Cheesecutter campaign

[yungatart]

Just and up date from the Path Lab, as we have been talking to the patholgist about Dan injuries.

The only thing that Killed Dan ( Back_fire ) was the wire Rope Barrier cutting him in half, apart from a minor broken elbow ( more like a chip to the elbow) and gravel rash on his thighs,

had he not hit those WRB's he would have had no life threatening injuries.

THE WIRE ROPE BARRIERS ARE WHAT KILLED HIM NOTHING ELSE.

That is so wrong, WW. My heart goes out to you and your family, a senseless, needless death. W
We can't wait for another family to lose a loved one to these things.
What is our next step? When?

[sunhuntin]

Yer we are so proactive (Tui's). Web site not updated. Little feedback as to how the Campaign is going. Not even much being posted on here any more. So do we still care? Would take a major rev-up ta get numbers for a ride now. So how can we get the ball rolling again?

if you, or anyone else, organises a ride, im guaranteed to be there, rain, hail or shine.
honestly, i feel the southern riders need to step in as well... contrary to popular belief, they are down there [4 seperate fences on the invercargill/bluff highway... wtf?] and they are all over the place, with more being added even as i type.

WW... i doubt that report is any comfort. just as a matter of interest, has the damage to the bike been confirmed yet [im mainly talking the failure of the bike that caused dan to come off in the first place] the crash puke had me wondering. it hurts to know that, without that rope, dan would still be here, and i didnt even know him.

[Katman]

THE WIRE ROPE BARRIERS ARE WHAT KILLED HIM NOTHING ELSE.

With all due respect, I think Dan's actions on the road that night played a large part in it as well.

[Divot]

I have heard that some of the wire rope barriers are coming out and croncert one going in.

This is to do with traffic numbers and the wire rope are cat 4 and the higher traffic leavels dictate that the barriers are cat 5.

[MSTRS:Me]

With all due respect, I think Dan's actions on the road that night played a large part in it as well.

You never stop, do you? Yes, his actions contributed...he was riding his bike, wasn't he? A bit quickish, I hear you say...and you or anyone else hasn't from time to time? That has seldom been a reason to fall off. Especially not on a practically deserted motorway at 3am. I wonder how long we will wait for confirmation of what Daniel's dad has hinted at? Or is frame failure not a popular option with you, since it is outside the rider's control?

[MSTRS:Me]

Yungatart and I both did a mass mail to all MPs about our concerns.
Collectively, only some have replied but the responses have been 'interesting'...

* Supportive - National 12, Labour 3, Greens 2, NZ1 2, Act 0, United Future 2, Maori 0
* Negative - National 0, Labour 1, Greens 0, NZ1 0, Act 0, UF 0, Maori 0
* Non-committal - National 8, Labour 17, Greens 4, NZ1 3, Act 2, UF 0, Maori 0

The supportive MPs said things such as 'Not convinced these barriers are so great. Will be asking Transit for answers."
The sole Negative said 'They seem to work well on the Hamilton-Auckland highway' (oh, really?) It was Dianne Yates...perhaps she needs to be educated, like the email I sent back to her complete with info and photos.
The Non-committal were mainly 'Not my department, have passed on to Min.of Transport' but did include one that said 'Thankfully there are none in my electorate' (watch this space, eh?)
Most telling is the total lack of response from the Maori party...

Update...finally got a response from Ms Turia. I have to say that even though tardy, it was the only response that appears to have had some thought go into it. She almost seems to 'get it'. I attach it for all to read.
Oh, and the mass mail to all MPs was ...
Dear .....

Transit are heavily utilising the Wire Rope Barrier system known as
Cheesecutter on our roads, apparently in the name of safety, but in
contravention of international best practice as regards to
distance/positioning down the centre, not to mention the recent
appearance of these things on the shoulder as well. Do you condone the
increased risk this poses to motorcyclists? And are you aware that
unless struck at a shallow angle, cars will often go under the wires
with predictable results? And that larger vehicles will not be stopped
by this barrier? Concrete barriers are safer for all motorists, do not
require repair after a strike, last for at least 50 years, and therefore
their cost benefit far outweighs any initial savings on a cut-rate
dangerous fixture. For more information, visit www.cheesecutter.co.nz -
your support in this matter would be appreciated.
Regards

[yungatart]

With all due respect, I think Dan's actions on the road that night played a large part in it as well.

But, his actions did NOT contribute to his death, only to his accident. If he had not hit a Wire Rope Barrier, he would not have died.
How thick and/or insensitive are you?

[Katman]

But, his actions did NOT contribute to his death, only to his accident. If he had not hit a Wire Rope Barrier, he would not have died.
How thick and/or insensitive are you?

This post has me somewhat stunned.

You're suggesting his actions contributed towards his accident - but not his death?????

[yungatart]

This post has me somewhat stunned.

You're suggesting his actions contributed towards his accident - but not his death?????

Exactly. What is so hard to understand? If he had NOT hit that type of barrier, he would not have died.
And while you are busy editting what you say, how's about getting rid of that un-necessarily provocative little dig at MSTRS.

[WelshWizard]

With all due respect, I think Dan's actions on the road that night played a large part in it as well.

If going out for a ride with mates is contributing to the accident then every one of us does so every time we get on a bike,.


First just because some cops make a statement before he has all the facts does not mean he is right in fact it probably means he is wrong.

the only witness to the crash itself in his sworn statement clearly states that Dan was doing about 100 kph at the time of the accident, it also states that the witness saw the motorcycle break apart before any part came into contact with the WRB's,

our engineer is still waiting on police who as yet have not released all of the bike to him to complete his investigations, until he and our solicitor are satisfied that all evidence has been made available for our investigators to complete their test we will oppose any move to bring this to inquest, no way are the fact going to be swept away to make life simple for NZ Police, if he did some thing wrong then our investigators will find this out, as yet what our investigators have found suggest that Dan was not at fault.

[Hitcher]

This discussion has got more than a bit personal. Could the protagonists please leave their attitude at the door and get this thread back on topic, thus making sterner measures unnecessary.

This is a general warning.

[WelshWizard]

Maybe its time to organise another protest run , but this time why not get every center that has had a run previously to arrange that this one goes off on the same day, same time , with every center doing a run like this it will be able to attract more media attention, and this time we need to get plenty of posters showing what hapens to cars and lorries that hit these things, we are not like the Drink Driver campeign that as Mack the knife states just turn people off, we have to get every one aware that these things are killers and are being used as a cheap option, that will cost more on the long run to maintain,
as already proven by links already posted before,

if you need to know where, just look through the Cheese cutter threads, you will find plenty to think about already posted.

[MSTRS:Me]

This discussion has got more than a bit personal. Could the protagonists please leave their attitude at the door and get this thread back on topic, thus making sterner measures unnecessary.

This is a general warning.

I agree.
And I'll ask here too, for that provocative 'location' to be changed.
The CC campaign, for better or worse, is about changing a barrier type that is exceedingly unfriendly to motorcyclists in particular. No matter the rights or wrongs of any particular incident involving them, if a rider dies as a result of hitting one, especially if it is 99% certain that death would not have occurred otherwise, then this type of barrier needs to go. End of story.

[RiderInBlack]

Maybe its time to organise another protest run , but this time why not get every center that has had a run previously to arrange that this one goes off on the same day, same time .

Very Much Agree. But this time we need to adverise it in the local biker mags, and give enough time ta get all riders envolved. Summer is runnimg out fast Dudes and Dudettes.

[Jiminy]

Maybe its time to organise another protest run , but this time why not get every center that has had a run previously to arrange that this one goes off on the same day, same time ,

That's a good idea.

Just some feedback about the previous protest ride in Welly. I found it a bit useless. Here is a bunch of bikers who ride together towards the city, are parked on the side of the road for a few minutes, then go to the parliament to hear someone have a little talk to a couple of already convinced (or just vote-friendly) politicians and the same bunch of bikers who obviously support the cause. Impact on Joe Blogg: zero, (almost) nobody saw or heard about us. Info in newspapers or TV news: haven't seen any.

I'm not for a rampage in the city, but I think we also want to let the public know about our view and to let the politicians know that we will let the public know (that would tickle their interest in the cause). Maybe the next protest run, while still being nice and friendly, should take a route inside the city so that a) journalists will be compelled to write a story and b) Joe Blogg will see (or hear) plenty of bikers, wonder what this noise is all about, and watch/read the news that very same day.

Again, not complaining, just suggesting a more visible route (maybe down and up Courtenay Place). Of course, that will only work if we stay as disciplined as last time.

If we only speak to those who listen, we will be unheard.