EDITOR’ S LETTER
RIDING FOR HUMANITY
“ ad you were the mountain
D beneath my feet and now you’ re the wind behind my back. I will always love you.” These were the words of Tianna Cox at her father Allen’ s funeral. Standing among sombre riding mates, listening to this young girl bid farewell to the strong, happy man who I had witnessed lying dead beside the road we had shared so many times, was gut-wrenching. It cuts deep, way down below the anger of riders who wanted the bus driver arrested or the ensuing social media comments about“ bloody cyclists riding outside the yellow line”. She will never hug her dad again. A stream of shocked riders walked their bikes down Chapman’ s Peak, past the ghastly scene of Allen’ s lifeless body under a silver blanket, caked in blood, as friends and family gathered in tears of disbelief. A tour bus with a smashed windscreen stood empty and still. Few words were spoken – the atmosphere heavy with desperation, resentment, deep sadness and undirected rage.
Cyclists being killed on our roads has become ever-present. It happens in an instant, when nobody expects it. There’ s
no warning. That last goodbye was never dreamed to be forever. I was recently involved in a head-on collision with a car during a gravel race – a momentary lapse of concentration that could have been deadly. I was on the wrong side of the road and acknowledged as much, but the organisers were so quick to defend their event that they failed to even ask if I was okay. Somehow being right has become more important than care for others.( I’ m now lobbying for gravel events to close roads, because no racer on a stiff gravel bike can stay left on rugged surfaces.)
The bus driver on Chapman’ s Peak had a load of excited guests heading to the lookout on a beautiful winter’ s day. The riders were on the final downhill stretch, flying and smiling, soaking in the joy of fitness and the freedom of wind in your hair. Neither party expected the other, until it was too late. Both made errors of judgement; neither had illegal intentions. But Alan will never kiss his little lady goodnight again, and the driver will never forget that sickening moment. A moment you wouldn’ t wish on your worst enemy. A moment we can never undo.
Social media slammed“ reckless riders” while others blamed“ careless selfish motorists”. There are of course some of both, but in sharing the space it’ s the lack of conscious awareness, the lack of tolerance, and the lack of humanity that kills. Modern society seems to have lost its compassion and empathy.
Lifetime pro cyclist and industry ambassador Cherise Willeit, whose well-known first husband Burry Stander was killed cycling on the roads, echoed this in her heartfelt video response to comments like“ cyclists deserve to die”, saying“ Seriously people, it’ s a human being. What have we become??!”
I pass the ghost bikes of Idries Sheriff and Landon la Grange near my home every day. They’ re haunting reminders of how vulnerable we are. We gathered outside the courthouse to campaign for a heavy sentence for the drunk driver who killed Idries at 7am. We half expect that he, and the negligent taxi driver who killed Landon, will be let off – giving us either a greater sense of helplessness or a target for channelling blame. Hopefully they will rot in jail. Either way, their wives will never kiss their husbands again.
I was interviewed by young Kayla South, whose dad Jono Cloete was killed on his ride to visit her at university. Watch her Silent Spokes documentary launching 1 August on silentspokes. co. za. This heartfelt perspective of those left behind might stir greater government reaction to calls for bike lanes, police presence and criminal sanction against offenders.
It can happen anytime, to anyone. No amount of rule-making or angry resentment will change this alone. As drivers we need to adhere to the 1.5m“ stay wider of the rider” rule and replace road rage with calm, tolerant education. Love breeds empathy and kindness. Anger and hatred breed only resentment.
We can’ t give up and walk away. We need to work – and ride – together to create change. PAUL INGPEN
Road Bike Magazine roadbikemagazine paulingpen BikeRunTri. co. za
PHOTOGRAPHS: PAUL INGPEN
2026 TOUR DE FRANCE | 13