Speed cameras and breakdowns

[pixc]

Years ago while I was driving on my own, I saw a car broken down on the napier- taupo highway in the dark in the middle of now were. I turned back to offer assisantance. When I stopped I realized it was a group of 'rough' looking men and kinda wished at that moment that I didnt stop. Turned out they had a puncher and no spare. I offered my spare which they took greatfully. I told them were to return it. They were happy for the help and I was pretty pleased with myself for doing a good turn. About 6 months later..my poor old car packed a sad in the gorge on the way to Gisborne. I sat there for ages in the dark..kinda crapping myself. No one stopped for me except for this one car. And guess who it was..one of the guys that I helped out on the napier- Taupo highway!

[Ixion]

Yep. What goes round , comes round.

[Lucy]

This reminds me of an incident (I think) that may have been about two years ago, long before I got a bike or knew about Kiwibiker, I wonder if any of you can help my curiousity?

I was driving a van load of people down the Mt Roskill motorway towards the airport, during the day, and on the other side of the motorway just near the Queenstown off ramp (westbound) there was a motorbike on the side on the grass, upright, looked abandoned until I noticed that the rider was actually still sitting on the bike but was draped forward right over the tank, not moving. His helmet was off and on the ground (I'm pretty sure). I rang 111 but by the time I got the operatorr to understand where I was talking about "there's no queenstown rd off ramp..." "what do you mean northbound? there is no northbound" (I learnt that the opposite to South was West), I was really cross and nearly at the airport.

Anyway, it's a long shot, but I would love to know what the story there was. The rider looked dead, but the bike was upright. Was some time in the last two or three years.

[Lou Girardin]

The camera operator can note your rego as you pass and still issue the ticket.

[marty]

Anyway, it's a long shot, but I would love to know what the story there was. The rider looked dead, but the bike was upright. Was some time in the last two or three years.

maybe he was pining.....

[mooks]

I stopped once few years back now at the bottom of the viaduct just out of National Park on a bleak winters afternoon. Big Harley parked on the side of the road - I stop .... in my beat up old vw golf .....
Bloke emerges from undergrowth and says to me ..... 'awesome chick...no one would stop for me ... was just putting my patch in the bush eh' ... and slings his patched gang jacket over his shoulder. I stutter ... oh .. oh .. well ... you know ..I ride too.... (my lil 250 Japper at the time!!)....
Turns out he had run her out of gas - siphoned some out of my tank in about 3 secs .... gives me a business card noless and says to me .. 'you ever need a hand chick .. you call that number' .... and roared off up the hill ....
So yeah - stop if ya can .... even if ya mama said not to talk to strangers ...

[notme]

Yep. What goes round , comes round.

But when the things that are meant to be round are flat on the bottom, you'll probably find me.

I seem to have a way of coming across bikers with flat tyres....the way i see it, handing over my $35 puncture repair kit is the least i can do to keep my karma in good nick - and I have never had to prompt for reimbursment.

You always stop (as Ix says, as long as yer not putting anyone in harm's way)

Isn't that rule in the license test?

[terbang]

The camera operator can note your rego as you pass and still issue the ticket.

I often give speed camera operators some numbers to write home about including a less than friendly gesture. Don't mind cops doing their job but hate speed cameras. I allways honk my horn at them as I drive past, have been doing that for about 7-8 years now and haven't had anything in the mail yet. Here is my take on speed cameras. I could supposedly get pissed to the eyeballs, have bald tyres and an unsafe car and drive past one of these things at a few kays over the speed limit and all it will detect is the speed. Cop out policing...!

I allways stop for someone broken down..

[klingon]

2.Yes. A biker ALWAYS stops for another biker in trouble (assuming you can without danger). Even if you can't do much, you may be able to offer a cellphone, a jump start, a message or lift to the next garage, if nothing else just a word of companionship and consolation . It can be lonely stranded with a broken down bike. A biker ALWAYS stops. It is the the biker creed and the unwritten Gospel. The biker gods take a terrible vengenace on those who break the commandment. At the very least your wheels will fall off mid corner.

The key thing here is "without danger." That means to you, your kids, other road users. Often by the time you've worked out that there is actually something going on (they haven't just stopped for a picnic or a pee) you've already passed them and it might involve a U-turn to go back. And sometimes as a woman on her own (or with kids) you can have trouble assessing whether it's safe to stop. So yeah, stop by all means if it's safe. But the safety aspect is your call.

My elderly Dad stopped a few years ago when he saw a car on the side of the road with its bonnet up and a young guy standing by it. Dad pulled over, the young guy came over and opened the passenger door, and a bunch of his mates emerged from the bushes and got into Dad's car. They 'asked' him to take them to some place which was miles away from where he was going. Poor Dad was terrified. No physical harm was done but it's the kind of thing that shouldn't happen to an old WWII vet who had stopped to do the right thing. Dad is unlikely to ever stop and offer help again.

On the other hand, I do stop and offer assistance, but I'm on high alert at all times until I'm clear what's going on.

I feel sorry for a learner out East Auckland way tonight then... he rode past me while I was broken down on the side of the road...

lol poor learner probably hasn't worked out where the brake is yet.

This reminds me of an incident (I think) that may have been about two years ago, long before I got a bike or knew about Kiwibiker, I wonder if any of you can help my curiousity?
[...]
Anyway, it's a long shot, but I would love to know what the story there was. The rider looked dead, but the bike was upright. Was some time in the last two or three years.

What an interesting story, Lucy. I hope you find out what was happening. Maybe the biker was puking? Or just tired? If they had time to get their stand down and remove their helmet maybe it wasn't too serious... I hope someone stopped and gave them a hand...