Biking in a cage driver world

[SpankMe]

Ever get the feeling that as bikers we are treated like some racial/religious minority by bloody cage drivers? That we are not treated as real road users. Ever get that comment that one day you will grow up and get serious and buy a car? That because we a small in number and sometimes divided (see Harley Riders thread) that we can be pushed around by the bloody cage drivers in government, local councils and companies?

Why am I pissed at cage drivers at the moment? (Well, more than usual) Just another example of the above. At work we have 8 bikers that park here. Not all at once because some are shift and others fair weather riders, but we can have up to 5 in at once. As long as I have been here we have been given the end parking spot where we can fit 5-6 bikes. Recently the parking situation at work is getting congested with double parking and people stealing others spots (I wont go into how psycho I get when a car steals our spot) so some butt dragger (my other expression for cage drivers) has in his infinite wisdom informed the bikers of the following.

“Motorcycles currently enjoy the use of car park 11. As of now this privilege must now cease, as this park has been allocated to someone to use.”

Improving the parking situation by changing a place where up to 5 people can park into a place where only 1 can? I replied as such, but I may as well smack my head against a brick wall. Typical fucking butt dragger attitude. 1 cage driver is worth more than 5 bikers.

You all know that I only ride bikes. Always have, always will. Doing so in a cage driver world is a lifestyle choice for me. A lifestyle I will defend to my dying breath.

[wkid_one]

It is like the attitude you get when ttalking to car drivers when you tell them you are a motorcycle rider and they sell 'ohhhh, whenever I see bikers coming up the middle of the lanes I want to open my door or move over!' - what the hell is that about.  Just cause we have the foresight to ride a bike to avoid the traffic, they are envious and hate us all....nice

However, I must note that many car drivers move to the left of the lane to let you pass without having to cross the yellow line (not that that is an issue anyway - but the thought is nice).

[SpankMe]

Yes, I often come across drivers who move over as I come up behind them. But I think its more a case of them scared of their precious car being hit/scratched than being done out of courtesy. It sometimes seems like a panic reaction, especially if they don’t notice you until your right beside them.

[Coldkiwi]

yeah.. its funny how the ones that move over are normally the ones that don't need to!! I need sod all room to lane split and I rarely find myself waiting for a car to shuffle over (sometimes happens).

I sympathise SpankMe... they removed motorcycle parking for about 20 bikes in front of the engineering school while I was studying there so they could fit 2 or 3 cars in.... who they could make pay for it. Wanking accountants!

[Motu]

Do you work for a large company mate? like,over 10 employees.In my 33 yrs in the work force I have worked for 3 large companies,totaling 21 months service - the crap that goes on is unbelievable and makes you laugh if you can stand back and look at it - but unfortunatly we seem to get caught up in others petty lives....let them have their way and you are a wimp,fight them all the way and dig a bigger hole for yourself,good luck.

[BigB]

I'm lucky at my work we have undergord parking and there's lots of spaces free for bikes to park. and no hassles about paying for it.

But having said that, last week I parked the bike in the normal place, up against a wall that is open to the outside. Over the last month they have been painting the building and the painters have been putting a cover over the bike well done I think.

Till last Wednesday, had seen the painters and a cover over a car but didn't think anything of it, BIG mistake when I come to go home what do I find. My bike covered in white flecks of paint all over the riight side, to say I was F***ing pissed off is putting it mildly

Luckly they have agreed to pay to get it fixed (only $240 est from local panel beater) but as to when this is going to happen who knows!!

[Redstar]

The good news is our numbers grow the fastest growth in registrations is our group. per capita percentile. so the future is bright.

[Marmoot]

The future will be even brighter IF THEY ARE WILLING TO LOWER THAT GODDAMNED ACC LEVY ON THE REGISTRATION!!!!!

Pah.....acc bastards..........Our ACC levy is almost higher than the whole car registration fee

[Mitch]

Auckland council need to take a good long hard look at Melbourne and rearrange accordingly, has to be one of the most motorcycle friendly places i've ever seen!!

Only time I ever really noticed cars moving over for me as I passed was on my way to Wanganui last christmas, about 15 of them one after the other getting right out of my way, I couldn't believe it and waved to them all saying thanks, wasn't until i'd got past the lot that I looked in my mirror and saw the cop with his lights on, he had been following me for about 14 km's he reckoned   very lucky for me he had a sence of humour!!!!!!!!

 

[Mitch]

Hey Marmoot I agree with you BUT at least a small amount of it has gone to some motorcycle awareness advertising.  That's worth paying for!!!!!!

[Marmoot]

Ah, good point Mitch. BUT, the thing I'm ranting about is the RISE, not the levy itself
The ACC Levy before the rise was good enough. Still much, but I guess it covers everything.

But, when the ACC started losing money to sex-abuse claims, horse-riding accidents, bicycles, skateboards, DIY-ers, etc, etc, they can only put it on the minority group that is auditable and easy to intimidate: Motorcycles!

Why? Politicians won't defend us, they don't care. Society won't be angry: they don't care. Motorcyclists won't revolt: they are too small and is still divided into factions.

Silent minority. Pah....and my friends are calling me skeptic.....I can't believe it.

[Duke of Rogan]

Originally posted by Mitch
Hey Marmoot I agree with you BUT at least a small amount of it has gone to some motorcycle awareness advertising.  That's worth paying for!!!!!!

I like that radio ad where a mother is reading her son a bed time story that goes something like : "one day the little motorbike went out to the motorbike on his motorbike to get a motorbike, motorbike, motorbike..."

did the LTSA or ACC send out any info to motorcyclists before the levy increase?
We received the rego thing in the mail for my wifes car this week and its has a booklet that trys to explain why the ACC levy has increased it for "petrol vehicles". It claims that because of "the extended life expectancy of poeple with serious injuries caused by accidents, due to improvements in healthcare" the ACC requires more money (or atleast something along those lines)

it is pretty shit that we have to pay so much more, however it's still considerably cheaper than medical insurance, although you get what you pay for... (or in this case not)

[Kwaka-Kid]

im all keen for a big biker posse to take over parliament! :P

[SPman]

Well,if I see a bike coming up, in heavy traffic or on the highway, I move over a fraction, mainly to let the Biker know that

1 - Ive seen him

2 - I'm quite happy to let him past

Most mates do the same thing - but then, most of them ride as well, although some nonriding people do exactly the same . However, it can get a bit scary when, as you are passing, they suddenly swerve to the left, like a startled green party voter. Most off putting!

[wkid_one]

I can somewhat agree with the increased ACC levy - as we tend to have more expensive and longer lasting personal injury after an accident - however - it seems to ignore the factors contributing to the accidents - poor roading and car drivers?  We seem to bear the cost through ACC levies of these factors!

Car drivers don't get injuried pulling out in front of a biker as many times the bike driver can dump the bike before hand - yet it is a 'bike accident' and recorded as such - ARSE!

I would love to see some of our tax money go in to QUALITY roading.  Like for example a motorway between Auckland and Wellington - like most developed countries have.  Fuck knows why you would have a CD player in a car in NZ - coz the bloody thing jumps every 2 seconds due to change in seal, bumps, subsidence, patch repairs etc. 

And they wonder why we fall off - with a contact patch the size of your palm - you are kinda betting on a consistent road surface!