In the hope of bringing about an improvement in bike traffic safety in South Africa, the Burry Stander Foundation is being formed in the name of the Olympian mountain bike racing hero Burry Stander, who lost his life after being hit by a car last month.

The foundation is being formed by Stander's family members, friends and supporters; and its key objective would be to "change legislation, assist other worthy initiatives, raise awareness and bring about lasting change" in bike safety in Stander's native country, South Africa.

With Stander having died after being hit by a taxi while training, one of the first goals of the foundation - which will be driven with the personal involvement of Stander's wife, Cherise Stander - is to gain signatures on a petition for changing legislation. The founders are hopeful of passing a law which will make it mandatory for drivers to give cyclists a passing space of at least 1.5 meters.

The signed petitions for changing legislation will be handed over by the founders of the Burry Stander Foundation to the government officials at mass rides in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

About the proposed legislative change, foundation supporter Zoon Cronje said: "We aim to pass legislation as in certain European countries where the lowest form of transport carries the highest importance. It goes as follows: pedestrian, cyclist, motorbike, car, minibus, bus, truck."