The Road Rangers were founded in 2009 and officially became a registered non-profit in 2015. The RR volunteers have protected cyclists on the road for years.
The Bestmed Road Rangers were founded in 2009 by chairman Craig Bezuidenhout when he saw the need for an organisation dedicated to the safety of cyclists during races was identified.
Rider safety has always been paramount for ASG Events race organisers and a close relationship with the Bestmed Road Rangers has ensured this critical issue remains top of the agenda. The Road Rangers are made up of volunteers who have a passion for cyclists road safety. Training, focus and dedication are some of the contributing factors in the success of the Road Rangers.
“This group of volunteers dedicate their time, energy and very often their personal resources to the promotion of safety in the sport,”
“We focus specifically on providing a higher degree of security for cyclists and these dedicated marshals have become beacons of safety during cycling events.” – Craig Bezuidenhout
Craig shared some of his tips for cyclists using the roads. These tips will improve their safety.
“Follow the highway code. Don’t jump red lights and don’t cycle on the pavement unless it’s a designated cycle path.
“Always wear a helmet, keep your bike roadworthy and watch your speed in the wet when it takes you longer to stop.”
“Make eye contact with other road users, especially at junctions, and then you know they have seen you.
“Many collisions occur when a cyclist is on the inside of a vehicle turning left. Don’t assume the vehicle is going straight just because it is not signalling left; it’s always better to hang back.”
He also pointed out that many big trucks would pull out to the right first when turning left to create a gap between the vehicle and the kerb.
“Many cyclists think it’s safe to ride into this space, but it is dangerous because the gap quickly disappears when the vehicle swings left.”
His essential advice to race participants was to follow the marshals’ requests at all times.
“As Road Rangers we are there to look out for them and when we ask them to get back in line and obey the rules of the road we are not trying to be awkward or inconsiderate, but just doing our best for their safety.
“In most cases we are putting our lives on the line by confronting traffic front and back when cyclists are crossing over the white line. So we ask cyclists to assist us by always following the rules in place.”
These men and women are the heroes of the road for cycling events. They dedicate so much to make sure that every cyclist is safe. Let’s give them a round of applause!
The Road Rangers will be on duty at the Bestmed Satellite Championship road cycling race at Maropeng in the North West Province on Saturday.
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