Tt2000

[Jdogg]

Title: Tasman Police will actively target dangerous behaviour by motorcycle
racers

Tasman District Police have condemned the organisers of the TT2000 South
Island motorcycle rally being held this weekend saying the event promotes
dangerous riding.

Tasman District Road Policing Manager Inspector Jenni Richardson said the
rally challenged riders to visit 150 locations across the entire South Island
in just 48 hours. In doing so they were expected to cover at least 2000 kms.

Inspector Richardson said, while the event's organisers had covered their own
liability by insisting on licensed riders and legal bikes, and by giving
advice on speed and fatigue, there was no hiding the fact that the event was
essentially a race.

"This event promotes everything we're against in Road Policing. Riders are
encouraged to cover extreme distances on winding and remote roads over one
weekend. I have no doubt that there will be extremely fatigued riders
travelling at excessive speeds all over the South Island."

Inspector Richardson said a rider taking part in the event two years ago was
killed in Golden Downs, near Nelson.

"It's really disappointing to me that there are people actively promoting
extremely unsafe behaviour on public roads.

"My message to all those taking part is when they enter Tasman District,
which covers all of Marlborough, Nelson Bays and the West Coast, they are
highly likely to meet my staff."

Inspector Richardson said she had mobilised all available staff to patrol the
roads over the weekend.

"Make no mistake, we will be targeting riders taking part in this race. The
underlying motivation behind this event is in my view a recipe for disaster."

end


Please view the full news release online at:

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/30897.html

[phill-k]

An open message to Inspector Richardson

On NZ roads it has been shown that police cars doing "U" turns is far more hazardous to the health of Motorcyclists than the TT2000 - perhaps consider banning this practice first.

[puddytat]

So Motorcyclists plan your corners ....
& Policemen plan your U-turns......

[george formby]

An open message to Inspector Richardson

On NZ roads it has been shown that police cars doing "U" turns is far more hazardous to the health of Motorcyclists than the TT2000 - perhaps consider banning this practice first.

That happened in front of me twice at the weekend. Glad I was traveling at the 90 kmh safer speed stupid limit.
Shame that good, experienced riders who devote a huge amount of time to preparing themselves & their bikes for an event like this are being targeted. Picked the wrong market me thinks.
I hope next week people who sit in the outside lane of the motorway at 80kmh are put on the dart board.
I wonder what Inspector Richardson's hobbies are? Answers on a post card please.

[Jantar]

My bike is serviced: new chain and sprockets even though the old ones still had some life left; new rear brake pads, they were over half worn, but would probably have finished this event and then some; tyres are good for at at least 6000kms on the rear and 9000 on the front. During the service I asked for anything that looked like it would need replacing at the next service to be done now. So right now I would consider my bike to be in a more roadworthy condition than most bikes on the road.

My route is planned with decision times, so that if I'm not at point A by time A then I skip the next flyer and accept a lower level of achievement. (My basic route gives me 22000 points so I can afford to miss 3000 points and still get gold). My body is prepared for long distances and long hours at a single go, I'm a shift worker so know what maintaing concentration at unusual times of the day is like.

Overall I would say that I'll be safer on the roads this weekend than most of Inspector Richardson's staff. However if Inspector Richardson wishes to place a popo car with radar on the Elaine Bay road at midight staurday night, he might find I'm a tad over the speed limit at times. Meanwhile, how many burglar complaints and domestics are not being responded to?

[JustNick]

She would have kittens if she knew about the Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge.

[Jantar]

She would have kittens if she knew about the Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge.

The Grand challenge is only 1600 km, most riders on the TT2000 are aiming form 3000+ km. My basic route is 3000 km, a friend from Roxburgh has planned 3250 km.

[LBD]

Not many cops on the road between Picton and Chch today....resting up for a busy weekend I guess

And with an over time bill to pay justify, you can bet they will be out to book one an all.


See you all on the road this weekend

[Jantar]

A heads up. I have just been advised that the TT2000 website www.tt2000.org has been taken down. The police are showing a lot of interest, and according to media there is a contingent of cops coming south from as far away as Auckland purely to target the TT ride. This information is 2nd hand so may not be accurate, but indications are that there is some sort of operation going on against us.

[Shadowjack]

Speechless...

[whatastoner]

Oh my oh my. How many blank endorsment forms do officers usually carry? Maybe by Sunday they'll have run out.
Please everyone, this isn't a race, just an efficiently paced, well prepared weekend adventure for intelligent riders. As the sergeant on Hill Street Blues used to say "be safe out there". Now I'm really showing my age.

[gatch]

So essentially if you are on a bike and on the road in the sth this weekend, you are probably going to get pulled up a bunch of times.

Awesome.

[Damantis]

A heads up. I have just been advised that the TT2000 website www.tt2000.org has been taken down. The police are showing a lot of interest, and according to media there is a contingent of cops coming south from as far away as Auckland purely to target the TT ride. This information is 2nd hand so may not be accurate, but indications are that there is some sort of operation going on against us.

I better go out for a spot of speeding on the weekend if there's less highway patrol on duty up here!

[SMOKEU]

this isn't a race, just an efficiently paced, well prepared weekend adventure for intelligent riders.

Bullshit.

[Swoop]

...in just 48 hours. In doing so they were expected to cover at least 2000 kms.

So:
2000 divided by 48 = 41.6

How many will be ticketed for holding up traffic?