Wire barriers TV3 NEWS TONIGHT

[crshbndct]

my bike is down at the moment, but i can try organise acouple fo guys from here to join in.

i might bring my big bad v8 along and maybe follow at the tail wth an advertisement trailer with the slogan on it (i can get it from work, and just leave it white and stick letters on it.)

if that helps?

maybe something along the lines of "save lives not money - wire barriers must go"

[Toaster]

Put me down for any protest.

I have hated these bloody things ever since seeing my first on the M4 in the UK.

I'm watching this thread. So just post details and I'll be there.

Mr Merde

Have they still got them on the dual carriage highways over there? A-roads I think they called those roads if I recall correctly? Or have they been upgraded to concrete barriers?

[Headbanger]

Just watched the vid, Heavy stuff, Respect all round. Doubt I would have the strength to talk about it so soon if I were in that position.

The bearded git needs to look at the situation before jumping to the defense of a shitty fence.

[Sanx]

That bearded git needs to be thrown down the road, wearing the best leathers and armour money can buy, into one of those fences. Then, maybe we'll get some honest opinions from him.

Not so long ago, as a result of being bored at work, I wrote a letter to Harry Duynhoven, Minister for Transport Safety (i.e. Minister for blaming everything on speeding). In that letter, I mentioned the cheese-cutters and the danger they posed to motorcyclists. Maybe now would be a good time, in addition to doing something very public, to start writing letters to this Minister as well as your local MPs and the National party as well. Maybe BRONZ can help with the wording, but I can try to draft something up if necessary. I can also help with organisation, and a protest / petition website if needed.

Felix. What you said was very powerful. I'm not sure I'd have enough composure to do it so soon. Jen - good work, girl.

[terbang]

I've often looked at those things and had shivers down my back at the thought of a motrcyclist tangling with them. Bloody murderous if you ask me and yes we should have our say even if it is a protest. Someone or something needs to get their cost cutting attention. I'm up in Saudi at the moment and wont be back till towards end of NOV so will more than likely miss out. I feel that doing something like this would be better done earlier rather than later while the public are still thinking about it

[Sanx]

From http://mraa.org.au/forum/modules/iss....php?pagenum=7

The Dutch parliament, after lobbying from MAG NL (Motorcylist Action Group - The Netherlands), banned cable barriers on December 13th 2005.

January 2006 - MAG Belgium have been promoting the motorcycle friendly crash barriers. They managed to get a slot on Belgium TV promoting this issue and now the Belgium government is planning to fix some 10 kilometres of motorcycle friendly barriers per year.

On Friday 4th August 2006, the Norwegian Minister of Transport, Mrs. Liv Signe Navarsete, announced a ban on the use of cable barriers. She did so after years of lobbying by FEMA´s member organisation, the Norwegian Motorcycle Union (NMCU). “Finally, we see an end to the egg slicers”, said NMCU chairman Jan-Fredrik Moller.

Other links:

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...w-1138376.html
Irish viewpoint, including reporting of the EU decision to review technical guidelines for carsh barriers.
http://epubl.ltu.se/1402-1617/2005/233/
Study carried out by the Luleå Tekniska Universitet (Lulea Technical University - I think) in Sweden on the effect of the wire-rope barriers on motorcyclists. Download the PDF for the full report (in English).
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd.../05-0095-O.pdf
A study carried out by DEKRA Accident Research for the German Federal Highway Research Institute (but hosted on the US National highways Transit Safety Authority website) on real-life motorcycle crashes into barriers of diferent types. Report concludes that more research is necessary, but that the wire-rope barriers present a significantly higher injury risk than concrete barriers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/F?thread=3341147
A progress report (dated August 2006) from the UK's MAG on efforts to ban use of wire-rope barriers. Contains a useful draft of a letter to send to various bottom-feeders in parliament (I'll post it up later).
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page10977.asp
A response from the UK government to an online petition from the UK's MAG calling for all crash-barriers to be made motorycycle-friendly and for wire-rope barriers to be removed. Response, typically, says little and promises nothing. Petition attracted just 478 signatures.
http://www.roadsonline.com.au/articl...e=29&section=1
An article claiming Tasmania's foremost motorcycle body is actually calling for wire rope barriers to be installed. Article also quotes the results of research carried out at Monash University's Accident Research Centre (of which speed nazi, self-publicist and liar Prof. Ian Johnston is a research fellow) stating that wire-rope barriers are just as safe as other types.
http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc210.pdf
Another report carried out by Monash University's Accident Research Centre, comissioned by Vic Roads, on why flexible (i.e. wire rope) barriers are a good idea. Specifically covers motorcycles, but cites a lack of available evidence in drawing a negative conclusion.

[Mrs Busa Pete]

Great job zapf and draco pete and i will be in for any protest action that is decided on.

[nudemetalz]

I just watched the interview on the TV3 website.
Very well done and as been said here but I'll echo, very clear and precise.
As usual, Transit spokesperson said the cheesecutter were sucessful, blah blah.

[Firefight]

Thank you Jen and Felix, top effort, you both made your point in a clear and precise manner, I am proud that you represnted us .





Felix, not many would have been strong enuff to do what you did, Dan would have been proud of the way you spoke .

Jen, a professional, calm, and well balanced point of view delivered in a way that hopefully non bike riders may understand what we are talking about.

Respect to you both.


F/F


ps Jen, great choice of bike for the back ground of your interview.

[Mountlocal1]

Top effort guys. Im there just give me a time and place.

[Mountlocal1]

Anyone in Hams that wants to ride up to this PM me.

[Mr Merde]

Have they still got them on the dual carriage highways over there? A-roads I think they called those roads if I recall correctly? Or have they been upgraded to concrete barriers?

I havent been back for 4 years but I seem to remember them being replaced on the motorways. This was a few years before then as prior to leaving the UK I had been sick for about 3 years and physically unable to ride or even move.

As to the A roads, I couldnt say.

One of the UK based members may be able to help answer this question.


Merde

[janno]

I was devastated to hear of this young man's death last night on the news. The two people who spoke were very eloquent and composed, and put a very human and sane face to the "scary, mad bikers" idea that some members of the public have.

I'll travel up to Aucks or down to Wellington for a protest ride.

As regards to what form the protest should take, my thoughts are blocking the motorway will get a lot of people seriously pissed off, and not help the cause at all.

What about using the emergency lanes on the side of the motorway as a parking spot for half an hour, if possible near some cheesecutters, making sure to pick the appropriate time and place for maximum safety during the day.

If everybody rode as a group and pulled over as a group there would not be much anyone could do about it.

You will have to make damned sure that it's a place where people can safely stop and gather without being hit by 110kph traffic though.

That way cars will see us and wonder what we were up to, (hold a few banners perhaps - "wire barriers maim and kill!" - and recognise what we were trying to say when they watch the news that night, without being held up and got seriously offside for our cause.

Or the usual slow ride up Queen st en masse or past parliament. We'll need some serious numbers for that one to make it effective.

I hope this will not be yet another issue that everyone complains about but is busy on the day . . .

[Deano]

I'm keen to be part of a Welly protest.

[BMW]

Who else thinks it sick that the world cup coverage is on before a murder and the story about a young mans death? They need to get their fucken priorities right.

I do also think that

But we all need to do something. get hold of the radio stations as well as they will bring this all attention. Also there is a bike rally on this weekend in Rotorua..

So I can do it this week in AK but am away this weekend.