TAUPO - Transit NZ Road Barrier Protest Ride

**Grub** · 23rd October 2007, 18:57

Originally Posted by Ixion

Seems Transit have a bit of a hooley coming up.

Road Safety Barrier Systems Workshop

Suncourt Motor Hotel and Conference Centre, Taupo

4-5 December 2007

Now, wouldn't that be an interesting location for a protest .

An opportunity, maybe the best we will ever have, to make the point about the cheescutter barriers. A huge turnout of bikes on Tuesday 4 December at lunchtime and a quiet word to TV3 would be just too good an opportunity to miss.

How's this sound for starters
- Tuesday 4 December
- 12 noon or 1230 when they break for lunch (can anyone local find this out for us? You'd need to be sneaky about it)
- Assembly down at the yacht basin, ride out the south end of the basin onto the main road, up Spa Rd, along the back of Taupo to come out on SH5 Napier-Taupo Rd and back along the lake front to the Suncourt Motel
- Assemble/park on the huge grass area outside the Suncourt, face the motel and bow our heads in silence for 2 minutes at least (it will feel like forever).

Somehow I visualise the noise of a hundred bikes idling suddenly being shut down all together and the silence that follows would have a stunning impact. It would send a message about how serious we think the issue is and it would surprise the hell out of people who think that there will be lots of shouting and revving of bikes.

Noise and aggression is what most people expect of "bikies" and this would (I hope) leave them speechless.

If we have this about right, we'll put up a calendar item so people can register if they wish (although this doesn't seem to indicate actual numbers to expect)

Here's a map of the ride route idea. It's 20 mins at normal pace so lets say it will take 30. The route itself hits major visibility spots like the basin, the main street, Spa Rd is one busy road, SH5 Napier-Taupo has huge visibility as does the lake front all the way to the motel. Any other thoughts anyone?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...,0.050898&z=14

The cheescutter thread is here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=59344

**R6_kid:Me** · 23rd October 2007, 19:19

I will be in town from the 30th Nov - 2nd of Dec, and there is a memorial track day on the 2nd for our friends Bruce and Daryl that we lost the last year so there should be a decently sizeable number of KB'ers in town anyway.

**Grub** · 23rd October 2007, 19:22

Excellent! You're right, lots of bikes in town ... this just gets better

**sunhuntin** · 23rd October 2007, 19:24

i will endeavour to be there, but likely wont get the time off work, as i will be just returning from the burt challenge.

**EJT** · 23rd October 2007, 19:24

Fantastic idea. Hopefully we can all make a statement.

**0arbreaka** · 23rd October 2007, 19:35

Will do my best to get time off work,

**Nasty** · 23rd October 2007, 19:46

I already owe craploads of leave so can't see my guys going for it

**robertydog** · 23rd October 2007, 20:49

I can do the 4th

**Grumpy** · 24th October 2007, 19:14

I have a horrible feeling that I'm gonna be sick that day. A ride to Taupo might just be what I need.

**Meekey_Mouse** · 1st November 2007, 21:20

I'll be there

I live literally 2-3 blocks from the Suncourt motel, any one who needs a place to stay is welcome to stay here. We have one small spare room with one bed in it so I can't promise you a proper bed, but if you don't mind a mattress on the floor or a couch... Then we don't mind how many people are here. The more people we can get to this the better! Also have enough space in the garage for about 6 or so bikes, maybe more if we fit them in closely.

**kinger** · 2nd November 2007, 21:27

I'm two minutes from the Suncourt, and I've got half a double garage, a double room, and a garden available if peeps want to rough it. I could also squeeze a dozen bikes behind the gates in the carport.
I'm in AKL for the protest tomorrow, so just tap up the guy with KINGR on his plate.
The only downside I can see may be the lack of population to wonder why we're there, but media coverage could be very useful.

**Zukin** · 2nd November 2007, 21:34

Good Idea

BUT

Maybe those attending should register, then the meeting time and date can be PMed, cause sure as hell they will be reading this website now after it was published in the papers.
It would take away the element of surprise if they knew we were coming

**What?** · 3rd November 2007, 08:37

Originally Posted by Zukin

Good Idea

BUT

Maybe those attending should register, then the meeting time and date can be PMed, cause sure as hell they will be reading this website now after it was published in the papers.
It would take away the element of surprise if they knew we were coming

I'd say they already know...
Don't worry about the surprise factor, just aim for a BIG turn-out to demonstrate the level of interest in this issue. And do it on the 4th, so they have plenty of conference time left to discuss it. A protest on the 5th would be relatively useless.