Auckland harbour bridge crossing?

[Ixion]

Er, no they don't. Their idea was to lessen the width of the clip-on lanes.

Hm. I LIKE that idea. Narrow the width of the clip on lanes on each side to around, say, four foot wide each. That would allow enough extra for a cycle lane and a pedestrian lane, whilst still leaving the two (narrower) vehicle lanes each way>

[davereid]

Did you see Supt Bill Searle on Close Up? He was "proud" of the police action. More like inaction.

Yep it was inaction. But as irritating as it was, its one of the things about N.Z., and N.Z. police that give me good heart.

In this case, police took the word of a well organised protest committee. They let the police, and the rest of us down.

But the great thing is, the police didnt pull out batons, water cannons, and rubber bullets and lay into the crowd, like they would have in many less civilised nations.

They ensured every-ones safety, and every-one got home un-injured, even if way annoyed and way late.

Mollenaar was the same.

N.Z. police didnt go in with a swat team, they walked in and had a cup of tea. They didn't kick down doors, pepper spray or baton a woman, they were civilised and sensible.

In this case it was a mistake, as Molenaar was mental. Yet, even if they had walked in with all the gear, and force, they may still have died.

But the entire community is better off for the thousands of search warrants exercised each year without innocent partners, flatmates and kids ending up looking down the barrel of a policemans gun.

For my money, no-one needs to get baton charged or shot with rubber bullets when the alternative causes inconvenience not injury.

Those who crossed the bridge illegally, and can be indentified should get a fine in the mail, just like a speed camera ticket.

And the next protest, quite correctly should be treated as an illegal group right from the start. ie different rules apply once you show dis-regard for the rules.

IMHO Normal kiwis, staying within the law should be able to have a protest without being surrounded by a riot squad.

And normal kiwis at the end of a search warrant should not expect the door kicked down, and every wall smashed in.

Higher levels of force should be reserved for those that deserve it.

Well done NZ Police in both cases.

[Squiggles]

Er, no they don't. Their idea was to lessen the width of the clip-on lanes.

See video above

[Swoop]

Er, no they don't. Their idea was to lessen the width of the clip-on lanes.

Hmm. The presentation that was on Te NEWS showed a fancy curved plastic wall on the edge of the bridge and another wall to seperate them from the traffic. Two psyclists could easily pass each other in between the walls so would take out one entire lane.

Those who crossed the bridge illegally, and can be indentified should get a fine in the mail, just like a speed camera ticket.

I note that some people gave their names, and some gave their ages, to the herald reporters present. Surely the police will be sending a ticket to these people who can be identified?

[Forest]

Sydney harbour bridge has walkways and trains running along the outside lanes. It seems to work out ok for them.

Of course their centre span has a few more lanes than ours...

[motorbyclist]

lol yeah i would approve of a walkway under the bridge, provided the user pays a significant portion: Toll!

The police acted in the best way they could from a PR point of view; they either were seen failing to act, or painted by the media as monsters who beat women and children. I'm glad they took the easy approch. I'm a bit 'miffed' that ltnz didn't just give them a SINGLE lane and see how much they like it, but not surprised they didn't think people would be quite retarded enough to walk in motorway traffic (but then again these same people are also cyclists; so no real surprises here)

[MarkyMark]

Yep it was inaction. But as irritating as it was, its one of the things about N.Z., and N.Z. police that give me good heart.

In this case, police took the word of a well organised protest committee. They let the police, and the rest of us down.

But the great thing is, the police didnt pull out batons, water cannons, and rubber bullets and lay into the crowd, like they would have in many less civilised nations.

They ensured every-ones safety, and every-one got home un-injured, even if way annoyed and way late.

Mollenaar was the same.

N.Z. police didnt go in with a swat team, they walked in and had a cup of tea. They didn't kick down doors, pepper spray or baton a woman, they were civilised and sensible.

In this case it was a mistake, as Molenaar was mental. Yet, even if they had walked in with all the gear, and force, they may still have died.

But the entire community is better off for the thousands of search warrants exercised each year without innocent partners, flatmates and kids ending up looking down the barrel of a policemans gun.

For my money, no-one needs to get baton charged or shot with rubber bullets when the alternative causes inconvenience not injury.

Those who crossed the bridge illegally, and can be indentified should get a fine in the mail, just like a speed camera ticket.

And the next protest, quite correctly should be treated as an illegal group right from the start. ie different rules apply once you show dis-regard for the rules.

IMHO Normal kiwis, staying within the law should be able to have a protest without being surrounded by a riot squad.

And normal kiwis at the end of a search warrant should not expect the door kicked down, and every wall smashed in.

Higher levels of force should be reserved for those that deserve it.

Well done NZ Police in both cases.

YES! Tragic as the Napier siege was, it would be worse to have a militarised police force busting down doors with guns drawn as a matter of course like the US.

The cyclist protesters only wanted to "borrow" the clipon lanes, police were ordered to shut down all four lanes and shunt the pedestrians into the centre in order to reinforce the myth that the outer lanes aren't strong enough. I feel pretty guilty about the northbound motorists who got caught, but that was due to incredibly poor planning by Transit. The police were very professional throughout, but let down by poor planning from above.

Also, what's with the anti-cyclist sentiment here?

[peasea]

YES! Tragic as the Napier siege was, it would be worse to have a militarised police force busting down doors with guns drawn as a matter of course like the US.

The cyclist protesters only wanted to "borrow" the clipon lanes, police were ordered to shut down all four lanes and shunt the pedestrians into the centre in order to reinforce the myth that the outer lanes aren't strong enough. I feel pretty guilty about the northbound motorists who got caught, but that was due to incredibly poor planning by Transit. The police were very professional throughout, but let down by poor planning from above.

Also, what's with the anti-cyclist sentiment here?

I don't have anything against cyclists per se (hey, there's a bicycle not ten feet from where I sit) what gets up my nose BIG TIME is the way those dorks went about making their point on a road thay didn't have to pay for and legally should never have been on!

If they want a cycleway across the harbour then fine, build them one, and put a toll on it so that the users pay, just like the motorists did when the thing was built.

This business of getting people out on bikes is all well and good but cycleways cost money and the nation is strapped as it is. Cyclists should put up or shut up. I think they should have cycle licenses, rego numbers and have to pay for ACC levies too.

It's only fair...........

[motorbyclist]

The cyclist protesters only wanted to "borrow" the clipon lanes, police were ordered to shut down all four lanes and shunt the pedestrians into the centre in order to reinforce the myth that the outer lanes aren't strong enough.

and/or to prevent any "jumpers" ruining the day....

This business of getting people out on bikes is all well and good but cycleways cost money and the nation is strapped as it is. Cyclists should put up or shut up. I think they should have cycle licenses, rego numbers and have to pay for ACC levies too.

It's only fair...........

+1

[twinkle]

Also, what's with the anti-cyclist sentiment here?

There are even cyclists on here who are anti-cyclist
People just need something to hate on, not happy unless they have something to bitch about, some people

[lti]

What is this bullshit about cyclists not paying for the roads?

Every time you fill your vehicle with petrol you are paying tax that should be going to the roads. Not to mention all the other taxes yoy pay that end up contributing to the roading budget. The arrogance that some people have is astonishing.

[Mom]

What is this bullshit about cyclists not paying for the roads?

Every time you fill your vehicle with petrol you are paying tax that should be going to the roads. Not to mention all the other taxes yoy pay that end up contributing to the roading budget. The arrogance that some people have is astonishing.

Um, I think if you read this thread you will discover the cyclists that are being talked about here are the treadly variety, you know the kind you pedal.

[Indiana_Jones]

Um, I think if you read this thread you will discover the cyclists that are being talked about here are the treadly variety, you know the kind you pedal.

I think he might mean people who own cars/motorcycles aswell as bicycles.

i.e. they pay licence fees for their vehicles and thus they're entitled for a multi million dollar cycleway cause they ride a bicycle on the weekend with the sun out.

-Indy

[Ixion]

Oh good. I have a car (two actually). On which I pay rego. And petrol tax. So, by corollary, this means that I do not need to pay rego on my motorbikes? Cos, I've already paid tax when I fill up the cars. Right ?

[Indiana_Jones]

Oh good. I have a car (two actually). On which I pay rego. And petrol tax. So, by corollary, this means that I do not need to pay rego on my motorbikes? Cos, I've already paid tax when I fill up the cars. Right ?

Yea bro!

didn't you know?!

-Indy