Five cyclists die in five days

[mrchips]

Saw this @ one news tonight.

Reporter standing on location showing us how dangerous & vulnerable cyclists are on that stretch of road.

In the background a couple of respectfull motorcyclists go past & then mr scooter wizzes past & proceeds to undertake / cut up a few cars while his t-shirt flaps about in the breeze.

Please explain to me again why i pay big ACC ...

[Scuba_Steve]

Saw this @ one news tonight.

Reporter standing on location showing us how dangerous & vulnerable cyclists are on that stretch of road.

In the background a couple of respectfull motorcyclists go past & then mr scooter wizzes past & proceeds to undertake / cut up a few cars while his t-shirt flaps about in the breeze.

Please explain to me again why i pay big ACC ...

because mr scooter is a car driver & not a "minority"

[Dave Lobster]

Please explain to me again why i pay big ACC ...

Because you're easy to catch if you don't.

[oldrider]

The unpalatable truth is other road users are ignorant cunts, it is a me me me attitude on the road.....

Not just on the roads, it's prevalent all over the country in every facet of life!

What ever happened to the New Zealand I grew up in?

[AllanB]

I'll start by saying that it is a tragedy that the cyclists have been killed.


However ..............

Living in Christchurch I am surprised that 4 so called 'pro' cyclists are not killed a week. Lets just say that adults old enough to know better get home from work, step out of their cars, dress in lyrica and jump on a push bike, then meet their mates and ride like fucking fools. Hmmm just had a thought - reminds me of some group motorcycle rides I've been on

[chanceyy]

I've recently taken up road cycling for the last 4 months. Road cycling is far more dangerous so the typical road cyclist is actually far more astute with road safety than your average biker, just like a biker is more safety aware than a car driver. If bikers are the scum of road users then road cyclists are the scum of the scum. We may consider ourselves experts on road safety but the reality is road cyclists are probably better.

I am also new to road riding, started Jan this yr, I also live on a main highway with a good road verge that means I can get off to the side of the road so as not to impede the traffic .. last week the spidey sense stood me in good stead as I was "buzzed" by a blardy huge truck.

No crap I could have reached out & touched this truck, his wheels were over the white line in my space, sensed he was there & did not look behind me, focus straight ahead & locked the arms to keep the bike straight.

its not the first time and prob not the last, however I ride to road rules, we ride in single file where the roads do not support riding 2 abreast. we also try to stay off the main roads during high traffic volumes (after work)

rightly or wrongly most of the cyle deaths this week have been due to other ppl making bad decisions with their vehicles! And I must admit its crossed my mind serveral times that I could easily be hit from behind .. regardless of speed the outcome would not be good

[pete376403]

The dedicated cycleway (reconstructed some time ago at great expense) between Petone and Wellington is almost never used by cyclists, seems they prefer to take their chances between the wire rope barrier and the left lane of traffic. I'm sure they have their reasons.

[Max Preload]

5 cyclists you say? See! Not all news is bad!

[Smifffy]

In my limited experience, when there is a truck driver involved in a prang.

1. The trucker is likely to be at least partially to blame
2. The trucker is a cnut.

Although I must say lately I have found many of the larger rig drivers around have been much more courteous than they were a year or two ago. I wonder if all of the get rich quick cnuts have lost their rigs in finance company collapses.

[Berries]

What ever happened to the New Zealand I grew up in?

Captain Cook.

I am also new to road riding, started Jan this yr, I also live on a main highway with a good road verge that means I can get off to the side of the road so as not to impede the traffic .. last week the spidey sense stood me in good stead as I was "buzzed" by a blardy huge truck.

I have to ask, why ride on the road ? You obviously know it is dangerous. Why put yourself in such a perilous position ? If it is for fitness then are there are loads of other options, if it is for the fresh air there are a load of options, if it is for fresh air while pedalling you could go off road where there are no vehicles. I am all for equal rights on the road, but cyclists are so slow and vulnerable I don't know why they do it, commuting excepted.

[ellipsis]

....not wanting to sound callous at all here but....its a sequence of events that just happened to coincide at that point...car door...distraction/brain dead moment,,,cyclist, thinnest profile on the road appearing from behind the tail-light...man at work, 50th cyclist he's passed that day....we are all going in the same direction....just luck that gets us there...or fickle fate...makes racing motorcycles seem like a completely regulated and safe option...

[gammaguy]

over here in Singapore,the streets are often narrower and more cramped than in NZ BUT the cyclists can ride on the footpath.

The speed differential is less(between them and pedestrians)and it is compulsory for the cyclists to use their bell when approaching pedestrians.

Guess what?cyclists rarely get hit by anyone,instead we just get pedestrians complaining about them instead.....

some cyclists still use the roads,but drivers here are on the whole more tolerant than impatient and selfish Kiwis.

Its an attitude change thats needed all round IMO

[Grubber]

....not wanting to sound callous at all here but....its a sequence of events that just happened to coincide at that point...car door...distraction/brain dead moment,,,cyclist, thinnest profile on the road appearing from behind the tail-light...man at work, 50th cyclist he's passed that day....we are all going in the same direction....just luck that gets us there...or fickle fate...makes racing motorcycles seem like a completely regulated and safe option...

My point exactly. Not something we can automatically avoid. Shit just happens.

In my limited experience, when there is a truck driver involved in a prang.

1. The trucker is likely to be at least partially to blame
2. The trucker is a cnut.

Although I must say lately I have found many of the larger rig drivers around have been much more courteous than they were a year or two ago. I wonder if all of the get rich quick cnuts have lost their rigs in finance company collapses.

In my experience, YOU need more experience. I have been in the industry for 30 years and it has been my experience that car drivers are our worst enemy in most cases. Perhaps enemy is a bit strong, but the point is that unless you have spent some considerable time in trucks you won't understand how difficult it is to keep out of trouble with them. Car drivers don't seem to understand that it's not desirable to park up the date of one for instance, things like that basically, can make life very difficult in a truck.

You are also absolutely correct. We take our own lives in our hands when we use the roads. Sometimes people die, so could you or I. The only way to have a chance is to be aware of the dangers and ride accordingly.

Another one who gets it. No point in jumping up and down here throwing blame on the very people who either suffered through death or innocent involvement.

To be fair, it is the things that you didn't see that are likely to get you. They can come out of 'nowhere'...
How many/often depends on how good your hazard awareness skills are.

Yes I shall say it again just 4 u..Arrogant truck driver like most of the pricks that drive fucken TRUCKS....Your guess was wrong I was not there !!! but it is a well educated guess the truck driver was fucken arrogant and gave her no room to move she swerved, he hit her, what happened to the 1/1/2 meters clearance?..

Me thinks you have a chilhood problem with truckies. Did you catch your Mother taking one up the back passage by some big burly bloke wearing a fluoro jacket at the same time as noticing a truck parked outside your house or something. Would you like to talk about it perhaps and see if we can make it all better for you.
Yur a dick. Read my lips sonny. THE TRUCK HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THE DOOR WAS OPENED BY A CAR DRIVER! Jeez.

i think you will find that she swerved and hit HIM, like i said in a previous post it isnt always the other guys fault

There ya go Duckshovin. She hit the truck! Phew, glad thats all sorted now.

Yeah, but if you know the truck is there which would you choose? Smacking into the door or swerving under the truck?

Both are shit choices, but if you know what's happening around you it's easier picking the best of the worst.

It comes down to one simple thing. No matter what you drive / ride; stay aware of what is around you and what your potential hazards are. Not knowing what's around you because you're

(a) involved with your iPod
(b) scoffing a pie
(c) chatting on your mobile to advise the person you're 3 minutes away
(d) otherwise distracted

is just increasing the odds against you being able to make the right choice.

All these things can be distractions, quite right. Mind you, doing any of these things won't stop a dick from opening a door.

Wasn't it a rental truck? The type of thing you might rent when just moving house, etc. So might not even be a regular truckie.

Does it really matter. Wasn't his fault anyway.

[chanceyy]

I have to ask, why ride on the road ? You obviously know it is dangerous. Why put yourself in such a perilous position ? If it is for fitness then are there are loads of other options, if it is for the fresh air there are a load of options, if it is for fresh air while pedalling you could go off road where there are no vehicles. I am all for equal rights on the road, but cyclists are so slow and vulnerable I don't know why they do it, commuting excepted.

that would be as specific events like around taupo & the tri's are on road events. yes its a pity I live on a main highway however the berm is wide enough to allow cyclists there without impeding on the main lane the traffic is in .. why did the truck have to come into my lane ?? or the cars that do that as well .. why not just stay in their own lane, besides cyclists, horse riders, motorcylists have as much right to be on teh road as anyone else.

I ride motorbikes, horses & cycling .. the reality is we are all going to die at some stage, can not be wrapped up in cotton wool as thats not living life .. is it to much to ask drivers to be a wee bit more considerate, and remain in their own lane ??

[duckonin]

My point exactly. Not something we can automatically avoid. Shit just happens.



In my experience, YOU need more experience. I have been in the industry for 30 years and it has been my experience that car drivers are our worst enemy in most cases. Perhaps enemy is a bit strong, but the point is that unless you have spent some considerable time in trucks you won't understand how difficult it is to keep out of trouble with them. Car drivers don't seem to understand that it's not desirable to park up the date of one for instance, things like that basically, can make life very difficult in a truck.


Another one who gets it. No point in jumping up and down here throwing blame on the very people who either suffered through death or innocent involvement.

Me thinks you have a chilhood problem with truckies. Did you catch your Mother taking one up the back passage by some big burly bloke wearing a fluoro jacket at the same time as noticing a truck parked outside your house or something. Would you like to talk about it perhaps and see if we can make it all better for you.
Yur a dick. Read my lips sonny. THE TRUCK HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THE DOOR WAS OPENED BY A CAR DRIVER! Jeez.

There ya go Duckshovin. She hit the truck! Phew, glad thats all sorted now.



All these things can be distractions, quite right. Mind you, doing any of these things won't stop a dick from opening a door.



Does it really matter. Wasn't his fault anyway.

Keep your toys in the cot you fucken thumb sucking Arrogant truck driving cunt,Yes as I said ALL truck drivers are arraogant CUNTS and I bet you are one of them!!! you tailgating prick !!! that would be the reason the lass was killed when she had to swerve, but no you say 'it was the car door that killed her' get a fucken life, have another popsicle but keep you hanky handy it may drip down your ugly face.