It is a tragedy. I have two sons who ride bikes and one who wants a scooter to commute to school. The standards and skills of driving of the cage drivers in this country have deteriorated to such an extent that it has become a war zone on our roads. The absolute disregard that the majority of taxi drivers have for the fundamental rules of the road is fast leading to anarchy. I live in an area where we have already had one motorist draw a weapon and shoot at a taxi driver who was (along with the vast majority) driving on the wrong side of the road creating the potential for head on collisions. Only this morning the metro police were once again out in force together with a reporter from 702 eye witness news to try and curtail the poor driving habits. Sadly it improves only when the metro police are present. My condolences go to the family of this young woman. May our Lord give the family the strength to overcome the pain of loss and to give them the ability to forgive.

"Die begrafnis is Vrydag 27 Februarie 10h00, Ou NG Gemeente, Rubenstein str, Moreletta & Pretoria Oos Begrafplaas.
Koos Kruger, Berndine se pa, vra dat bikers asb stoet sal ry om taxis en alle voertuie bewus te maak van basiese padreëls en kinders op fietse en motorfietse."

Shall we arrange that Club supporters gather at Atterbury Shell at 9:00?

I'll be there.

bit of a busy day tomorrow but I'll try my best......shall probably know later tonight

Saw the Think Bike report yesterday.
What a tragic event. My sympathy and condolences to her family.
This is just the result of the total disregard of the rules and regulations of the roads - especially as displayed by the taxi drivers. When is something going to be done about this lawlessness? Instead of hiding in bushes along side our roads and highways, how about visible patrols near schools, highway patrols, areas where taxis are know to run amuck ? Intersections and during morning and evening rush hours. Do you ever see any Metro Police after hours ? Another debate all on its own !
Unfortunately will not be able to attend the funeral, but her family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

So do we meet at Atterbury Shell at 9 and will admin contact TB to ensure that they also meet here. Have a meeting diarised but not confirmed - if the meeting is cancelled will be there.

I think TB is meeting further down Atterbury at the Engen..........lots of them.

might be better to leave the meeting point Atterbury Shell and link up at Engen?

From the ThinkBike Forum:

"UPDATE – Minute of Silence
Anyone is welcome, not just TB members. We all meet at the Engen on Attebury and proceed to the school. After the minute of silence and flower laying at the school we will proceed in a group to the Engen on the corner of Lois Avenue and Nossob street where we will meet up with the riders from Maxi’s/JHB and from there we will proceed to the church.

Rules for the Ride
1. Only Roadworthy bikes (Plates etc.)
2. Only licensed riders
3. Marshalls in full Marshall Regalia - (No Marshal Plates, Marshal Plates to be fitted at Church)
4. Wear Think Bike bibs, black one if you have.
5. Other clubs, wear club colours.
6. No revving, hooting etc. we are there to show our respect.
7. Hazards on during ride to school
8. We must not obstruct or interfere with the normal school activities.
9. Remember we are there on invitation, so please behave and keep a solemn and respectful demeanour
10. Bring flowers, cards etc. to lay at the school.
11. Those in Cages, follow bikes to school Please place a yellow cardboard Triangle in your rear window +-150 x 150 so that we know you are part of the ride.
12. All trafic signs, stopstreets and traffic lights to be obeyed.

Meeting Point for Riders coming from JHB to this ride: Shell Ultra City North
Departs at: 6:25 to the Engen on Attebury
This is a meeting point for riders coming from Johannesburg, you are welcome to proceed directly to the meeting point on Attebury or to link up with other JHB riders and ride as a group to Attebury. Please take care from here to Attebury due to the roadworks.

Meeting Point: Engen on Attebury
Briefing Starts at 7:00
Depart to School at: 7:15
Notes
Please ensure that you sign the sympathy card with Nightwulfe when you arrive.

Media handling: Tripper will be at both venues, BMWfan and Blackie will be at the funeral, in case we need to address the media.

Feel free to speak to the media in your personal capacities, please refer any questions/comments relating to Think Bike to Tripper, BMWfan or Blackie.

Please repect the family's grief and dignity

Directions to Meeting Venue: From Johannesburg take the N1 North to Polokwane. You will Pass John Voster Off ramp, Botha Street Off ramp, the off ramp to the Airport, Rigel Street Off ramp. Take the Attebury Off ramp, keep in the middle or right lane, at the traffic light right onto Attebury, you will pass Menlyn on your right, cross over Louis Lane and move into the left hand lane. The Engen Garage will be thru the dip on left hand side.

From the Engen we will proceed in a westerly direction on Attebury, right into Jacqueline proceed thru 3 traffic lights poceed past the School on right, right into Edgar, right into Alma , caution sharp 90degree turn left, road becomes Rolina, +-75m there is a gate at the entrance to the carports. We will be met here by a teacher at 7:25. The entire school will be waiting and watching our enterance. This detail will be covered during the morning briefing.

School to Engen in Erasmuskloof
Depart school after the minute of silence and flower laying.
Exit left into Rolina, caution 90degree turn to right, becomes Alma, left into Edgar, Right onto Jacqueline drive, right onto Hans Strijdom Drive, proceed along Rubenstein drive, right onto Lois Avenue left, take slipway left into the Engen next to the Castle walk shopping centre.
The Pretoria riders will meet up with the JHB riders at this venue

Engen in Erasmuskloof to Church
Departure time: 9:35
Exit garage Right onto Nossob (cant exit onto Lois) right into Lois, Cross over Hans Strijdom, road becomes Rubenstein follow the road arrive at the Church on Right.

Very late to change arrangements, but either 7:00 at the Engen in Atterbury (see directions above) to take part in the minute of silence and flower laying at Garsfontein School
or 9:00 at Atterbury Shell to meet the others in Erasmuskloof, Castle Walk Centre to proceed to the Church.

won't make the 07:00 Engen.

If I am able to do the later one, I'll be at Shell Atterbury at 09:00

Jamie - read the TB's posting above - rather meet at the Engen at Castle Walk. Will meet you at 9 at Atterbury - then we can proceed from there to Castle Walk

Thanks to all the Club members who attend the funeral on Friday.
http://jv.news24.com/Beeld/Suid-Afrika/0,,3-975_2477297,00.html

Apparently there was roughly 400 bikes in the procession from the church to the cemetry. Was very impressive looking back and seeing bikes as far the eye can see. Hopefully it made the statement it intended to make. Pity of the reason for it. One can only hope the cage drivers and taxi's take head and realise they are not the only road users out there.