Broke down, no-one stopped.

[Okey Dokey]

It is important to stop, and I think it is good for bikers to support each other. I have NO mechanical aptitude at all, but can still offer support. Going to pick up petrol, or bring food/drink, or find the biker's mates and let them know what is happening.

As was mentioned, most bikers will give you an "I'm okay" wave of some sort if they are not in need of assistance.

[Skyryder]

Broke down on the Parapara highway today heading from Raetihi to Wanganui. No cellphone coverage. Waved down a ute heading towards Raetihi, and the nice lady said she would call in at home and tell my husband so he could come and get me.

Sat on the side of the road, walked up and down, lay down, picked up litter, for two hours and no-one stopped. Only three bikes went past in the two hours, two of them gave a very cool looking wave, but didn't slow down. I always slow and make sure I get a thumbs up before I pass a bike on the side of the road. Pretty bummed out about it to be honest.

If it happens to anyone else, please feel free to wave someone down and get them to send a message to the Raetihi International Airport (and backpackers) and I'll come and help out, I'm glad I wasnt too far from home.

Sadly this is going to become more usual as the 'Me Me I'm Ok' philosphy takes hold in our political climate. I'm not realy wanting to turn this into a political thing but the fact is that those 'below' usualy follow the style of the leadership. You will see this culture in any organisation. If leadership shows concern this will be apprarent down in the 'frontline' if none that will be there too.; none that is. All I can say is that if I had passed you I'd have stopped.


Skyryder

[awayatc]

‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’

I will never allow myself to sink to a level I dispise in others....

Am not the only one, still plenty of good people about.....
Everybody has to make their own choices.

[davereid]

I always stop, even for cars !

Always like to think karma will apply, and if it was my 'ol mum broken down that someone would help.

I must admit that a car with the bonnet up is clearly broken down.

Someone leaning on an R80 on a neat road like the Paraparas may just be leaning on an R80 on a neat road.

[Max Preload]

Sadly this is going to become more usual as the 'Me Me I'm Ok' philosphy takes hold in our political climate. I'm not realy wanting to turn this into a political thing but the fact is that those 'below' usualy follow the style of the leadership. You will see this culture in any organisation. If leadership shows concern this will be apprarent down in the 'frontline' if none that will be there too.; none that is. All I can say is that if I had passed you I'd have stopped.

Indeed - fortunately Liarbour's gone now but it'll take a little time to get back to normal but rest assured it will happen. The rot is deep after 9 years of self-serving cronyism, hypocrisy and corruption, but just give it a couple of years and all will be as it should.

[Blackshear]

yea, I always stop for a biker - even if it involves getting to the other side of the motorway.

Sux that some people dont even bother to think about helping someone in need.


Glad you are back home safe and sound.

This guy's a good man.
I had a chain come of and jam itself in between the front sprocket and the engine.
Sitting on the footpath with my helmet off, blah blah, so many bikers passed and this guy stopped.
Wasn't the first time he's stopped for me, but ehem... Anyway.

[Lucy]

Litter? ........

Yes, there was a big grass verge where I was stopped, I had so much time I ended up walking up and down to get some exercise in, in the end I was so disgusted by the amount of litter I found a bag in my pannier and picked it up. Filled a supermarket bag in less than 100 metres.

[Lucy]

Does your bike have hazard lights Lucy? If they do you should use them when in trouble. When I slowed down for bikers on the side of the road I thought might be in trouble, it always turned out to be just re-adjusting gear, putting in ear plugs etc...

No hazard lights.

Me too, whenever I've stopped for someone (or slowed looking for the thumbs up) they haven't been in need of assistance. So far.

I could have really done with someone making a phone call for me to the AA or the bike shop where I was heading for a new tyre.

[Lucy]

Sadly this is going to become more usual as the 'Me Me I'm Ok' philosphy takes hold in our political climate. I'm not realy wanting to turn this into a political thing but the fact is that those 'below' usualy follow the style of the leadership. You will see this culture in any organisation. If leadership shows concern this will be apprarent down in the 'frontline' if none that will be there too.; none that is. All I can say is that if I had passed you I'd have stopped.


Skyryder

Cheers,

I don't think it's political, I think everyone is used to everyone else having a cellphone.

It wasn't the best place for stopping, but it wasn't the worst.

[slofox]

I woulda stopped for ya Lucy...always stop for break downs...always have.

[Ixion]

A proper biker will always, always stop , or check for a thumbs up. If you don't , don't call yourself a motorcyclist. You're just a cager on two wheels.

'Tis the Unwritten Rule and the Gospel. And yes, it is in the Biker Code.

The Biker Gods take note of those guilty of dereliction, and wreak their revenge. And the revenge of the Bikers Gods can be a terrible thing.

'Tis but self interest anyway. Thou today, me tomorrow. What goes round, comes round.

(A hint. If broken down, put your helmet, and maybe jacket by the edge of the verge, 10 metres or so behind the bike (but within sight of each other). That serves two purposes. One, it gives an oncoming biker extra time to stop. And it makes it plain you have not just stopped to admire the view. Noone who just stopped for a smoke, pee, chocolate, wank etc would take his helmet off and put it far behind the bike. )

[HungusMaximist]

Understand your frustration when nobody stopped. But the thing is, you have to make yourself noticed, most people (including me) will just suspect you're all good. Waving is definitely good, standing in the middle or the road could also work. If worse comes to worse, you could also lie flat on the side of the road and act as if you're injured, this gonna sound gay but it's bound to get you noticed, gently lie your bike on it's side.

[slofox]

...wank etc

Do you stop for a wank Ixion...???

[Ixion]

Well, have you tried it on the move. I mean , y' need one hand for the throttle. And invariably you'll need to change gear just at the critical moment.

[pritch]

Does your bike have hazard lights Lucy? If they do you should use them when in trouble.

Ummm IL4 used his hazard lights to indicate an accident once. Then he had a flat battery. Fortunately there were lots of us around to give him a push.

On yer own in the ParaParas? A whole nuther situation.