You crazy Wellington people!

[Gremlin]

Popped down to Wellington last night (well, not according to plan anyway, but I'll blog that later) to work today, then I'll jump on that big boat to take me to lands further south for the weekend.

Left the accommodation at 8am near Willis Street, I struggle to turn into one street, as no-one is letting me in, then down Willis street some learner snuck up my right while I was in the left lane, middle (no mean feat, as I had my panniers on). Didn't have ear plugs in but still didn't hear him coming. Lights red then goes green... as I go to move away, a cyclist pops past on my left.

Talk about good morning Wellington with a thump I'd take Auckland insanity any day, and I found myself wobbling down the street nervous of the next crazy person, wishing like hell I was in the open country.

Still, I found myself a place to park my truck bike, next to a cute little buell. I hope the BMW doesn't eat it while I'm away.

As you were... I'm still in the CBD, hoping like hell I can make it alive to the ferry later

[oneofsix]

Popped down to Wellington last night (well, not according to plan anyway, but I'll blog that later) to work today, then I'll jump on that big boat to take me to lands further south for the weekend.

Left the accommodation at 8am near Willis Street, I struggle to turn into one street, as no-one is letting me in, then down Willis street some learner snuck up my right while I was in the left lane, middle (no mean feat, as I had my panniers on). Didn't have ear plugs in but still didn't hear him coming. Lights red then goes green... as I go to move away, a cyclist pops past on my left.

Talk about good morning Wellington with a thump I'd take Auckland insanity any day, and I found myself wobbling down the street nervous of the next crazy person, wishing like hell I was in the open country.

Still, I found myself a place to park my truck bike, next to a cute little buell. I hope the BMW doesn't eat it while I'm away.

As you were... I'm still in the CBD, hoping like hell I can make it alive to the ferry later

Good luck, watch out for the crazies along the Quay, and if you are taking the interislander especially watch out those that decide they want the left lane just before it swings left for the motorway and ferries.

[cheshirecat]

Hope you have a good trip, may your interesting experience end up positive.
I find it the opposite, namely very sluggish and empty, but then I've DR'd in London for a few years where the pace is a bit, well er, different.

[unstuck]

Not to worry, it all changes once you get to picton. And the further south you go, the quieter the roads become.

[Gremlin]

Not to worry, it all changes once you get to picton. And the further south you go, the quieter the roads become.

Yup, unfortunately I only have Saturday and Sunday. Could get quite far south, but instead taking the opportunity to explore Pelorus and Queen Charlotte sound, find every road and see how far you can go.

On another note, is jay walking mandatory? I feel like an idiot waiting for the green man like I was taught, while you lot walk around me. It's no wonder you get collected by buses

[Renegade]

Yup, unfortunately I only have Saturday and Sunday. Could get quite far south, but instead taking the opportunity to explore Pelorus and Queen Charlotte sound, find every road and see how far you can go.

On another note, is jay walking mandatory? I feel like an idiot waiting for the green man like I was taught, while you lot walk around me. It's no wonder you get collected by buses

negotiating wellington is all about domination, dominate your shit and theyll leave ya be, and yes they regularly get squashed by buses because they dont wait/look and regularly on one way streets, i mean how lazy are you if you cant look at least one way before crossing, oh and they wear those big dumb head phones as a fashion statement,

remember at the crossings - RED MAN DEAD MAN

[Scuba_Steve]

Yup, unfortunately I only have Saturday and Sunday. Could get quite far south, but instead taking the opportunity to explore Pelorus and Queen Charlotte sound, find every road and see how far you can go.

On another note, is jay walking mandatory? I feel like an idiot waiting for the green man like I was taught, while you lot walk around me. It's no wonder you get collected by buses

not mandatory but does speed da trip up, tho ALOT of people in Wellington deserve to get hit! they just don't know how to jay walk, or walk in general for that matter

I think the problem your finding in Wellington traffic is it moves, unlike a certain other country COUGH(Auckland) where traffic is gridlocked 8hrs a day

[Maha]

oh and they wear those big dumb head phones as a fashion statement,

...them, or those pod things that sit on your ear while you walk and talk....not alot of talking ever goes on though, mostly they just look like some android slug balancing act.
If they do happen to be talking, those that pass them by often wonder whats wrong with them.

[unstuck]

On another note, is jay walking mandatory? I feel like an idiot waiting for the green man like I was taught, while you lot walk around me. It's no wonder you get collected by buses

When in rome and all that. Enjoy your ride on the weekend.

[davebullet]

Yup, unfortunately I only have Saturday and Sunday. Could get quite far south, but instead taking the opportunity to explore Pelorus and Queen Charlotte sound, find every road and see how far you can go.

On another note, is jay walking mandatory? I feel like an idiot waiting for the green man like I was taught, while you lot walk around me. It's no wonder you get collected by buses

green people don't kill people, people kill people (if you know what I mean. sorry, wrong thread).

[pete376403]

Just wait till you've had time in the South Island, then come off the ferry at Wellington and get lauched straight into a motorway full of crazies. Wakes you up, real fast.

[caspernz]

One would think a mega miler would be used to a bit of traffic huh? A cyclist threw you?
You'll enjoy all the traffic coming off the boat on the return trip, all trying to be the first to the top of the Ngauranga gorge....
Safe travels!

[thecharmed01]

negotiating wellington is all about domination, dominate your shit and theyll leave ya be, and yes they regularly get squashed by buses because they dont wait/look and regularly on one way streets, i mean how lazy are you if you cant look at least one way before crossing, oh and they wear those big dumb head phones as a fashion statement,

remember at the crossings - RED MAN DEAD MAN

hahahahahaha I about peed myself laughing at this because it's totally true!

I'm born and bred here, but seriously I cannot understand why locals jaywalk so badly. I mean, we know that bus drivers here are nutjobs, so why would you wander about on the roads they dominate on DOH!
It's scary enough having them all over the road when you're in a car, but as a pedestrian they are terrifying haha