Went street racing today.

[WRT]

First across the line for an early free breakfast was motorcycling magazine editor Ross MacKay, who took advantage of being allowed to use bus lanes to travel the 12.2km from New Lynn in 20 minutes on a 150cc scooter - at an average speed of 36.6 km/h.

He also used less than a third of a litre of fuel, at a cost of just 48c, compared with the standard bus fare from New Lynn of $4.30.

~$2,000 for the scooter?
$285.71 for rego
~$30 for WOF?
~$300 for insurance?

Admittedly there is also gear to be purchased, and add in a little bit for tyres and servicing, but in about a years time you will have recovered that in fuel savings. Then there is the time you will save, between the extra bit of sleep you get and the buzz from riding into work, you will be happier and less stressed. And if you compare it to a car and having to pay for parking, the savings would be even greater.

The only downside seems to be having to deal with the shame of being seen on a scooter.

[steved]

Note the lack of a 'real' bike in the test.
It said in the paper this morning that the scooter used the bus lanes on the motorway - isn't that illegal? Or are those particular bus lanes OK for bikes?

To my knowledge, you are right in that the motorway bus lanes are illegal. City bus-lanes are legal.

[90s]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/s...ectid=10456630

Well duh.
I have done the 20k from out west into the CBD every day almost for 5 years, 3.5 on a cycle, 1 by car or bus, and 1.5 on the bike.

From Herald: "Although most legs of a similar commuter challenge run last year by Cycle Action Auckland were won by cyclists, Mr MacLean said that event
"inexplicably" omitted motorcycles."

My results:
Heavy traffic:
Cycle - 50mins (beat all cars times easily to Greenbay, then start climbing ... )
Bus - 60mins
Car - 1hr05
Bike - 35mins
Light traffic:
Cycle - 50mins
Bus - 45mins
Car - 20mins
Bike - 15mins

Bikes always win.

Last night though lanesplitting Gt Nth. Rd I was beaten over about 5k by a storming cyclist on a racebike. He was taking a shed-load of chances, but when we got to Titirangi rd the hill took its toll on him. Man I love not cycling those hills anymore.

[Pancakes]

The only downside seems to be having to deal with the shame of being seen on a scooter.

Dude scooters are hella fun! I admit, the one I was having fun on snapped from being "un-fun-capable" but while it lived heaps of the neighbourhood kids were on it and couldn't kill it!