Ride the loop for MSAC as part of our first major project

[StoneY]

A few brave souls rode out in the awful weather, highlight for me was being able to yak with two chaps from Aussie who have been through this very process, and it was quite eye opening the changes they brought into roading standards in Vic as a result

Gripable surfaces applied to manhole covers, ensuring they are also flush with road surface

Sealing the entry zones of where gravel or muddy driveways/forest roads etc meet sealed roads

better drainage

Skid rails fitted to all armco barriers on known motorcycle popular routes to stop us sliding underneath, rubber buffers on WRB posts etc

I also wonder, if we had advertised the wonderful food we put on if we would have seen more turn up! I was fit to pop when we left the venue...............
Didn't help those willing to ride in the wet were largely at the cold duck...timing could have been better but hey.........

[avgas]

A few brave souls rode out in the awful weather, highlight for me was being able to yak with two chaps from Aussie who have been through this very process, and it was quite eye opening the changes they brought into roading standards in Vic as a result

Gripable surfaces applied to manhole covers, ensuring they are also flush with road surface

Sealing the entry zones of where gravel or muddy driveways/forest roads etc meet sealed roads

better drainage

Skid rails fitted to all armco barriers on known motorcycle popular routes to stop us sliding underneath, rubber buffers on WRB posts etc

I also wonder, if we had advertised the wonderful food we put on if we would have seen more turn up! I was fit to pop when we left the venue...............
Didn't help those willing to ride in the wet were largely at the cold duck...timing could have been better but hey.........

Shit you had food too!!!! I wouldn't have come for free food.

As for the guys from Aussie.......after they fixed all those probs in Victoria I imagine they got some really pussy knobs into Mcycling.

[StoneY]

Shit you had food too!!!! I wouldn't have come for free food.

As for the guys from Aussie.......after they fixed all those probs in Victoria I imagine they got some really pussy knobs into Mcycling.

LOL you troll....but yeah I gotta say had it recieved more publicity and wasnt conflicting with the Cold Duck, maybe.........more peeps?

I placed some jpegs of out takes from a PPT on their work they do
Cant remember what thread, but its all good stuff.
Once home I will try find some more good examples from the PPT or those who wanna see it just PM me for a copy, add an email address that can take 5meg attachments

Stuff they do for bikers specifically:
Sealing wider shoulder runoffs at corners we may overcook, skid rails on armco's, semi-mountable curbs/gutter systems, break-off PVC OR fold-over rubberized posts for signage mounts as opposed to metal or wooden posts, already proven to reduce fatalities of those who run off road and hit a sign.

CHEAP easy fixes that do NOT take all the corners out of roads, just makes the environment less deadly to us...

They were in fact quite opposed to straightening our gorgeous roads in the Coro (and they drove the loop a few times themselves) more into better signage, less deadly obstacles roadside, less 'run-noff' where wet (eg better drains) maybe cut the odd bank back a little for visibility.
Effectively the bloke I spent most time chatting to (the engineer lecturer) loved the coro loop road, but couldn't figure out the logic in where the road crews change seal types and all sorts of basic stuff that can be done far better.

They laughed at those low wooden rails beside the roads, they were 'like wtf is that for?' apparently those rails are no use at all, too far from road to be to able indicate road and its path (they call it delineation) and no use to stop a car, would flip a bike.... useless rails of wood that require annual painting etc... lol

They showed us a better way to mark the road edge, a better way to indicate tightening corners, some motorcycle specific safety signs that are not inflammatory or discriminatory but simply show, in a simple easy graphic that there are bike specific hazards on the section of road ahead.

They take these lessons into universities that the 3rd year grad students in civil engineering are about to graduate the course from, and drum the message home before the bad habits get formed in the workplaces they go to as well

We can learn a lot from these guys

[avgas]

How about putting sharp bits of broken glass on the side of the road, razer blades on the center line of double yellows and rusty nails sticking out of the armco barriers........to stop all the idiots out there who think riding like a moron is cool.

I mean there is learning..........and then there is THE LEARN
I have a feeling all that will be achieved is shiny new roads and little forethought on the moron on the handlebars (or behind the wheel).

[StoneY]

I have a feeling all that will be achieved is shiny new roads and little forethought on the moron on the handlebars (or behind the wheel).

Nope
Wrong again.
There is already stuff in the works for rider training and rider education

This is not going to be the only focus, but if you had been present for the blokes presentation on mitigating the factors created by roadside obstacles, you would have heard him explain we cant make the road 'idiot proof' but we can make it safer for those who make a genuine mistake on the odd corner, creating a 'MORE survivable environment'
he was also in favour of removing inspection hatches from roads....now there's a good idea!

You still cant cater for morons who do ridiculous speeds on public roads....there is no engineering to cater for that factor

[Pixie]

Do you really think the NZTA experts, (and I do mean EXPERTS) didn't think of that mate? the national Driving Standards manager is in behind this one.

This is far more than a mere video assessment of the road, the bike has computerized g-force meters, gyroscopes, you name it.

Isn't technology dazzling

It's a lot of expense to tell them that roadside shit,bad surfaces bad drivers and inexperience hurt bikers.

Typical modern day bullshit overload

[StoneY]

Isn't technology dazzling

It's a lot of expense to tell them that roadside shit,bad surfaces bad drivers and inexperience hurt bikers.

Typical modern day bullshit overload

Always a negative spin, got any other tunes to hum? Or do you only have one songbook?

If any of you had bothered fronting up on the day to hear the presentation the Road Engineers made you may find there is a lot that can be done to make this road more motorcycle friendly without spending sweet bugger all, or taking out the beloved twisties that make it such a great ride!

[awa355]

StoneY. Sounds like a lot of small things that can be done to make roads safer without taking away the corners or the fun. Lets hope some improvements come as a result.

I couldn't make it in the end, but as a rider, just want to say 'Thank you' for the effort you have put into this endeavour.

You seem to have taken a fair bit of abuse for trying to make a difference. Alot of riders do appreciate the efforts.

[Pixie]

Always a negative spin, got any other tunes to hum? Or do you only have one songbook?

If any of you had bothered fronting up on the day to hear the presentation the Road Engineers made you may find there is a lot that can be done to make this road more motorcycle friendly without spending sweet bugger all, or taking out the beloved twisties that make it such a great ride!

That's exactly my point.
They know what to do and don't need expensive bullshit and our money and time to do it.

[caseye]

Sorry I wasn't able to make it Stoney.Sounds like it was really miserable riding but hey that's the chance you take in Mid May!
Also sounds like things got talked about and like things might actually happen as a result.
Good work mate and thanks, the effort is appreciated and if real results come of this test then all is well and good.
Keep at it.

[StoneY]

That's exactly my point.
They know what to do and don't need expensive bullshit and our money and time to do it.

And I suppose that's the wisdom of some taxi driver that overheard someones discussion while carrying a fare again?

If the NZ road makers knew what to do already, why are so many of our roads dangerous obstacle courses by comparison to the standards set in Vic?

I will await your next consultation with the all knowing cabbie and you can enlighten me.

[bogan]

Bit of a dredge, but was yarning to a guy who reminded me of this. Anyone heard anything more about it?

[Bassmatt]

Bit of a dredge, but was yarning to a guy who reminded me of this. Anyone heard anything more about it?

anybody heard anything at all regarding MSAC recently?

[White trash]

Bit of a dredge, but was yarning to a guy who reminded me of this. Anyone heard anything more about it?

anybody heard anything at all regarding MSAC recently?

Yeah. I've heard some stuff. As was expected, the MSAC wants nothing to do with free thinkers and is now becoming like every other Advisory Council to the government. What a fucking surprise.......

[bogan]

Yeah. I've heard some stuff. As was expected, the MSAC wants nothing to do with free thinkers and is now becoming like every other Advisory Council to the government. What a fucking surprise.......

Yeh that's what I hear too, but even so, that shouldn't exclude them from following through with a project they decided to do in the first place.