WCC is about to stab all motorcyclists in the back

**riffer** · 29th July 2011, 17:26

Okay guys, it's time for action this time.

You will recall we had great traction with Wellington City Council when BRONZ presented the epetition (on behalf of motorcyclists) on motorcycle parking to the Council.

Well, behind our backs the Council officers have been preparing a Report on motorcycle parking, which is to be discussed THIS THURSDAY at Council. Here is a link to the report, which is to be presented. It is Report No 4.

Despite the best intentions to date and the fact the free parks remain for the moment, Report 4 is a document hostile to ALL motorcyclists.

BRONZ will be addressing the implied prejudice written into the report on Thursday. The Report is worded to inflame any current envy or existing bad feelings in other non motorcyclists who already resent the free parking that we have. Free parking we have already justified, with the economic and social benefits the PTW fleet has for Wellington City on a daily basis.

Although it confirms that in the short term we will remain as we are for now, the Report actively encourages Councillors to change this in the future, and it's a prejudicial statement in the way it singles motorcyclists out, even going to the length of engineering anti-motorcycling sentiment by suggesting that we are getting a free ride no one else is privileged enough to enjoy, and asks the Council to state publicly that the preferential treatment that motorcyclists enjoy is UNFAIR, and MUST BE REMEDIED.

The Mayor herself agrees with the principle that Motorcycles are a part of the solution, not the problem.

Motorcyclists already make every effort to find alternative parking arrangements where possible, the loss of our previous 'understandings' like Boulcott st have hit us quite hard.

We already pay more in tax and levies than any other vehicle type in NZ, and there needs to be some balance, most Wellingtonians BRONZ have discussed this with see our free parks as well and truly justified considering the other issues we face on a daily basis.

Will cyclists be faced with being charged to use Bicycle stands throughout the CBD? Like the one on Mulgrave street at the National Library building? It blocks nearly the whole footpath once there are 4 bicycles parked and locked to it, Will these ratepayers be 'willing to accept the possibility of future charges?' Will Cyclists be the next target for some extra parking revenue?

Every modern city in the world sees the benefits of motorcycle commuters, with many proactively encouraging this practice. Every major city including London, New York, LA and Washington DC have pro-motorcycle policies in place, and the four major cities mentioned have very high parking demands, as well as high fuel emission standards in place yet do not enforce emission control on bikes and provide ample free motorcycle parking ability for the city populace.

Why? Because they know it works.

London very quickly changed its tune on the emission tax for motorcycles and exempted them from it after a round of morning protests where the motorcycle fleet closed down a suburb every morning ... in a city that had far more than one way in and one way out. It only took 200 riders...

So what do we need from motorcyclists? We need a show of force here. Council chambers have room for about 30 people AT MOST. If we can get 100 people there it is going to make a difference.

The Council Officers have more or less rejected the epetition on the grounds that 40% of the signatures WERE NOT FROM WELLINGTON RATEPAYERS. This is despite their statements that signatures were welcome from the public.

If we do not show up in force on Thursday the WCC will most likely be forced by their own officers to actively implement a policy which states that IT IS UNFAIR FOR MOTORCYCLISTS TO BE REWARDED for their efforts to reduce congestion and make a difference to the environment.

I beseech all Wellington motorcyclists to make an effort on Thursday, 4 August 2011:

Please meet at 9.15 am

Committee Room 1
Ground Floor, Council Offices
101 Wakefield Street
Wellington

**theseekerfinds** · 29th July 2011, 17:39

told you so.. never trust the council, never, ever, ever!!

**riffer** · 29th July 2011, 17:44

Originally Posted by theseekerfinds

told you so.. never trust the council, never, ever, ever!!

So now we need some action matey!

What am I doing? I'm one of the people addressing the Council on Thursday. I'll be there.

**theseekerfinds** · 29th July 2011, 17:51

I'll sort time off work on Thursday and be there too.. just been reading the "have your say" thingy and it's interesting reading to say the least.. to me it reads as a given that there will be changes and the consultation process seems to be driven for a specific.. though the part which said that the fees they would collect would be enough to cover the re-education and publicity surrounding the changes seems like it's hardly worth making the changes.. there is one issue which has my thoughts though: the riders who park all day long seem to be the catalyst for this when the parking is aimed at high turnover bikes entering the CBD.. this kinda has my support as I get pretty pissed off at the all-day parkers who hog the free parking when all I want to do is come into town and have lunch with my lovely lady and bail an hour or so later.. that aside, in the greater scheme of things I am not impressed with the backroom work going on at WCC..

**bogan** · 29th July 2011, 18:03

In addition to turning up, those that do need to provide counterpoints for the assertions in the report. Like this bit

New Zealand motorcycles tend to have high levels of nitrogen oxide emissions, so that so while the volume of emissions may be less than for a car, the content is potentially far more toxic to the environment. As a result, there is no reason to incentivise use of motorcycles to reduce emissions.

It's a bit of waffle (tend to and potentially) that I think could be addressed more thoroughly.

Similar for the accident rate, the per km figure is skewed due to the way the data is combined for different road user groups.

**Devil** · 29th July 2011, 18:20

How many of you guys ride bikes made in New Zealand?

What a load of shit (engineering this anti-motorcycle sentiment).

**Devil** · 29th July 2011, 18:33

Just skim read the report. There's an awful lot of assertions in there that are not supported with facts - things you've already mentioned, Riffer.

Get stuck into them, mate. An offhand comment about emissions? A sydney study? The 18 times more likely... figure?
Pardon me, but WTF?

**riffer** · 29th July 2011, 18:38

There's one particular clown at WCC who's been sticking it into us at every level at discussions. Particularly around the emissions and accident rates.

I'll happily put my Bandit up against whatever car he has to check particulate emissions. Mine meets Euro 3 regs.

As for accidents, I swear if I hear that 18 X bullshit one more time I'm going to personally remove the tongue from the moron while they speak.

There is an element of anti-motorcyclist at WCC that needs to be permanently shut down.

**bogan** · 29th July 2011, 18:41

Originally Posted by Devil

Just skim read the report. There's an awful lot of assertions in there that are not supported with facts - things you've already mentioned, Riffer.

Get stuck into them, mate. An offhand comment about emissions? A sydney study? The 18 times more likely... figure?
Pardon me, but WTF?

And plenty of assertions that cycling is good for all, their per/km figure is almost as high as ours, their power source produces methane, which is more harmful than the main component (CO2) of motorcycle emissions.
It's easy to half ass some 'facts' against something, and just as easy to disprove them when given the chance.

**bogan** · 29th July 2011, 19:05

Originally Posted by riffer

As for accidents, I swear if I hear that 18 X bullshit one more time I'm going to personally remove the tongue from the moron while they speak.

There is an element of anti-motorcyclist at WCC that needs to be permanently shut down.

The problem is it's in the LTNZ factsheets, as a the preferred metric, fuck knows why, useless for comparing between classes, especially those with different speed limits. Just ask him for some evidence that the number of accidents is actually affected by the number of km traveled.

**StoneY** · 30th July 2011, 07:03

Issue here guys is not trying to disprove every single myth in the PTB view of motorcycling in our 2 minutes of timed glory in WCC chambers next Thursday (if the coordinator confirms my request, still have to get formal floor time)

We have some inside information because not every Councillor is happy with this report, and we were given a headsup about the content of this report

Now one thing I have been told is these people remember the numbers we gathered for BIKOI and again in Feb 2010 (380 bikers vs 80 from the unions remember) and the idea that even 200 bikers might start disrupting the systems in Wellington CBD has a few already sweating

If 100 Wellington Bikers can show up at Council in your bike jackets so you stand out like a bad smelling biker type, and back us up, I reckon we can force this report to be re-written with less public hostility to our needs.
I see the report as written to deliberately inflame anti motorcycle sentiments that are smoldering below the surface.

I have had a few people say to me we don't deserve our free parks since this issue first arose, but not one that I failed to turn the argument 180 degree's and get them onside..I have my moments where I am quite persuasive.
What irks me most here, is the goodwill of one particular senior officer has been largely cast into the pit due to the guys he answers to who re-wrote his work to read like an anti motorcyclist policy, designed to cause hard feelings from other road users.

Like seeker states above, it sucks to find all the parks taken by scroters while the owner does his solid 9 hours at the office.
So BRONZ agreed with council we had to concede time limited spaces in retail area's, we have been promoting councils plan to get us into parking buildings for secure dry space at a discounted rate, we went along with Peter Mac's suggestion to encourage workplaces to provide 2-3 bike spaces at least and that is gaining momentum big time as well.
We played the game, we compromised, we assisted council to spread the word, and all for the sake of saving the existing 500 free parks, conceded some would become time limited.......only to be shit on in report 4.

Not standing for it this time

We NEED 100 bikers there on the day
You are needed to defend what we argued and bargained for, and to force this reports prejudiced content to be re-written to show more cooperative and supportive attitude to our needs as road users.

We will not let this go un answered, mark my words

Brent

Please meet at 9.15 am

Committee Room 1
Ground Floor, Council Offices
101 Wakefield Street
Wellington

**davereid** · 30th July 2011, 08:09

Post the details of time, location and so on. Ill try and get there.

**StoneY** · 30th July 2011, 08:24

Originally Posted by davereid

Post the details of time, location and so on. Ill try and get there.

Right here

Originally Posted by riffer

I beseech all Wellington motorcyclists to make an effort on Thursday, 4 August 2011:

Please meet at 9.15 am

Committee Room 1
Ground Floor, Council Offices
101 Wakefield Street
Wellington

See you there mate

**CookMySock** · 30th July 2011, 08:32

Originally Posted by riffer

What am I doing? I'm one of the people addressing the Council on Thursday. I'll be there.

And do what? Plead? Cry? Beg?

You're pissing into the wind discussing anything like this with any official. The only solution is to fuck them up in a court of law - that will remove their ability to move against us, and then their hands are tied.

**mrchips** · 30th July 2011, 08:46

I'm so over this ! I work just down the road so will see you's there.

I would think it more appropriate WCC put their attentions to all substandard CBD 'moderate' earthquake prone buildings (including their own)

Shall i wear my hi viz, i mean i wouldn't want to appear .... unsafe.