Bikers who ride on Onewa Rd in the mornings...

[placidfemme]

Hey

My partner and I ride down Onewa Rd every morning to the motorway, and I've started to notice a pattern with certain cage drivers that deliberatly cause problems for bikers... I've started to take note on which type of cars these are and how they behave most mornings... and so in general, if any other bikers ride up Onewa Road, they can keep an eye out for these dangrous drivers...

There is a white VW Golf with a female driver, I've seen her 3 times in the last week. Most cage drivers move over a little and give bikers some room when they see/hear you coming, which is great. I've had this VW driver nearly squash me into a 18 wheeler truck, and the other two times I saw her, she moves over as close to the car next to her, making it impossible to get past...

This morning I was following another biker (With a white helmet on a bike bigger than 400cc - not sure as I only saw him/her from behind) down Onewa Road just before the traffic merges... We both slowed down next to a red car (A Holden no less... with a male driver), when the traffic started moving again he stay still, I had my indicator on, as did the biker infront, and him (cage driver) not moving made me think he was waiting for me (and the biker ahead of me) to pull in and merge... at the last minute the cage driver revved up and moved forward a lot faster than crawling morning traffic required, I swerved over to avoid being hit, as did the biker ahead, So I pulled in behind the Red car and then took off up the centre line...

A lot more incidents have happened, but from now on I'm going to keep a running record of dangerous cage drivers to keep an eye out for on Onewa Road.

Anyway... to the biker in the white helmet... I feel your anger too... I saw you shaking your head... proberly swearing away in your helmet....

Ride safe :ride:

[James Deuce]

.....

Anyway... to the biker in the white helmet... I feel your anger too... I saw you shaking your head... proberly swearing away in your helmet....

Ride safe :ride:

Good idea to warn people about people with personality disorders, but when things happen on the road waste no time, energy, or emotion shaking your head, swearing or geturing at the driver. While you're doing that you aren't concetrating on avoiding the next incident.

[hondacmx450]

kick there wing miror in and yell at the f$%ker i have no time for dick head cages that want to play with me on the road :mad:

[John]

when you get more skill and they seriously try harm you, take there mirror home with you or attack the window, you should see the shocked faces when you knock on the passengers window when they are trying to merge into your lane, I DONT RECOMMEND THAT THOUGH!

Also if they continue to be twats remeber regos' alot of people on here can ermm access these details..

[placidfemme]

I've seriously wanted to kick off a few side mirrors as I go... But then all the cage drivers around who see will automatically think all bikers are arseholes... and as we know... we're not... usually lol

But yeah, it's kinda hard to get a rego number as usually when something like this happens, your either too angry or shook up to even think about looking at the rego and trying to remember it the rest of the way to work... the most I can do is remember the colour and make of the car and sometimes the sex of the driver...

I understand that some riders are complete wankers (like the guy in the red/white leathers... who I think my partner had an experience with yesterday) but generally a lot of bikers are normal everyday people with lives and FAMILIES they'd like to return safely to, but that still doesn't give cage drivers the right to risk our lives because they have to wait in traffic...

[Badcat]

Hey

My partner and I ride down Onewa Rd every morning to the motorway, and I've started to notice a pattern with certain cage drivers that deliberatly cause problems for bikers... I've started to take note on which type of cars these are and how they behave most mornings... and so in general, if any other bikers ride up Onewa Road, they can keep an eye out for these dangrous drivers...

There is a white VW Golf with a female driver, I've seen her 3 times in the last week. Most cage drivers move over a little and give bikers some room when they see/hear you coming, which is great. I've had this VW driver nearly squash me into a 18 wheeler truck, and the other two times I saw her, she moves over as close to the car next to her, making it impossible to get past...

This morning I was following another biker (With a white helmet on a bike bigger than 400cc - not sure as I only saw him/her from behind) down Onewa Road just before the traffic merges... We both slowed down next to a red car (A Holden no less... with a male driver), when the traffic started moving again he stay still, I had my indicator on, as did the biker infront, and him (cage driver) not moving made me think he was waiting for me (and the biker ahead of me) to pull in and merge... at the last minute the cage driver revved up and moved forward a lot faster than crawling morning traffic required, I swerved over to avoid being hit, as did the biker ahead, So I pulled in behind the Red car and then took off up the centre line...

A lot more incidents have happened, but from now on I'm going to keep a running record of dangerous cage drivers to keep an eye out for on Onewa Road.

Anyway... to the biker in the white helmet... I feel your anger too... I saw you shaking your head... proberly swearing away in your helmet....

Ride safe :ride:

they just HATE that we don't have to wait - don't they...
anyway PF, thanks for the heads up.
maybe we should document troublesome cages on this thread on onewa from now on?

k

[placidfemme]

Yeah, I'm going to try to remember number plates from now on... just to give bikers a heads up when riding down Onewa Road... I've had so many close calls and tried different techniques to avoid them... risk of riding I know... but if something bad can be avoided by having someone more aware of potential dangerous drivers I'm more than willing to help

[Flyingpony]

but generally a lot of bikers are normal everyday people with lives and FAMILIES they'd like to return safely to
That's me as quoted above.

When in the car, I keep an extra eye out for bikers and give extra space when and where I can.

MMmm, I wonder how we can identify fellow bikers when they're in their car?
A KB sticker on the back window?

[Ixion]

Name and shame.

With rego's we can get names and addresses.

Half a dozen bikers turning up on the doorstep for a little talk about their dangerous driving practices will make them think again. Especially if the bikers are older chaps or ladies.

Could almost do with having a sticky for it

[Lou Girardin]

I've stopped using Onewa, usually go down Sylvan Ave. Less traffic and more corners.
If these cagers are regularly doing this, perhaps stopping alongside and pointing out their vulnerability in traffic would work, if it doesn't a mirrorectomy is in order.

[placidfemme]

I've stopped using Onewa, usually go down Sylvan Ave. Less traffic and more corners.
If these cagers are regularly doing this, perhaps stopping alongside and pointing out their vulnerability in traffic would work, if it doesn't a mirrorectomy is in order.

lol a mirrorectomy :niceone:

I've been trying to think of a safe easy way to take down/remember the rego's without putting myself (and others) in added danger...

Maybe some type of magnet writting pad on the the tank... problem.. I'm right handed so would have to write with my left hand... with gloves on... more than likely while moving... not really an option...

Where I've noticed these cage drivers being overly dangerous is once you are past the Gas station at the bottom of Onewa Road, so inbetween the gas station and the motorway... with the traffic merging and the motorway right ahead it doesn't leave anywhere to safely pull over to jot it down...

Any ideas?

[James Deuce]

I think you're all insane. It isn't worth it.

[placidfemme]

I think it is. I've been riding behind my partner up Onewa Road and literally watched her avoid being hit (Deliberatly) by just cm's because of people like this... if it was just me... then yeah, lets ignore it, but it affects people I love and other bikers too...

[Krayy]

Doesn't Onewa Rd have a bus lane that goes all the way down it? If it does and you're riding in it, why the hell are these cagers moving into a bus lane? :nono:

[placidfemme]

Yes Onewa Rd has a bus lane... but the bus lane is only monitored after 6.30am. Which is after I go down there. Also the bus lane stops at the traffic lights near the gas station... once you go past the gas station its just 2 lanes, you go through the next set of lights after the gas station, the traffic starts to merge about 100m+ away from the last set of lights before the motorway.

Even with the bus lane... as many cars as possible try to sneak into the bus lane near where it ends, but after that it's each to thier own.

[HDTboy]

fridge magnets

ABC,123 etc

[vifferman]

I've travelled on Onewa Road for nearly 6 years now, mostly by bike, and I can't say I've noticed any particular problems with people deliberately being stupid or dangerous; the few cases I've encountered seem to be incidental or innate stupidity. And if it comes to that, I've seen just as much stupid behaviour by bikers as car drivers. I've had one notable case of absolutely stupid and dangerous driving, not long after I got the VifFerraRi, and that was at lunchtime, further up Onewa. I was riding down the road in the right-hand lane, when a guy in a black SS Commode ute who was in the left lane, behind me, finally saw the lane ahead was blocked, and accelerated past me cutting into my lane at the last possible moment. If I hadn't braked hard, he would've hit my front wheel. :mad: If he was driving safely, he would've just slowed and pulled in behind me, rather than risk my life. Wanker...

To be honest, I've found that picking my time to leave for work makes a big difference; I leave just before 8:00 AM, and don't generally need to lanesplit, overtake, or whatever (used to do it all the time, mostly because I could). So I'm not exposing myself so much to other people's stupid driving. There are also some things I almsot never do now - like overtaking on the lower part of Onewa Rd before the corner, as it is too risky coming up to the corner with no view of oncoming traffic. If two lanes of traffic approach, you're relying on being able to pull into the traffic in a hurry, which may not be possible.

Also, if the traffic is stopped, I think carefully about whether I need to lanesplit or overtake, and most times I don't bother. Today, however, I did move to the front of the traffic lights twice, (and twice I didn't lanesplit/filter)because there was a sizable gap next to the cars at the front each time. And because I haven't ridden much lately, and was in a hooning mood... :whistle:

Also broke my rule about not lanesplitting on the motorway, because there was a big stinky bendy bus in the left lane. So, I went right, and so did the stinky diesel van in front of me. I went to go back in the left lane once we were past the bus, and so did he, so I lanesplit past him, only to have him switch back to the right lane a few seconds later! Dick.

[James Deuce]

I think it is. I've been riding behind my partner up Onewa Road and literally watched her avoid being hit (Deliberatly) by just cm's because of people like this... if it was just me... then yeah, lets ignore it, but it affects people I love and other bikers too...
You are on an exposed vehicle. If they decide to take retribution you will lose if they retaliate. Plus you will also have been witnessed damaging a car (mirror attacks) and the "serves you right" mentality will apply to 90% of the witnesses who witness you being squashed by a mental case in a car.

By all means set yourself up as a target when the stakes are really high. That's a sensible attitude.

If you must put yourself at risk in traffic, merely memorise the license plate and call the cops. If you lose your temper you may miss vital traffic clues that could get you killed. It isn't worth it.

[placidfemme]

You are on an exposed vehicle. If they decide to take retribution you will lose if they retaliate. Plus you will also have been witnessed damaging a car (mirror attacks) and the "serves you right" mentality will apply to 90% of the witnesses who witness you being squashed by a mental case in a car.

By all means set yourself up as a target when the stakes are really high. That's a sensible attitude.

I don't really get where this part of your response has come from. I've never done a "mirror attack" as you call it. I've thought about it, but have enough common sense to know it wouldn't be worth it.

I know I'm placing myself in danger by getting on my bike everyday, and I'm not complaining about that. The difference is, you can tell when someone makes an honest mistake (Like they didn't see you), but at the same time you can also tell when people are doing things just to piss you off and be some kind of hero smart ass wanna-be.

So yeah I don't get your response/dig

[Ixion]

lol a mirrorectomy :niceone:

I've been trying to think of a safe easy way to take down/remember the rego's without putting myself (and others) in added danger...

..

Get cheap disposable camera (about $15). Secure to suitable handlebarry place with a lanyard and a velcro dot . Dot holds it "clipped" lanyard prevents you dropping it. I can unclip and point and click one handed with gloved hands (point may be a bit wild but all you need is a shot of the rego plate - face is good too) . When your dossier is full develop it and start the retribution.

It also works well when you've managed to pull alongside a prat. Just let him see you taking his mug shot. It tends to get people quite worried 'What are you doing that for". "Evidence. It's passed to the Police". This then usually leads to an opportunity for education (I mean that seriously - I will always try to educate cagers WHY what they did upsets bikers).

[placidfemme]

Get cheap disposable camera (about $15). Secure to suitable handlebarry place with a lanyard and a velcro dot . Dot holds it "clipped" lanyard prevents you dropping it. I can unclip and point and click one handed with gloved hands (point may be a bit wild but all you need is a shot of the rego plate - face is good too) . When your dossier is full develop it and start the retribution.

It also works well when you've managed to pull alongside a prat. Just let him see you taking his mug shot. It tends to get people quite worried 'What are you doing that for". "Evidence. It's passed to the Police". This then usually leads to an opportunity for education (I mean that seriously - I will always try to educate cagers WHY what they did upsets bikers).

Thats a fantastic idea! :niceone:

I'll do that from now on when possible. lol a camera mount on the bike... that would be useful for rides and stuff too

[Mr Skid]

The safest option is to buy a dual sport, and go where the cages can't get ya - footpaths, grass verges, school fields, parks, playgrounds.

the shortest distance from A to B is a straight line. :ride:

[James Deuce]

I don't really get where this part of your response has come from. I've never done a "mirror attack" as you call it. I've thought about it, but have enough common sense to know it wouldn't be worth it.

I know I'm placing myself in danger by getting on my bike everyday, and I'm not complaining about that. The difference is, you can tell when someone makes an honest mistake (Like they didn't see you), but at the same time you can also tell when people are doing things just to piss you off and be some kind of hero smart ass wanna-be.

So yeah I don't get your response/dig

Wasting even an "nth" of your brain power on a negative response, either having a whinge in your helmet, gesturing at people, or responding to the people with the limited intellect and personality to actually attempt a smart arse move is descending to their level. You putting yourself at risk by devoting anything other than the brain power required to avoid them.

I apologise if you thought I was suggesting that you yourself do the mirrorectomy, but it appeared that you supported that as a valid mode of retribution, and I was merely following your positive response to someone suggesting that was indeed a valid course of action.

As for the negative rep point, grow some balls, vitual or otherwise. I wasn't aware it was an offence to disagree with someone.

[placidfemme]

*tries to grow some balls* <--it ain't working oh well guess I should stick my head up my ass like you then instead.

the lol to the mirrorectony was because I thought the made up mediacl word for it was funny. Maybe you should read and then re-read my previous posts and then you might see what my opinion is on that topic... as for the negative rep point... thats what it's there for... got a problem with it, tell the administrator not me and if its not an offensive to disagree with someone then you should understand all the above.

get over yourself

[James Deuce]

*tries to grow some balls* <--it ain't working oh well guess I should stick my head up my ass like you then instead.

the lol to the mirrorectony was because I thought the made up mediacl word for it was funny. Maybe you should read and then re-read my previous posts and then you might see what my opinion is on that topic... as for the negative rep point... thats what it's there for... got a problem with it, tell the administrator not me and if its not an offensive to disagree with someone then you should understand all the above.

get over yourself

Makes note to self: use neither irony or reason in future when posting on Internet forums.

(Tard Mode On)

[aff-man]

Well i have had a few people deliberatly try to block my way. Pissed me off some but i have yet to reach the point of doing serious damage to thier vehicle..... come close mind you.

But another thing that i have noticed it these people are so busy trying to "block" the filtering path they don't realise that yes there is a car next to them to. I have seen a car try block me and come within meer cm of hitting the car next to it. Idiots......

And to all those friendly people out there who see/hear me and move over.. even a little.... cheers. I try and give ha a thank you wave where possible.

[placidfemme]

Yeah I always wave or try to make a noticable nod to thank people who move over or any other nice act they do towards me when I'm on my bike, and I do likewise to others when I can.

I go by the rule that if your nice to cage driver, that one particular driver will hopefully associate your good deed with other bikers and then in turn the next time they are in the position to give way/move over e.t.c to a biker they are more likely to do it. And the same applies negaitvley, do one thing wrong towards a cage driver and they'll take it out on every bike they see... so I try my best to always be respectful on the roads.

[Lou Girardin]

I work on the principle that if someone does something to endanger me, I will bring it to their attention (method varies). It also shows cagers that they aren't as invulnerable as they think, even us smaller folk look threatening in helmet and armoured gear.

[Coldkiwi]

Wasting even an "nth" of your brain power on a negative response, either having a whinge in your helmet, gesturing at people, or responding to the people with the limited intellect and personality to actually attempt a smart arse move is descending to their level. You putting yourself at risk by devoting anything other than the brain power required to avoid them.
.

so... if I'm shaking my head, it stops me thinking and watching where I'm going? come on Jim, we may be stupid males but we can't be THAT short of brain power.

I think you're missing the point that we have a right to excercise our disgust at other road users in a non violent way. If we don't they'll never change their behaviour will they?

[Krayy]

Makes note to self: use neither irony or reason in future when posting on Internet forums.

(Tard Mode On)

Blackadder: Do you know what irony is?
Baldrick: Yes, its like goldy and bronzy, but it's made of iron.

[Sutage]

I prefer the Family Guy definition of irony.. in the episode where Y2K destroys them and they go to the twinky factory and Stuey eats the radioactive stuff.. anywho Peter is the president and decides to build guns.. all the townfolk get pissed off and throw Peter out, and burn all the guns.. just when the guns are burnning Stuey has like 400 evil babies and they attack them all.. one guy says to the other.. Do you remember when you asked what the definition of irony is? Well.. BLAM baby jumps on his face.. classic :D

[James Deuce]

so... if I'm shaking my head, it stops me thinking and watching where I'm going? come on Jim, we may be stupid males but we can't be THAT short of brain power.

I think you're missing the point that we have a right to excercise our disgust at other road users in a non violent way. If we don't they'll never change their behaviour will they?

Well as someone who gave the finger to a car driver who carved me up and then got knocked over the median barrier by a truck that roared across three lanes on the Hutt motorway just South of the Petone on-ramp I reckon I can confirm that us mere males are that short of multi-tasking brain power. Broke my wrist, my bike, and my ego. I can dance good in on-coming traffic though.

[Coldkiwi]

I prefer the Family Guy definition of irony.. in the episode where Y2K destroys them and they go to the twinky factory and Stuey eats the radioactive stuff.. anywho Peter is the president and decides to build guns.. all the townfolk get pissed off and throw Peter out, and burn all the guns.. just when the guns are burnning Stuey has like 400 evil babies and they attack them all.. one guy says to the other.. Do you remember when you asked what the definition of irony is? Well.. BLAM baby jumps on his face.. classic :D

here endeth the lesson about why British comedy has always and will always be funnier than stuff from America.

[Coldkiwi]

Well as someone who gave the finger to a car driver who carved me up and then got knocked over the median barrier by a truck that roared across three lanes on the Hutt motorway just South of the Petone on-ramp I reckon I can confirm that us mere males are that short of multi-tasking brain power. Broke my wrist, my bike, and my ego. I can dance good in on-coming traffic though.

ok, taking a hand off the bar is a bit different. I'd agree that should be done only when you're in a low risk environment. But shaking fists, followed by honking horn, revving engine, flashing head light and shaking head... they all have their time and place (preferably one after the other if the situation permits!)

[FROSTY]

PF um er ya see um er well. Onewa road hu --well I may have been one of the cagers that piss you off. Bikers doon't do emselves any favours there -in my limited experience. I see a biker in my right mirror so pull to left side of lane--only to get hurled a string of abuse by biker splitting past a bus on the left side.
Reality Im sorry --its a bastard of a road and in rush hour its darned hard having eyes everywhere.
I must also say that if I counted every time in a day i got cut off,blocked ,almost sideswiped etc by a cager Id be a wreck -I'd suggest just letting it go

[placidfemme]

Yah I've kinda gotten over it now... Should have just written a rant about it lol

[Lou Girardin]

here endeth the lesson about why British comedy has always and will always be funnier than stuff from America.
Amurika has always been an irony free zone. Alana Morrisettes "Isn't it ironic" didn't have any irony in it. (yes, I know she's Canadian. It was a Murkin record company)

[Al]

I tend to ride Onewa in the "non-busy" times, start work @07:00, leave home @06:30, ride through to East Tamaki.
My Onewa adventure starts from Verran's corner area and on my return journey(leave ET @15:30) I leave SH1 at Stafford and then cruise up through Maritime Terrace and then through Highbury and up Waipa back home again.
May be a bit further, but a whole lot less frustrating!

Take care

Al

[NhuanH]

The safest option is to buy a dual sport, and go where the cages can't get ya - footpaths, grass verges, school fields, parks, playgrounds.

the shortest distance from A to B is a straight line. :ride:
if B = hospital :killingme

Actually, I find with mirrored visor down, black leather jacket, plastic fantastic bike, perfectly suited personalised plate and my trade mark high beams on, lane 1A tends to part like I'm Moses! I think most cagers get a giggle outta my plate as I avoid queueing :msn-wink:

[StoneChucker]

Ok, Firstly: Family Guy is absolutely brilliant. You need to watch a few, preferably all of them to understand the characters. It really is genius, heaps of jokes are funny in way more than one way!

I must admit, I don't have any trouble with people trying to run me off the road here in Welly. Most people infact move to the left (if they're in the left lane) or to the right (if they're in the right lane of a dual carriage way). If not, then they simply don't move at all, which is fine too. I ALWAYS wave thanks, as I agree that being polite goes a long way.
Another big thing, is that I tend to pass cars quickly, so most of the time I'm past before they really realise it (in moderate moving traffic). In bumper to bumper, I normally amble up, focusing 90% of my attention to the left and right, watching for what I believe is "signs of intent". These are the obvious ones, and the ones learnt over time, in the end coming down to a simple gut feeling.

As for JIM2's comments... How can you NOT agree with him? He really is correct in saying that deviating in the slightest from the task of riding, is distracting and therefore dangerous. I can agree that shaking your head is probably quite negligable. However, most aren't content to leave it at that, as it's not very "vocal", and being vocal is the point. A good head shake, lights flashing, rev and hooting feels great, but your newly focussed attention on the task of getting your point to the cager detracts from more important act of riding. I've done it before, I KNOW that for a second your attention isn't on the road - and that's all it takes, a second for someone to pull out into another lane. And THEN who do you think the cager will be laughing at?

It's not hard to remember a rego, if you can't (and hey I'll admit, my mind wanders easily) just stop and enter it into your cell phone (or use your key to scratch it into your tank). Fill out the online complaint when you get home. Thats all you should do, if anything. I'm pretty sure the cager won't give a shit if you DID get your point across anyway.

But, I think it must be an Auckland thing, like I said I don't have problems like you describe. Sometime people do stupid things, but I hoot and you can see that they are genuinely apologetic.

Oh, a mirrorectomy is just plain crazy. Someone will see you, if the police get involved YOU WILL be in the wrong. Punching or kicking it off is very likely to upset your balance and above all I guess, you'll come off looking like a dick, giving other bikes a bad rep. Don't do it, it's pretty shitty in my books. (Same as if you make a mistake, and a car / bike driver pulls up next to you, and dents your tank - not a nice feeling at all).

Dave.

[Pixie]

I agree with Lou's comment.
Here's two ways it can be done:Get some distance ahead of the A-hole and park your bike in a convenient property entrance or ahead of a parked car,somewhere that won't expose it to being rammed and where the traffic will have to slow right down or stop,like near the next set of lights.Hopefully the A-hole will see you standing, garing at him as he approaches slowly,stuck in traffic.How you use this position of advantage over the A-hole I will leave up to you,but it opens up so many opportunities.
The other idea I often entertained, is to drive one or more smallish nails into the outside edges of your boot soles and cut off the heads flush with the rubber with side cutters.This will give you a tool,that can leave interesting patterns on paint work as you lightly drag the edge of your boot along it.
The offending A-hole will not even be aware of what you did till he / she notices the damage.Much more discrete than a mirrorectomy but just as satisfying. :devil2:

[StoneChucker]

OMG, you're kidding right??? :no:

[placidfemme]

Wow the boot idea is a bit... over the top... I couldn't imagine driving nails into my Alpinestars let alone someones car...

[vifferman]

I didn't see you this morning on Onewa Rd, placidfemme, as I was grumpily caging my way citywards...

Just as well - I might've done summat naughty to see what you'd do. :whistle:



Nah - of course I wouldn't - I always pull over for bikes (except when I'm on my bike, and then it's only sometimes).

[placidfemme]

What kind of car do you drive? My partner and I usually leave at about 6.30am (we live on Onewa Rd near Highbury), I didn't see any other bikers this morning... only after I got onto the motorway... were you stuck in the traffic near the Fanshaw Street Offramp? Some truck broke down I think and it was bumper to bumper from the Shelly Beach Rd Offramp... My bike was overheating nicely and it was drizzling... couldn't see much out the visor and with the visor up my eyes were watering (or was that the drizzle? lol)

I think I've seen Al on Onewa Rd, if it is him, I don't think he lane splits, I've passed a BMW a few times that sits in the traffic... My partner and I have talked about the BMW rider and assumed he didn't split lanes because maybe his bike was too wide... because he has side bags kinda thingys

We used to live up in Birkdale and often saw a blue Suzuki 250 (with an L plate) and a Suzuki 600 that lived up the same road as us...

*loves bikers... its like a little family*

[Al]

Placidfemme, not me you've seen...
I ride a yellow BMW "dual-purpose", no saddle bags, sometimes a top-box, ALWAYS filter whenever possible! (otherwise I would sit in a cage and wait!)
Good luck with your Onewa saga :ride:

Al

[oldfart]

Jim2, your onto it. What a waste of intellectual effort to even respond to bad driving. In most cases its a simple case of the driver didn't see us. Trashing spmeone's vehicle because of some imagined slight is pretty dumb.
It is rather interesting how many m/cyclists develop this us & them mentality towards cars drivers, (who just happen to be their wives/mothers/cousins/brothers etc) & seem to think they are a different race. The bad driving skills displayed by joe average car driver are no different to the bad driving skills displayed by joe average m/cyclist.

[placidfemme]

Placidfemme, not me you've seen...
I ride a yellow BMW "dual-purpose", no saddle bags, sometimes a top-box, ALWAYS filter whenever possible! (otherwise I would sit in a cage and wait!)
Good luck with your Onewa saga :ride:

Al

Oh ok, I didn't realise your bike was yellow. There is someone else who rides up Onewa Rd on a BMW that doesn't split lanes... I think it's the only bike I've seen that doesn't split lanes up Onewa Rd. I've been going up Onewa Rd some days and have like 3 bikers infront of me and about 3 behind me all filtering up the road lol

Well in any case... ride safe :)

[Lou Girardin]

Jim2, your onto it. What a waste of intellectual effort to even respond to bad driving. In most cases its a simple case of the driver didn't see us. Trashing spmeone's vehicle because of some imagined slight is pretty dumb.
It is rather interesting how many m/cyclists develop this us & them mentality towards cars drivers, (who just happen to be their wives/mothers/cousins/brothers etc) & seem to think they are a different race. The bad driving skills displayed by joe average car driver are no different to the bad driving skills displayed by joe average m/cyclist.

So the truch driver that looked straight at at me and pulled out when I was 30 metres away, "didn't see me" or my headlight and I should not waste any intellectual effort in remonstrating in the strongest possible terms.
One's things for sure, if there was anything to damage on his truck I would have.
We're not talking about fender benders for bikers, these cretins can kill us.

[Quasievil]

I've seriously wanted to kick off a few side mirrors as I go... But then all the cage drivers around who see will automatically think all bikers are arseholes



Personally when Im on the bike I try not to let a cage driver get away with anything I respond with a finger a fist shake, or a kick, which I have done twice in the last year because they deliberately tried to either hit me or run me off the road.

However on a sensible note if youre going to kick a mirror off make sure they can get you back and secondly make sure you dont fall off.

Personally i would recommend you dont kick a mirror but whack (if at low speed) it so it bends backwards, the spring return of the mirror will make a horrible noise, that will piss them off ,but there wont be any damage involved

on a couple of occassions I have invited a motorist to park up to have a chat about it also, they never do.

At the end of the day its wise to steer clear of these drivers, personally Im a bit aggro when cars cut me off or whatever and I take possibly the wrong action and come out fighting, I have a well adopted philosophy of "there is only one UM and thats FUCK UM" something my uncle taught me

peace out

[vifferman]

What kind of car do you drive?
It's a blue one. :shifty: Although sometimes I take the silver one. Or the red one. :yes:
LOL. No, you wouldn't see me, as if I'm in one of the cars, I leave anywhere from 6:50 to 7:30, and on the bike (it's a blue one too, I think) I usually leave about 7:45 to 8:05.

Had to take the bike today (Oh, the humanity!!) and a car's mirror knocked against mine while filtering. It knocked mine out of place - should I have gone back and aggroed the car driver a bit? :whistle:
Actually, I should be more careful - I've broken two mirrors so far, and they're not cheap.

Apart from the car mirror, I had no bad experiences today, although following someone who was obviously using a menu as his driver's licence was somewhat disturbing, as his car wandered all over the road, slowed down/sped up/slowed down, and took some very weird lines. Eejit.

[placidfemme]

lol

I've never knocked my mirrors on any car mirrors... I do a bit of swerving to duck between the mirrors on either side... I think the worst thing I've done... was...

*is ashamed to admit this*

I was filtering down Onewa Rd behind my partner... and usually when we reach the part of Onewa Rd where the traffic starts to merge, I try to merge to the right and then go up the centre line once I've made sure the on-coming traffic is in the far lane and there is no cops parked at the traffic lights waiting to turn onto the motorway... and this one morning I was behind my partner and went to pull out and my partner decided for the first time EVER to do the same thing... we both pulled out at almost the same time and my ankle hit her pipe and gave her a good scare and me a nice sore ankle...

I suppose we were both in the wrong for wanting to ride up the centre line, and I was wrong for assuming that she would... like usual... stay in the traffic and crawl up towards the motorway... That will teach me...

[johnny]

Hey

My partner and I ride down Onewa Rd every morning to the motorway, and I've started to notice a pattern with certain cage drivers that deliberatly cause problems for bikers... I've started to take note on which type of cars these are and how they behave most mornings... and so in general, if any other bikers ride up Onewa Road, they can keep an eye out for these dangrous drivers...

There is a white VW Golf with a female driver, I've seen her 3 times in the last week. Most cage drivers move over a little and give bikers some room when they see/hear you coming, which is great. I've had this VW driver nearly squash me into a 18 wheeler truck, and the other two times I saw her, she moves over as close to the car next to her, making it impossible to get past...

This morning I was following another biker (With a white helmet on a bike bigger than 400cc - not sure as I only saw him/her from behind) down Onewa Road just before the traffic merges... We both slowed down next to a red car (A Holden no less... with a male driver), when the traffic started moving again he stay still, I had my indicator on, as did the biker infront, and him (cage driver) not moving made me think he was waiting for me (and the biker ahead of me) to pull in and merge... at the last minute the cage driver revved up and moved forward a lot faster than crawling morning traffic required, I swerved over to avoid being hit, as did the biker ahead, So I pulled in behind the Red car and then took off up the centre line...

A lot more incidents have happened, but from now on I'm going to keep a running record of dangerous cage drivers to keep an eye out for on Onewa Road.

Anyway... to the biker in the white helmet... I feel your anger too... I saw you shaking your head... proberly swearing away in your helmet....

Ride safe :ride:


Good Man!!
traffic is bad already we dont need these bad car driver to make any more pain!!! When i not riding my bike i give away to any biker i see who is going to pass me from behind and once a biker even wave to me (as saying thanks i think) If everyone no matter you drive or ride are respect eachother this world will be lot better !!!

[placidfemme]

Good Man!!
traffic is bad already we dont need these bad car driver to make any more pain!!! When i not riding my bike i give away to any biker i see who is going to pass me from behind and once a biker even wave to me (as saying thanks i think) If everyone no matter you drive or ride are respect eachother this world will be lot better !!!

I agree! I try to wave whenever possible... I find it quite hard when splitting lanes as dodging mirrors takes both hands on the bar, but when goign slow enough I always try to wave :)

[vifferman]

lol

I've never knocked my mirrors on any car mirrors... I do a bit of swerving to duck between the mirrors on either side....
It's partly the bike; this is only (I think) the second time I've knocked the mirror, but the VF500 and VFR750 did it quite regularly (possibly partly because I used to filter/lanesplit/overtake/undertake/go over, through and around much more frequently. The VTR was good - very slim, low(ish) mirrors, and a rev of the motor made a nice growly "Get the fork out of my way!" noise when the sea of cars wasn't parting quickly enough. :devil2:
But I've done more worserer things than knock mirrors: caroomed off the side of a car I was undertaking (thank Bob for fat, indestructible s/steel mufflers and knee armour!); rear footpeg hanger scratched the front of a car I was manoeuvering past (Yes - the FRONT :yes: ); riding on the footpath, when the cars were taking up too much of the road; riding on the gravelly/grassy bit beside the motorway when the cars were stationary and taking up too much of the road; folding someone's mirror flat so I could sneak past, etc. etc.

Naughty, eh?!? :whocares:

[vifferman]

Hi! It's me again!

Was someone being vigilante-ish this morning, or very naughty, on Onewa Road?
Saw some flashing blue'n'red lights behind me ("Gah!! They're after me! What've I done now?!?"), and then the EagleyHelicopterThingo flying around.

C'mon - fess up! Who was knocking mirrors and like that there?

[placidfemme]

lol go hard!

I havn't done most of that... But then again I ride a small route to work and back and other than that I hardly ride much... *still hasn't been on a group ride*

[placidfemme]

Hi! It's me again!

Was someone being vigilante-ish this morning, or very naughty, on Onewa Road?
Saw some flashing blue'n'red lights behind me ("Gah!! They're after me! What've I done now?!?"), and then the EagleyHelicopterThingo flying around.

C'mon - fess up! Who was knocking mirrors and like that there?

lol wasn't me...

:no: I bussed to work today... didn't like the look of the wind...

Rode yesterday... and got the shit scared out of me on my way home... fire truck heading towards the motorway and me heading the other way and as he got next to me he went HONKKKKKKKKKK HONKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKk and I saw the truck but wasn't expecting the horn and without even knowing I gripped the throttle a little too hard and revved and zoomed off up the road before I composed myself lol

[SPman]

if B = hospital :killingme

Actually, I find with mirrored visor down, black leather jacket, plastic fantastic bike, perfectly suited personalised plate and my trade mark high beams on, lane 1A tends to part like I'm Moses! I think most cagers get a giggle outta my plate as I avoid queueing :msn-wink:
If your trade mark high beam is like the guy on the blue R1 , Northern motorway, @ 6.55am last week.......once my eyes had readjusted to the blindness induced by a full dose of high beam from the side mirror - I felt like cutting the prick off and jumping on his head ! Fucker. When will people realise that high beam is illegal in traffic and 50k areas. Car drivers can see you! Not when they've had their eyeballs fried and cant see anything for 10 seconds! This also applies to fuckwit cages running 27 fog, spot and sundry lights on their fucken SS Commodes and Jap wankmobiles!


ooops!

as you were

[vifferman]

.......once my eyes had readjusted to the blindness induced by a full dose of high beam from the side mirror - I felt like cutting the prick off and jumping on his head !

Indeed.
I've had a couple of instances recently while driving, of bikes behind me with their headlights either on high-beam or badly adjusted, and it's not good! I've had to dip the rearview mirror, then sit crooked in the seat to avoid the light blasting into my eyes from the side mirror of the car. And these are tinted mirrors! With darkish tinted windows!

So it's not just car drivers who are guilty of pharkwittery - anyone can join in the game.

[SPman]

So the truch driver that looked straight at at me and pulled out when I was 30 metres away, "didn't see me" or my headlight and I should not waste any intellectual effort in remonstrating in the strongest possible terms.
.
There is a good article in the March Bike magazine about motion blindness and "looming"
Cant recall all the article, but it is about the effect where an approaching object merges into the background - it doesnt register as moving - appears to stay in a single spot, so the brain does not register it as a threat, because as far as the brain is concerned, it is stationary, at a distance. When the object gets very close, the relative position to the background appears to suddenly change and the object is right upon the viewer - it looms up large and fast. This causes the viewer to momentarily freeze as the brain decides, fight or flight!
It is a technique that Dragonflies (and probably other insects/animals) use, when hunting prey. - appear to be a stationary object in the background at a distance by adjusting its approach angles, until it is suddenly too late and as the prey is momentarily frozen when the dragonfly looms large at the last second, its history. This was discovered by Scientists last year.
Sound like a familiar scenario.......driver looks right at you as you approach..then...pulls out in front of you...approach angles change and suddenly you are looming down on the cage....cage stops right in front of you..freezes, as you "suddenly" apppear out of nowhere. If you were a dragonfly, another successful kill. As a biker, its often the other way around.
So, quite literally, the driver is NOT aware of you. Or, not aware of you as a rapidly approaching threat. Until... he starts to move and you are suddenly thrown into sharper focus as a close and rapidly closing object. And from that point..........

[vifferman]

There is a good article in the March Bike magazine about motion blindness and "looming"
I've found that when someone is tootling along (excessively) slowly, weaving back and forth behind them is very effective for making them pull over so you can pass them. (I don't actually care if they pull over or not - I just like to piss off people that exhibit substandard levels of driving skill...) :weird:






Um.... weaving back'n'forth to piss people off doesn't count as "exhibiting substandard levels of driving skills", does it..? :confused:

[placidfemme]

I weave slowly from side to side when I'm beind a cage... just to make sure they've seen me... I don't think I do it dangerously... just to be seen...

The Dragonfly example is really good and makes a LOT of sense... I'll keep that in mind in future :niceone:

[Pixie]

Many of the antisocial things cagers do are due to the " I'm in my own little world and anonymous too." sense of invulnerability they have.
However when you confront them,perhaps by inviting them to stop and discuss their behaviour ,it generally comes as quite a shock to them.
Also they get use to the fact that if they upset another cager, there usually wont be any consequences because if the other cager was to ram them,for instance,the offended cagers car would be damaged and thus he is unlikely to take such drastic actions.
But they forget that if they piss off a biker. he is in a much better position to damage their vehicle and get away scot free.

[SPman]

In the past, Ive found that, if I think people are not aware of me, cars waiting on side roads etc, if I changed my position on the road rapidly, weaved around a bit or something similar, it makes a difference. The driver staring at you, scenario. I cant prove it, but by the shocked looks on some drivers faces as you go past, its quite obvious that they havent seen you, but have frozen before they pulled out.I've been instinctively doing it for years - visibility on the road is not just about wearing bright colours, its often about attitude in the way you ride - all my intersection incidents have been when my mind was on other things, not concentrating on the ride.....riding invisibly, in fact.

[Pixie]

There is a good article in the March Bike magazine about motion blindness and "looming"
Cant recall all the article, but it is about the effect where an approaching object merges into the background - it doesnt register as moving - appears to stay in a single spot, so the brain does not register it as a threat, because as far as the brain is concerned, it is stationary, at a distance. When the object gets very close, the relative position to the background appears to suddenly change and the object is right upon the viewer - it looms up large and fast. This causes the viewer to momentarily freeze as the brain decides, fight or flight!
It is a technique that Dragonflies (and probably other insects/animals) use, when hunting prey. - appear to be a stationary object in the background at a distance by adjusting its approach angles, until it is suddenly too late and as the prey is momentarily frozen when the dragonfly looms large at the last second, its history. This was discovered by Scientists last year.
Sound like a familiar scenario.......driver looks right at you as you approach..then...pulls out in front of you...approach angles change and suddenly you are looming down on the cage....cage stops right in front of you..freezes, as you "suddenly" apppear out of nowhere. If you were a dragonfly, another successful kill. As a biker, its often the other way around.
So, quite literally, the driver is NOT aware of you. Or, not aware of you as a rapidly approaching threat. Until... he starts to move and you are suddenly thrown into sharper focus as a close and rapidly closing object. And from that point..........
This is due to the bain's visual system,which has a specific, edge detection,processing area.
Until an approaching object gets quite close(looms),its edges don't change in the visual field ,so the brain disregards the object.
We can help to avoid this "Motion Camoflage" by changing our position in the lane by performing a slow weave as we approach a car stopped at an intersection,who might not see us.

[Lou Girardin]

I read that SPman, this was different. I was travelling at a slight arc towards the driver and he DID see me. He said so. He was just a useless, fat, incompetent piece of pond scum. So I let him go.

[SPman]

Fairy nuff.
We'll always get those types.
Nothing a 9mm between the eyes wont fix, though.:drinkup:

[NhuanH]

If your trade mark high beam is like the guy on the blue R1 , Northern motorway, @ 6.55am last week.......once my eyes had readjusted to the blindness induced by a full dose of high beam from the side mirror - I felt like cutting the prick off and jumping on his head ! Fucker. When will people realise that high beam is illegal in traffic and 50k areas. Car drivers can see you! Not when they've had their eyeballs fried and cant see anything for 10 seconds! This also applies to fuckwit cages running 27 fog, spot and sundry lights on their fucken SS Commodes and Jap wankmobiles!


ooops!

as you were
oh my bad. if it appeases you massa, I have been trying to keep it on low beam. And I have never been on the Northern mway at those ridiculous times! people tell me the sun ain't even up then! :cold:

[MadDuck]

Sorry dont mean to take over the thread or anything BUT you think you got problems.

Try Whangaparaoa Road (in the cage 1.5 hours to get 2 kms) just at the moment its so damn dangerous for bikers. The coning they have put in place means you cant get past the damn cages and they so full of road rage they dont see or care. If summit overtakes them they attack.

[Redstar]

Interesting point about this particular road is the final stretch of road from the BP station to the traffic lights at the bottom of the hill lights it only has a single white line divider not double yellow no overtaking lines this implies no overtaking for oncomming traffic coming up the hill? its an error or road marking which makes neither overtaking illegal? :motu:

[placidfemme]

Interesting point about this particular road is the final stretch of road from the BP station to the traffic lights at the bottom of the hill lights it only has a single white line divider not double yellow no overtaking lines this implies no overtaking for oncomming traffic coming up the hill? its an error or road marking which makes neither overtaking illegal? :motu:

Yeah thats why a few bikers (Including myself) ride up the centre line and then pull in before the traffic lights...

There was absolutley no traffic this morning up Onewa Rd. Have to love Saturdays :ride:

[Al]

There was absolutley no traffic this morning up Onewa Rd. Have to love Saturdays
I agree!
Had to go in to work this morning early to finish off our stock-take, maybe due to wetness and time (06:00) I had a clear run through to East Tamaki.
Not too bad coming home either :yes:

Al

[sAsLEX]

ahh he suggests the way to do it in his avatar.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/images/customavatars/avatar29_29.gif

Paint bottom of bike a nice bright white
Lift front wheel so visible
weave to avoid blending in to the background



Bigger version (http://www.sportbikez.net/getvid/13)

[vifferman]

Lanesplit everywhere I could today.

Because I could. :whistle:
And because I'm tired and grumpy (three hours of sleep will do that to you).

I got to the end of Onewa Road, where the 'lanes' merge, and this woman was determined I couldn't be selfish and go ahead of her. So she got right up behind the bus in front, and edged over to the left, where I was. I see - so that's the game is it? If I can't go here, then I'll go the other side.:weird:
Braked, and went around behind and to the right of Mrs Red Car. I was sooooo tempted to wave at her on the way past. :devil2:

Wish I had now. :weep:

[mattd]

yep just moved from exmouth to onewa myself this month, even tho im right at the bottom (just before lake rd lights) i already had a few incidents myself. name one lady who was determined to use the road i was using even though she had plenty herself. so if anyone see a grey toyota corona, linc plate tu5281, give her another nice "friendly" wave for me!

[Lou Girardin]

I got to the end of Onewa Road, where the 'lanes' merge, and this woman was determined I couldn't be selfish and go ahead of her. So she got right up behind the bus in front, and edged over to the left, where I was. I see - so that's the game is it? If I can't go here, then I'll go the other side.:weird:
Braked, and went around behind and to the right of Mrs Red Car. I was sooooo tempted to wave at her on the way past. :devil2:

Wish I had now. :weep:

That is so much fun, I even lift my flip front so they can see my shit-eating grin.

[placidfemme]

Well I havn't ridden down Onewa Road since Saturday... some nice... err... person... gave me the flu/cold... and I'm scared of what the inside of my helmet would look like after a 15 minute ride (15 minutes = 10 sneezes)

*doesn't like winter*

Ride safe :)

[Coldkiwi]

That is so much fun, I even lift my flip front so they can see my shit-eating grin.


hehe, it is a good feeling isn't it? a nice casual 'toodleoo!' wave on the way past is always a good reason to smile and feel superior. I've always found a friendly wave makes me more satisfied than a shaken fist when drivers purposely block me... cause ya just KNOW it winds them up even more :Punk: