Thursday's Dominion Rd crash killing a biker

[Katman]

Footnote: Having ignored this place for two years, its facepalm-inducing to return & see that katman is still passing judgement and berating motorcyclists, based only on parochial selection of media stories.

What the fuck are you on about?

I haven't based anything I've said on media stories.

[hellokitty]

suck my dick!

Come on you can do better than that! I think my all time favourite quote from you would have to be when you said

lick my bang u homo!

Loved that one!

[phill-k]

I don't know renegade master but he and Katman have summed up the wider issue here about the "sorry mate I didn't see you" statement.

To quote "might is right" and it not much use being dead right.

As the vulnerable party motorcyclists must adapt a riding technique of assuming they are invisible and stop relying on other road users doing as they should.

We as riders must take responsibility for our own survival out there adapting methods to insure that our path is clear and never assume we have the right of way.

Personally I have three white forward facing lights, and when I hit full beam during daylight hours my light modulates, however if I'm approaching a conflict situation especially if I have no following traffic, I am looking for eye contact, watching the front wheels, and if unsure I'm starting to slow, brake, whatever, I'm looking at approaching traffic from the turning vehicles point of view - is there a small gap coming up that he might take advantage of, I also acknowledge a driver if I've taken these actions and they have become very aware of me, after all I ride for the pleasure and taking this responsibility for my own safety is a small price to pay. Likewise I pay a lot of attention to what is happening behind me, chastise myself if another road user can come up behind me without me seeing him approaching, many small things but I also accept that this may not save my skin on day, but hope that I am extending the odds out to a much greater extent.

[Owl]

Who's got RM's login??
Best post I've ever seen 'you' make

My guess would've been Katman if below had read "Suck my cock"

suck my dick!

[jasonu]

RIP to the rider and condolences to all concerned.

I am not looking forward to the right hand rule change..dont even know if pedestrians will be safe until we all get used to it

We've got it here (other side of the road of course as yanks drive on the right). Much safer rule and keeps traffic moving better. As far as I know NZ is about the only place still persisting with the old give way rule. I agree though, it will take some drivers forever to get the hang of what is a very simple and sensible rule. I am an expat Kiwi so I have experienced both rules.
Condolences to all involved in this terrible incident.

[Tink]

Many write that it is of importance that we look after ourselves and be aware on our bikes at all times. SO TRUE... BUT ... how many really do that, our brains are crazy really, we do what we want when we can, we don't as a rule like following rules, human nature, but we do follow them when we can, A LOT of people don't care about themselves let alone others.

It comes down to actually thinking thinking thinking... AND FFS do you think we do that either NOPE... life is not laid back enough, we are to busy thinking about how to survive at home money wise, or getting to the next appointment, kids function... blah blah... another sad fact... better to be there late than never... and no matter how fantastic you think your bike is, or how fast it goes, someone has one better OH EXCEPT for stroudy ...

My point, taking risks are great, but not when it affects other people your family, your friends, the pillion on your bike, you get my drift.

If ya have to take a risk and do 60km in a 50km, register the risks first. Mind you only those are not with us any more would agree don't do it ... its not worth your life!!!

Rant Over

I

[Paul in NZ]

Many motorcycle accidents are not fair. Many times riders get taken out by other road users BUT many times we as riders contribute to the accident as well. I doubt anyone other than some of those there would know what kind of accident this was.

I often drive on busy motorways and I have to say I seldom see bikes coming up behind me (lane splitting). In general your visibility is only a few car lengths back and you cant just focus on the mirror when there are also a lot of other potentially bad things in front of you. A bike is usually past you before you have scanned back to the mirror.

I've always assumed that in many cases you just plain cant be seen. Ride accordingly!

In certain states in the US they legalise splitting but only if the traffic is running below the legal limit by a certain amount. Even then you cant lane split over 20kph more than traffic speed. I guess its recognition that some people will take things to excess?

Either way its a shitty event and I feel for all parties, especially this close to christmas.

[phill-k]

Many write that it is of importance that we look after ourselves and be aware on our bikes at all times. SO TRUE... BUT ... how many really do that, our brains are crazy really, we do what we want when we can, we don't as a rule like following rules, human nature, but we do follow them when we can, A LOT of people don't care about themselves let alone others.

It comes down to actually thinking thinking thinking... AND FFS do you think we do that either NOPE... life is not laid back enough, we are to busy thinking about how to survive at home money wise, or getting to the next appointment, kids function... blah blah... another sad fact... better to be there late than never... and no matter how fantastic you think your bike is, or how fast it goes, someone has one better OH EXCEPT for stroudy ...

My point, taking risks are great, but not when it affects other people your family, your friends, the pillion on your bike, you get my drift.

If ya have to take a risk and do 60km in a 50km, register the risks first. Mind you only those are not with us any more would agree don't do it ... its not worth your life!!!

Rant Over

I

Not sure about you mate but if I'm not totally focused on the riding and that for me also means survival my riding is shit, bad lines, being caught unawares by vehicles coming from anywhere, for me part of the pleasure is feeling like I'm doing it right, also being a bloke if I'm totally focused on riding everything else leaves the mind for that time just like meditation but better.

[Tink]

Not sure about you mate but if I'm not totally focused on the riding and that for me also means survival my riding is shit, bad lines, being caught unawares by vehicles coming from anywhere, for me part of the pleasure is feeling like I'm doing it right, also being a bloke if I'm totally focused on riding everything else leaves the mind for that time just like meditation but better.

I am with you there, if I am not in the zone I don't ride!

[swbarnett]

if I am not in the zone I don't ride!

While I agree with the sentiment there are those of us that don't just ride for recreation.

My bike is my only transport and I don't always have the luxury of not riding because I don't feel "in the zone".

I do find, however, that after riding daily for the past four years in Auckland traffic (and another decade of Auckland commuting in the 80s & 90s) I am seldom not "in the zone". Riding in traffic has become completely second nature to the point where situational awareness is almost completely sub-conscious.

Serious question: Do you apply this attitude to your car driving as well?

[Katman]

I do find, however, that after riding daily for the past four years in Auckland traffic (and another decade of Auckland commuting in the 80s & 90s) I am seldom not "in the zone". Riding in traffic has become completely second nature to the point where situational awareness is almost completely sub-conscious.

Absolutely spot on.

Unfortunately, there's some twisted versions of "in the zone" out there as well.

[PrincessBandit]

suck my dick!

hahahaha, fair enough since suck-my-cock is someone else's tag line.

[Maha]

I parked 'in the zone' today....twas a loading zone

[Tink]

While I agree with the sentiment there are those of us that don't just ride for recreation.

My bike is my only transport and I don't always have the luxury of not riding because I don't feel "in the zone".

I do find, however, that after riding daily for the past four years in Auckland traffic (and another decade of Auckland commuting in the 80s & 90s) I am seldom not "in the zone". Riding in traffic has become completely second nature to the point where situational awareness is almost completely sub-conscious.

Serious question: Do you apply this attitude to your car driving as well?

Well in the car I don't have to worry about wriggling, or taking my foot/hand off the accelerator (cruise control).... and the air conditioning helps... touch word 27 yrs of driving, and I have never had any form of an accident.

I ride my bike to work yes... at 6am... it is rare when I am not in the zone... my point is if I am too tired to ride recreational riding then I don't... but I get your meaning... IF I had to take my bike to work every day, I would make a concerted effort to be prepared for it...

[swbarnett]

Well in the car I don't have to worry about wriggling, or taking my foot/hand off the accelerator (cruise control).... and the air conditioning helps... touch word 27 yrs of driving, and I have never had any form of an accident.

Do you mean by this that because a car is so much easier to drive you've got more of a tired mind left over for situational awareness? This will be the biker in you coming through. I think most car drivers (non-bikers) don't give it much thought.

I ride my bike to work yes... at 6am... it is rare when I am not in the zone...

If only, I can't get up that early on a regular basis.

my point is if I am too tired to ride recreational riding then I don't...

I hear ya. I am similarly cautious about "recreational riding". I'd have to say though it takes a lot to make me too tired to ride. Happened for the first time in ages last month (lots of things going wrong at work causing lots of nights I had to work through).