Anyone seen this?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9537...atal-collision
Forum whore
Anyone seen this?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9537...atal-collision
Life is not measured by how many breaths you take, but how many times you have your breath taken away
I aint bovvered
You obviously know more- give us the details?
In life as in dance Grace glides on blistered feet
Well, this is awkward...
Yeah I read it this morning. Usual 'stuff'. Hey at least they asked some motorcyclists to contribute this time to get the other side of the story. And sadly a fair few of us ride like dicks sometimes, especially in groups. I guess you don't know for sure what happened unless you were there - but if you fail to take a corner, it's hard to blame anyone else for that.Originally Posted by Ulsterkiwi
Anyway, condolences to the family.
I remember reading an article a while ago about some poor guy taken out by a truck turning right across his path...the whole slant of the article was it was the motorcyclist's fault because he failed to stop when the truck was turning in front of him - which from a defensive driving standpoint I guess is true, but surely the truckie was at fault since he/she failed to make sure that the lane was clear before turning across it? I know nothing about driving trucks though, I imagine once they're underway it's hard to stop them.
Moe: Well, I'm better than dirt. Well, most kinds of dirt. I mean not that fancy store bought dirt. That stuffs loaded with nutrients. I...I can't compete with that stuff.- The Simpsons
Forum whore
Sounds about right.
Forum whore
Well that all depends on what speed the motorcycle was doing.
Easily ammused
Not having first hand knowledge, but knowing to some extent the rider I was not impressed by that article. I thought it was poor taste to make subjectinve comment and speculate on someones death.
FYI, I wrote this to the editor of the Dom this morning.
I have never written to an editor before in my life. I don’t consider myself qualified on many subjects, so when the press “comments” on a subject I have first or reliable second hand knowledge of I am usually aghast at the inaccuracies, and the agendas on display.
For a truck driver to comment on motorcyclists riding dangerously on the Rimutukas is of the highest level of hypocrisy imaginable. If it were not for the economic benefits of allowing trucks on that road, they would be banned. Trucks are more responsible for death, suffering, and damage to property on that road by a factor of ten than other motorists are, and I include motorcyclists.
As a regular user of this road, the number of times I have felt my life was put in imminent danger by the actions of truck drivers requiring me to take action to avoid an accident, I have lost count. From huge trucks oncoming on my side of the road, regardless of corners or not, to deposits of animal waste or much worse diesel, I have no doubt I am lucky to be alive.
For a truckie to comment on something he obviously knows nothing about, the safety of others driving/riding, make connection to another mans death like this, and for your paper to promote this I find disgusting, and I don’t use that word lightly. I literally find it disgusting, and I am not one of those my generation who are serially offended by others actions.
Further, before your paper goes on a rant about risk etc of motorcycling, remember we are defined and molded by what we do. The man who died on the hill, was in part defined by motorcycling. Many who knew him, would not have known him but for the fact that he was a motorcyclist. And I bet none of those who met him through motorcycling wished he had never taken it up. I can imagine there are a lot of families of traffic officers who can’t say the same.
If you wish to use any part of this email, please attribute to “James, from Upper Hutt”.
Kruger-Dunning Parts n Service
Yes that's fine, their just reporting what witnesses said that were willing to speak to media and also spoke to BRONZ to get another perspective.
This is the danger of group riding, you get associated by the worst behaviour of those in the group, be it a biker pack, truck convoy or one of those 'car enthusiast' line ups.
If I was with that group I'd be more worried about them being witnesses than speaking to the media.
This is why when a mate of mine rode like an idiot last xmas and was overtaking on double yellows I let him go and pretended I wasn't with him. Told him to sort his crap out or find someone else to ride with.
Those last bunch of cars you passed are going to be the first witnesses on any scene that happens whether its your fault or not.
mini meeeeeee
The hill is very unforgiving and any large group traversing it would surely be aware of the hazards. Unfortunately the larger the group the greater the likelihood of unpredictable (or predictable, but unwise) behaviour; those hazards are going to be compounded.
I lahk to moove eet moove eet...
Katman to steveb64
Kruger-Dunning Parts n Service
Oh dear I hope you haven't put a stamp on that already... You'd be surprised how many truckers are also bikers. Wellington is a hellhole zone of heavy CVIU enforcement, most truckers are extra careful approaching there and the Rimutakas is one of those places where you don't want to be sniffing the guardrail I mean tinfoil fence for any reason. I don't think the numbers would stack up in favour of you argument either. Sure there's been a few high profile truck crashes on that road but it tends to get reported on more than bike and car crashes due to the spectacular nature of the event.
Don't forget to bring a towel
Unless the road had a pot hole, or gravel, or diesel, or animal excrement, or any other slippery substance(s). The rider could also have swerved to avoid foreign objects on the road.
Que?
Forum whore
As a good friend said to me this morning in regard to this accident, "Honestly its like family violence… Everyone knows whats going on but if you say anything you are a nark…"
There's layers of tragedy in this accident, but it was completely avoidable. My wife commutes to work in the Hutt from Greytown. Wednesday and Thursday nights in Summer give both her and me the shits. She doesn't want to kill someone I might know when she doesn't have the room to get out of the way and I don't want her hurt by 300kg of rider and bike. It is safer driving in Winter gales with snow and slips and shit.
Fatjim, your loyalty to your friend is commendable, but in this instance he got it badly wrong and paid the ultimate price. It didn't need to happen, especially on the weekly race to the pub ride. After everything he'd been through, dying on or off a bike sure as hell wasn't worth it.
If a man is alone in the woods and there isn't a woke Hollywood around to call him racist, is he still white?
Easily ammused
Mate, the most dangerous part of the Rimutukas as far as I have experienced is the surface conditions. Apart form a few places, its actually pretty good at the moment. However, you add Deisel to that, and all bets are off. I'm not saying what caused this accident, I don't know. I'm just saying that I know of a LOT of motorcyclists who have come off because of deisel spills, and are lucky to be alive, and skill, speed or whatever have no part in deciding whether you stay up, or on your side of the road or not. When truck drivers comment on how dangerous motocyclist are riding on the Rimutukas, then I see red.
Forum whore
Doesn't sound like a very suitable road to be treating as a racetrack then.
Easily ammused
Jim, I won't argue with you. I don't want this to turn into an arguement over this particular accident which I have no knowledge about. It was a general moan on the hypocrosy.
But I stand by the fact you wouldn't have not wanted him to ever take up motorcycling.
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