Those cheesecutter/wire median barriers

**Wolf** · 10th August 2006, 19:29

Originally Posted by The_Dover

have you got a url for that site WINJA?

"Google is your friend"...

**Lou Girardin** · 11th August 2006, 08:25

Sorry winja, but you are under the misapprenhesion that bike v car head-ons are more common than being shunted from behind or hit from the side.
The most common accidents we face are the ones that will push us into these barriers.
It sounds like you spend too much time in a cage, you're starting to think like a cager.

**scumdog** · 11th August 2006, 08:36

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Sorry winja, but you are under the misapprenhesion that bike v car head-ons are more common than being shunted from behind or hit from the side.
The most common accidents we face are the ones that will push us into these barriers.
It sounds like you spend too much time in a cage, you're starting to think like a cager.

And a shitload of bikers cark it running into fixed objects and/or running out of road too.

**Drum** · 11th August 2006, 08:38

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

........The most common accidents we face are the ones that will push us into these barriers...........

Has anyone yet heard of a biker striking a wire rope barrier in NZ?

**sunhuntin** · 11th August 2006, 14:52

Originally Posted by Drum

Has anyone yet heard of a biker striking a wire rope barrier in NZ?

i havent...but i think thats cos no one wants to see if the theory will stand or not. id rather not, thanks, lol.

**Drum** · 11th August 2006, 15:05

Agreed. I dont want to find out the hard way either.

My point is, why is there such a critical thread about "those cheese cutters" when strikes against them are so uncommon (or even non-existent in NZ), when our (bikers') own behaviour is so much more likely to put us at risk than a stationary object (a.k.a. hazard) on the side of the road.

And barriers are hazards, and are considered as such. They are installed to protect motorists from even greater hazards, such as a cliff or a rock wall, or another vehicle (for example). Theyre the lesser of two evils.

**sunhuntin** · 11th August 2006, 15:37

Originally Posted by Drum

Agreed. I dont want to find out the hard way either.

My point is, why is there such a critical thread about "those cheese cutters" when strikes against them are so uncommon (or even non-existent in NZ), when our (bikers') own behaviour is so much more likely to put us at risk than a stationary object (a.k.a. hazard) on the side of the road.

And barriers are hazards, and are considered as such. They are installed to protect motorists from even greater hazards, such as a cliff or a rock wall, or another vehicle (for example). Theyre the lesser of two evils.

the perceived threat? for myself, once i know they are there, im fine, but the first few times, im as jumpy as a grasshopper.

**Brett** · 11th August 2006, 17:44

Originally Posted by The_Dover

have you got a url for that site WINJA?

www.ilikeslowthingsthataresafe.com

I still can personlly think of a few ways that they can be made safer at minimum cost. Time to move into civil road works management me thinks...then again...screw woring for transit...although the whole day would be smoko i guess.

**WINJA** · 11th August 2006, 20:32

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Sorry winja, but you are under the misapprenhesion that bike v car head-ons are more common than being shunted from behind or hit from the side.
The most common accidents we face are the ones that will push us into these barriers.
It sounds like you spend too much time in a cage, you're starting to think like a cager.

IM NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT MOTORCYCLISTS THO , YOUR SAYING 'WE' AND 'US' BUT IM THINKING MORE ALONG THE LINES OF 'THEM' , THEM BEING MY FAMILY.
I DONT PERCEIVE THESE BARRIERS AS A DANGER , WE DONT HEAR ON A WEEKLY BASIS OF A MOTORCYCLIST HITTING THEM AND DIEING , INFACT HOW MANY MOTORCYCLIST HAVE HIT THEM AND DIED OR BEEN INJURED?

I STILL DONT THINK THERE DANGEORUS COMPARED TO THEY GREATER BENEFIT THEY PROVIDE

**Clivoris** · 11th August 2006, 21:21

In the spirit of one of our great Un Zud icons, Sir Edmund Hilary no less. I have formed a club dedicated to pushing the limits of our riding, laughing in the face of the bike accidents gods, by riding extra aggressively on roads with wire rope barriers. One of us shall be the first.
It hasn't been much fun on my own but now that we are getting a bit of publicity I expect membership to swell like a lawyer stung by a puffer fish.

**Brett** · 11th August 2006, 22:42

Originally Posted by Clivoris

In the spirit of one of our great Un Zud icons, Sir Edmund Hilary no less. I have formed a club dedicated to pushing the limits of our riding, laughing in the face of the bike accidents gods, by riding extra aggressively on roads with wire rope barriers. One of us shall be the first.
It hasn't been much fun on my own but now that we are getting a bit of publicity I expect membership to swell like a lawyer stung by a puffer fish.

Oh no...

**The Pastor** · 11th August 2006, 23:03

Originally Posted by WINJA

IM NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT MOTORCYCLISTS THO , YOUR SAYING 'WE' AND 'US' BUT IM THINKING MORE ALONG THE LINES OF 'THEM' , THEM BEING MY FAMILY.
I DONT PERCEIVE THESE BARRIERS AS A DANGER , WE DONT HEAR ON A WEEKLY BASIS OF A MOTORCYCLIST HITTING THEM AND DIEING , INFACT HOW MANY MOTORCYCLIST HAVE HIT THEM AND DIED OR BEEN INJURED?

I STILL DONT THINK THERE DANGEORUS COMPARED TO THEY GREATER BENEFIT THEY PROVIDE

Firstly how do u get your messages in all caps.

I fully agree with winja on this. Yes they are dangerous and in stupid places, but the fact is there are alot more cars than bikes on the road, and these things work awesomely well for stopping cars while protecting the people inside them.

Not having them there will cost more lives than having them there.

Heres an idea though, why dont they wrap them in bubble wrap to make them safe for us bikers!

**Drum** · 12th August 2006, 20:18

Originally Posted by Brett

www.ilikeslowthingsthataresafe.com

I still can personlly think of a few ways that they can be made safer at minimum cost. Time to move into civil road works management me thinks...then again...screw woring for transit...although the whole day would be smoko i guess.

You cant make heuristic alterations to the barriers in an attempt to make them "safer". The designs are tested to an international standard, and any alterations to the design or installation would mean a complete re-test and test level reclassification. The testing programme can cost up to a million $$.

You wouldnt be managing road works if you worked for Transit. They are mainly an administration body. On site management is by Contractors and Consultants.

**Deano** · 12th August 2006, 20:26

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Sorry for sounding like a Govt body but I guess that is what happens when you do work for them.

Being on the inside doesn't make you more cynical ?

It does for me cause you can see the political BS for what it is, and you have the 'inside story'...I.E the facts.

**Deano** · 12th August 2006, 20:33

Originally Posted by mdooher

Cheese cutter has been banned in almost all EEC countries. They went through the same thing we did...started putting it down the centre of multi lane roads and ended up with it both sides of off ramps.

The reason they banned it is that something like 95% of all motorcycle crashes into the stuff resulted in amputation (either limb or head).

So are they banned or what ?

If so, will Winja and all the advocates of these barriers take heed and admit they are wrong ?