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View Full Version : Auck - On ramp control lights?



Fatt Max
2nd June 2009, 19:16
Ok, can anyone help with this.....

The traffic lights at the on ramps change....well...a bit lively I suppose.

If you are at one and go through a red light before it turns green and you are spotted by the Police, can you be nicked as if you had gone through a normal red traffic light on the road?

Reason I ask is because I saw that many cagers jumping the red at the St Marks on ramp tonight.

Apologies if this has been asked before but whats the go guys n gals...?

Ragingrob
2nd June 2009, 19:23
It's bloody ridiculous, tonight the lights were activated for the Karaka on-ramp going South, wtf, there wasn't even anyone on the motorway. I usually just try time my passing through with the flash of green.

CookMySock
2nd June 2009, 19:32
I thought these lights didn't apply to bikes.

Steve

Swoop
2nd June 2009, 19:34
If you are at one and go through a red light before it turns green and you are spotted by the Police, can you be nicked as if you had gone through a normal red traffic light on the road?

Reason I ask is because I saw that many cagers jumping the red at the St Marks on ramp tonight.
Firstly... Try and hit a green light. My approach is to time it at 160k's whenever possible (riding to the conditions, of course).

Secondly, whenever in the cage, ignore the stupid things. Traffic flow has seriously degraded since they were installed. Whoever sold the idea of these lights, has made their fortune and now is residing on their private yacht in the Bahamas.
Total waste of time and money.

Danae
2nd June 2009, 19:35
Some onramps have transit lanes especially for motorbikes/cars with 2+ people inside, can't think of which ones tho

The st marks onramp is ridiculous, they've reduced it to one lane for the moment as well as keeping the signals on. That place gets backed up real easy

caseye
2nd June 2009, 19:36
Tui's anyone? Hello! course they do DangereousBastard, cor! hard to believe he's an adult, he he he I usually do the same as Ragingrob.
the Answer, yes it's the same as running a red light.The Police have been seen standing in the bushes at the Otahuhu on Ramp taking rego's etc of thsoe who abuse the system.

Ragingrob
2nd June 2009, 19:41
Pity the 'system' just makes people stop for no reason whatsoever.

Thani-B
2nd June 2009, 19:45
So for the bikes that split down the side/middle of the hobson st on ramp heading south, as there is two lanes two vehicles can go at a time, if you wait for it to go green but go through when two cars also go can you get in trouble for going as the third vehicle? Or first assuming we take off a lot faster than cars do? If anyone understands my question...

I generally just go when its green but go faster (or just before it turns green) to get out of the way of the cagers.

skidMark
2nd June 2009, 19:46
I thought these lights didn't apply to bikes.

Steve


Only if it has a transit lane.

Squiggles
2nd June 2009, 20:25
Traffic flow has seriously degraded since they were installed. Whoever sold the idea of these lights, has made their fortune and now is residing on their private yacht in the Bahamas.
Total waste of time and money.

Id have to disagree, while not perfect they do help to stop numpty's from completely stopping the slow lane

discotex
2nd June 2009, 21:07
Id have to disagree, while not perfect they do help to stop numpty's from completely stopping the slow lane

Totally. They've massively improved the traffic over the Victoria Park viaduct. It used to block to a standstill leaving the city in the evenings until at least 6pm. Since the lights went in it's always flowing at a minimum of 30km/h. I rarely bother to split until after the harbour bridge these days.

I'm sure the gas prices going up have helped as well but the lights do work.

Of course if people on the motorway allowed people to merge and people merging filled in gaps rather than trying to get one car ahead we wouldn't need the damn things in the first place.

Ragingrob
2nd June 2009, 21:13
Id have to disagree, while not perfect they do help to stop numpty's from completely stopping the slow lane

Just sucks when they just back up traffic through the suburbs rather than on the motorway sometimes. Like Khyber sometimes blocks off all the way into Newmarket.

skidMark
2nd June 2009, 21:16
Just sucks when they just back up traffic through the suburbs rather than on the motorway sometimes. Like Khyber sometimes blocks off all the way into Newmarket.


Which is why you are on a motorcyle... :blink:

Hiflyer
2nd June 2009, 21:18
Totally. They've massively improved the traffic over the Victoria Park viaduct. It used to block to a standstill leaving the city in the evenings until at least 6pm. Since the lights went in it's always flowing at a minimum of 30km/h. I rarely bother to split until after the harbour bridge these days.

I'm sure the gas prices going up have helped as well but the lights do work.

Of course if people on the motorway allowed people to merge and people merging filled in gaps rather than trying to get one car ahead we wouldn't need the damn things in the first place.

but when they start the new renovations we are all fucked really? hahaha althoygh they only JUST JUST made the renovations to Khyber pass work alright while they were going on.

howdamnhard
2nd June 2009, 21:18
I generally just go when its green but go faster (or just before it turns green) to get out of the way of the cagers.

I do the same , you will be fine regarding the law.

Thani-B
2nd June 2009, 21:38
I do the same , you will be fine regarding the law.

Sweet thats fine then. I always watch bikes before me and wonder sometimes how they manage to get through without being squashed when the cars are merging. Thats why I prefer to go on the outside not down the middle.

howdamnhard
2nd June 2009, 21:47
Sweet thats fine then. I always watch bikes before me and wonder sometimes how they manage to get through without being squashed when the cars are merging. Thats why I prefer to go on the outside not down the middle.

The GN's a bit slow and the faster cars can give them a run for their money(I know I had one). Most other bikes can out accelerate the average car and thus don't get squashed when the cars merge. They are good bikes for commuting and learning on though being cheap and simple to run and light and easy handling.:third:

Thani-B
2nd June 2009, 21:52
The GN's a bit slow and the faster cars can give them a run for their money(I know I had one). Most other bikes can out accelerate the average car and thus don't get squashed when the cars merge. They are good bikes for commuting and learning on though being cheap and simple to run and light and easy handling.:third:

The GN isnt too bad at most lights though. Surprises a few cars sometimes. But yeah will be upgrading as soon as I have my full and the funds to. Then can really have some fun with cars :laugh:

howdamnhard
2nd June 2009, 22:01
The GN isnt too bad at most lights though. Surprises a few cars sometimes. But yeah will be upgrading as soon as I have my full and the funds to. Then can really have some fun with cars :laugh:

Ye it's not that bad and does accelerate faster than the average cars. Had a few frights though with the boy racers in there suped up cars. Had to really wring it to get it moving. Got myself in trouble with the cops first time I did the same on my new(read upgrade) bike and instantly exceeded the speed limits:shit: OOPs,sorry officer.

Thani-B
2nd June 2009, 22:31
Ye it's not that bad and does accelerate faster than the average cars. Had a few frights though with the boy racers in there suped up cars. Had to really wring it to get it moving. Got myself in trouble with the cops first time I did the same on my new(read upgrade) bike and instantly exceeded the speed limits:shit: OOPs,sorry officer.

Had a play on Monkeymsea's ZXR and that def got up to speed way quicker than my lil GN. That would be fun to play with cars with...
Bit off topic but owel.

MaxB
2nd June 2009, 22:51
Normally I'd say obey the signals but for mine the one exception is the Stanley St. on ramp onto the Southern. In rush hour it just becomes an unholy mess.

Almost been wiped out twice in 6 months stopped on the hill. The cages just don't see you. And halfway up the truck lane narrows as it passes under a bridge and trucks are forced right.

So now I do what I have to to stay in one piece. Sometimes common sense has to win.

Gremlin
2nd June 2009, 22:58
Personally? I think the lights are great for practising your launches...

... or a wheelie with a captive audience :laugh:

trump-lady
2nd June 2009, 23:15
Im naughty. When Im lane splitting at on ramps I ignore lights and try to go when they are red to avoid the merge. (Panmure) Havent been nicked yet and I do it because I think its safer. Ill actually slow the lane splitting to get the red.... Prob going to get nicked now......

Chrislost
2nd June 2009, 23:30
I cant wait to see how bad traffic gets around Tristram Ave when they switch those ones on...
it is already a messed up intersection without them... Perhaps the lights will do nothing as the traffic lights around there pretty much stop you from getting to the motorway in the first place.

Swoop
3rd June 2009, 12:19
I cant wait to see how bad traffic gets around Tristram Ave when they switch those ones on...
it is already a messed up intersection without them... I doubt the lights will do anything as the traffic lights around there pretty much stop you from getting to the motorway in the first place.
Trust me, it'll stuff traffic up in a big way.

vifferman
3rd June 2009, 12:39
Who knew? :confused:
So that's why people are queuing. I thought they were just kindly waiting for me to blast past them... :scooter:

MarkH
3rd June 2009, 14:04
Im naughty. When Im lane splitting at on ramps I ignore lights

I do the same, but for a different reason. I don't mind if the light goes green as I get to the front either - I am already moving and the merge wont be a problem because it will happen behind me.

Oh yeah, my reason - 'Fuck 'em'

skidMark
12th June 2009, 16:33
to those saying they dont make a difference.... the motorway is a shitload better at greenlane and south eastern highway... and mt wellington... you sometimes get a bit of backup into suburbs etc....

but if you actually want to get from south to the shore you wait when you initially get on but you get a clear run through compared to the old parking lot gridlock.

ManDownUnder
12th June 2009, 16:37
pootle down the lane and do a quick count (" 1 banana, 2 banana... "etc") between green phases then time your approach accordingly. Phasing changes (on the Newton onramp anyway) depending on time of day so don't assume it's goin to be the same as last time.

Works a treat for me, and if you enjoy that hearush you get when you do an aggressive "stop-go"** then you can play that game too!

** "stop-go" = braking/balance practice. Come to a COMPLETE stop, then go again without taking your feet off the pegs.

paturoa
12th June 2009, 17:23
I thought these lights didn't apply to bikes

+1

They might apply but I ignore them. At the Waterview on-ramp city bound you can see everywhere that a popo could be hiding, quick scan, then split right thru without slowing down.

zx rider
12th June 2009, 18:40
I treat them as a bit of fun most times.
It is a bit strange to have the Law and Road Makers getting together to make us all these lovely DRAG STRIPS where we can practice our LAUNCH CONTROL take off's. Just like MOTO GP really.
It seems they have legalised drag racing.:clap:

swbarnett
12th June 2009, 18:49
to those saying they dont make a difference.... the motorway is a shitload better at greenlane and south eastern highway... and mt wellington... you sometimes get a bit of backup into suburbs etc....

but if you actually want to get from south to the shore you wait when you initially get on but you get a clear run through compared to the old parking lot gridlock.
This may or may not be true. Where's the hard evidence? My own observations say otherwise but noone knows for sure.

The problem with this type of "improvement" is that there never seems to be any follow-up study to determine numerically whether or not it worked. Without this all that happens is that some beaurocrat sits in their high office feeling good about having "done something". They may as well masterbate.

Swoop
12th June 2009, 19:39
Lovely to see a fuckwit, retard, truckwit decide that stopping in the traffic queue was a silly idea after all, and noticing that trucks can use the bypass lane...
So proceeds to pull left and ignore all traffic that might be using the bypass lane.

Fuck, I really need twin, belt-fed, M-60's.



At the Waterview on-ramp city bound you can see everywhere that a popo could be hiding, quick scan, then split right thru without slowing down.
Apart from the plod doing wof/rego checks while they have the populus trapped in the cattlerace...

MaxCannon
12th June 2009, 21:48
I ignore them on the bike - and never drive the car in traffic anyway.

When I lived in Mangere the Mahunga Dr onramp was the trial site.
This was before I started riding
From day 1 they caused huge queues on the local roads.
Added 15 minutes to my commute.
Stupid thing was that traffic had never been bad except for the usual accident / breakdown / bad weather situations prior to the lights being installed.

Quick fix was to get on at the earlier on-ramp which didn't have lights.

Shortly after I changed jobs and got the bike for riding into town.

They are a boon on the bike as it's easy to lane split down the middle.
I make a minor concession to the lights by trying to time my arrival at the front of the queue with the green but if it's red I go anyway.
I go past cops quite a lot in these queues and none have ever take a second look.
Although if one was at the head of the queue I'd think twice before gunning it through the red :)

discotex
12th June 2009, 21:54
The problem with this type of "improvement" is that there never seems to be any follow-up study to determine numerically whether or not it worked.

http://aucklandmotorways.co.nz/rampsignalling/rampsignalling.html#results

Now they just need to measure it again now that pretty much every ramp has them.

skidMark
13th June 2009, 01:40
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paturoa
13th June 2009, 07:19
And the Waterview onramp now has the T2 lane open again, so don;t even have to split now and just ride on past....:niceone: