Whangaparaoa ...world famous in NZ

[MadDuck]

Yes I bet you all looking at your road maps going Whanga-where? Whnaga-what?

Well we featured on Close Up tonight due to our councils incompetence! There is a 4 laning project going on ...thats on the only road on and off the Peninsula and its taking people 2 hours to travel 2 kms. Full marks to the dude selling wihisky on the side of the road on the way home :niceone: The bikes dont have a problem mind you until they meet the absolute CRAZY coning of the lanes which makes it dangerous to overtake.

The downside is our company on the Peninsula was down at least 20% in sales for the month - if it continues that could spell local jobs lost. The upside is we stock taked during the day cos theres no damn customers and we got home early.

Mr Mayor of Rodney you are an absolute tosser. The lack of organisation has caused an otherwise laid back community to have road rage like none I have ever witnessed before. SHAME ON YOU

[dangerous]

There is a 4 laning project going on...
Well thats good to know that we dont have the only problem down here like that, same situation just up the rd from me and its been going on all year....... cant see it being finished in the near future either.
And here I was cursing the Auckers lot for my road users charges going to sorting out your rds :mad:

[Coldkiwi]

has it always been that bad or is it just that its hit the news lately?

[MadDuck]

has it always been that bad or is it just that its hit the news lately?

It was kinda getting bad as the population increased at Gulf Harbour and the council dragged their toes on a link bridge because of the damn "Greenies". The worst has been in the last two weeks.

The works had to happen but they couldnt organise a "piss up in a brewery". They have made a damn hash of the whole thing from woo to go.

[FROSTY]

sounds like councils are fucked all over. like the doofuses who decided theyd fix ALL of spagetti jusntion all at once.

[MadDuck]

Must be the same goddam contractors. Will wander down there tomorrow (cos I can walk faster than drive) and tell them to go back to Auckers where they are more at home

[Zed]

...Well we featured on Close Up tonight due to our councils incompetence! There is a 4 laning project going on ...thats on the only road on and off the Peninsula and its taking people 2 hours to travel 2 kms.I work with a couple of people who are directly affected by these road works, they too say it's a nightmare! One of them doubled back home last week and never made it in to work. :crazy:


The lack of organisation has caused an otherwise laid back community to have road rage like none I have ever witnessed before. SHAME ON YOUAt least you're not in America where 'Joe Public' has a gun in his car. :2guns:

[MadDuck]

At least you're not in America where 'Joe Public' has a gun in his car. :2guns:

Yeah well I got caught in it last week and I tell ya if I had a gun for the buggers jumping the damn queue I had been sitting in for and hour and a half....and I am usually such a passive gal :ride:

[crashe]

Well I was watching it on "close Up" and I thought cool, we are gonna see MadDuck hooning up and down the road on her bike, so that we could all see her... but alas, she wasnt to be seen.... in fact not one m/bike was seen.

Betcha she was sitting in front of her fire keeping nice and warm....lol.

[MadDuck]

Hahahahaha

Saw the cameras this morning outside work. If I had known it was gonna be on the tele I would have got the bike out and done some wheelies and stoppies just for the cameras....oh and proly fallen off in the process :oi-grr:

KB sticker in full view

[Virago]

...........The lack of organisation has caused an otherwise laid back community to have road rage like none I have ever witnessed before.......
I couldn't quite see the logic of having some tosser with a microphone and camera, actually stepping out into the road and stopping the flow of traffic, to ask drivers what they thought of the traffic delays........ :weird:

Well done "Close Up", even Paul Holmes wouldn't be that dumb :scratch:

[Zed]

I couldn't quite see the logic of having some tosser with a microphone and camera, actually stepping out into the road and stopping the flow of traffic, to ask drivers what they thought of the traffic delays...One of the main points made was that there was no traffic flow! People are sitting stationery in their vehicles for up to an hour or longer, time enuf to crank up the barbie and have a feed whilst waiting. :no:

[Jeremy]

Perhaps this is another reason why you shouldn't hire the lowest bidding contractor for a job. I'm never too sure why they go for the lowest bidding one.

Also TV3 says that the town has seen the suburbs of the town expanding rapidly in recent months? How? If you can't get in and out a town why on earth would you buy a house there?

[Redstar]

just moved to Stanmore bay so do the famous roadworks now daily thank God I have a bike! :Punk:

[MadDuck]

Well I do have to laugh cos the TV picked the day the traffic was flowing quite well for a change. They looked a bit stunned after all the reports form locals they got. Welcome to Stanmore Bay Redstar we must be neighbours...poor you


Why did I buy a house her J...it wasnt that bad back then :Punk:

[crashe]

Jeremy - Whangarparoa is on the peninsula (sp) so there is only one road in and one road out.... and its a very long road.

Te Atatu Peninsula in West Auckland has the same thing.. one road in and one road to get out of there..... it gets congested in the mornings etc but I dont think that people are held up for that long (2 to 3 hours).
Mind you the road aint as long as Whangarparoa Rd and they aint doing road works at the mo.
But people buy over in Te Atatu Peninsula as well, knowing that its a one way in and a one way out.

So why do people buy in these areas... cos its appealing to them or they like the area...... or the price is right.

[Al]

Seems to be a common problem around Auckland. Devonport also has only one road out (Lake Road), luckily they also have the ferry!

Al

[Antallica]

Whanga was always pretty bad for traffic, but hey... I'd still live there :D

[Sniper]

Sounds like what they are doing to quite old picton at the moment. Those that passed through will know what I mean

[Lou Girardin]

Good old local body politicians. Anyone expressing a desire to be one should be automatically disqualified.

[vifferman]

And here I was cursing the Auckers lot for my road users charges going to sorting out your rds :mad:
That's just silly, for these reasons: (1) A third of NZ lives in D'Auckland, so it makes sense that a large chunk of the roading budget comes here; (2) The Gubmint have been collecting 3 times as much roading tax as they've actually been spending on the roads, for YEARS; (3) There have been specific levies on the petrol price to be used specifically for D'Auckland roading, and it hasn't been directed there - just into the coffers.

There are other silly things, like siting a major city on a thin isthmus, not building much bigger bridges and roads in the first place (no forward thinking or planning), and centralising a lot of business. Why in this day of good telecommunications etc. do people have to travel into the CBD to work? There are nearly 100 people in our office, few of whom live nearby, and almost all of whom could 'telecommute'. I'm sure there are other businesses that are the same, many of whom are in the CBD because it's "handy" or whatever.

And the dumbest thing? That people still insist on travelling by car here, and average only 1.x people per car. That's why the roads are clogged. I take the car only when there are at least 3 people in it. I bet very, very few (not many, if any) people actually need their cars during the day, and not many (if any) people have investigated other alternatives.

[KATWYN]

Well I don't regret buying a property out this way. Its
only a matter of a few more weeks and things will be flowing
again. - although now is not a good time to try and sell
a house out HBC way I reakon - Maybe a couple of months
ago it would've been a good time to buy one out here??

It was pretty bad how an employer fired a staff member
because they were a casualty of the traffic jams. Our
employees arrive really late all the time these days - its no
big drama and it certainly doesnt warrent firing someone
like that employer did.

A bit of patience - it will all be over soon.

[ManDownUnder]

And the dumbest thing? That people still insist on travelling by car here, and average only 1.x people per car. That's why the roads are clogged. I take the car only when there are at least 3 people in it. I bet very, very few (not many, if any) people actually need their cars during the day, and not many (if any) people have investigated other alternatives.

Buy that man a beer then put him in charge. :drinkup:

100% agreed with you... it's NUTS.

Get every 35 cars and replace them with a single BUS. See what that would do for congentsion (or for those that are predisposed toward light rail... the numbers are even better).

Empty the roads.

I read something ages ago that spelled it out in an interesting way. Every working person typically needs 2 "spaces" one to work, one to live. We're doubling up on the space requirements of old.

And NOW we also need 2 spaces for our car!

Nuts - just nuts. Plan ahead, make yourself unpopular for the sake of progress (which is waht's happening in Whangaparoia, albeit 4 years late from what I understand) and then reap the benefits.

We should be looking at what Sydney did. put some sajor roads underground, underground the trains, get a decent public transport system etc.

and yes TELECOMMUTE. What a novel idea...

MDU

[vifferman]

Buy that man a beer then put him in charge. :drinkup:

Alright, then! Now that I'm in charge, here's the new rules:

Right - first up, everyone has to ride a bike or scooterer before they can drive a car. Minimum of two years. Survivors may then try for other types of vehicle licences.
Driving tests are going to be more comprehensive, and include proper psychological profiling. Road ragers, boi racers, retards, and anyone who has poor spatial awareness will be denied a licence.
Traffic lights are going to be equipped with road spikes - run a red light, and your tyres get shredded.
A fleet of trucks is going to cruise the streets, and any dunger cars (including almost all used Jap imports, but especially those with stupid names) are going to be compacted on the side of the road.
The CBD is going to be a tourist/shopping mecca - rents for other businesses will be astronomical to encourage decentralisation.
All IT businesses will be required to have all staff telecommuntering.
An exemption will be required for travelling with no passengers in your car. If you're on your own, take a scooter or bus.
Monorail everywhere.
Bikes can park wherever the hell they like - FREE.
Lanesplitting is mandatory if traffic speed drops below the posted speed limits. There will be lanes similar to cycling lanes to enable bikes to filter to the front at traffic lights, etc.
Registration for bikes will revert to the old graduated system, with the largest bikes still being cheaper to register than cars.
Hoggley Doggleys will be required to abide by noise restrictions, the same as everyone else. But bikes with 'nice' sounding aftermarket systems will be allowed some leeway.
Slippery lane markings, tar snakes, potholes, personhole covers, unswept road repairs, etc. will be banned. The council and Transit will be required to keep the roads in good order.
Road straightening programs are OUT. If you can't go round corners, get the hell of the road.
A squad of Anti Dickhead Patrolpersons will roam the Highways and Bighways, dispensing instant justice with RPGs.
Scooterists and HoggleyDoggleyists will attend mandatory "How to wave to other two-wheelers" classes.
Campervans, trucks, slow vehicles, tractors, etc. will be banned from the best motorcycling roads.
Licences will have classes, with different speed limits depending on ability / licence class.
Speed limits for bikes will be higher than those for cars.
Have I left anything out?

[Krayy]

And the dumbest thing? That people still insist on travelling by car here, and average only 1.x people per car. That's why the roads are clogged. I take the car only when there are at least 3 people in it. I bet very, very few (not many, if any) people actually need their cars during the day, and not many (if any) people have investigated other alternatives.
Roll on inner city road user charges for non-carpoolers...

[Lou Girardin]

There is not the slightest amount of bias in Vmans post.
I would like dickhead to be defined very tightly as some consider bikers to be dickheads.
I don't think these policies would be voter friendly somehow. Unless commonsense becomes attractive.

[Ixion]

You try getting an ambulance through there at the moment!
Heres a tip.. dont get real sick or hurt yourelf between Silverdale and Manly
Helichoppaterater thingy ?

[vifferman]

There is not the slightest amount of bias in Vmans post.

Dang! (and Darn!) [and Dammit!] {and Dagnabbit!}

I'll have to revise MyListOfRules, then. I hadn't intended to be populist. :devil2:

[Toast]

The bikes dont have a problem mind you until they meet the absolute CRAZY coning of the lanes which makes it dangerous to overtake.


You mean just after that set of lights where you can turn left to go to Orewa? There's often breaks in traffic coming the other way, make use of all of Her Majesty's real estate.

My olds live up in GH, and it does help to justify having a bike when you can cut out 1hr of the trip vs. a car from Silverdale to Manly (about 7, 8kms?). If I only had a car, I don't think I'd visit outside the hours of 1-2pm, or 9pm-4am. Bloody ridiculous...

[Lias]

Yes that is a very serious consideration with someone in need of expediant transport to hospital (i.e. time critical) at the moment.
We have the cell phone number of the works supervisor on that road in our vehicles now, as do Comms., if we are on a priority one job they stop the traffic both ends (more delays) and allow us free passage.

Damned good idea that.

And you'd get my vote viffer :-P

[Wolf]

And the dumbest thing? That people still insist on travelling by car here, and average only 1.x people per car. That's why the roads are clogged.
Same problem here in Hamilscum. Walking to work I see shit-loads of cars going by with only one person in them and I'd bet good money that not all of them have communted in from outside walking distance or have some unavoidable need to have the car.

I bet very, very few (not many, if any) people actually need their cars during the day, and not many (if any) people have investigated other alternatives.
You'd win that bet.

When do your rules get passed into law? You have submitted them to the Governor General, I hope.

[MSTRS]

[/list]Have I left anything out?
Perhaps that wing-mirrorless cages are destroyed & their drivers banned for life - they obviously don't know how to behave around bikers

[Zed]

Alright, then! Now that I'm in charge, here's the new rules:All sounds like absolute chaos...but worth a try methinks!



A fleet of trucks is going to cruise the streets, and any dunger cars (including almost all used Jap imports, but especially those with stupid names) are going to be compacted on the side of the road.
That law made me laugh. :rofl:

Vifferman for Mayor! (is there a "Mayor" Flame Warrior thingy?)

[Lias]

Mayor be damned,.. Vifferman for PM :-)

[Wolf]

Mayor be damned,.. Vifferman for PM :-)
Nah, "Supreme Benevolent Dictator" - he's got my vote. And I'll head up the compacter truck division and LiasTZ can be the Obergruppenfuhrer of the Anti-Dickhead squad.

We can recruit right here on KB.

We'll be wanting some pretty snappy uniforms, mind.

We could write up our own "Pledge of Allegiance" that every school kid has to say each morning ad nauseum - but instead of stupid crap about honouring the flag and the country, it will be solemn vows never to buy pus-bucket cars and to always maintain our motorcycles.

We could probably come up with a nice stirring and emotional Anthem - the percussion section could be the sound of cars being compacted and baseball bats being rigorously applied to dickheads.

I recommend spot vehicle checks - preferably about four in the morning - and rigorous loyalty checks ("Do you now, or have you ever, driven a Mazda?")

And no chance of name suppression for anyone caught breaking our Glorious Leaders laws - in fact, bring back public pillory. Shackle the bastards in the town square and hang a picture of the car around their necks so that all may see and learn...

I could do a neat sideline in selling rotten veges to the on-lookers.

[KATWYN]

Hmmm I wonder if this "disorganized" chaos now proves a
need to have a bridge in Stillwater for access to Whangaparaoa.......

careful planning maybe?

[vifferman]

All sounds like absolute chaos...but worth a try methinks!
We've got absolute chaos now.
This would be organised chaos.


That law made me laugh. :rofl:
This is no laughing matter. :mad:
Our roads are full of dunger cars.
I go into our carpark and waht do I see? RUBBISH!!
Dungers. Boring cars. Crapulent Craposities.

Apart from MY car, of course.
And maybe the Managers car - it'd be good for dounts and burnouts, even if it is a substitute for inches...:whistle:

The rest?
COMPACT THEM! SQUASH'EM!!

And my plan for things that break down on The Bridge is even more cunning, even more expedienter....


The FlipperTruck comes up behind them, the flipper extends underneath the POS's chassis....

and they're flipped off the bridge, and into the waters of TheSparklingWaitemata!

Brilliant, innit? :2thumbsup


Vifferman for Mayor! (is there a "Mayor" Flame Warrior thingy?)
I don't want to be mayor!

I want to be SUPREME RULER. :devil2:

[MadDuck]

A quick update.....sitting on my back deck this morning having my 'get me going' coffee and I thought "Whats that damn noise"? Oh its cars moving.

Could have something to do with Orewa College having a 10am start or people taking a longer than long weekend. The bridge to Stillwater (Penlink) is still a hot topic and the Greenies will do their best to stop it.

Talking to someone at the pub tonight and two bikers came off due to the bad seal and wet conditions the other night...all ok. Maybe we have seen the worst of it :rofl:

[Jantar]

I have absolutely no sympathy for the person who complained that it took almost 4 hours to travel the 10.5 kms to Albany. At an average walking speed they could have been there in half that time, or on a pushbike they would take around 35 mins. So why bother taking a car? :weird:

Full marks to those who use their bikes when by themselves. :niceone:

[Hillbilly]

I know this an old thread, but I used to live in Arkles Bay many years ago. There was all this talk of a bridgre from Arkles Bay to Stillwater. Did they ever build it?

[Edbear]

I know this an old thread, but I used to live in Arkles Bay many years ago. There was all this talk of a bridgre from Arkles Bay to Stillwater. Did they ever build it?




LOL!!! This is the RDC here! No-one can agree on anything so nothing gets done! Sound familiar?

[Hillbilly]

Yeah! I think they were the only Discrict Council that have had the fame of being dissolved by parliament!

[Zapf]

We've got absolute chaos now.
This would be organised chaos.

So where do we go vote for you?

[lukelin250]

that bridge wouldve solvd heaps, now there talking shit about putting in a mini railway down the length of the coast,,hahah what the fuck?

[Hillbilly]

The last I heard that bridge was going to be a privately built/owned bridge and a toll one at that. Sydney knows all about that sort of stuff with it's new tunnel that everyone avoids like the plague.