This morning's traffic (Auckland, where else?)

[madbikeboy]

I'm struggling with sleep at the moment, so I headed into work in the cage at 6 am - only to be confronted with a tail of cars along Barry's Point Road going nowhere fast.

So, I turned around, drove home, ate breakfast listening to the sound of the surf gently washing and the persistant whining of the yet to be fed pooches...

There's something really nice about the world being on pause.

After a very pleasant sunrise, I geared up, and rode Scoot into work. The road was perfectly clear, and the ride in was pleasant. Well, the road was perfectly clear for bikes - wouldn't have wanted to be one of those poor saps sitting in their cars fuming in the complete gridlock on the Norf Shaw.

:)

[portokiwi]

Heard that on the radio this morning.
Nice sunny day though:yes:

[vifferman]

Yeah, WTF was up with the traffic today? I know university starts today (Troglodyte #3 fished out his bag for the first time since November, to discover summat that may once have been an apple living inside it), so maybe that's it.
Whatever - it was fookin loony!
Onewa Road: asian lady in fogged up car suddenly decides to change to the left lane at the lights - why I dunno, as she would've had to change back again.
The intersection was pandemonium - everyone trying to stuff themselves in because the light was green, but there was nowhere to go! Fuckwits.:mad:
SO, I squeeeeeze past the two buses and a truck (showing the much skinnier scroter behind me how it's done), and only a couple of hundred metres further on the traffic in the transit lane's not moving. The guy on the VF400 in front of me takes the 'pedestrian lane' to get around the sugar tanker. WTF?!? The tanker's just stopped, completely blocking the lane, nothing in front of him. I suspect he got in the left lane, thinking he could change back, but traffic was nose-to-tail, and not moving, so no show.
So, I follow the VF, being a master at this, and give the bike some throttle to launch it off the curb and over the shrapnel still there from a minivan and car having a violent discussion the other week. :rolleyes:
Less than 100m down the road, the traffic's stopped again, but this time I can see why. Some fuckwit has spied the Transit Igor and doesn't want to get pinged, so just stopped dead, flicked the indicator on, and waits. Luckily, I can handle this chicane, despite the car driver doing his best to angle across and block the lane: I go to the right of the car behind him, around in front of it, then to the left of the fuckwit, giving him a three second three-horned greeting as I go past. [I shouldn't do that I guess - sooner or later someone's going to catch up with The Phantom Horner and give me.... something unpleasant...]

So, I'm now on full alert, and sure enough, nearly every intersection has some form of danger, and the between-intersection bits aren't much better.
(I'm thinking, "This is what biking's about - danger! Battling the fuckwittery of the average communterer! Being totally awake!" Or summat like that...)

But I got to work safely! Yay!
But couldn't do a celbratory wheelie up the drive because it was wet and slippery. :doh:
Weird.
Dry in Burk-in-the-head, rainy in Albania.

Tomorrow I have to go early, and take the wife's car. New game plan and route required....

[tide]

Transit was changing the lane barrier on the bridge... only 2 lanes were open south bound till 7am... sucks to have been in a cage... :bleh:

[madbikeboy]

I've got to spread it around. Damnit, can someone tell me how to do a chron job for auto blinging my favourites each day?

Anyhow - it was raining on the coast, a sun shower, so the roads were wet leaving home. Dried out around Mill-fud, (so named for the fuddie duddies driving around with blue hair). Old people drive the same way hedgehogs fuck. Slowly and carefully.

I had no such blockages or chicanes to navigate or circumvent. Just miles of empty cannonball lanes. Bus lane was dry and bus free. Over the bridge there were the normal numpties doing their "charge into the breach" impressions. Honestly, a lot of the worst offenders are chicks - they're normally the ones advocating putting it in slowly and gently to start with...

I'm visiting the Hampton Downs people today to discuss my free track days for life - so it's actually a good day to have Scoot with me.

[Finn]

The answer my friends, is very simple.

Both Transit and Council are grossly incompetent coupled with the fact that kiwi's have struggled to master the mechanics of the motor vehicle.

Don't like that answer? Then perhaps there's a master plan to completely grid lock the traffic to the point private motor vehicles will be banned and public transport will be the only means. Surely this has got to be the only logical answer as I can't believe traffic planners can be this retarded.

[vifferman]

I can't believe traffic planners can't be this retarded.
Mebbe they just underestimated the retardness of the great unwashed masses?

[Tank]

Wife was stuck this morning way back in Albany. Normally takes her less than 10 minutes to get to work - this morning over 45 mins!!!!

This is the worst I have seen traffic around the shore since 'ages ago'.

[vifferman]

I'm visiting the Hampton Downs people today to discuss my free track days for life - so it's actually a good day to have Scoot with me.
:blink:


Don't you have work to do? :Pokey:

:weep:

[Mikkel]

Mebbe they just underestimated the retardness of the great unwashed masses?

They always do...

Traffic was quite heavy here in Chch as well - nothing near as bad as what you describe, but certainly heavier than usual. If this development keeps up I may have to get some narrower handlebars for the motard. :(

[vifferman]

This is the worst I have seen traffic around the shore since 'ages ago'.
I'm 'shore' you've just forgetted how bad it can be.

In hindwardsight, I'm pleased I left late (pissed around at home doing chores, then returned the Satantune from Stealth mode back to KombatKaosKommuter mode). I still arrived at work on time, but the at the time annoyances were in hindwardsight actually interesting challenges. And I had a bit of fun with a guy on a red VTR1000 who roared off up the motorway directly ahead of me. (I'd forgotten the torque and acceleration they have compared to an out-of-tune VFR in the wrong gear). I reeled him in, then showed him my best chicanery skills, making progress through the mobile chicane that is the Northern M'way.
He probably thought I was a plonker. :mellow:

[Swoop]

We also have to thank the new onramp traffic flow lights. They have naicely added to the commuter chaos.
Does anyone take notice of the lights? I know I sure don't, and when there is no (repeat, NO) cars on the road, yet the lights are still working :rolleyes: it is superb fun trying to "hit the green" at 150. The flash of green as you flash by is simple entertainment, but fun never-the-less.
Traffic was badderer for some reason. Only one mirrorectomy though.

[Finn]

Another explanation could be that due to the financial crisis, all the slack arse unionists who know more about workers rights than anything else in their miserable meaningless lives, have suddenly woken up to reality and showed up for work today.

This could account for an extra 200,000 vehicles on Auckland's roads this morning. However, this will have absolutely no impact on our extremely low rate of productivity.

[samgab]

We also have to thank the new onramp traffic flow lights. They have naicely added to the commuter chaos.
Does anyone take notice of the lights? I know I sure don't, and when there is no (repeat, NO) cars on the road, yet the lights are still working :rolleyes: it is superb fun trying to "hit the green" at 150. The flash of green as you flash by is simple entertainment, but fun never-the-less.
Traffic was badderer for some reason. Only one mirrorectomy though.

Surely those lights don't apply to motorbikes? ;)
As you zoom through the gap between the 2 lanes of cars and approach the lights they're bound to be either green by the time you get there, or just before or just after you shoot through...
At least that's how I do it...

[Swoop]

Another explanation could be that due to the financial crisis, all the slack arse unionists who know more about workers rights than anything else in their miserable meaningless lives, have suddenly woken up to reality and showed up for work today.
Another form of slack-arse... "university students".
Gotta create more Helen Clarke's to parasite on our society...

[Jaxi]

Is the average commute from the suburbs of Auckland into the City??

I recall living in Johnsonville and getting pissed off if it took me more than 20 minutes (by car) to get home from central Wellington in rush hour... That was 10 years ago so things have no doubt changed!!

One of my "when we're back in NZ" things has been - not having to deal with the traffic / rush our etc.... So is this not the case or what???

Jax

[Finn]

Is the average commute from the suburbs of Auckland into the City??

My example is 3.5 k's and it takes about 30 - 35 minutes and getting worse by the day under Council control.

[vifferman]

Surely those lights don't apply to motorbikes? ;)
As you zoom through the gap between the 2 lanes of cars and approach the lights they're bound to be either green by the time you get there, or just before or just after you shoot through...
At least that's how I do it...
Me too - on the few occasions I've had the misfortune to occasion them.

My communt is 14.9km - 12 minutes by bike (IIRC), or about 20-ish by car (on a good day) or more usually closer to a half hour.
Going home is much slower, and I have three or four different routes I use, depending on what time I leave (which affects traffic volumes) and what kinda mood I'm in (which depends on phases of the moon, what I ate for lunch, how much time I spent on KB during the day, the weather, and vagaries of my disposition).

[Jaxi]

My example is 3.5 k's and it takes about 30 - 35 minutes and getting worse by the day under Council control.

Shite, and I thought London was bad..... OK so it's the weekend but riding from my place to work this morning (about 15km) took about 30 mins... Makes me feel kind of ok about taking the train as from home to work is 50 minutes...

[Finn]

Shite, and I thought London was bad..... OK so it's the weekend but riding from my place to work this morning (about 15km) took about 30 mins... Makes me feel kind of ok about taking the train as from home to work is 50 minutes...

Yes but you've got a very good excuse. Population. We don't have this, just a complete lack of traffic management and s-l-o-w stupid drivers.

[Swoop]

Shite, and I thought London was bad...
At least London has a public transport service.
Auckland has three busses and two of those are normally broken down on the side of the road every morning.

[madbikeboy]

:blink:


Don't you have work to do? :Pokey:

:weep:

The cool thing is, it is my work. :clap:

[slofox]

Meh - it's just God punishing you all for choosing to live in d'Auckland. Never have that sort of problem in foggy Hammertron...what we do get though is a certain breed of loon that creeps along River road at 40km/k.....howsumever, in the face of that I have found out why we have flush median strips down the middle of said road...the biker community thanks the council sincerely...:devil2:

[vifferman]

Meh - it's just God punishing you all for choosing to live in d'Auckland. Never have that sort of problem in foggy Hammertron.
I lived in The Tron for 17 years (I've also lived in Rotorua, Christchurch and Roundabouta). Hated the weather.

[madbikeboy]

Is the average commute from the suburbs of Auckland into the City??




During rush hour (oxymoron), in the cage, it's about an hour from where I live to Parnell, where my nose gets placed against the grindstone. On the bike, it's about 20 minutes, although it can be fasterer, 12 minutes, on days where the God of speed smiles large (combination of lights, traffic flow (or lack there of), and placement of obsticles...).

[Slyer]

Good thing I didn't wake up till 10 then eh. ;)
Was surprised to see traffic backed up on the motorway at 10:15, just people rubbernecking...

[slofox]

I lived in The Tron for 17 years (I've also lived in Rotorua, Christchurch and Roundabouta). Hated the weather.

Now THAT I can relate to...specially riding into the rising sun through fog....

[Katman]

Taupo's set of traffic lights get me so wound up sometimes. I'm sure they're on red for 20 seconds longer than they used to be.

[Blackshear]

I wish I coulda been in traffic splitting!
Instead I had to live with a ride around the backskirts of Albany, down Paremoremo road etc.
Is the cause of this traffic vomit the schoolkids?

[madbikeboy]

Taupo's set of traffic lights get me so wound up sometimes. I'm sure they're on red for 20 seconds longer than they used to be.

That's just mean.

[Finn]

Taupo's set of traffic lights get me so wound up sometimes. I'm sure they're on red for 20 seconds longer than they used to be.

The Council have adjusted the signal time to allow the increasingly overweight locals more time to cross the road.

[Swoop]

Good to see complete gridlock in both directions on the NW tonight. 4.15 there was the remains of an accident that shut the citybound traffic.
Luckily nobody has ever seen an accident so the Westbound traffic slowed down to have a look...

[Maha]

Was the traffic really any different that usual??

I did here this morning it was back up to Oteha Valley rd, but thats only a km (if that) further back than normal.

[jaymzw]

Traffic on the northern was sweet at about 5.15pm tonight.

As in better than normal???

Heard something about University students starting may have caused the traffic???

[Gubb]

I'm struggling with sleep at the moment, so I headed into work in the cage at 6 am
You should try to put a stop to those arseholes that rustle around your front yard in the middle of the night. Two weeks in a row.

Sorry.

[glice]

I've got to spread it around. Damnit, can someone tell me how to do a chron job for auto blinging my favourites each day?

Anyhow - it was raining on the coast, a sun shower, so the roads were wet leaving home. Dried out around Mill-fud, (so named for the fuddie duddies driving around with blue hair). Old people drive the same way hedgehogs fuck. Slowly and carefully.

I had no such blockages or chicanes to navigate or circumvent. Just miles of empty cannonball lanes. Bus lane was dry and bus free. Over the bridge there were the normal numpties doing their "charge into the breach" impressions. Honestly, a lot of the worst offenders are chicks - they're normally the ones advocating putting it in slowly and gently to start with...

I'm visiting the Hampton Downs people today to discuss my free track days for life - so it's actually a good day to have Scoot with me.


Wow. Hang on a minute....free track days for life! and that happens to be your job! May I ask how this all works?

[madbikeboy]

You should try to put a stop to those arseholes that rustle around your front yard in the middle of the night. Two weeks in a row.

Sorry.

Are you kidding, last week they left me a trailer with a nice table and chairs (which made MadBikeBabe happy), but even better, this week the trailer gets returned with a new ramp and new tie down.

I'm hoping next time, it'll come home with an MV Augusta.

Thanks Gubb,
MBB.

[madbikeboy]

Wow. Hang on a minute....free track days for life! and that happens to be your job! May I ask how this all works?

Well, they weren't so keen to give me free track days for life (as it turns out). But we've reached a very happy compromise...

There are some days, that are so good... :banana::banana::banana:

[glice]

Well, they weren't so keen to give me free track days for life (as it turns out). But we've reached a very happy compromise...

There are some days, that are so good... :banana::banana::banana:


Lucky bugger. Id still love to know how

[Gremlin]

I'm hoping next time, it'll come home with an MV Augusta.
I know of two looking for good homes... but they are inside this shop thing... and have lots of numbers on them :whistle:

[retro asian]

Every morning I let the wife take the car first. I get suited up and warm up the VL250 for a few minutes.

Sure enough I always pass her laughing while she's stuck in a queue on the very road outside our dwelling.

I love my bike!

[zzzbang]

took the car into auckland from northshore this morning, at one of the on ramps im in the left lane, an ambo comes past in the merging lane half way onto the gravel with its indicator on.. is merging really that difficult? even when you leave a gap the morons just keep driving past you until they run out of road, then they stop half confused and cant figure out where the road went...

[samgab]

took the car into auckland from northshore this morning, at one of the on ramps im in the left lane, an ambo comes past in the merging lane half way onto the gravel with its indicator on.. is merging really that difficult? even when you leave a gap the morons just keep driving past you until they run out of road, then they stop half confused and cant figure out where the road went...

I don't mind if it's ambos.

[zzzbang]

I don't mind if it's ambos.

ok then...