Newbies and UoA riders - this is aimed at you!!

[madbikeboy]

Okay boys and girls,

I just witnessed a young guy on a Suzuki Bandit 250 get launched skywards after a cager pulled a u-turn on Symonds street outside the UoA.

Young guy looked to be okay, the Ambo's are carting him up to Auckland as I write this - his bike is comprehensively Donald Ducked (fucked for those of you who are a bit slow). I stopped and made sure he was allright, and then wasted 40 minutes chatting to a cop (who was actually a deccent sort). While a little worse for wear, he'll grow the bits back evenutally. Would have been better if he had've had more skin left though.


Now, this is really simple, and it's a rant that you'd better pay attention to:
You have no right to be on a bike without the correct safety gear. An ill-fitting jacket and third-hand scratched lid do not afford you the protection you need, even with the halo of invincibility that youth and knowing it all affords you.

Street shoes and pants will not keep your skin intact, nor will they keep your bones aligned.

Each day I drive Symonds Street, and I watch 100's of people cross the road without looking, and inevitably, every car either pulls out without looking, or does the u-turn without giving a second thought. There is a certain inevitability at play here. Ride carefully, ride protected with the right gear. If you can't afford the gear, take the bus instead.


Rant over. As you were.
MBB.

[Kickaha]

You have no right to be on a bike without the correct safety gear.

Until legislated otherwise with the exception of helmets they have every right to dress as they please

Whether or not that is sensible is another issue entirely

[madbikeboy]

From a strictly legal perspective, quite correct.

From a biker's perspective, where I have to pay more to register the scoot than a cager does because of ACC levies, where people at BBQ's show me scars, where I get called a temporary NZ'er at least once a week, and where I watch the stats showing an increase of injuries that is disproportionately higher than the increase in bike registrations...

Each to their own, some people like country music and anal sex with other men... Doesn't mean the smart ones need to do it?

[Squiggles]

what colour was the bike? still in the middle of the road?

[Gremlin]

what colour was the bike? still in the middle of the road?

happened a while ago, and MBB spent 40 min talking to cops... I assume its been carted off

[ital916]

oh no...not good, which of the club members ride a bandit squigs? Hopefully not one of ours, ay least he is not seriously injured. There is a black 250 bandit rider at uni though that hoons around in shorts, cut me off on my bike once.

[madbikeboy]

happened a while ago, and MBB spent 40 min talking to cops... I assume its been carted off

Bike was on the road for under 2 minutes - black Bandit 250, rider is okay, minus skin and shaken.

Car was a silver honda torneo driven by someone who likely eats a lot of sticky rice. Driver is looking at Careless or Dangerous, yet to be determined. Young guy is looking at some time at home watching Oprah (life can really suck).

[<Rhino>]

Tis a shame people dont think of themselves and the worst case scenario.

If belive you should always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. You'll live longer that way!

[PirateJafa]

From a biker's perspective, where I have to pay more to register the scoot than a cager does because of ACC levies, where people at BBQ's show me scars, where I get called a temporary NZ'er at least once a week, and where I watch the stats showing an increase of injuries that is disproportionately higher than the increase in bike registrations...

Each to their own, some people like country music and anal sex with other men... Doesn't mean the smart ones need to do it?

Your argument is fundamentally flawed.

If we extend your reasoning along the same line, we end up with: "you have no right to ride a motorbike... if you can't afford a safe, boring car, take the bus instead."

And to be fair Drider, I've seen you cut people off before too - I'm disinclined to place him in the "hoon" category just because of that.

Parking at UoA has only gone downhill since the Alfred St. parking was removed.

[ital916]

Your argument is fundamentally flawed.

If we extend your reasoning along the same line, we end up with: "you have no right to ride a motorbike... if you can't afford a safe, boring car, take the bus instead."

And to be fair Drider, I've seen you cut people off before too - I'm disinclined to place him in the "hoon" category just because of that.

He cut me off while i was turning towards the domain on the outisde, on a 20k turn. But fair enough, we have all done some shit riding in the past, yourself included.

[madbikeboy]

Your argument is fundamentally flawed.

If we extend your reasoning along the same line, we end up with: "you have no right to ride a motorbike... if you can't afford a safe, boring car, take the bus instead."

And to be fair Drider, I've seen you cut people off before too - I'm disinclined to place him in the "hoon" category just because of that.

Parking at UoA has only gone downhill since the Alfred St. parking was removed.

Fundamentally flawed huh? I think the reasoning that you're applying is due to living most of your formative years under the nanny state that is Helen. Keep it on point - riding without the correct gear is stupid. End of sentence.

[motorbyclist]

it's a wonder this doesn't happen more often

i've had 3 near misses on that road in 3 semesters

[PirateJafa]

Fundamentally flawed huh? I think the reasoning that you're applying is due to living most of your formative years under the nanny state that is Helen. Keep it on point - riding without the correct gear is stupid. End of sentence.

You pretty much completely managed to avoid my point.

You appear to be the one supporting a "nanny state", with your view that all bikers "must" wear appropriate safety gear.

What even defines "correct" gear? Currently the law defines it as a helmet that meets certain safety standards. Evidently this is not enough for you. You want everyone to wear more gear as well? Jackets? Gloves? Pants? Boots? What next? Back protectors? Hi-viz vests? What do you define as "correct" gear? It seems purely subjective to me.

You consider it only fair, from your perspective, that all bikers should minimise the risks to themselves by wearing full safety gear.

But when you reach that point, is it not also fair, from a car-driver's perspective, that bikers should minimise the risks by not biking?

It's a slippery slope you tread there MBB.

[PirateJafa]

it's a wonder this doesn't happen more often

i've had 3 near misses on that road in 3 semesters

The SMC did warn unisafe about this.

7. Is the university aware that the parking of motorcycles under the commons is in response to the frequency of "near misses" where students trying to negotiate into a tight parking slot find themselves caught by a wave of traffic?
8. Is the university aware that the parking of motorcycles under the commons is in response to the frequency of "near misses" where students trying to negotiate out of a parking spot cannot see traffic (and vice versa) due to the trees blocking everyone's view?
10. Is it not in the best interests of the university to ensure that it's students are not physically crippled by an avoidable accident?

Admittedly it was more about parking under the commons etc, which has since been okay'd, but I believe the same points were raised when the Alfred St. parking was removed? (Can't be bothered trawling through your posts looking Andrew)

[Grub]

You consider it only fair, from your perspective, that all bikers should minimise the risks to themselves by wearing full safety gear.

Sounds entirely sensible to me ... same as pushbike helmets, seatbelts and not drinking and driving. If people don't expect to be able to go to hospital, receive ACC and get rehabilitation support then your point is valid.

However if they expect to have any of those things available to them as a matter of 'right' then they have to take personal responsibility to minimise the damage and length of time taken to heal.

It's simple. If you are one of those peole who want the "freedom" to do as you please, then you should have to sign an opt-out clause where you get left on the side of the road for the dogs, cats and rats to deal with. If you don't want that then get real!