5,000 bikes in Wellington [Archive]

Brian d marge

17th November 2009, 11:26

i know that is impressive ,,, but look at it from asshole keys perspective

that 1/2 of the people who went to tthe all whites game the other night

not a sizable voting block

We know its impressive and even more so if u add regional support ,,,,

but

lets say 500 dollars for rego

Stephen

Slyer

17th November 2009, 11:33

Sorry... but I do not believe that.

cowpatz

17th November 2009, 11:35

The number count varies greatly from 12500 to 3500 by the police. Even 3500 is awesome. Well done guys and gals.

Cheshire Cat

17th November 2009, 11:36

GODLIKE! :jerry:

Hiflyer

17th November 2009, 11:37

Sorry... but I do not believe that.

I'm quite skeptical as well, I wonder if the police will do an official count?

NighthawkNZ

17th November 2009, 11:40

Hope someone say... say all these bikes... if you tax us off the road that how many (and more) extra cars will be on the road... numbers in a book do do the same as actual visual

EJK

17th November 2009, 11:40

They are saying 5,000.

AJT

17th November 2009, 11:42

just came back from ride in....hard to say but 12k would seem a little on the high side but I didnt head up teh ramp at the stadium, fantastic if it's accurate though!

Slyer

17th November 2009, 11:45

Haha, they just changed the article.

Organiser Brent Hutchison initially estimated 12,500 motorcyclists had joined the hikoi, but later revised it to 5000.

Corse1

17th November 2009, 11:48

Wow, yeah just seen it on the news...realistic numbers will come out later.

But great work from all concerned......:niceone:

crazyhorse

17th November 2009, 11:52

Well I like the fact that they are creating a problem with traffic congestion in Wellington :rofl: That at the very least will have got their attention too :headbang:

gsp0702

17th November 2009, 11:56

Well saw the Avalon group set of from jus outside my work and was quite a sight, reminded me of Douglas prom during TT fortnight. Well done all and looked significantly more from just this one point than the annual the annual toy run.

James Deuce

17th November 2009, 13:18

There were 12000 people at Parliament.

5000ish bikes.

The best behaved crowd ever, even the jeering was good natured.

You guys brought a tear to an old sceptics eye.

The traffic lights at the intersection for the Stadium parking were supposed to be off for 5 minutes. More like an hour.

The Police were simply fantastic.

Labour, for all that it is the cause du jour, were appropriately supportive.

Les rocked.

Kari rocked.

Mr PhD from Christchurch rocked.

Rick Barker Rocked (Rocketed?)

Mr Foss did a good job within the constraints of his mandate.

Stoney was da bomb. Seriously. Happy Birthday.

DidJit

17th November 2009, 13:25

You guys brought a tear to an old sceptic's eye.

Nice to see, eh JD? The human condition sometimes, just sometimes, gets it all right.

cowpatz

17th November 2009, 13:38

Did Nick Smith, the failed mathematician that he is, unlock his office door and come out of hiding to address the assembled rabble?
Is he still alive or did he die ages ago and National just use his corpse as a string puppet to take all the hits? The guy looks like the walking dead.

James Deuce

17th November 2009, 13:40

Did Nick Smith, the failed mathematician that he is, unlock his office door and come out of hiding?
Is he still alive or did he die ages ago and National just use his corpse as a string puppet to take all the hits? The guy looks like the walking dead.

Yes, yes he did, he took the jeering on the nose and stuck to his plan, which was commendable.

I just wish I knew what the plan was.

riffer

17th November 2009, 13:53

I just simply can't believe Nick Smith had the chutzpah to stand in front of 12000+ bikers and repeat the same tired lies.

Is he for real?

The Stadium was awesome. Looked like Sturgis at rally time.

Brian d marge

17th November 2009, 14:15

huff3r

17th November 2009, 14:17

The whole thing was simply insane! and it was a remarkably easy ride in, despite everyone stressing over it being a dangerously big group ride. I dont know how many bikes, but we more than filled the stadium concourse. And there were also a few on some very loud bikes who just did laps around parliament the whole time.

The bullshit chant was simply epic, everyone got involved!

Trudes

17th November 2009, 14:25

Awesome everyone. I have to commend everyone who came, especially those who traveled from out of town. Us bikers are good buggers really. I have to say the cops that I spoke to were really awesome too, let things flow yet stepped in when needed and they all seemed really happy with our behaviour and organisation.
Well done everyone who stressed and worked hard to organise it, you guys rock!!:rockon:

Brian d marge

17th November 2009, 15:04

Trust me if you work with these idiots , they REALLY believe the party mantra

I mean REALLY believe ,,,

As a minister Nick Smith is doing a good Job and will in the future be rewarded well

I wouldn't be surprised to see him eating at the table and feigning surprised at Judas , even though he financed the rebellion

He has to trot out the party line ,,,what else has he got ???

Stephen

Hes just given a statement during the division bell ,,, No one likes increases but I hope we can work together to get something constructive

I reckon $500 dollars

Stephen

Mikkel

17th November 2009, 15:36

Hes just given a statement during the division bell ,,, No one likes increases but I hope we can work together to get something constructive

I reckon $500 dollars

Stephen

The aim really ought to be a flat rate for all non-commercial motorvehicles...

Trudes

17th November 2009, 15:41

Just watched on the 4:30 One NEWS that there is some progress made from today's protest....... a backdown? A compromise? More to come at 6pm, but it sounds like we have made ourselves heard!! Well done everyone!

Mom

17th November 2009, 15:46

Lets not get fooled here, this was always going to be the reaction, oh, we hear the bikers, it was a big jump. What we will do is make it another $100 that is much more reasonable. Well I have one thing to say to that.

FUCK EM!

Today we just showed them that we are angry. Tommorw we will start showing them we are actually seriously ANGRY! And will not be pacified by any token gesture from them. What is more, we wont actually go away either.

James Deuce

17th November 2009, 15:50

The aim really ought to be a flat rate for all non-commercial motorvehicles...
That is the goal. Flat rate for all light passenger vehicles.

bykee

17th November 2009, 15:52

Trudes

17th November 2009, 15:53

To be honest, an extra $100 a year to register my bike wouldn't bother me overly. A $500 increase is ridiculous, a $100 is not really. JMHO.

Bend-it

17th November 2009, 15:54

Yeah... but I guess stage 1 in to play nice... and if it doesn't work, then we play errr... not nice...

Trudes

17th November 2009, 15:54

Very impresive numbers from SH1 as well, numbers were excellent. The only thing that bugged me was that it was a lovely rally BUT IT WAS MEANT TO BE A PROTEST we were to fukin nice, we should have all bypassed the stadium and gone directly to Parliament. I did.

And that would be one of the reasons that some disabled riders had to park at the Stadium and walk, there were no parks left at Parliament for them.

Yeah... but I guess stage 1 in to play nice... and if it doesn't work, then we play errr... not nice...
Exactly.

Mom

17th November 2009, 15:55

Bend-it

17th November 2009, 15:58

To be honest, an extra $100 a year to register my bike wouldn't bother me overly. A $500 increase is ridiculous, a $100 is not really. JMHO.

Don't get bought out trudes... 1 cent more than a toyota prius owner is 1 cent too much... Remember we're not arguing about amount here, we're arguing about the "no faults" principle and equity...

Trudes

17th November 2009, 16:00

Don't get bought out trudes... 1 cent more than a toyota prius owner is 1 cent too much... Remember we're not arguing about amount here, we're arguing about the "no faults" principle and equity...

I'm not, it could be called inflation.... I already pay almost $100 more for my bike rego than my car rego, where were the protests over that?

C_A

17th November 2009, 16:00

I'd be pissed at a flate rate. keep 40yr + discounts please.

Mom

17th November 2009, 16:01

Don't get bought out trudes... 1 cent more than a toyota prius owner is 1 cent too much... Remember we're not arguing about amount here, we're arguing about the "no faults" principle and equity...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=112770

Like I said, we have only just begun.

Bend-it

17th November 2009, 16:05

I suddenly feel like breaking out in song...

we've only just begun to live
white lace and promises
a kiss for luck and we're on our way
we've only begun...

hmmm... perhaps that dates me... :shifty:

Mikkel

17th November 2009, 16:26

To be honest, an extra $100 a year to register my bike wouldn't bother me overly. A $500 increase is ridiculous, a $100 is not really. JMHO.

It is still a 40% increase. A 40% increase - no matter whether it be targeted at a minority - is still way too much. Anything more than 10% increase for an annual expense is outrageous.

I'm not, it could be called inflation.... I already pay almost $100 more for my bike rego than my car rego, where were the protests over that?

Indeed, that protest should have been made ages ago.

NighthawkNZ

17th November 2009, 16:39

Indeed, that protest should have been made ages ago.

We should have never taken the compromise in 1993

Jizah

17th November 2009, 17:12

By our count, from the first police vehicle to leave the Avalon duck pond until the tailing police vehicle, there were 709 bikes.

And i was number 407 :D

bykee

17th November 2009, 18:54

And that would be one of the reasons that some disabled riders had to park at the Stadium and walk, there were no parks left at Parliament for them.

Exactly.

There were heaps of parks for everyone, thats the point here, IT WAS A PROTEST NOT A RALLY........................Oh my, we are even being nice to the those that didn't want us near Parliament. They locked us out, we all had to climb the wall to get into our place, Doh

NighthawkNZ

17th November 2009, 18:56

Don't fall for any compromise ...

Nasty

17th November 2009, 19:06

What an awesome day ... the power of the people as I walked down the steps from the beehive ... hearing BULL SHIT ... and WHOS NEXT ... I think that message was definately there!

Pedrostt500

17th November 2009, 19:10

I think we may have had 6 to 7 thousand bikes at the Stadium, we used most of the available space on the concourse, and through the gates up to the cake tin its self, there was also a lot of bikes parked just about any where you could get one on street level, my numbers are only a geuss, I am uncertain as to how many bikes were parked around town, possibly another thousand.

Kennif

17th November 2009, 19:22

Mully

17th November 2009, 19:28

Very impresive numbers from SH1 as well, numbers were excellent. The only thing that bugged me was that it was a lovely rally BUT IT WAS MEANT TO BE A PROTEST we were to fukin nice, we should have all bypassed the stadium and gone directly to Parliament. I did.

Patience young grasshopper. Until now, this has been a show of numbers only (the main currency of political parties). They have the message - if they choose to ignore said message, the niceness will, umm, fade.

Today is the beginning of the rest of our campaign. Today (to badly paraphrase Independence Day) is the day we declare we will not go quietly into the night. We will not go down without a fight. Today is the day we declare our Independence Day

(sorry, got sidetracked for a minute)

We need to also remember that we have the majority of public opinion on our side at the moment. Being dicks publicly will very quickly loose that as we will be thought of as thugs.

I'm not, it could be called inflation.... I already pay almost $100 more for my bike rego than my car rego, where were the protests over that?

True dat - and this is where I think ACC figured bikers would bend over and take it. Cos we did previously.

sunhuntin

17th November 2009, 19:34

Mom

17th November 2009, 19:38

Today is the beginning of the rest of our campaign. Today (to badly paraphrase Independence Day) is the day we declare we will not go quietly into the night. We will not go down ...

True dat - and this is where I think ACC figured bikers would bend over and take it. Cos we did previously.

Today is the beginning! I gave an interview this afternoon to Radio NZ, hopefully I made the message clear, we are not about to go away. Probably air breakfast show in the morning. This was simply a heads up, that we are angry, and we did it right this time.

We are a loose community, we can but try to keep a lid on the millitant arm of our community. The thing that I am quite certain about is that a lot of us "good people" may be also be considering a small amount of naughtiness too :yes:

Time will tell who is in for the long haul :D

Elysium

17th November 2009, 19:39

So what was the deal about this locked gate? I asume they only wanted people to entre through one entrance to stop suspicious charactors from entering?

AD345

17th November 2009, 19:48

So what was the deal about this locked gate? I asume they only wanted people to entre through one entrance to stop suspicious charactors from entering?

It didn't slow us down much and I enjoyed the poetry of climbing over a wall past a locked gate to get onto the grounds of Parliament (I wasn't very graceful though, it must be said. My knees are old and fucked)

Dean

17th November 2009, 19:53

Say it Loud, Say it proud brothers

Oh and someone bring me back some KFC yeh im hungry as au.

MSTRS

17th November 2009, 20:09

Today is the beginning! I gave an interview this afternoon to Radio NZ, hopefully I made the message clear, we are not about to go away.
Time will tell who is in for the long haul :D

YT has just got off the phone to RNZ as well...
And, no....we are NOT going away. Bit like an STD really...

kinger

17th November 2009, 20:31

.....we have the majority of public opinion on our side at the moment.

Sorry, but I beg to differ. Talking with non bikers who've been reading figures from the Herald shows me that we are seen as a drain on the system who are going to be the downfall of ACC, and when their levies go up, it'll all be the bikers fault.
There needs to be a counter propoganda campaign in easy speak and easy figures to swing public opinion away from the lies fed to them thus far.

Ocean1

17th November 2009, 20:34

There needs to be a counter propoganda campaign in easy speak and easy figures to swing public opinion away from the lies fed to them thus far.

Did anyone discover if there was any appropriate existing (IE legal) ACC budget for their ads in the Harold and Dom?

Mom

17th November 2009, 20:43

YT has just got off the phone to RNZ as well...
And, no....we are NOT going away. Bit like an STD really...

We have the Hairrrr...pieeeece....:yes:

nothingflash

17th November 2009, 20:44

Sorry, but I beg to differ. Talking with non bikers who've been reading figures from the Herald shows me that we are seen as a drain on the system who are going to be the downfall of ACC, and when their levies go up, it'll all be the bikers fault.
There needs to be a counter propoganda campaign in easy speak and easy figures to swing public opinion away from the lies fed to them thus far.

Yep I tend to agree. I haven't come across too many "non bikers" who are up with the play over this - that said, they're not on here every night learning more and more about it or perhaps they just don't care as much as it's not affecting "them".

GOONR

17th November 2009, 20:53

Yep I tend to agree. I haven't come across too many "non bikers" who are up with the play over this - that said, they're not on here every night learning more and more about it or perhaps they just don't care as much as it's not affecting "them".

I agree, most people at my work didn't know anything about it.. Till my T-shirt arrived!!

Mom

17th November 2009, 20:58

Yep I tend to agree. I haven't come across too many "non bikers" who are up with the play over this - that said, they're not on here every night learning more and more about it or perhaps they just don't care as much as it's not affecting "them".

I agree, most people at my work didn't know anything about it.. Till my T-shirt arrived!!

We need to educate these people. Don't they realise that we are fighting for them too? Targetting bikes is the thin edge of the wedge. We use the "Who's Next" slogan for good reason.

WHO IS NEXT?

GOONR

17th November 2009, 21:00

We need to educate these people. Don't they realise that we are fighting for them too? Targetting bikes is the thin edge of the wedge. We use the "Who's Next" slogan for good reason.

WHO IS NEXT?

Yup, and that is the small role I am playing in this battle.

StoneY

17th November 2009, 21:18

On the day (today) I had people I trust count numbers at 4 strategic points

On behalf of KB and interested partnetrs, here it is (and I never said 12,500 or 3,500 I never quoted numbers, and I am Brent Hutchison)

We had CONFIRMED at
Paremata:
3,100 (and counting person quit there and said quote verbatim) "plus change"

Avalon: 2,100 and change confirmed count at time first bike (The Dude my best mate on earth) left

AT Parliament itself stacked 2 tiers deep EVERYWHERE 640 -x bikes (and I counted them so fuck anyone disputing it)

Our convoys were both parking at destination satdium and still departing departure rally points

NZ Bikers, today we made fuckin history!

Roughly 6,000 bikes, and about 1 in 3 had a pillion

I saw 8,500 people there, and thats from the Parliament Security and Intelligence count
Dont forget the public and bikers who had riden to work and walked there

KB, Bikers (all walks of life) and public who came today...............

Thanks

PhantasmNZ

17th November 2009, 21:24

And that would be one of the reasons that some disabled riders had to park at the Stadium and walk, there were no parks left at Parliament for them.

yep, and i got talking to one of those riders as i met them yesterday in sanson. i made a point of telling them about the disabled parking, so its a shame they couldnt use it.

As usual it was the few that spoiled it - most riders who came down Molesworth as we filled it with bikes respected the request to move on (down to the stadium). a very few others just ignored direction from the Marshalls ( I wasn't working around the disabled area for long- but I'm sure this was the case here too)

In the end however - despite this - it has to be said that to have 5000 bikes and many more protestors all in and out of a major city centre without any major incident, no arrests, no trouble - all in all a major success...

PhantasmNZ

17th November 2009, 21:28

KB, Bikers (all walks of life) and public who came today...............

Thanks

And on behalf of all those people - Awesome job StoneY - couldn't have gone any better....

GazzaRuney

17th November 2009, 21:29

Totally awesome day - but where were the mopeds and scooters and commuter bikes that are getting hit the hardest - very disappointing that :-(

GOONR

17th November 2009, 21:35

Totally awesome day - but where were the mopeds and scooters and commuter bikes that are getting hit the hardest - very disappointing that :-(

It would have been too big a day for me, but bring on phase 2 of plan A. There is bound to be more local stuff where we little ones can make a stand!

StoneY

17th November 2009, 21:51

mte there were over 100 scooters in Molesworth st...fact they were NEARLY invisible in the sea of chrome and fibreglass says it all

Massive, massive collection of machinery

One bored dude calculated the fleet value outside Molesworth reckons 20 Mil alone in parks at Parliament

:niceone: :clap:

sunhuntin

17th November 2009, 21:51

Totally awesome day - but where were the mopeds and scooters and commuter bikes that are getting hit the hardest - very disappointing that :-(

i saw a couple of scooters, including one at sanson that was fully loaded with what looked like a sleeping bag. [was concentrating on a truck in front, so couldnt look too hard]

LBD

17th November 2009, 22:02

I am Sad I could not have been part of this protest rally...what an event it appears to have been. well organized and executed...Well done to all...now lets hope the message is getting out to all that count...Ma and Pa Kettle as well as the polliticians ...today the bikers, then the cyclists and horse riders then the pedestrians and sports players...all diametrically opposite to the "No fault, no Blame concept of ACC"

To those who may say they would accept a compromise increase....ITS NOT THE DOLLARS, ITs THE PRINCIPAL of the matter!

Ixion

17th November 2009, 22:17

Yep I tend to agree. I haven't come across too many "non bikers" who are up with the play over this - that said, they're not on here every night learning more and more about it or perhaps they just don't care as much as it's not affecting "them".

They may not know the details, BUT :

The thing that most impressed me int he last few days was theoverwhelming level of spontaneous public support.

The teachers had the school children line the route to cheer us on.

Every over bridge was packed.

Almost every truck, and a lot of cars tooted of flashed.

Farmers (FARMERS, FFS) were parked in their tractors giving us the thumbs up.

On the ride down on Monday, Every time we stopped people would come up and say "good luck, I hope you win, Its not right". These were old ladies, old men, not at all bikers.

In over 50 years of motorcycling I have NEVER seen this level of support for motorcyclists. It's not because they have suddenly fallen in love with motorbikes of course. but they are asking "Who's next?". I put that question directly to Nick Smith. he fudged.

scissorhands

17th November 2009, 22:36

They may not know the details, BUT :

The thing that most impressed me int he last few days was theoverwhelming level of spontaneous public support.

The teachers had the school children line the route to cheer us on.

Every over bridge was packed.

Almost every truck, and a lot of cars tooted of flashed.

Farmers (FARMERS, FFS) were parked in their tractors giving us the thumbs up.

On the ride down on Monday, Every time we stopped people would come up and say "good luck, I hope you win, Its not right". These were old ladies, old men, not at all bikers.

In over 50 years of motorcycling I have NEVER seen this level of support for motorcyclists. It's not because they have suddenly fallen in love with motorbikes of course. but they are asking "Who's next?". I put that question directly to Nick Smith. he fudged.

Hell yeah talk about a peoples mandate! I think the polies were surprised as well. Check out that smile on Phil Goff's face. Maybe people see bikers as unfairly targeted, and unconsciously see them as fighting for everyone else, like the old people knowing they cost more in accidents.....

I think thats what makes this day so fucking sweet

StoneY

17th November 2009, 22:39

Les Mason for PM

:)

MSTRS

18th November 2009, 07:53

OT - but I'm trying to find the post/s that quote OldNick saying 5018? accident claims in 2008.
Can anyone point me, or confirm the figure he dribbled?

Bend-it

18th November 2009, 08:10

maybe Stoney could talk to cycling clubs about getting them on board... there are LOTS of cyclists in Wellington... Afterall, they're next...

Mully

18th November 2009, 08:15

On the ride down on Monday, Every time we stopped people would come up and say "good luck, I hope you win, Its not right". These were old ladies, old men, not at all bikers.

In over 50 years of motorcycling I have NEVER seen this level of support for motorcyclists. It's not because they have suddenly fallen in love with motorbikes of course. but they are asking "Who's next?". I put that question directly to Nick Smith. he fudged.

Maybe people see bikers as unfairly targeted, and unconsciously see them as fighting for everyone else, like the old people knowing they cost more in accidents.....

Exactly my point. Since this broke, the number of people saying "I'm not a biker, but that's not fair" have vastly overwhelmed the people saying "Fuck them, they're a menace"

It's the second crowd we have to convince - and I do that by stating correct figures (and once the correct figures are out there, a lot of people come round) and using the "who's next?" argument. Usually, everyone fits into one of the "next" targets: cyclists, older people, people with older cars and so on.

It also seems Nick Smith is quite unlikeable - once you tell people he's been spouting bullshit, they seem to believe it easier.

MSTRS

18th November 2009, 08:49

Never mind - I've found it. He said 5044 bike claims. Where did this figure come from? Did he add all current claims to all new claims? When in fact, current INCLUDES new.

Trudes

18th November 2009, 10:00

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3072733/Bikers-warn-of-disruption-on-roads
Nice! :niceone:

James Deuce

18th November 2009, 10:01

http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2009/11/jim-walsh-national-bikeoi-17112009_9177.html

It's under construction still, but I likes it.

More pictures to come.

Ronin

18th November 2009, 10:45

http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2009/11/jim-walsh-national-bikeoi-17112009_9177.html

It's under construction still, but I likes it.

More pictures to come.

+1 on that. Awesome stuff. Charlie Lamb was the revelation of the day for me. I would dearly love to see him do a one on one interview with Mr ACC Insurance manager.

NighthawkNZ

18th November 2009, 10:53

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3072733/Bikers-warn-of-disruption-on-roads
Nice! :niceone:

[quote=MICHAEL FOX]

hang on

where the hell did 5044 claims come from??? I thought it was only about 3200 activte and of those or around 1400 are from 2008???

WTF did he add them together when they are including in the active claims???