Christchurch bikers

**knuckles24** · 18th October 2009, 20:17

Thought i would start a new thread on the advice of another member, I am going to be outside robbies on main north road saturday the 31st of october @ 10.00am to do a protest ride in to the square, anybody who wants to join me i will see you there, bring your banners and loud halers if you have one and spread the word around

**rosie631** · 19th October 2009, 07:42

I will be there. How about everyone who sees this, text everyone they know who rides.

**sellywin** · 19th October 2009, 08:26

I'll be there, texted a few friends who have bikes.

**shrub** · 19th October 2009, 08:32

Originally Posted by knuckles24

Do you have any suggestions then if so lets hear them

If you visit http://www.bikersagainstacc.org.nz you can learn more.

It's organised by PRISM (Promoting Responsibility in Safe Motorcycling), a group of well known and well regarded motorcyclists.

They are in the process of securing support from some very well known (household name) Kiwis who are passionate motorcyclists and the national spokesman will be someone we all know of. The team includes professional web designers, professional public relations people and academics. They have access to a wealth of information and data, including stuff that isn't normally available to the general public and relationships with the media. They also have an in to both the politicial circles and ACC, so part of their strategy is also to work from within.

They have been talking to, and have the support of the various importers and industry groups, and are working with non-motorcycle groups who will be keen to align with and support us.

They are meeting daily to develop a well researched and professional strategy for bikers to participate in influencing change, including making it easy to make submissions, lobby your MP and organise a series of national protest rides and media events. They are very keen to focus the energy and passion this event has triggered to stop the levies, but also to use the momentum to put in place a national and credible motorcycle interest lobby group.

**babysteps** · 19th October 2009, 09:55

I've passed this on to the guys at Canscoot so expect the Vespa massif to be there

**SMOKEU** · 19th October 2009, 10:26

Originally Posted by knuckles24

Thought i would start a new thread on the advice of another member, I am going to be outside robbies on main north road saturday the 31st of october @ 10.00am to do a protest ride in to the square, anybody who wants to join me i will see you there, bring your banners and loud halers if you have one and spread the word around

10am on a Saturday!? Most people will still be intoxicated at that time of morning from the previous nights festivities.

**dangerous** · 19th October 2009, 16:37

Originally Posted by shrub

They are meeting daily to develop a well researched and professional strategy for bikers to participate in influencing change, including making it easy to make submissions, lobby your MP and organise a series of national protest rides and media events.

sounds good and sounds professional, unlike a lot of the crap mentioned in verious threads... hence why reagade protests may not help the cause but hinder it.

**peasea** · 19th October 2009, 16:52

Originally Posted by shrub

If you visit http://www.bikersagainstacc.org.nz you can learn more.

It's organised by PRISM (Promoting Responsibility in Safe Motorcycling), a group of well known and well regarded motorcyclists.

They are in the process of securing support from some very well known (household name) Kiwis who are passionate motorcyclists and the national spokesman will be someone we all know of. The team includes professional web designers, professional public relations people and academics. They have access to a wealth of information and data, including stuff that isn't normally available to the general public and relationships with the media. They also have an in to both the politicial circles and ACC, so part of their strategy is also to work from within.

They have been talking to, and have the support of the various importers and industry groups, and are working with non-motorcycle groups who will be keen to align with and support us.

They are meeting daily to develop a well researched and professional strategy for bikers to participate in influencing change, including making it easy to make submissions, lobby your MP and organise a series of national protest rides and media events. They are very keen to focus the energy and passion this event has triggered to stop the levies, but also to use the momentum to put in place a national and credible motorcycle interest lobby group.

Well fuckin' bravo!
Why the blue blazes didn't the motorcycle industry step up to the mark?

No matter, somebody has and I applaud them.

I have emailed the website address to everyone I know, even non-bikers, and I'm urging the same people to forward my letters to MP's. Don't forget; Nick Smith needs the Maori Party and the Green Party to get this through, so lobby those parties hard! The Greens especially, as bikes are 'greener' than cars and the proposed ACC levy hikes are a backward step environmentally speaking. Not to mention the fact that Nick Smith is fudging the figures.

Good on ya folks, Nelson's run is Saturday, 10.30am, Richmond A&P Showgrounds, then it's off to see the 'man' himself, Nick Smith.

**knuckles24** · 19th October 2009, 17:34

Reading some of the responses this is great, i had a guts full of people going on about it and doing nothing, i have been out to where i originally thought about starting but in seeing the response we may have to change starting places, it will still be around that area, i am thinking of the supa centre down the road a bit what do you all think, also i intend to let the TV stations know the night before what is happening. Keep spreading the word folks and lets get a record number of bikes turn up.

(just another thing if you are coming with the intentions of causing trouble DON'T COME as this is is going to be a peacefull protest ride). If anybody has a loud haler and a good voice can you let me know please.

**Jvala** · 19th October 2009, 22:58

Hi fellow bikers

One thing we surely all can agree on is that something has to be done about the imminent raise in ACC levies. Our voices need to be heard and not just through the exhaust pipes.

The question of course arises, what can we do?

Let’s cut out our emotions on how we feel about the government (doesn’t really matter which colour rules) or how car drivers annoy us etc.

We are required to be level-headed and stick to the facts. Thus we can point out that the calculations used to justify the increase are derived incorrectly.

It is also worth mentioning that driver inattention is a major cause of car vs bike accidents.

When have you seen a biker do the following?

Trying to light a cigarette?
Fiddling around with an ipod or the like?
Holding a phone conversation and making notes whilst simultaneously holding the handle bars?
Eating and drinking while riding?
Shaving, reading the newspaper, applying make-up?

Sure, we could think of more examples.

The point is, that the majority of riders are aware of what’s going on around them. As responsible bikers, we live to ride and ride to live.

So, back to the main question:

How do we take our displeasure with the proposed policy to the authorities?

Biketoberfest in Christchurch would be a good place to have a stand where we can sign the petition.

Oh, and let’s rename the event for this year to ACCtoberfest.

Slogan

Bike riders are
A=attentive
C=caring
C=courteous
traffic participants

I’m willing to be part of some promotion drive, feel free to send me a message.

Remember, strength comes from numbers.

**knuckles24** · 21st October 2009, 17:34

Hi guys and girls regarding the protest ride, so after tweeking and checking out some details, the start point will be @ the peg on Saturday 31st of october 10.00am then we will be heading down main north rd, papanui rd, victoria street, lichfield street and then into manchester street and ending up @ the biketoberfest and we will make our stand there as well, i have just one more hurdle and thats is trying to get the police to co-operate with us and helping with traffic control. when the day comes and we are ready to ride i will give you all final directions and answer any questions that people may have, so keep spreading the news and let all your biker mates know, the more the better. if you have any questions pm me or you can contact me at darkangel2@xtra.co.nz, so see you there.

**davereid** · 21st October 2009, 17:39

Originally Posted by peasea

Nick Smith needs the Maori Party and the Green Party to get this through, so lobby those parties hard!

The legislation Mr.Smith is trying to get through is to DELAY full funding of ACC.

It is intended to LOWER costs not put them up.

The levy on the other hand is set by Mr. Smith alone.

**knuckles24** · 24th October 2009, 17:08

Just watching the 3 news, well done Nelson, so Christchurch riders can we match or better then 500 bikers, i think so, keep spreading the word and lets match it.

**knuckles24** · 26th October 2009, 07:40

Just an update, i have e-mailed Jim anderton and asked for his support and outlined our concerns, also part of the route might change we will probably go through the middle of town instead of the outside of town, i will let you know more on the day.

**Dave Milligan** · 26th October 2009, 17:47

The most effective bike protest I've ever been involved in was over 25 years ago. I organised it with the help of BRONZ members and several hundred bikes assembled at the Moorhouse Ave railway station and at 5pm we rode up Colombo St and filled every car park space (1 bike per car park space) in Colombo St from St Asaph St to the Square on both sides of the road. Every half hour each bike moved forward into the next car park space. We all paid the parking meter fee so it was a legal protest. Vicki Buck, then the Mayor of Chch came to see what we wanted (motorcycle parks) and by the Monday morning City Council street workers were out painting new Motorcycle only parks around the CBD. On the Friday night The Press sent their chief news reporter (Kaye Forrester) to cover the story and 2 camera crews from TV1 and TV3 turned up to see what all the fuss was about. Vicki Buck arrived at the same time as the TV cameras and Kaye Forrester and that's why action was so swift.

I'm living in Melbourne these days, but will be in Chch between 12 & 19 Nov and 11 and 19 Dec, so if anything is gunna happen I'd love to be involved.

Kind regards
Dave Milligan - dave@getrouted.com.au