Steel ramps on Cook Strait ferries?

[dogsnbikes]

The issue has been raise at work and we would like to hear your concerns...

How difficult and duanting do you find,

Having to stop on the steel ramp while disenbarking the top deck to the bottom deck to get of the
ferry?

Considering the ramp can be wet and bikes are often laden with luggage and pillon,

We are looking at this from a saftey issue to insure you have a smooth exit of the vessel.

Cheers Baz

[FJRider]

I myself have had no issues with any ferry. I have seen very few issues come to light .. by any I've talked to .. about the ferry crossings.
I think there is a thread in these forums about what to expect on the ferries ... problems etc. Most companies would keep records on "incidents" on their ramps ...

[Gremlin]

I haven't used the Bluebridge (so no multi deck scenario) but I have used the Interislander for several years.

Worst part is stopping on the ramp between boat and hard pathways, mostly because it's wet and not flat (in fact it's downright bumpy with ridges and tie down points). The rest is just being careful, as even the boat deck for Interislander is slippery because it's painted metal and often wet.

[Mushu]

I didn't find it any worse than any other slippery surface, people unprepared for it may have problems, do people drop bikes on the ramps often?

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[Coldrider]

I use the ferrys 3 to 4 times (return) a year. I never expect the decks and ramps not to be slippery. Never had any issues myself, or seen anyone else drop theirs. It would be better if the bikes can be ridden non stop, at a steady speed, rather than queing.

[sketch]

i found the interislanders service for motorbikes quite satisfactory in all regards, ramps included, and especially the fact your on first, the dirty great harley parking next to you with angry looking rider and missus who looks like microwaved bacon who put a helmet on a handle bar each and then abuse you for bumping there helmet with your bar ends on your normal sized "hey im just taking up 1 space" bike......... not so much

[onearmedbandit]

Last time I crossed it was torrential both ways, the guys on the Interislander made sure I got on and off safely, holding back all other traffic.

[Hitcher]

Team Hitcher exclusively uses the Bluebridge. The ramps have steel cleats welded to them. However if worried about riding up or down in the wet (as Mrs H is), then make sure that any vehicle in front has exited before commencing your trip. That way you'll have a clear run at it without having to stop on something potentially wet and skiddy and worry about having to get your feet down.

[jellywrestler]

i found the interislanders service for motorbikes quite satisfactory in all regards, did they look after your seeing eye dog well?

[sketch]

did they look after your seeing eye dog well?

I left him at home..............

[dogsnbikes]

Chatting to the Bosun about it as he rasied the issue with me in regards to the ramp exit,as he doesn't ride he wanted a point of view of how hard is it for the rider to stop the bike on the ramp and hold it there...
We haven't had any issues on the ramp,but they do want to limit the risk to riders.
Most I know are comfy with exiting the vessel but we still get the odd one that isn't..

The way the main deck on the Straitsman is loaded means that when discharging there is vehicals coming from both side as you exit the top deck,

They plan to arrange it so all bikes can discharge with out having to stop..

[Mom]

However if worried about riding up or down in the wet (as Mrs H is), then make sure that any vehicle in front has exited before commencing your trip. That way you'll have a clear run at it without having to stop on something potentially wet and skiddy and worry about having to get your feet down.

Yepper, good advice this, I have been caught out having to stop somewhere almost impossible to stay upright on when others stopped and blocked my way. I fell off, and almost dropped Millie and as a result, thanks to a couple of burly blokes who managed to hold my bike up.


They plan to arrange it so all bikes can discharge with out having to stop..

You might like to look at it the other way as well. Some of us vertically challenged ones tend to become a bit skittery on uneven, sloping, wet surfaces if we have to stop. Actually last time I attempted to board a ferry, a little one, I ended up on the ground :o Fuckers closed the gate just as I committed to riding on to it, touch of front brake, coupled with pea metal and ooooooooover she went :pinch:

[_Shrek_]

I've use the blue bridge mostly, only ever had one issue heading north the boys had put some cleaning stuff on the deck to remove an oil spill & had not washed it off by the time I had got there, O :eek: moment as the arse end started to slide then caught stopping at the bulk head, after a :laugh: with the boys they washed the deck down before they let any one else up, & it's not happened again in the last five years :niceone:

[banditrider]

I haven't had an issue but then the Bluebridge guys usually wave the bikes off first and I've never had to stop on the ramp. :niceone:

On both services the decks are usually wet and greasy so I treat them with respect. One of the funniest things I've seen is some guys crash starting a 400/4 - a big run up, leap aboard and let go of the clutch and into an impressive slide on the wet deck - bike fired up and they got away with it.

The only other scary thing I've had is idiots getting off their bikes and wandering off without tying them down...

[caspernz]

Team Hitcher exclusively uses the Bluebridge. The ramps have steel cleats welded to them. However if worried about riding up or down in the wet (as Mrs H is), then make sure that any vehicle in front has exited before commencing your trip. That way you'll have a clear run at it without having to stop on something potentially wet and skiddy and worry about having to get your feet down.

:niceone::first:

Yep I'd agree with the non-stop traversing of ramps, just cuts out any nonsense, especially for novice or nervous riders.

BTW - I've found the painted decks themselves more slippery than the ramps.

[Big Dave]

You just have to be smarter than the ramp.

[FJRider]

You just have to be smarter than the ramp.

Lessons already learner huh .. Is that the advice you give to all the harley riders ... ??? :shifty:

[BMWST?]

i havent been on the blue bridge but i wouldnt want to have to stop quickly on that grating stuff in the wet.I give myself plenty of room when going down them no issues with just riding them.But wet polished metal is very slippery esp when half of the surface is missing

[Chappie]

Have found the ramp on the Bluebridge a bit intimidating when you are about to commit yourself at the top and you realise its wet from a bit of slop from the crossing, you just need to get a free run to avoid using any braking. Had a problem coming off at Picton recently when I thought I had given the bike in front of me time to get clear and was already on my way when I realised he had stopped at the bottom of the ramp. A camper van was exiting from the bottom deck and had bellied the arse end on the drop off onto the wharf. With back wheels suspended and staff doing their best to get some packing under the wheels to jack it up enough to get it under way it meant everyone was held up including me on a fully laden 2 up tourer half way down the ramp, not a good place to be !! It would have taken around 10 minutes to get the camper underway and free up the backlog.I would however like to compliment the staff on the vehicle deck as I found them very helpfull and friendly. My question is, why cant they put bikes on the bottom deck ?

[MadDuck]

I have been on both Bluebridge and Interislander. The first time was Bluebridge and the guys are obviously biker friendly. As my legs are very close to my body I was extremely cautious and they did not rush me so it was all good. Ramps were fine.

Interislander I will never ever go on again. Probably did not help that a North Island HOG chapter was on the boat pushing everyone put of the way just so they could get themselves on first. We were sent on and made to wait half way down the ramp on the southern journey. Not ideal but at the end of the day it is all part of the trip.

The ramps are fine if not rushed and respected.

[Ocean1]

Only problem I've ever had on any of the ships was a deckhand telling me to back up to a fore/aft cable to tie down to. Got a bit testy when I insisted on doing it my way.