Bikers blocking shopping centre.

[Headbanger]

But motorbike parks are free. I'm too tight to pay for parking if I can get it for free

Are they?

I suppose that's true, I never pay for parking out of....um, I want to say principle but really its just not giving a damn.

Can I pass off not giving a damn/pure arrogance as a principle?

[Tank]

Perhaps a slight change, take up one full isle, not block the whole place? Make the point of congestion without alienating everyone.

But, fully agree with the timing, and re-itterate, not a flag waving, chanting protest, just going about reasonable business, shopping, having a feed, a browse, just using your bike to get there.

Too late me thinks - with the press this has received - anyone seen on a bike at a westfield mall will be eye'ed with suspicion. Its already been pointed out that its a protest not a shopping, having a feed or browse.

I wont be surprised if legitimate people actually going to westfields on bikes start getting turned away.

[Ozzie]

Well, that being the case, I'm absolutely dead against it.

Westfield, or any private enterprise, is no place for any vocal protest against the government or a government department, not at this point anyway.

People will just get seriously fucked off, and rightly so IMHO.

You want to protest and piss people off, take over every ACC carpark in the country from 6am to 9:30am on a designated date.

Pref a Tuesday or Wednesday, so I can come and play.

[GOONR]

Too late me thinks - with the press this has received - anyone seen on a bike at a westfield mall will be eye'ed with suspicion. Its already been pointed out that its a protest not a shopping, having a feed or browse.

I wont be surprised if legitimate people actually going to westfields on bikes start getting turned away.

I wondered about that. There is a Westfield close to me and I will need some stuff from a few of the shops in the mall by next weekend anyway. I'll turn up early next weekend and see what happens.

[davereid]

Well, that being the case, I'm absolutely dead against it. Westfield, or any private enterprise, is no place for any vocal protest against the government or a government department, not at this point anyway. People will just get seriously fucked off, and rightly so IMHO.

You want to protest and piss people off, take over every ACC carpark in the country from 6am to 9:30am on a designated date.

Pref a Tuesday or Wednesday, so I can come and play.

Well said Ozzie.

The only corporation I'm really pissed off with is A.C.C. and a bit with the A.A.

All you will get blockading a private shopping center is a permanent ban on motorcycles at the mall, as well as bad publicity.

You would be better asking if you could run a BBQ at the warehouse, $1 a sausage, money goes to rescue chopper, and everyone walks away with a fact sheet on A.C.C to read while they try and get the sauce off their shirts.


Don't forget the usual stuff.

Ring your National M.P. Arrange a meeting. Give him a fact sheet.

Remind him, that for a tiny amount of money, bikers being less than 0.3% of ACCs revenue, that he has picked a political fight that will stay in the news papers all the way to the next election.

[doc]

I think we need the public to support us not against us cos we have inconvienced them. Faaark you seen what Women do when you get in their way when they are shoppin.

Better off displaying our talent on poker/coro loop type rides. That also wins us supporters. Gotta agree with Katman bout this

[jafar]

Ok so who is this "veteran motorcyclist and former businessman David Peppiatt "?? What is his name on here ??

Why has he decided to announce to the world that he is a 'footsoldier' & that he is associated with Kiwibiker ??

Where is the thread in here that has been started to organize this protest ??

Or is this the Harold just making shit up to ultimately make us look bad ?

[george formby]

After a perusal of the thread, I think it would be a good idea to get our message across at all the shopping malls, well, more than one. A dozen or so bikers chatting to the public & handing out fact sheets in the run up to christmas could do a lot to raise public awareness of how these proposals could effect them. Letting the kiddies have a wee seat on a bike & a photo taken would be fun too. Just a thought & a bit more positive....

[davereid]

After a perusal of the thread, I think it would be a good idea to get our message across at all the shopping malls, well, more than one. A dozen or so bikers chatting to the public & handing out fact sheets in the run up to christmas could do a lot to raise public awareness of how these proposals could effect them. Letting the kiddies have a wee seat on a bike & a photo taken would be fun too. Just a thought & a bit more positive....

Thats my kinda protest

[Reckless]

how do you beat your arch rival, even if you're outnumbered 100 - 1... Divide and Conquer! United we stand, divided we fall etc...

I've re read my post and thats what I was saying. Better for all of us to be united in one spot than divided all over the city, or where you agreeing, not sure???

BTW: If I don't have to drive all the way to Wgtn to see my sick uncle I'll be at mission Bay!!

Edit: just got your bling Sorry for the confusion DUH moment by me!! bling returned!

[mashman]

I think we need the public to support us not against us cos we have inconvienced them.

I'm starting to wonder why we're calling "them" the public... why are "they" not considered brethren... after all we are all in this together and i believe that's the message we need to be getting across... we're campaigning for the benefit of the country, not just because we're bikers, they just picked on the wrong group to marginalise!

[mashman]

I've re read my post and thats what I was saying. Better for all of us to be united in one spot than divided all over the city, or where you agreeing, not sure???

BTW: If I don't have to drive all the way to Wgtn to see my sick uncle I'll be at mission Bay!!

Oh i was agreeing alright!!! hence the bling!

[dpex]

Ok so who is this "veteran motorcyclist and former businessman David Peppiatt "?? What is his name on here ??

Why has he decided to announce to the world that he is a 'footsoldier' & that he is associated with Kiwibiker ??

Where is the thread in here that has been started to organize this protest ??

Or is this the Harold just making shit up to ultimately make us look bad ?

I can answer that. He is me. Although I can't say I like the 'veteran' tag. Makes me feel like an 'old' bastard, as opposed to an old 'bastard'.

The paper got the foot-soldier bit correct. I'm not the organiser. Sorry, at this moment I can't reveal that identity.

Also, for the record, see if you can all come to grips with the facts.

1. Any biker, and in any number, is/are perfectly entitled to inhabit a carpark in any mall, for no more than the allotted 2 hours.

2. The concept is to have several hundred bikers inhabit a carpark then slope off to have a coffee and/or a Big Mac in the mall.

3. It will be the visual impact of what appears to be a largely empty parking area with one bike in each parking space.

No doubt the organiser will reveal the time, date and place in due course.

It just occurred to me. Where does one get balloons printed? And how much?

Wouldn't it be good to hand out balloons to the kids, printed with the ACC T-shirt logo, maybe print them with, "All Road User ACC Is An Unfair Tax"

Maybe a divide-and-rule logo would be better. For example, "Why do drivers pay extra ACC yet Rugby Players Don't?"

[doc]

I'm starting to wonder why we're calling "them" the public... why are "they" not considered brethren... after all we are all in this together and i believe that's the message we need to be getting across... we're campaigning for the benefit of the country, not just because we're bikers, they just picked on the wrong group to marginalise!

This is KB last week they (them) were the enemy... as in cagers, sort of like BOI racers trying to do a make over.

[dpex]

I'm starting to wonder why we're calling "them" the public... why are "they" not considered brethren... after all we are all in this together and i believe that's the message we need to be getting across... we're campaigning for the benefit of the country, not just because we're bikers, they just picked on the wrong group to marginalise!

YES!!!!! At long last, someone has caught up with the reality of it all. Well done you! Mashman!