Rimutaka playground

[smoky]

How about we start petitioning the Government or Land Transport for a tunnel to replace the Rima incline

I was threading my way past all the trucks and campers over the Rima’s twice on the same day this last week – and it struck me that it would be an awesome playground if we could get all these trucks, vans, campers and slow nanas off it, then leave it free for bikes and sports cars to play on

If you could imagine a tunnel – and how much it would save everyone;

All the trucking companies saving on tyres, diesel and brakes
Tourists getting to where they want a lot quicker
Imagine how much money they’d save not having to be continually maintaining the tarmac from all those heavy vehicles screwing it up all the time
And how much it would save the environment – on petrol, and emmisions

I’m sure all those savings would pay for a tunnel as an alternative route

Then let the fun begin, we could even make the hill one way on the weekends – ye ha

[Quasi]

How about we start petitioning the Government or Land Transport for a tunnel to replace the Rima incline

I was threading my way past all the trucks and campers over the Rima’s twice on the same day this last week – and it struck me that it would be an awesome playground if we could get all these trucks, vans, campers and slow nanas off it, then leave it free for bikes and sports cars to play on

If you could imagine a tunnel – and how much it would save everyone;

All the trucking companies saving on tyres, diesel and brakes
Tourists getting to where they want a lot quicker
Imagine how much money they’d save not having to be continually maintaining the tarmac from all those heavy vehicles screwing it up all the time
And how much it would save the environment – on petrol, and emmisions

I’m sure all those savings would pay for a tunnel as an alternative route

Then let the fun begin, we could even make the hill one way on the weekends – ye ha

Nice idea but......

Cant see it happening in our lifetimes but understand your frustration. Even this slow nana rider has become totally pissed off with the speed (or lack of) on there.
I have been riding the hill 2 or 3 times a week of late and its a bloody nightmare - campervans buses, slow cars - all with no idea of the simple common courtesy of pulling over when able so the very long stream of cars/bikes behind can move on at a more respectable pace. And it seems to make no difference what time of the day or night you ride:shit:

I notice that the super duper new highway they building on there at the moment has no passing lanes and it appears the double yellows will remain permanently.:angry:

[smoky]

I don't expect it ever will happen - tongue and cheek post really

[spacemonkey]

I don't expect it ever will happen - tongue and cheek post really

Possibly, but for now i say SMOKY FOR PM!! :D

[BMWST?]

they should have a shuttle train from maymorn to featherston

[Laxi]

what Ps me off is the amount of genuine passing options that have been removed by the yellow lines

[merv]

The more they waste money ruining the hill road the less likely a tunnel becomes, but I thought that very thing myself a few weeks ago what a great idea the tunnel would be.

[Hitcher]

As soon as They(TM) built a tunnel, They(TM) would stop spending money maintaining the hill road.

[Lurch]

As soon as They(TM) built a tunnel, They(TM) would stop spending money maintaining the hill road.

My guess is it would cost in the area of 1 million dollars per metre of tunnel. At Approximately 9km that would be 9 x 1000 x 1 million = $9 billion dollars. Plus %50 for cost overrun so make that $13.5 billion ish.

I would love to see it happen also but I imagine that the cost might be the greatest issue.

[F5 Dave]

I was over on Sunday too. I am gobsmacked at how incompetent the average driver is. I'm mean I'm not a good car driver but I'm above average of 'Muppet'. When I go over the hill on 4 wheels I usually have a couple of dirtbikes in the back of my van, but often I get held up. How??

Yesterday fortunately on the bike there was one lady who was going slow as but then cutting the corners a couple of feet on the wrong side of the road on blind corners. Then once past her some chap in a flash car was driving an auto with both feet & would brake at the apex of the corner & also uphill corners. WTF!

Those lines & campers make you want to pass. I would never have previously passed on yellows, you can lose your licence in a snap. But I'm finding that it is just ridiculous not to when there is a line going 35kph.

All the above said the thing I fear most is some squid on a bike coming the other direction thinking it is a race track & losing it.

[Gone Burger]

I was driving over the hill yesterday (sorry, in my car - shame on me) and it was about a 50 minute trip (usually 25 mins). There was a bumber to bumber convoy of traffic as far as I could see, that would stop around every corner for a few minutes, then get going again.

I then got to a point where I could see the front of the que. A camper van that refused to pull over. Raaaaaa the whole hill was almost falling asleep from bordom.

Got very jealous of all the lovely bikes popping past at a nice gentle pace, only one car at a time and making good progress.

[BrianZ]

I was over on Sunday too. I am gobsmacked at how incompetent the average driver is. I'm mean I'm not a good car driver but I'm above average of 'Muppet'. When I go over the hill on 4 wheels I usually have a couple of dirtbikes in the back of my van, but often I get held up. How??

Yesterday fortunately on the bike there was one lady who was going slow as but then cutting the corners a couple of feet on the wrong side of the road on blind corners. Then once past her some chap in a flash car was driving an auto with both feet & would brake at the apex of the corner & also uphill corners. WTF!

Those lines & campers make you want to pass. I would never have previously passed on yellows, you can lose your licence in a snap. But I'm finding that it is just ridiculous not to when there is a line going 35kph.

All the above said the thing I fear most is some squid on a bike coming the other direction thinking it is a race track & losing it.

FYI - From the road user rules:

Passing to right of no-passing line qualifies for a $150 fine and 35 demit points (for passing or attempting to pass where no-passing lines are marked on the road) - :-(

[F5 Dave]

A friend lost his but contested it in court. Could have already been on 70 points maybe.

[red mermaid]

Nah I reckon you should petition for tunnel across Cook Strait.

[Madness]

FYI - From the road user rules:

Passing to right of no-passing line qualifies for a $150 fine and 35 demit points (for passing or attempting to pass where no-passing lines are marked on the road) - :-(

That's if the Rozzer in question has filled his Dangerous Driving quota for the month. The DD charge is available should they: see the need/feel the urge/have had a bad day/don't like your aftershave/feel like being a cunt.

[Laxi]

FYI - From the road user rules:

Passing to right of no-passing line qualifies for a $150 fine and 35 demit points (for passing or attempting to pass where no-passing lines are marked on the road) - :-(

and thats if the lovely officer dosn't decide to do you for dangerous driving, whether it was or not:no:

EDIT: must not dick around reading other threads before replying:rofl

[spacemonkey]

Nah I reckon you should petition for tunnel across Cook Strait.

Shit!! Kiwi's have trouble building a house that doesn't leak.... you really trust Transit NZ to build a tunnel under all that water by a faultline?? :shit:

[SPman]

My guess is it would cost in the area of 1 million dollars per metre of tunnel. At Approximately 9km that would be 9 x 1000 x 1 million = $9 billion dollars. Plus %50 for cost overrun so make that $13.5 billion ish.

I would love to see it happen also but I imagine that the cost might be the greatest issue.I would have thought nearer $700,000/m plus using the world average of 30% for cost overruns....shit...it'd only cost .....8.2 Billion. (gotta think positive....)
Mind you, for NZ 50-70% overrun would probably be nearer the mark!

[Laxi]

and we've been fighting how long for a decent SH1? :rofl:

[Bald Eagle]

and we've been fighting how long for a decent SH1? :rofl:

SH1 is not a highway it's just a series of loosely connected potholes, managed by morons.

[McWild]

I've ridden the Rimutakas once, early-ish on a mild but dry weekday morning, friend's CBR250 laden with touring gear.

What can I say? I found it stunning. Perfect road surface, little to no traffic, all kinds of corners. Did not take me long to find the 18000rpm fuel cut on that road, no sir.

To date, one of the best rides of my life. Awesome.