funny that on a day to day basis you can see motorists doing all these things, bar the 3 or 4 wide unless you are on an auckland motorway where anything goes. Don't tarnish all with the c**t brush for the actions of a few. and for the record whats more annoying.slowing down from 100 to 30 0r 40 to avoid a group of cyclist or being stuck behind a car surging between 70ks on corners to 100 on any possible passing point for however many km's! I know what I would rather pick.
and for the record point me in the direction of where to go and pay for some kind of licence and I will be first in line. You are right cyclists do grab an unfair proportion of ACC money directly resulting from accidents on roads but as mentioned above it would be like trying to herd cats when it came time to enforce it
whqqsh,
Feb 14, 9:39pm
As a matter of fact Ive noticed its the majority not the few that 'tarnish' BTW I live just down from Auckland airport, a regular route for the lycra horde to obstruct anyone foolish enough not to do as they do, then re-emerge to parade up Onehunga mall at peak shopping times again several wide. Ive had my car leaned on countless times, Ive been cut off more times than I can remember, every morning cyclist shoot through the lights in the wrong lanes, Ive had a guy suddenly swerve across the road with no indication causing me to brake heavily, cracking the new windscreen in the back I was taking home for my '47 Ford (did he give a shit, nope, he swore at me like it was my fault!). IMO the bad reputation you guys are getting is caused by far more than the 'few' you suggest.
bikeman2,
Feb 14, 10:04pm
Ah so you are coming from an Auckland perspective. theres a reason I stopped riding in Auckland and started again when I moved to Queenstown.cyclists in auckland are wankers generally, but then the ones you do see out at all hours are the ones which are taking it seriously hence the odd hours to fit in around work etc. most of it is brought upon themselves. Tamaki drive is shit for riding on yet they all flock there, onehunga mall is TERRIBLE with all the ped crosings, cars, shops etc (i don't drive down there let alone ride down there) along with numerous other roads which I stopped riding on due to no margins on the side or higher than average traffic flows
don't get me wrong whqqsh I agree that there are some real arseholes on bikes, but there are ALSO real arseholes in cars, planes, trains, boats, parliament the list goes on.thats the world there are many thousands of dickheads around and some people tend to meet more than their fair share
What I am arguing isn't that all cyclists are angels, its that the mentality of "f**k them i pay my way." will achieve nothing more than winding everyone up and getting both sides of the argument pissed off. whereas with increased awareness on both sides the situation could be dramatically improved.
bikeman2,
Feb 14, 10:12pm
sorry I should clarify when I say cyclists I am meaning the "lycra brigade" that treat it as a sport not a mode of transport or hobby. not the mums and dads out with their kids etc. I think there is a very real distinction between the 2 groups and without seeing any numbers just working purely off my own observations I would say that the lycra brigade, although more visible, are still outnumbered by the mums and dads but would be interesting to see some stats to show what totl numbers are
trogedon,
Feb 14, 10:37pm
A from behind the bicycle handlebars perspective of drivers; on Monday I rode from home in West Akld to Newmarket (getting some parts) and return. Fine weather, ave. traffic, middle of the day. I came home with (yes, I am rather anal about doing Roadwatch complaints) 6 about drivers. 1 driving over the railway line with the lights flashing, 1 turning from the opposite side of the road across in front of me into a side street (had a word to them), and three going through red lights in front of me. Ducati rider lane splitting (I asked him for a race!). There were other cyclists and I didn??
pup2,
Feb 14, 11:26pm
Mate, you some real F***** UP cyclists up there. Glad I live and ride at the other end of the country
gunhand,
Feb 14, 11:29pm
All true no doubt. Theres always two sides to every story.I think what may upset some of us is if by some unfortunate accident we happen to hit and kill or even just hurt a cyclist not doing what they should we as the motorist will probably be blamed, prosecuted, fined, possably loose licence not to mention the personal grief you would have if you did kill someone even if wasnt your fault. Then theres the court case, time off work, lawyers cost and so on just because some cyclists rode 3 a breast or whatever.As a rule hitting another car at 50kph may result in damage and inconvinince etc but unless your really unlucky no one gets killed or badly hurt. That may be what reallly upsets some when these incidents happen. A cyclist will always come off second best when taking on a car.
trogedon,
Feb 14, 11:35pm
Possibly, but like being the big kid at school - got to watch out for the little kids. I knew a guy in the 80s who found himself in hosipatal with a steel rod in his leg. It was put there after he broke his leg when he smashed into a ute while riding his bicycle. It was his fault and cost him a fine and $2500, which being the honest soul he was/is he paid.
strobo,
Feb 15, 1:27am
One wordforcyclists " idiots"with a death wish !True seriously . i'm counting the deaths of the poor souls every week !
trogedon,
Feb 15, 1:49am
Try counting motorists who die.you'll need a calculator.
desmodave,
Feb 15, 1:50am
Asked him for a ride more likely.Lucky you weren't sucked into the engine and spat out the exhaust.Have you ever thought about getting yourself a badge and joining the force.
asa50,
Feb 15, 2:49am
If we look at things a bit more balanced we get held up by all sorts, I regularly get frustrated at the right hand lane hogging taxis, people who slow down to a crawl in the center of the road to execute a left turn like its the Queen Mary, trucks running reds (at least a cyclist running a red risks killing himself instead of me!). Mostly the biggest consequence is me slightly reducing or delaying the pressured applied by my big right toe.
trogedon,
Feb 15, 3:13am
Ever thought about getting yourself a SENSE OF HUMOUR!!
triangle1,
Feb 15, 4:41am
Thats because the current helmet law is stupid.
richardmayes,
Feb 15, 12:08pm
Hear hear.
I remember driving down Great South Rd thru Greenlane on my way to work once. The bus behind me stopped for the yellow light at Greenlane, I got across the intersection but the traffic immediately backed up and we all stopped anyway.
A cyclist squeezing along to the left of the traffic behind me decided not to run the red light at Greenlane, and he stopped to wait just outside the buses' front door. Light goes green again, and they all head across Greenlane to catch up to us.
At the next traffic light down by Archibald's Jaguar yard, we all stop again for a red light. The cyclist pulls up by the bus driver's window, knocks on the glass and starts abusing him in a pommy-git accent. "Do you know how close to me you got! You almost ran me over! What's your name & number!" etc etc
After he had finished venting his spleen, he got back on his bike, pedalled past me and straight thru the red light. clearly his personal safety was everyone else's responsibility, except his own.
desmodave,
Feb 15, 1:19pm
Ya made made me laugh ok.No need to go all soft and sensitive .Not being a cyclist i have no idea why lycra clad people like to ride side by side holding hands blocking the road for motorists.The mums dads and kids out cycling that ive driven past don't seem to have a problem keeping to the left.Seems to be if your wearing the tight gear that makes you want to get close to cars.
r15,
Feb 15, 1:26pm
the "i own a car as well as a bike so i already pay rego" arguement is shit.by this logic i dont have to pay rego in my car because i already pay more on my truck
berg,
Feb 15, 1:58pm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington-central/6414634/Cyclist-Don-t-fine-us-fix-the-road Read this and the comments. Cyclists seem to happily admit flouting the law but get stroppy when fined for it. Along with an expectation of roading changes just for them. As for the "I already pay rego on my car" argument, I also pay for my car as does my wife (a car each) but we also pay extra for the privelage to ride our motorbikes even though they are kinder to the environment, free up traffic flow, do less damage to roads etc etc etc. All road users should pay their way be it for every vehicle (including bicycles) or a flat fee on your licence every year.
floscey,
Feb 15, 1:58pm
We have them travel in a "FAGGLE"4 wide past our place on saturday morning abour60 bikes , they own the road and will hold up traffic just using the numbers and complete disregard to road rules. Its no wonder people yell abuse at them. The missus isnt to happy either as the Gaydar keeps going off all the time.
attitudedesignz,
Feb 15, 2:17pm
Pulled this from comments on that article.
"but I must comment that the penalty applied for a cyclist crossing on red should be commensurate with the risk"
So the fine should be $1000, that should start to pay for the emergency services to scrape you up from under a car / truck / bus.
jason18,
Feb 15, 2:21pm
Down my street the other day young girl all of 5 years old biking in front of dad. I see this and think shit she is young to be on the road but hey dads there. She suddenly goes to stop and swerves out Luckily Im crawling along at about 10kms on other side of road as I knew something was going to happen. Thats just kids they dont think.
jason18,
Feb 15, 2:22pm
hahha
ppika,
Feb 15, 2:28pm
simply, we need Wider road.
trogedon,
Feb 15, 3:53pm
Instead of MOANING here - find out who they are (do they ride from a local shop or club!) and give them a phone call to stop it and / or get the cops to get them a word.
s.a.,
Feb 16, 9:22pm
Strobo motorcyclist are temporary citizens.I was a cyclist.You think that I am an idiot!
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