Cool pro-biking article in the NZ Herald

[MarkH]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/n...ectid=10678160

Second half of the article takes up issue with some of the new rules for motorcyclists - good to see some pro-biker sentiments being expressed IMO.

[rustyrobot]

Nice article, thanks for the link.

This is a bit of a telling comment: "I'm surprised I haven't heard more from a motorcycle lobby group. I'll report back next week."

[Latte]

"as there are now high performance bikes available with a low cc" Mr Joyce said.



Like the Ninja 250, or the Hyobag ........ ?? Maybe Mr Joyce is reading from the wrong script (one that's 20 years old obviously).

[rustyrobot]

Yeah, back in the day learners were stuck with a rattly old NSR or RGV.

[Scuba_Steve]

your right not too bad at the end there, puts some good points forth.

[george formby]

Nice article, thanks for the link.

This is a bit of a telling comment: "I'm surprised I haven't heard more from a motorcycle lobby group. I'll report back next week."

I was just about to post on this, gazzumped. Where's Mom?

[p.dath]

Sounds like Eric Thompson hasn't done much investigating for his article to me, or failed to consider the big picture.

The desire for the rule change is to bring NZ in-line with the rest of the world. Certainly when you travel to a foreign country you have to abide by those rules, and a failure to abide can cause accidents and fatalities.

But why create such an environment that can causes these accidents and fatalities for no good reason? There is no good reason to maintain the current give way rule.

Once it is changed accidents involving foreign drivers failing to adapt to our rules will clearly be reduced.

Oh, and if it is not obvious, accidents involving NZ drivers in foreign countries are also likely to be reduced since the give way rule they [are about] to use will be the same.

Sure, there will be a short period where increased accidents happen, but the benefit is an overall reduction in accidents.

Changing the give way rule will mean less NZ's get hurt on the road. It's easy to see why.

[george formby]

Sounds like Eric Thompson hasn't done much investigating for his article to me, or failed to consider the big picture.

The desire for the rule change is to bring NZ in-line with the rest of the world. Certainly when you travel to a foreign country you have to abide by those rules, and a failure to abide can cause accidents and fatalities.

But why create such an environment that can causes these accidents and fatalities for no good reason? There is no good reason to maintain the current give way rule.

Once it is changed accidents involving foreign drivers failing to adapt to our rules will clearly be reduced.

Oh, and if it is not obvious, accidents involving NZ drivers in foreign countries are also likely to be reduced since the give way rule they [are about] to use will be the same.

Sure, there will be a short period where increased accidents happen, but the benefit is an overall reduction in accidents.

Changing the give way rule will mean less NZ's get hurt on the road. It's easy to see why.

It's still going to be a case of who blinks first.

[p.dath]

I'm also supportive of over 25 year old learner riders having the same time on a restricted licence as young drivers.

I help out at the NASS training nights. Becoming safe on a motorcycle is about spending time in the saddle, and not the year you were born in.

And I have had this discussion with many new "older" riders, who think their car driving skills and transferable to riding a bike. Most change their mind after they have been riding for a year. The skills for riding a motorcycle are very different. Personally, I think you have to be a *much* better road user to ride a bike safely than what the "average" car driver is - but that is my personal opinion. Your's may be different.

[p.dath]

It's still going to be a case of who blinks first.

I suggest everyone blink normally. All you'll need to do immediately after the rule change is pause for a little bit longer at an intersection rather than immediately asserting your view of who has right away, so you can be confident the other driver is also aware - and using the road in a way that you can stop if the other driver fails to give way when you think they should be.

Not much different to now - I think.

[rie]

My thoughts in a letter I wrote in response:

I am grateful for your comments on the give way rule and the new rules affecting motorcyclists. While motorcycle lobby groups play a significant part in commenting on the powers of the state, it is easy for the mainstream to ignore them. It is as though by claiming: "as motorcyclists, we think..." motorcyclists immediately invite alienation.

But when non-motorcyclist commentators (represented as such, irrespective of whether they ride) reflect on the same issue, it has a profound effect on the way the mainstream public perceives the problem. Minority groups should not require external validation to gain legitimacy, but that is the reality. I am a 24 year old on a high capacity motorcycle and view these unfair changes - to both ACC and road rules - with a sense of deep disappointment; yet powerless because of my youth and minority-status as a rider.

So, thank you.

[nodrog:Me]

Sounds like Eric Thompson hasn't done much investigating for his article to me, or failed to consider the big picture.

The desire for the rule change is to bring NZ in-line with the rest of the world. Certainly when you travel to a foreign country you have to abide by those rules, and a failure to abide can cause accidents and fatalities.

But why create such an environment that can causes these accidents and fatalities for no good reason? There is no good reason to maintain the current give way rule.

Once it is changed accidents involving foreign drivers failing to adapt to our rules will clearly be reduced.

Oh, and if it is not obvious, accidents involving NZ drivers in foreign countries are also likely to be reduced since the give way rule they [are about] to use will be the same.

Sure, there will be a short period where increased accidents happen, but the benefit is an overall reduction in accidents.

Changing the give way rule will mean less NZ's get hurt on the road. It's easy to see why.

While it will reduce the amount of turning accidents, I bet now while waiting in the middle of the road for all traffic to disperse, there will be an increase in nose to tail accidents.

Maybe New Zealand should change to driving on the righthand side of the road too, think of the tourists.

Fanny.

[p.dath]

While it will reduce the amount of turning accidents, I bet now while waiting in the middle of the road for all traffic to disperse, there will be an increase in nose to tail accidents.

As I understand it, councils have already started planning for this. Some roads will need to be modified to make them safer with the addition of a turning bay.

Pretty easy problem to solve.


The other thing is nose to tail accidents don't tend to produce as severe accidents as side impact accidents. You have very little protection between you and the side of your car.

[avgas]

p.dath stop making threads boring.

This one had some real potential for gold.

[Grubber]

Nice article, thanks for the link.

This is a bit of a telling comment: "I'm surprised I haven't heard more from a motorcycle lobby group. I'll report back next week."

Have to agree with this. I've been to the big protests etc and tried to contribute some time to the cause were i am able, but would have to say there is definately a certian lack of noise around the scenes at the moment. Might be just me not paying attention...(has been known to happen before)but then again it might be because we are taking up the grunger like good little kiwi's that we are.