NZ Transit Road Barrier Protest ride. -Taupo

[yungatart]

Arrrrr feck, Im coming down with DMNTD and Tide, but I forgot about the red armband, will have to source something quicksmart.

I will have spares!!

Special thanks to all those folk that are riding with us today...your support is appreciated. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank 2 people who have done a tremendous amount of work, (mostly behind the scenes) and spent considerable time in organizing and planning for this event. I know both Meekey Mouse (Jas) and our own Yungatart (Janet) will be very reluctant in excepting any praise for their efforts....You both represent all thats good in KiwiBikers Well Done

Thanks Warwick....tis nothing....a woman has to do what a man won't (can't), or summat like that....
All the best to Madandy and Sharon today

[NZsarge]

All the best for the ride today.

[Wasp27]

All the best for the ride today.

Thanks John....catch ya later dude

[MidnightMike]

Hey guys, that was a great turn out!

Big thanks to Meekymouse (Jas) and yungatart (Janet) for their efforts into organising this for us. (bling to you both)

Also thanks to DMNTD and tide for the ride down, thought not so much the ride back eh chris

Doesnt matter anyways, I had more fun on the way back from Rotorua by myself than what I did for most of the last coro loop, forgot how good that road back was, and also got the confidence on my bike that hasnt been there for last month.

cheers.

[DMNTD:Me]

Good on everyone that put action to their opinions and turned up!
I really wanted to say something to the rep that turned up and spouted his wee speech as I personally thought it was bollix...but hey at least someone did come out,I guess.
A special thanks to...EVERYONE!

Also thanks to DMNTD and tide for the ride down, thought not so much the ride back eh chris

You bloody twit! I did 100-105kmph all the way back to Rotorua...stopped for gas and watched you ride past as I was waving to you.

[MidnightMike]

Err, woops, what petrol station did you stop at au?

[DMNTD:Me]

Err, woops, what petrol station did you stop at au?

The one where a 100kg fat bastard was waving at you ya skinny gimp!
1st one going into Rotorua by a roundabout

[janno]

Can someone please post up a "ride report" on the protest and how it went for the benefit of those who weren't there? Who was this rep and what was the problem there?

Just driven up to Auckland today and horrified to see miles and fricken miles of cheesecutter where it never used to be. Felt very uncomfortable even in the car. That stuff just looks lethal, never mind that it really is . . .

[tri boy]

i'll leave any ride reports for the people who can type with more than two fingers. Suffice to say that it was a very well behaved bunch of riders, and hopefully the engineers in charge of road safety may keep us considered when it comes to further barrier planning.
Nice to catch up with one or two familiar faces, and also meet some new ones.

[tri boy]

And a few more pic's.

[yungatart]

Just got back from Taupo.
The ride went well, we had about 45 ish bikes turn up.
Well done to those that were there, being on a Tuesday and all.

Jas (Meekey Mouse) and her family did a fantastic job of organising this, distributing fliers, borrowing Hi- Vis vests for the marshalls etc and then offering their hospitality to all who turned up. Awesome people! Also Thanks to Gixxer4eva and Wasp27 for scouting out the route, G4E and Speights bud for traffic control, Meekey Mouse for being our lead rider, Zukin and Holy Roller for TEC, Wasp27 and MSTRS for those amazing flags!

All riders were well behaved...I think that is cos I scared them all at the pre ride brief!!

We headed through town in a roundabout, circuitous route to the Suncourt. I tell you...people really look when they see those munting great flags on the lead bikes!! Reactions were priceless!

I had barely parked my bike when two delegates from the workshop joined us on the grass. They politely listened to us and responded very well, no doubt, towing the party line all the way! However, they did turn up and they did appear to listen! Mind you, I was speaking directly to the dude with the accent...and he knew it!

Their stance is that they are looking at "world best practice" regarding installing these death traps, and have been liaising with BRONZ.
That means, folks, that we need to keep the pressure on....now is not the time to sit and rest on one's laurels. Petiton forms need to be filled,
MP"S lobbied, write articles for your local newspaper, letters to the editor, lets keep rolling guys! We don't want to lose momentum and have this issue fade away over the "silly season"

Pics later!

[HTFU]

Well done to the organisers of the ride today. I think it made as much real impact as you could expect. Also a good day to go for a ride and meet some more KB riders.

[janno]

I'll be in contact with a couple of the major papers when I get back, and look at getting a feature on CC barriers in with them. Luckily for us, January is silly season for the papers, not much happening news wise so they are generally very open to contributions from freelancers.

Can anyone with pertinent information that they think I need to know please pm it to me and I will be in contact when I get back. (12/12/07). If anyone knows members of families of those injured or killed by ccs and who would be willing to talk (horrible I know, but at least I'm not a mercenary hack) then pm me as well. I won't be hunting any families down out of respect, I'll leave it up to others to suggest it to them and if they are able to help out in this cause, then I would be grateful to hear from them.

[MSTRS:Me]

Just to add my appreciation to those that made the effort to attend. Well done guys and girls.
And to re-iterate DMNTD & YT's comments re the Transit dude...he listened and respected our 2 minute silence (that was a looooong time). But once he responded all his credibility went down the gurgler. Telling us what he thought we 'wanted' to hear, sort of. What a crock.
Please - do not cease joint and individual efforts. This is going to be a long campaign I fear. But the outcome should never be in any doubt.
NO MORE CHEESECUTTERS.

[McDuck]

Well guys it looks like waht ever bug i had stayed away till i got home.
It seems i am reather sick, should be fun for the next few days.
I am glade i could be there.
Peace out.