Westpac Rescue Helicopter Charity Ride under threat [Archive]

thehovel

6th February 2007, 11:27

This MAY be the last time this ride will be put on in this format!!!!!! :shit:
Owing to ONE complaint (it took over half an hour extra) charity rides will have to submit traffic managment plans and PAID traffic controlers. (about $10,000) :gob: :gob: SO get to Karaka on Sunday at 10:00am (11:00am ride off)for the (possibility) LAST WEST PAC CHARITY RIDE!!!!!! TELL EVERY-ONE this is more than ride it is becoming a political statement. Regards Richard 1420:innocent:
__________________

Ixion

6th February 2007, 11:57

Bloody HELL. Bastards. Who do we complain to.

If they go ahead I reckon the next years ride should be a massive civil disobedience ride. Flash mob on bikes. To the offices of whatever wanker pulled the plug.

We did it in the seventies , and it worked.

Seriously, who is proponing such restrictions? I for one will write one of my letters to him.

KLOWN

6th February 2007, 12:06

just have an UNofficial ride... opps sorry officer I didnt know THIS many people were going to show up, it was only ment to be 2 or 3 people :innocent:

Jonny Rotten

6th February 2007, 12:14

is the council just stupid......how much funding via donation does this ride make for the westpac helicopter....and there willing to throw that away because of a stupid complant and a lil more traffic than usuall on a sunday

thehovel

6th February 2007, 12:25

The amount raised is over $10,000. The hue and cry came from Wellington, (WHAT you're using bikers to control traffic!!!) Richard

Ixion

6th February 2007, 12:37

Who in Wellington ?

oldguy

6th February 2007, 13:09

I blame these so called Coffee shops that have sprung up all over town, people go out for a coffe these days, and nothing worse that a lot of motorcyclest holding them up from trying to get there morning fix, and read the paper, its the new place to be seen.

What ever happened to having a coffee at home, seem like it only takes one to complain and it could be all over.

To be honest most people don't care what we are doing weather it be Charity rides like this WestPack ride or Toy and Easter rides for the kidds who would otherwise not get anything all.

They care about them selves too much. I bet they don,t even donate to any charity.

I will be on this ride

WarlockNZ

6th February 2007, 13:18

Two words...

Fuck em!

Grumpy Gnomb

6th February 2007, 13:20

Guess that what happens when you live in a PC world

Karma

6th February 2007, 13:38

Guess that what happens when you live in a PC world

You might get run over by a trolly!

Steve_R6R

6th February 2007, 13:47

Two words...

Fuck em!

ditto..what he said ^...nuts. Bloody buracracy, theres too much of it now but they still manage to make more!!!!!

KLOWN

6th February 2007, 15:16

Two words...

Fuck em!

em isn't really a word more of an abreviation so... one word and one abreviation

fuck em!

(and an apostrophe)

:dodge: :dodge: :dodge:

Scorpygirl

6th February 2007, 16:25

I can't believe this. FFS - one complaint and it's all over Rover. Bloody hell!!! I feel really mad about this. How much have we donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter over the years - thousands and thousands of dollars. They are so appreciative of our help to their organisation, that gets no government funding.

We will be there on Sunday. :yes: :scooter:

klingon

6th February 2007, 16:40

I for one will write one of my letters to him.

*klingon shudders in her boots*

But... who is he? We can't just write a letter to Wellington...

Or is this all just a cruel joke to wind up the PC-bashers? :sherlock:

blackkatana

6th February 2007, 20:32

Two words...

Fuck em!

Those are the words to start with!!:gob:

Maha

6th February 2007, 20:41

The support of this event is unequaled from what i have witnessed, from the public on the M/Way overbridge's/people on Queen st/cars pulled over on southbound lanes.....i think 'thehovel' is full of it really...one complaint?...:killingme

Will

6th February 2007, 21:10

Yep just one complaint is all it took.:shit:
Then Transit looked at the way things were run and said that it can't be done like that. It didn't matter that it had been done like that for years and that everyone involved (if you can't read between the lines I include the police here) was reasonably happy with the way it was done.
So I would suggest that you spread the word and get as many mates out on their bikes this Sunday at Karaka.

KLOWN

6th February 2007, 22:54

Its a charity ride...it should be done for charity. Nobody pays the Police and why should they so why should some fat controller get paid for doing a job that the Police could do by themselves anyways.

I think you will all agree the Police do run good cordons and escorts for bikes....why does it need some up turkey.<_<

all my tickets pay for you pigs to do nothing and all my hard earned tax
bloody coppers I bet it was you who complained just so you could feel important

Ixion

7th February 2007, 09:14

Got some publicity. Harold reckons its the cops to blame .
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10422751

Don't really see the problem. KB rides have numbers over a 100 in the past, without any "traffic management" . Just a bigger crowd is all. The whole Traffic management thing is a load of bollocks. Next year, pass the word, don't mess about with officialdom at all. Just everybody turns up, and off we go. So they don't close the motorway entrances and we don't have a bunch of cops to shepard us? Who cares. 1500 bikes, we make the rules.

Babelfish

7th February 2007, 09:15

For those that havent read the news this morning:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=0004F977-6495-15C8-991383027AF1010F

Either someone is trying to drive up numbers with the old "this could be the last one" sales gem, or trying to make sure nobody loons about with the old "we'll see how you behave this year" threat gem, or this is another example of bureaucratic cock suckers being...well, cock suckers.

Drum

7th February 2007, 09:20

Sounds like the latter. It was only a matter of time really.

ManDownUnder

7th February 2007, 09:25

Got some publicity. Harold reckons its the cops to blame .
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10422751

A couple of thoughts =- yes... publicity - in your face type publicity. Get those the stand to lose (i.e. Westpac bank, a pilot/ambo, and someone who's life was saved_ vs those who objected (what was the exact nature of the objection anyway???).

Highlight the cost in lives if this stops.

Follow that up with a question to Transit. What qualifications are needed for people doing the roadblock?

Alternately, wat's the actual cost of the cop's time - can part of the funds raised be used to pay their costs (10 cops x 2 hours = $???)

Babelfish

7th February 2007, 09:26

:shutup: Ah, the gentle deflating hiss of resignation

KLOWN

7th February 2007, 09:27

Motu

7th February 2007, 09:29

''Someone'' complained....that's all it takes.Of course no one here would ever complain about anything!

Karma

7th February 2007, 09:46

''Someone'' complained....that's all it takes.Of course no one here would ever complain about anything!

I object to that remark! and am about to report your post to the higher powers!

MisterD

7th February 2007, 09:49

Auckland's "can't do" attitude strikes again...

KLOWN

7th February 2007, 10:10

edit: they merged the threads so this isn't needed anymore

imdying

7th February 2007, 10:28

Each one of those bikes is worth thousands, they're burning plenty of gas... if everyone donated $20 to the cause the problem would cease to exist.

vifferman

7th February 2007, 10:46

em isn't really a word more of an abreviation so... one word and one abreviation

fuck em!

(and an apostrophe)

:dodge: :dodge: :dodge:
Plus it was actually four (4) words anyway.
How come you can spell apostrophe, but not abbreviation? :spudwhat:

KLOWN

7th February 2007, 10:50

Plus it was actually four (4) words anyway.
How come you can spell apostrophe, but not abbreviation? :spudwhat:

lucky guess I guess

RiderInBlack

7th February 2007, 11:33

Fu*k bloody Transit NZ. Don't think those fu*kers want bikes on the road or are willing to be supportive of motorsport. They held up Hampton Downs and now they want ta bugger Chartity rides. What's next? Banning Street Racing, Poker Runs and Toy Runs due to traffic control problems?

Transit NZ, Harden The Fu*K Up!

ManDownUnder

7th February 2007, 11:41

Patrick

7th February 2007, 14:44

I see why you call yourself a Clown.

Didn't read post 25 did ya?....

Ixions right... so what if the on ramps aren't closed off by the Police or paid marshalls... Like Nike says... "Just Do It."

What is anyone going to do about it if an impromtu ride suddenly appeared?

Like 1500 bikes appearing on the motorway on a Sunday (even in Auckland...) is going to create a problem.

Dai

7th February 2007, 14:53

Didn't read post 25 did ya?....

Ixions right... so what if the on ramps aren't closed off by the Police or paid marshalls... Like Nike says... "Just Do It."

What is anyone going to do about it if an impromtu ride suddenly appeared?

Like 1500 bikes appearing on the motorway on a Sunday (even in Auckland...) is going to create a problem.

Is it written into the laws of NZ that we are allowed the right of congregation.

One of the first things a facist government does is to limit the number of people that can legally congregate.

I'm guessing that there are laws that can be utilised to stop large numbers of any group meeting at the same place. The "Boy Racer" laws seem to spring to mind.

thehovel

7th February 2007, 15:46

BE NICE!!!! :nono: :nono: The cops have DONATED they time for the last 12years. I wonder if they are aloud to use the company vehicle outside working hours. AGAIN BE NICE TO Mr PLOD :love: :love: Richard 1420:innocent:

Patrick

7th February 2007, 16:50

I'm guessing that there are laws that can be utilised to stop large numbers of any group meeting at the same place. The "Boy Racer" laws seem to spring to mind.

Ummm... NO!

The boy racer laws are there to put a stop to hoodie types (and the odd businessman, ay, Mr Rae???) from doing burnouts and racing on public roads...

Ixion

7th February 2007, 17:06

As far as I am aware, there are very few laws that could be invoked to prevent a large number of motorcyclists assembling in an orderly fashion and riding , legally and carefully within the speed limit to a common destination. There are a very few laws still on the books from the 1930s that can be used to ban ANY assembly, but it would be a bold cop indeed who decided to try to resurrect any of them.

Cops could hold up the bikes for a reasonable time, releasing them in "batches", but that would be easily overcome - and of course if the cops are going to have to get involved anyway, then they are right back where they started.

Similarly cops could use some of their "boy racer" tactics, checking regos, licences etc , to harass people, but the negative publicity doing that at a charity run would be career limiting

Basically, if I post up here saying "I'm going for a sedate ride from Karaka to the North Shore, anyone want to join me ", I commit no offence.

If I add" By the way ,it would be cool if anyone who does come along made a donation to $WORTHY_CAUSE", still no offence.

If 2000 other bikers read my post and roll up on the day , still no offence.

And if said 2000 bikers then proceed in a lawabiding and careful fashion , still no offence.

We don't need the motorway entrances closed off. If cages want to take their chances amidst 2000 bikes - well, up to them.

The closing of the entrances and the police keeping the speed down to a slow crawl is for the benefit of the puiblic not the bikers. If the cops don't want to do it, so what.

Will

7th February 2007, 18:56

If the cops don't want to do it, so what.

The cops are happy helping out.

It is TRANSIT that is the problem. It has come to their attention that the ramps are being closed off by "marshalls" who are just helping out for the day.:gob:

Transit are saying that from next year, the ramps will have to stopped by paid people who are qualified in such matters and that it will have to be advertised, warning everyone that the motorway will be closed. Hence the $10,000.00 cost. There is also a Traffic Management Plan to do but compared to the $10,000.00, it is not such a hurdle.

Chisanga

7th February 2007, 19:04

Transit are saying that from next year, the ramps will have to stopped by paid people who are qualified in such matters and that it will have to be advertised, warning everyone that the motorway will be closed. Hence the $10,000.00 cost. There is also a Traffic Management Plan to do but compared to the $10,000.00, it is not such a hurdle.

How qualified do you actually have to be to hold up a sign that says "Stop", turn around look to see the last bike has passed then spin aforementioned sign around to read "Go".

Oh, yeah then step out the way :)

Ixion

7th February 2007, 19:14

The cops are happy helping out.

It is TRANSIT that is the problem. It has come to their attention that the ramps are being closed off by "marshalls" who are just helping out for the day.:gob:

Transit are saying that from next year, the ramps will have to stopped by paid people who are qualified in such matters and that it will have to be advertised, warning everyone that the motorway will be closed. Hence the $10,000.00 cost. There is also a Traffic Management Plan to do but compared to the $10,000.00, it is not such a hurdle.

So, they don't close the ramps. No people, no cost, problem is? But my observation is that the closed ramps always had a cop present.

And technically the motorway isn't closed. the onramps are stopped for a few minutes but the motorway is open. If someone had been stopped on the shoulder they could continue. And occasionally faster cars coming up behinds have ended up mingling with the tailenders.

But if the motorway is a problem (don't see it is myself) just go down the Gt South Rd.

Anyway , if it's Transit, that figures just part of their pathological warfare against bikes. I know some names at Transit. Letter coming up . Long letter.

I don't see why cops OR Transit need to be involved. Sure, if it's organised by the little old nannies at Ulysses, they prolly wouldn't dare think of doing anything without Official Sanction. So, let the BWB take it over. Ignore officialdom, just do it.

KLOWN

7th February 2007, 19:30

I see why you call yourself a Clown.

except clowns are funny. and I have a cop bashing mental illness, Know me before you judge me (grub)

scracha

7th February 2007, 20:48

How qualified do you actually have to be to hold up a sign that says "Stop", turn around look to see the last bike has passed then spin aforementioned sign around to read "Go".
Maybe something to do with Fulton "kiwi mafia" Hogan

Dadpole

7th February 2007, 21:32

How qualified do you actually have to be to hold up a sign that says "Stop", turn around look to see the last bike has passed then spin aforementioned sign around to read "Go".

Oh, yeah then step out the way :)

I had to get one recently. Paid for, so I don't know the cost but it consisted of sitting on my arse all day listening to some git droning on. All those who did not fall asleep got their fancy laminated card.

KLOWN

7th February 2007, 21:56

I had to get one recently. Paid for, so I don't know the cost but it consisted of sitting on my arse all day listening to some git droning on. All those who did not fall asleep got their fancy laminated card.

they tricked you. that was the test. To see if you fell asleep or not. So you can hold a stop go sign all day and not fall asleep

Dadpole

7th February 2007, 23:03

"Operating" a stop/go sign would be fun for a day.
A bike = priority :ride:
Desirable women = wait a while :drool:
When bored = brake testing :corn:

I had to do the certification thing in order to "safely" put up two warning signs when I had some guys working on a fence on a corner. This was miles up a dead end gravel road out the back of Martinborough. We had about 6 cars go past but the powers-that-be insisted that I had to be qualified to assess the situation and follow all the rules and regulations.

Fub@r

7th February 2007, 23:22

How qualified do you actually have to be to hold up a sign that says "Stop", turn around look to see the last bike has passed then spin aforementioned sign around to read "Go".

I have two lever arch files containing all the Transit rules for various "works" on Transit Roads.

For example I'm a Land Surveyor. Technically I'm supposed to lodge a Traffic Management plan with the Council 2 months prior to the date I want to do what I need to. These plans can only be done by a qualified person in Traffic Management. If I was to follow the letter of the law say in a 50km area and place one boundary peg for you to build your garage I have to setout 60+ road cones, warning signs, thank you signs etc etc. It would probably take me two hours to set the road cones up to do a 15 minute job. So we don't do it.

Most firms I'm aware of disregard these Transit rules and are waiting for someone to be prosecuted to see whether they should bother, a test case.

I have lodged objections but to no avail.

You may have noticed the sudden increase in Traffic Management companies around, this is all because of Transit Rules. Its a license to print money now.

Another example of this bullshit:

Transit used to specify a 600mm high road cone, with the new rules they changed this to a minimum 900mm high with two reflective strips on them.........it became illegal to use the 600mm ones, they now sit collecting dust!

I like the previous suggestions:

You have a specified weekend eg 2nd weekend in February and people go for a ride..........its just a coincidence that 2000 bikes turn up for it and end up riding on the same bit of motorway at the same time :innocent: If you really want to make a point ride at a sedate speedas the motorway has no real minimum speed limit.......that would get peoples attention.

Yes you could use Great South Road but with all the traffic lights the group would be extremely fragmented defeating the purpose of the ride and I bet there would be more than 1 complaint if you did.

Also who pays for closing the bridge for these bloody Hikoi's etc? The Taxpayer!

Sooner the government and all this PC bullshit get turfed out the better as I'm getting bloody sick of it..........everyday Aussie looks more appealing

sexy beast

7th February 2007, 23:34

yea one complaint all right. thats what it was but it did go high up in govenrment for them to make this an issue. what i heard today was it was from someone who got stuck at the on ramp for 20mins as the bikers went by and their reason for making the complaint was the lady wanted to see one of her parents who was sick...would have been really sick i guess if it led her to make the complaint.
well i guess if someone spends a little amount of money on advertising that the ride will take place on a given sunday between these times and air it on the radio and tv then probably everyone non-biker would have advance knowledge of it so they can get to their coffees and shopping and what not from a different route!!! thats what im talkin about!
oh and they (TRANSIT) were saying that the traffice needs to be controlled by proper traffic people rather then volunteers!!! what a load of crap!!!...

Fub@r

7th February 2007, 23:54

Hell get rid of Taito Phillip Feild and use the money we save from not paying his salary to sit on his arse doing nothing to fund the next 10 years of Westpac Rides!

If we take this lying down we might as well all book a flight to Aussie and leave the Helen Clarks of this world with their Kumara and silver fern :)

KLOWN

8th February 2007, 01:39

Vote national :yes: or even better maybe a letter to the head of the national party, hes always looking at ways to get one over on labour.

Lou Girardin

8th February 2007, 05:51

They (LTNZ and Police) were also very obstructive over the HOG thunder ride on Sunday. There's even a requirement for St John's to be present on the ride because part of the route is a 'long way' from medical assistance. Waiuku, that is.
Ulysses should take a leaf from the Hoglets and Steve Crow situation and tell the nay-sayers that the ride will go ahead with or without their help.
The authorities cannot prevent road legal vehicles using a public road.
Just as an aside, everytime people say "there should be a law" about riding gear, party drugs, what have you. They provide more ammunition for the kill joys and other petty beaurocratic empire builders to further restrict our freedoms.

James Deuce

8th February 2007, 05:58

The authorities cannot prevent road legal vehicles using a public road.

Bingo!

Took you guys too many pages to get there.

If they interrupt the progress of a charitable activity, a vaguely competent spin doctor should be able to have an absolute field day to the point of affecting Labour's chances of being voted back in.

"Helen Clark's Labour Government won't fully fund Rescue Helicopters and uses Government workers, taxpayer funded workers, to prevent the people of NZ collecting money to keep the service operating."

Ixion

8th February 2007, 06:46

Well, why do the organisers of such events involve the authorities at all? Is there some legal requirement? What about rallies do they also have to deal with this?

And I still want to know who is responsible. Variously it is reported as Transit,or the police (presumably, police in Wellington, not the local plod who actually do the work)

And what is actually the requirement about having St John at such an event? I see them there , but so what if they weren't?

It seems to me that the people organisng these events have been conned into thinking that they must march to the bureacrats' tune. Back in the 70s I took part in a number of protest rides. There were many hundred of bikes (perhaps thousands) involved but I am pretty sure that noone sought official approval or sanction (it would certainly have been denied). The police did turn out, but not "by invitation" they came along to protect the public from al the "bikies". There were certainly no marshals closing ramps or any such. When you have a thousand bikes in formation ramps and traffic lights and such like become pretty irrelevant.

Will

8th February 2007, 17:55

There are answers to all of this but I think we are all a bit shell-shocked:gob: at the moment to come up with a real plan.

Let's just get as many bikes :scooter: out on the Ride on Sunday. That is the first positive step.

RiderInBlack

8th February 2007, 18:21

Will try my best to get down for this. Might leave the placard behind this time, but if this gets canned next year, I will be there with bike & a placard:stupid:

sunhuntin

8th February 2007, 18:50

And what is actually the requirement about having St John at such an event? I see them there , but so what if they weren't?

.

dunno the answer to this, but im thinking theres gonna be at least 1000 bikes there...in fairly tight formation. all it would take is for one to arse off and bring down whoever is behind. look what happens when close knit cyclists cock up.
at the very least, the arser-offer is gonna be a little scraped and bruised from being run over by those who can avoid him. those who cant and end up coming off as well will be the same as the first person.

besides, i thought st john was all volunteer [ie free]