Why the WRB campaign is going nowhere.

[Maha]

I get what you are saying. I designed the route for PN to some of the tightest roads around the area. Firstly because I really enjoy the tight stuff and secondly to make sure the speeds come down. The weather was the great leveler with everyone volunteering to ride alot slower but as lead I sat on 100k and let everyone else follow.

I really think one of the big obsticles is that people think "ride responsibly" means "ride like a nana" I say it all the time but speed it not a problem. The problem is the image. To clean up the image all you have to do is exercise a little restraint in built up areas, Dont do stunts in town, and be respectful of other drivers while lanesplitting/passing on the open road (which includes passing on yellows (big no no) Besides, I dont see the point in passing on yellows. It takes about 3 seconds to get past a car and (on a big bike anyhow) a very short stretch of road to do it. Just wait for the next short striaght. I dont pass on yellow and dont find myself getting stuck behind anything.

All in all, what I am saying is take it to the backroads. There is plenty of fun to be had away from watchful eyes.

Excellent response Maha and it is this attitude that has kept me out of trouble for my over forty years of motorcycling and i think that this is also what Katman is referring to in us taking responsability for our own actions and those riders around us.
There is a time and place for fast and dangerous riding and that is NOT on the public roads as they are full of many obstacles that can and will kill us if we come unstuck, even more so if it is due to our stupidity and attitude.
Ride sensible and safe and there's a very good chance that you will still be alive at 90+ to talk about "The Good Old Days" while hooning around the rest home grounds in your mobility scooters.

Both the above post are worthy for the 'Bikers Bible''....

Worthy of a stella artois.

Bourbon or Appletons Mark........you know that!

[FJRider]

Perhaps we should start a campain to ban SHEEP from 100 metres from ANY road. I know MORE bikers hurt or killed after hitting sheep than wire rope barriers. In Central Otago, WRB's are everywhere... YET in the 23 YEARS, I have heard NO motorcyclists being killed, or injured, or even involved in "accidents" with WRB's. Queenstown is the tourist destination of MOST tour groups (four and TWO wheeled), yet NO problems down here. WHY ??? Perhaps the Katman MAY be RIGHT ( did I just say that ??? ) WRB's may NOT be the BASE problem.
Motorcycling is by nature, inherently DANGEROUS... and those that ride... percieved by general public... DITTO !!! (an image SOME try to encourage) More effort should be put into ensuring road quality/conditions are improved to a standard, where "incidents" like Chancey's, in Turangi can not be repeated. Road construction companies need to learn to do it right by us TOO !!! How many road works site's have tipped YOU up ??? Those that are EXPERIENCED riders, should see potential danger in dangerous areas... and take MORE care. Those that ARE'NT... should be taking care anyway.
More often than NOT... your destiny is controlled by your RIGHT hand...or in the BALLOT BOX. YOU WANT CHANGE......VOTE FOR IT !!!

[The Lone Rider]

I wonder if that's because of people signing the petition (you didn't support) and the organised rises?

I'll sign one that calls for harsher penalties and better policing of idiots on the road.

[cowboyz]

Perhaps we should start a campain to ban SHEEP from 100 metres from ANY road. I know MORE bikers hurt or killed after hitting sheep than wire rope barriers. In Central Otago, WRB's are everywhere... YET in the 23 YEARS, I have heard NO motorcyclists being killed, or injured, or even involved in "accidents" with WRB's. Queenstown is the tourist destination of MOST tour groups (four and TWO wheeled), yet NO problems down here. WHY ??? Perhaps the Katman MAY be RIGHT ( did I just say that ??? ) WRB's may NOT be the BASE problem.
Motorcycling is by nature, inherently DANGEROUS... and those that ride... percieved by general public... DITTO !!! (an image SOME try to encourage) More effort should be put into ensuring road quality/conditions are improved to a standard, where "incidents" like Chancey's, in Turangi can not be repeated. Road construction companies need to learn to do it right by us TOO !!! How many road works site's have tipped YOU up ??? Those that are EXPERIENCED riders, should see potential danger in dangerous areas... and take MORE care. Those that ARE'NT... should be taking care anyway.
More often than NOT... your destiny is controlled by your RIGHT hand...or in the BALLOT BOX. YOU WANT CHANGE......VOTE FOR IT !!!

While chanceyys lie down was shocking (and BTW, they are paying for it) that is another issue that needs to be addressed. This does not negate the need for awareness for the cheesecutters. It just shows there are many issues that need to be addressed.
Other issues are as follows off the top of my head.

Why do power poles have to be right on the side of the road? Surely if they were 50-100m into the paddocks then that could save alot of lives with cars having some runoff before hitting them?
Why cant roads be swept after road works?
Why cant we have free left turns at red lights? (no exclusive to bike BTW)
Why cant trackdays/rider training days become an part of getting your licence?

I'll sign one that calls for harsher penalties and better policing of idiots on the road.

Yes, and how do you define "idiots"

The pic in my profile was taken by menie (thanks dude) on a clear sunday morning on mountain road in taranaki (about 5km striaght). Meanie took the picture because I was busy getting a lecture about how dangerous and irresponsible I was being doing 121km/hr with a pillion on the back. This was being delivered by a cop that just did a U turn in front of me with such enthusiasim that he put his car half in the ditch and spread mud all over the road.

[DEATH_INC.]

Perhaps we should start a campain to ban SHEEP from 100 metres from ANY road. I know MORE bikers hurt or killed after hitting sheep than wire rope barriers.

Well, sheep are banned from the roads. Because they're dangerous.....

[Renegade]

speaking of getting to the base of the problem, dont you just love the ad about side curtain airbags that the woman wished she had heard of before her crash?? why didnt she just give way at the intersection? wouldnt need side air bags would ya?

[FJRider]

While chanceyys lie down was shocking (and BTW, they are paying for it) that is another issue that needs to be addressed. This does not negate the need for awareness for the cheesecutters. It just shows there are many issues that need to be addressed.
Other issues are as follows off the top of my head.

Why do power poles have to be right on the side of the road? Surely if they were 50-100m into the paddocks then that could save alot of lives with cars having some runoff before hitting them?
Why cant roads be swept after road works?
Why cant we have free left turns at red lights? (no exclusive to bike BTW)
Why cant trackdays/rider training days become an part of getting your licence

TO ALL OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.... suprise suprise...COST !!! ... BUT which options have more chance of getting changed ???
Power and telephone are going underground and MADE to do so if they have'nt.
SUPPOSED to be required by law NOW.
A lot of intersections controlled by lights, have this already.
In leiu, of or as well as, defensive driving ??? (I vote as well as)

Awareness of ALL things that endanger OUR lives, whilst riding motorcycles, by ALL road USERS, is required. The policys and principals that endorsed their USE, and allowed their installment, need to be addressed FIRST. YOU guess where the "buck" stops ???

[dangerous]

I'll sign one that calls for harsher penalties and better policing of idiots on the road.

What about, just idiots

[gammaguy]

how about not letting them on the road until they are TRAINED not to be idiots.

i guess compulsory driver/rider training is more expensive than large speeding tickets and cheap wire barriers.

[James Deuce]

I do however believe their efforts have been directed in the wrong direction.

Working on that right now. Working on both things isn't mutually exlusive.

[imdying]

Well its hit the headlines on the news and the radio, it's big allright and it hasn't fallen on deff ears by the sounds of what I read.
When you come off its what you hit Kills you most times not the fall and I shure as hell wouldn't want to get decapatated by those wire ropes.

Personally, I hate those damn power poles. Those are evil, and a danger to motorcyclists... you guys gonna go something about those next? This should be even more important than a handful of WRBs... power poles are everywhere!

[MSTRS:Me]

More effort should be put into ensuring road quality/conditions are improved to a standard, where "incidents" like Chancey's, in Turangi can not be repeated.

While chanceyys lie down was shocking (and BTW, they are paying for it) that is another issue that needs to be addressed. This does not negate the need for awareness for the cheesecutters.

And if she had gone into a cheesecutter as a result of her meeting with deliberately left unmarked gravel, who would still be thinking those fucken things are a good thing?
The whole point of our problem with cc is that there are numerous reasons for anyone colliding with them, yes - including being a dick (no sympathy there) - but innocent, unfortunate riders don't deserve that fate. We know there are many other ways for that fate to occur and we are just as vocal about them. It's just that cc is a static and obvious target for the safety-minded amongst us.

[The Lone Rider]

Personally, I hate those damn power poles. Those are evil, and a danger to motorcyclists... you guys gonna go something about those next? This should be even more important than a handful of WRBs... power poles are everywhere!

Yeah, and I think the paint they use on the road should be gritted paint. How wide spread is the slippery paint of death!

[BMW_RACER]

Cant be going that bad, it was all over the radio at work this morning.

Sick of hearing about it, so promplty changed to another station.

[Morcs]

Katman,

Your root cause analysis is incorrect.

A biker with an attitude is no harm to anyone (generally)

we have all ego's, its a trait of being a biker - we are superior road users.

Cars are the danger.

Ban cars, and all car-related motorcycle accidents will reduce

then that leaves the very very very small amount of accidents involving just the rider - most of which the rider will pick him self up with a bruised ego and a broken bike.