Why aren't I surprised?

[Lou Girardin]

I wrote to the Police Traffic manager for the shore last week. The reason was that the council, in their wisdom, designated Sylvan Ave and Exmouth St as a bus route. This was fine until bus numbers increased, now there is a situation where buses can't pass parked cars without encroaching into the oncoming lanes by a metre or more. And when you have parked cars on both sides of the street it can get a little 'exciting'. More so when there are two buses in a row. With bus drivers being as they are, might is right and they just drive at anyone approaching.
So after having to dive for the kerb for the umptenth time, I contacted the council and got fobbed off. Then I wrote to the Police person Gary Hill. I described the problem and also pointed out that speed enforcement is a very regular feature on Exmouth St, so there obviously would not a lack of resources to target this particular problem for a few days.
What do you think he replied?
Right in one, "I'm sorry we do not have the resources to have a campaign against this problem".

[frogfeaturesFZR]

Does'nt your head get sore from that brick wall Lou ??

[Lou Girardin]

Does'nt your head get sore from that brick wall Lou ??

Don't worry, contrary to the impression I might give, I don't do this often. I have to get quite pissed off.

[Drum]

Police enforcement would only ever be a temporary solution.

Two possible solutions:

1) Remove the bus route (unlikely to happen);
2) Mark "no stopping lines" on one side of the road and move the centreline over.

This second option tends to really piss off the locals.

Rather than the Police, you might have more luck with a councillor (not the council itself). Do you have any councillors with a road safety bandwagon?

Could you tell a little white lie and say that you almost saw a wee kiddie on a bike get taken out? But what am I saying - kids dont ride bikes in Auckland.

[Motu]

We have the same situation in the streets of Mt Roskill - and it's not the buses,it's the parked cars! The streets used to be fairly deserted with just the odd parked car - but these last few years as the older residents have moved out and ''immagrants'' (can't say Chinese,some people get upset when you say that) have moved in,the streets have become congested with cars.There are so many people living in the houses,and each has a car,so they park in the street...both sides.So there is a narrow coridoor and you have to dive into a driveway gap when a car comes the other way....let alone buses or a rubbish truck.

[Lou Girardin]

Police enforcement would only ever be a temporary solution.


Could you tell a little white lie and say that you almost saw a wee kiddie on a bike get taken out? But what am I saying - kids dont ride bikes in Auckland.

They seem to think enforcement will stop speeding though.
And, an old kiddie nearly did get taken out - me.

[McJim]

have moved in,the streets have become congested with cars.There are so many people living in the houses,and each has a car,so they park in the street...both sides..

I experienced the same problem in London - Willesden Green 'cept it was kiwis cluttering up the streets.

Going to the root of the problem if it's the bus driver's belligerence why not stop and have a word with him - bring some mates to make the point but don't descend to violence - I would never condone that being from Glasgow and all.

[ManDownUnder]

Lou - maybe raise it with Insurance companies... surely stupid road design must impact their profits, and they have some pretty powerful allies (read lobby groups) in local and central govt.

[McJim]

Lou - maybe raise it with Insurance companies... surely stupid road design must impact their profits, and they have some pretty powerful allies (read lobby groups) in local and central govt.

The insurance companies haven't got very far with the give way rule despite decades of campaigning and lobbying - I hear they are still losing money hand over fist on that score.

Anything's worth a try though.

[Drum]

There are some very narrow roads here in Wellington, as in other cities, typically in the older parts of town. These are not "stupid" road designs, rather they are designs that were appropriate for a time since past.

Unfortunately not all roads can be built wider, on the off chance that someone will send a bus down it some day. You dont want your taxes and rates spent that way do you?

Sometimes we have to make do with what we have.

That notwithstanding - the majority of bus drivers seem to be totally ignorant of other road users.

[Postie]

We have the same situation in the streets of Mt Roskill - and it's not the buses,it's the parked cars! The streets used to be fairly deserted with just the odd parked car - but these last few years as the older residents have moved out and ''immagrants'' (can't say Chinese,some people get upset when you say that) have moved in,the streets have become congested with cars.There are so many people living in the houses,and each has a car,so they park in the street...both sides.So there is a narrow coridoor and you have to dive into a driveway gap when a car comes the other way....let alone buses or a rubbish truck.

if I were you, I would start taking off wing mirrors, people will soon learn to park some where a bit more sensible

[Flyingpony]

So after having to dive for the kerb for the umptenth time...
Have you sent a wheel alignment bill to the bus operators, since after all, it was their actions which forced you to go onto the kerb and therefore misalign your wheels.

[Lou Girardin]

Have you sent a wheel alignment bill to the bus operators, since after all, it was their actions which forced you to go onto the kerb and therefore misalign your wheels.

I ride a motorbicycle.

[Squeak the Rat]

mount a camera and show how dangerous it is. send the footage plus the coppas note to media.

I might take my car down there for a look. I want to test my airbags, plus the insurance would come in handy.....

[yungatart]

I'm with Big McJim here, stop and have a word to the offending bus driver.. I did exactly that when a bus pulled out in front of me as I was driving a van load of disabled kids to the pool one day,I was forced into the centre of the road at a very busy light controlled intersection. There was no traffic behind me, so it really wouldn't have hurt her to wait. When the bus driver pulled in at the next stop, I pulled over, jumped on the bus and vented my spleen in a very loud voice - not dissimilar to a Billingsgate fishwife, I might add. The driver fobbed me off with her pathetic excuses but I would not be moved, stuck to my guns and eventually got loudly voiced approval from her passengers for my actions. That particular bus driver always lets me pass before she pulls out now.. one experience of a crazy lady is obviously enough for road bullies like her.That is how I see them - bullies, bigger, tougher and they WILL do what they want to the little guy, until the little guy stands up and fights back!

[Wasp]

until the little guy stands up and fights back!
and then the bus driver just hits the car killing all inside

the same laws apply for motorcyclists - becareful when around vehicles bigger than you.

on a different note

you can yell and scream and argue all you want that people should follow the rules but if you dont look out for YOURSELF and instead rely on people doing what they are SUPPOSED to do all the time then at the end of the day YOUR the one lying injured in the hospital bed, or worse. so what if the person in the wrong gets a telling off, you have to live with a permanent injury/disability for the rest of your life.

[yungatart]

and then the bus driver just hits the car killing all inside


The bus had stopped and so had I, that was how I came to be on the bus confronting the driver about her bullying manner of driving. I am not suggesting that a motorcyclist vie for position on the road,with a bus, just suggesting that Lou could 'engage in some dialogue' with the offending driveer/drivers

[Wasp]

I agree that talking to them might be a good idea but if you were to piss them off then next time they may think twice before applying the brakes...