Campbell Live - Rope barriers.

[bugjuice]

Not if they're sandwiched by a car or truck..

then what are they doing on the motorway in the first place?
I get your point tho.. not just us.. just kinda windingaling you up, cos I'm bored

actually, your ACC link webmathingy doesn't mention the cheese cutters. It says about folded steel, conctret, posts and amco barriers. Nothing on the cutters. It also says: Ride conservatively. If you are forced against a barrier by another vehicle or you crash into one, you'll face serious injury or death.
well fukin durrrrrrr points to that twot who came up with that line

[Big Dave]

Where do we send it?
someone who has should do a mailto: link and we cc Hollowmen's note.
Take the 'my friends' out too maybe.

[thehollowmen]

then what are they doing on the motorway in the first place?
I get your point tho.. not just us.. just kinda windingaling you up, cos I'm bored

actually, your ACC link webmathingy doesn't mention the cheese cutters. It says about folded steel, conctret, posts and amco barriers. Nothing on the cutters. It also says: Ride conservatively. If you are forced against a barrier by another vehicle or you crash into one, you'll face serious injury or death.
well fukin durrrrrrr points to that twot who came up with that line

Yeah, that's why I said 'omits'
maybe ACC knows how bad these are and want them banned from a motorcyclist's point of view
or they want us to stay well away from them "uh huh you shouldn't ever see cheesecutters please don't use roads with them on because it costs us too much."

[Eurygnomes]

I try always to remember to mention what I WANT to replace what they've given - else it's just a complaint, not a suggestion!

Feel free to plagiarise if you think it'll help. Hell, I'm leaving soon so what the heck!

Good morning everyone on the Campbell-live team.

It has been brought to my attention that last night you screened a segment on median barriers, commenting on the type that some of us call 'cheesecutters' - that they're the most cost-effective method of protecting drivers.

I used to consider television journalism in NZ as being of a reasonable standard, however that statement continues to be challenged the more I hear/see one-sided stories such as this.

Unfortunately, when a motorcyclist is knocked off their bike (usually due to an inconsiderate/blind car driver who 'didn't see the motorcyclist' that was doing it's best to be visible (more in a moment)) into such wire, they tend to be travelling at a high speed. Did you notice that the car that you showed on your segment was 'sliced' into? Replace 'car' with 'human' and no matter how much kevlar they wear on their 'sticky out bits', it's highly likely they'll be removed from the road in segments!

This is of GREAT and GRAVE concern to motorcycle riders. I'm not saying that LTSA are ever going to remember that the roads aren't the sole domain of car and truck drivers, but it's a shame that a show that supposedly presents 'current affairs' neglects a percentage of road users to whom this issue matters so greatly.

I would like to see a segment on Campbell live showing the problems/issues that motorcyclists in NZ are faced with. This includes

A) incompetant road repairs and manhole covers at the apex of a corner (do car drivers even KNOW what an apex is?),
B) the white paint that no longer has grit added to it (and is therefore unecessarily slippery in comparison with the paint that was used in the past), C) the placement of pedestrian crossings (often also on the apex of corners, which means broad swathes of slippery white paint...right where you don't need them - when you're attempting to stop!),
D) visibility issues (did you know motorcycles are not permitted running lights? Yet trucks - which are fairly visible in themselves - can be lit up like a Christmas tree?), and
E) lack of support from LTSA/MoT/ACC (in that we pay higher levies etc, yet our road use needs are rarely addressed, let alone met).

Monash (University) carry out several studies on all sorts of wide-ranging motorcycle related topics. And studies carried out specifically on the wire-crashbarriers can be found here http://www.fema.kaalium.com/crashbarrier/index.html.

Thanks for providing NZers with ALL sides of a story so that they can make their OWN judgements.
Regards,
Naomi

[bugjuice]

Yeah, that's why I said 'omits'
maybe ACC knows how bad these are and want them banned from a motorcyclist's point of view
or they want us to stay well away from them "uh huh you shouldn't ever see cheesecutters please don't use roads with them on because it costs us too much."

sorry, brain fart moment.. fancy words take a while longer to sink in..

yup, I've sent one.. tempted to send another! I just want to know they aren't going into the trash, and I really hope it gets a mention. Cambell and their writers are often quite good at highlighting points from both sides. Lets hope they come thru for us. I sent a lengthy one like 'nomes too, and also highlighted on the point of poor road conditions and the inadiquacy of the white paint too. I also used a spell checker.

[merv]

So the moral of this story is make sure you guys don't bother crashing into the barrier and then it won't hurt.

[Racey Rider]

I'm going to send this in.
Edit: Done.

Hello,
I'm sad your story last night about the wire (Cheese cutter) barriers on that Wellington highway made no mention about how they affect Motorcyclists.
Not well from what I read of overseas reports.

Us Motorcyclists do a good job of:
using less fuel than cars,
Creating less emissions than cars
Taking up less road space than cars
Less parking space than cars

and yet we often don't get thought about when implementing safety measures.

These barriers are very dangerous to the human body. Concrete ones, we can slide along. These ones we go through like a cheese grater.
Maybe it's only a Biker,, but when we go through them, I would image blood and body parts would splatter over the cars in the oncoming lane.
Wouldn't be pleasant!

Name
New Plymouth

I wonder if BRONZ even batted an eyelid at the segment?

[Hitcher]

The email campaign is a great idea. As well as what has already been sent, could somebody please hunt out that European safety survey stuff that was posted some time ago and send that as well? (I would but can't use work's email for that sort of stuff).

Also, should Kiwibiker be volunteering a spokesperson to be interviewed on this matter?

[James Deuce]

The email campaign is a great idea. As well as what has already been sent, could somebody please hunt out that European safety survey stuff that was posted some time ago and send that as well? (I would but can't use work's email for that sort of stuff).

Also, should Kiwibiker be volunteering a spokesperson to be interviewed on this matter?

I vote for him wot said that.

[bugjuice]

The email campaign is a great idea. As well as what has already been sent, could somebody please hunt out that European safety survey stuff that was posted some time ago and send that as well? (I would but can't use work's email for that sort of stuff).

Also, should Kiwibiker be volunteering a spokesperson to be interviewed on this matter?

yeah, I was kind of thinking if they came back and said 'ok, lets interview you..'
On one hand, I wouldn't mind a go, but I'd just go bright red on camera and look stoopid. I'd like to be there, but I can't talk.. We should have someone just in case tho.. never know.. What about the KB god himself? spank..

[mikey]

DER CAMPBELL
i thought your show last night was maaaaaaarverlous, yes, maaaaaaaarvelous. but
YOUR barrier part was not the best.

they really restric my ability to overtake cars to "get out of danger" an stuff
yellow lines seem to be the go i think. i find it hard to believe peopel just fall asleep at the wheel or get distracted, its insurance fraud to get more money.
save money on wire, barriers, lazy road workers, leave the yellow lines as they are an lots eaasier to over take on .

cheers big ears. (literally)
maaaaaaaaaarvelously
mike

[gamgee]

not sure if it's been posted yet, but here is the email address:
campbelllive@tv3.co.nz

[madboy]

Good afternoon,

I imagine the reader of this e-mail is now well and truly aware of motorcyclists views toward the "cheesecutter" median barriers touted in such a positive light by Mr Campbell last night. I will not rehash what you must now be quite aware of.

What I would like to express is my disappointment in John Campbell. I hold him in high regard in respect of his journalistic talent, and that as a presenter. I suspect in this case he has been let down by his staff who researched (or didn't) this issue for him. While my overall impression of Mr Campbell remains high, this has cast an unavoidable shadow on my impression of the quality and balance of the show that bears his name.

I look forward to that balance returning.

[bugjuice]

not sure if it's been posted yet, but here is the email address:
campbelllive@tv3.co.nz

it has, but the more times it's posted, the less people have to look and the more chance peeps will email

[riffer]

Email sent. It says pretty much what everyone else said.