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Threats and a big stick don't make traffic flow
So, the government and big municipalities have come up with a programme to spend lots of money – R3.8-billion, or about R700 per income tax-payer – to jack up the nation's transport infrastructure for 400 000 World Cup visitors.
From the other end of the equation, that's R9 500 for every expected soccer fan! How cool is that as a welcome?
Most of the grand plan, however, seems to involve penalising folk who have no choice but to use a car to get to work - they don't have a (subsidised) train or bus service.
Freeway lanes will be reserved for "high-occupancy" vehicles, all other commuters will be crammed into what's left. In Gauteng, for instance, one lane of the Pretoria-Jozi freeway could be reserved morning and evening for HOV's so, if you can't find two people who live near you who commute at the same time and work in the same area as you do (how likely is that, hey?) then you'll be in "the other lanes".
That on a freeway already overcrowded for 14 hours a day! And there will suddenly be hundreds of traffic cops (that we don't have!) patrolling the nation's roads (in cars and on motorcycles we also don't have) and handing out hefty fines for non-compliance.
Even though you've paid taxes and road licence fees and petrol levies and all the rest for the RIGHT to use that road, the government wants to move the, er, goalposts and BAN you from doing so. And all for a road plan that won't work because those who CAN use public transport are already doing so.
But wait, there IS a solution! Call your local roads department and offer a daily lift to the officials backing this stupidity. That way you can still travel alone – except for two or three dummies in the passenger seats. - The Editor
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 |  | | FULL TILT BOOGIE: The new Honda CBR600RR in action on the track. |
Top Honda sports bikes launched at Kyalami
[ See related stories ]
February 10, 2005
Honda SA has launched its 2005 sports flagships on to the South African market with a flat-out track session at Kyalami racetrack near Johannesburg.
There an unruly mob of bike journos was able to give the new bikes big handfuls of throttle without worrying about such things as taxis, speed limits and traffic cops.
Before that, however, Honda SA motorcycle division head Basil Forssman presented the new CBR600RR and CBR1000RR Fireblade to the media.
He explained that pure sports machines ("superbikes" in PR-speak) make up about 10 percent of the two-wheeled market
Honda now holds 24 percent of the elite pure sports or 'superbike' market segment |
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Honda now has 24 percent of that elite segment, thanks mostly to earlier versions of these two models; the 2004 CBR600RR was in fact last year's top 600-class sports bike.
Then it was time to put the bikes to the ultimate test on South Africa's premier racing circuit, an incredibly difficult track where nearly all the corners are blind. I spent the first session on the bigger machine re-learning where all the corners go, then settled down to some smooth laps on the 600.
Despite the phenomenal poise and competence of Honda's finest, I must admit that the high point of the day was being passed (no, let's be honest – demolished) by honoured guest Jim Redman, who won six World GP titles for Honda in the 1960s and is still racing at 73.
After all, how many street riders can boast of sharing a track with a living legend?
Check out our launch reports – with specs and prices - on the 2005 Honda CBR600RR and CBR1000RR.
  
 
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|  | JIM REDMAN: He won six World championships for Honda in the 1960s and is still racing at 73.
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| Date Your Destiny |
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|  | REPSOL REPLICA: Resplendent in the decals of the Honda works MotoGP team's major sponsor.
For a screen-filling version of this picture, e-mail freepix@iol.co.za with "Repsol Replica" in the subject field. |
Right-click on ad for new window.
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