Commuting on a bike in Auckland?

[ramy]

I'm thinking of getting a motorbike to commute to work traveling from Onehunga to the CBD. My only concern is how safe it would be as I've read quite a few posts on this forum that put me off the idea of commuting in Auckland.
I plan to travel to keep away from the motorway (only just got my learners license) and travel through Newmarket and Parnell, at around 7am when the traffics lighter.
The reasons for wanted to do the journey on a bike is enjoyment, saving time (compared to the train), and saving money (compared to paying for parking in a car).
I'm keen to hear of other peoples experiences doing similar commutes.
Thanks

[Akzle]

do it you pussy.

[Ulsterkiwi]

Akzle is right, unless you have to sell your soul to finance the bike then you give it a go. Mind you, even then......

Whatever people tell you on here you will have to make your own mind up. Get some training to build your confidence and take it easy. Going when traffic is light is a great plan to start with BUT you have to build up to a full on day in the middle of it all because you just dont know when you will HAVE to do it.

I ride with two experienced and very helpful fellas. (Dont tell them I said that though) When I started out they acted like my escorts and all I had to do was focus on my riding. They give me really useful tips and feedback. I was lucky coming across them so see if you can find someone on here who lives close by to you or takes a similar route who would be willing to do the same thing.

[OllieNZ]

Akzle is right, unless you have to sell your soul to finance the bike then you give it a go. Mind you, even then......

Whatever people tell you on here you will have to make your own mind up. Get some training to build your confidence and take it easy.

Sell your soul and whatever else you have to to get the bike

I got back on the bike a while back, best thing ever. First thing for me was bike control, emergency stops. Confidence in traffic is another thing, give it time, it'll come. Sold the 800 jappa I started on recently and bought a big block Harley. Can't stop grinning, especially cutting thru rush hour traffic.

[nerrrd]

Been commuting on a motorbike in Auckland since 1984 (apart from around 9 years in the 00s), mainly into the CBD from wherever I've been living at the time. I've yet to have a serious accident (touch wood), the minor ones I have had have been my own fault.

Get some decent training, ride with the right attitude and it doesn't have to be dangerous. Having said that, there are no guarantees in life, the best any rider can do is try to minimise the risks involved.

Plus riding a motorbike is fun.

[mansell]

Before I moved to the South Island I commuted daily on the bike - no problems and it beats the shit out of being stuck in the traffic, just be careful if you are lane splitting because some of the cage bound dickheads don't look out for us. The real advantage is that it will clear your mind after a shit day.

[skinman]

I find the motorway easier in heavy traffic as the lanes are wider & no cars trying to enter & exit side streets etc, I commuted as a learner also & did use the motorway, just ride with confidance & dont put yourself into situations that could end badly & you will be fine.

[maraudingkiwi]

Hey ramy I was in the same boat as you not too long ago, decided to go for it and now I commute into the CBD on the southern every day for work and have never looked back.

The most nerve-wracking thing about motorway riding as a learner I found was needing to stop suddenly and frequently, and stable riding at very low speed in congested traffic. It's probably best to master these skills before going anywhere near the motorway. A good motorcycle training course will help heaps with this and is definitely recommended. (You could check out "riderskills" I think it's called, they run courses in west auckland).

OTOH as skinman said the motoway's actually safer in some respects because you don't have to worry about people pulling out from side streets, turning in front of you, pedestrians, etc.

[ramy]

Thanks for all the comments, its all really helpful. Think I'll try it out and see how it goes and get some good lessons along the way. Cheers.

[xXGIBBOXx]

hey man , yeah i find the motorway easier , find a empty carpark and play round and see how slow you can go ( drag a bit of rear brake and clutch to help with this ) and use the lines for the carparks and make figure 8s ,and 1st to 2nd get a bit of speed then brake ( dont hoon get up to like 20kms or so , to get a feel of how the bike feels under brakes . feel free to come to SASS (we go for a ride then play in carpark and play round with skills like this - have saved my arse a few times ) here is the link to SASS
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...highlight=sass

[f2dz]

I commute from Manukau to the city every weekday for work and it's fine. I usually leave around 8am then get in around 8.30am. Most mornings I have to split to get to work, some Fridays are free flowing as well as some days when school and universities are on break.

Splitting can be dangerous if you're a loon but if you watch for gaps and just assume cars are gonna move into them, then you'll be okay. The closest calls and the only crash I've had have been off the motorway. Intersections are much more dangerous than splitting on the motorway in my opinion.

I used to take the train like you, and I tried driving in as well but the bike tops both of those easily. Sucks when you have to ride into work in the rain but just get a good set of waterproof textiles or a waterproof layer to go over your jacket and pants.

All in all, I'd say go for it.

Ride safe.

[iYRe]

Been commuting on a motorbike in Auckland since 1984 (apart from around 9 years in the 00s), mainly into the CBD from wherever I've been living at the time. I've yet to have a serious accident (touch wood), the minor ones I have had have been my own fault.

Get some decent training, ride with the right attitude and it doesn't have to be dangerous. Having said that, there are no guarantees in life, the best any rider can do is try to minimise the risks involved.

Plus riding a motorbike is fun.

What he said.

I commute daily (3 out of 5 days on a motorbike, 2x on a bicycle) from Manurewa to the CBD.
From Onehunga you go up the SW Mway and down the bus lanes on dominion.. as long as you're careful its fun.

Get a small bike and do some of the bike courses, SASS, and the BRONZ ride safe, ride smart course to start with. The fatal mistake I see people making is riding without purpose. That is, they end up meandering through the traffic, and end up letting the traffic "run" the ride. I find you need to be a little bit aggressive, put yourself in control, be where you want to be, where you are comfortable, and where you are safe, not where car drivers (and other motorcyclists for that matter) think you should be.

[iYRe]

I commute from Manukau to the city every weekday for work and it's fine. I usually leave around 8am then get in around 8.30am. Most mornings I have to split to get to work, some Fridays are free flowing as well as some days when school and universities are on break.

Do you go up the south western? I'm pretty sure I've passed a VTR ish looking thing a few times

[SMOKEU]

Make sure you have a safe place to stash your bike, as there are plenty of people out there who WILL fuck with your bike given the opportunity.

[iranana]

I commute on a daily basis to Parnell. Just keep your eyes out for fuckwits and you'll be fine. Been riding for three years and I've yet to have an accident, but there have been some close ones (nearly got t-boned this morning, in fact)... before you do anything, ride around a carpark, practice emergency stops, quick manoeuvres, know your bike and how it handles but most of all, don't ride like a dick don't trust ANYONE when riding through traffic. Lots of people just plain don't look where they're going. Don't clip anyone's mirrors either... I once had a lady try and run me off the road because I clipped her mirror (only just). I waved in apology once she got on the horn. Lights when green and I merged, then when she caught up with me she swerved at me in an attempt to hit me and started yelling profanities. She even had a baby in the back, so I yelled through her window 'you're a horrible mother' and sped off. Moral of the story, just don't trust anyone in Auckland. There's psycho fucks everywhere.