Race to find fastest way to the Auckland CBD?

[parsley]

Just came across this post on an Auckland Train blog:
http://www.aucklandtrains.co.nz/2010/02/15/race-to-find-fastest-way-to-the-cbd/


Which mode of transport will get Aucklanders to work the quickest?
On Wednesday morning, former All Black Bryan Williams, Samoan international Siasosi Vaili, and Auckland Maori representative Brad Tawhare, will set out to find the answer.
In the third year of the morning peak-hour race, cyclists, car drivers and bus users race from four directions of the city to the Auckland Viaduct.
The race starts at 7:15am from the four points: Birkenhead, Mt Roskill, New Lynn and Ellerslie. A cyclist from the Mt Roskill starting point won last year’s race. Event sponsor Urgent Couriers will use its GPS tracking system to follow contenders on their journey and the public can watch the action live on the company’s site (http://www.urgent.co.nz/Public/default.aspx).

The finish line is at the Eastern Viaduct, where the Auckland City Council is hosting the Go by Bike Breakfast for those cycling to work and participating in the BikeWise event.


Why the hell aren't they including a motorbike? I've always found it's by far the fastest way for me to get to the CBD from out west (Waitakere).

Not sure who organizes this event, but I think we should have a write-in request for a motorbike next year.

[motorbyclist]

+1

I've always been annoyed by these races as they always neglect the motorbike - even a scooter would beat a cycle!

[quickbuck]

+1

I've always been annoyed by these races as they always neglect the motorbike - even a scooter would beat a cycle!
Well, in theory.... Until you put a certain former WSB rider on the cycle....

But, yeah, Motorcycle should well be included.

[MaxB]

I wonder if the lack of sympathy for bikes has anything to do with the fact that the organisers (Urgent) do not appear to have any(?) motorcycle couriers anymore?

[Berries]

The answer is probably in this part "The finish line is at the Eastern Viaduct, where the Auckland City Council is hosting the Go by Bike Breakfast for those cycling to work and participating in the BikeWise event."

Obviously the event is part of the (non motorised) bike week promo so it wouldn't look good if they came second.

[parsley]

I wonder if the lack of sympathy for bikes has anything to do with the fact that the organisers (Urgent) do not appear to have any(?) motorcycle couriers anymore?
I doubt the cage will come first. Last year (report here) the bicycles won three out of four. (http://www.urgent.co.nz/News/Article.aspx?NewsID=135)

[Guided_monkey]

I suspect the biker 'won' as the ambulance was using lights and sirens.

Have you tried to cycle around Auckland streets lately....... scary..!!!

[motorbyclist]

I wonder if the lack of sympathy for bikes has anything to do with the fact that the organisers (Urgent) do not appear to have any(?) motorcycle couriers anymore?

whenever our "fair and balanced" news media does a race they "forget" the motorbike too


The answer is probably in this part "The finish line is at the Eastern Viaduct, where the Auckland City Council is hosting the Go by Bike Breakfast for those cycling to work and participating in the BikeWise event."

Obviously the event is part of the (non motorised) bike week promo so it wouldn't look good if they came second.

reckon they'd ever run a "go by moped" or "go by motorbike" breakfast? hell no! why? fucked if I know but some days they seem hell bent on kicking the lot of us out!

[avgas]

Quickest way into the city is in an ambulance or cop car.......so lane-splitting motorbike gets my vote ;)

[R6_kid]

Why the hell aren't they including a motorbike? I've always found it's by far the fastest way for me to get to the CBD from out west (Waitakere).

Because a motorcycle is no faster than a car if you obey the road rules and don't do anything borderline illegal (like lane splitting). The only time you get a benefit otherwise is that you can filter to the front at traffic lights.

[slofox]

Of course the cyclists win - they're exempt from all traffic controls doncha know...well, they are down here anyway... :crazy:

[Squiggles]

Because a motorcycle is no faster than a car if you obey the road rules and don't do anything borderline illegal (like lane splitting). The only time you get a benefit otherwise is that you can filter to the front at traffic lights.

Bus lanes!

[Mully]

No surprises there.

I've got an old KiwiRider mag (I think) where they did Scooter, Bus & Car from each direction which Honda arranged cos at the time they'd done "Car and public transport".

Scooters won, IIRC. Adhering to speed limits and filtering only at lights when traffic was stationary

[R6_kid]

Bus lanes!

Only the green ones in the city, or transit lanes.

[parsley]

The only time you get a benefit otherwise is that you can filter to the front at traffic lights.
On my morning route that's a significant advantage!

[kave]

Because a motorcycle is no faster than a car if you obey the road rules and don't do anything borderline illegal (like lane splitting). The only time you get a benefit otherwise is that you can filter to the front at traffic lights.

Strictly speaking, aren't pushies subject to all the usual road rules as well? Lane splitting is not necessarily illegal, passing on the left within the lane is perfectly legal, and filtering is legal. Mororbikes would have most of the advantages of a pushbike with the added bonus of being able to use the motorways. If they dont include it next year we should get a motorbike to each of the four starting points anyway. If we competed unofficially and won it would make a strong point, especially if we got media interested in what we were doing.

[motorbyclist]

If we competed unofficially and won it would make a strong point, especially if we got media interested in what we were doing.

Fucking good idea - I'm up for that

[MaxB]

Because a motorcycle is no faster than a car if you obey the road rules and don't do anything borderline illegal (like lane splitting). The only time you get a benefit otherwise is that you can filter to the front at traffic lights.

In congestion a bike is way faster than a car.

If I cage into town from S.Auckland my commute takes an average 55mins. On the bike it takes an average 30mins. This is over many many trips. That is more or less keeping it legal.

The point of the thread is that in fair tests conducted overseas the bike nearly always wins over all other transport modes and why can't the Auckland organisers admit that.