More Transit discrimination against bikes. FIGHT BACK

[WRT]

Definitely a big thanks owed to Ixion and Big Dave for their work on this, also to for Mr McCombs for listening.

As Ixion pointed out last night, its great now that there is an established line of communication between bikers and Transit for not only this project, but future ones too.

[klingon]

Would be good to establish a pattern of thinking with these people, i.e. bikes don't cause congestion!!
That thinking should run through all traffic matters. Transit lanes, bus lanes, tolling, priority access to motorways, lane splitting etc.
So yes even if this is a "small" issue, it is also an opportunity to reinforce that sentiment with the establishment.

Spot on, CaN.

All I'm saying is look at the waterfront stadium as an example...

Virtually everyone in Auckland is shouting their asses off about not wanting some crappy stadium there, but I'd lay a good amount of money on the fact that the government will stick their fingers in their ears and go ahead and build it anyway.

Weasel, please deposit the "good amount of money" into the BRONZ bank account. Ixion will supply you with details.

Hah My puter just SMS'd mr combs successfully.

I spoke to Mr McCombs this morning [...] He seemed intelligent and rational on the phone, though he was rather pissed off by someone sending him a "37-page text message". I would be too, I think.

terbang... do you have something to admit?

[The Stranger:Me]

For real alright. I'll let Ixion post the details (I think he was listening more carefully than me) but basically... yep! LTNZ have agreed and I guess they brief the police.

So when there's a set of ramp signals that has a bypass lane available, when the signals are operating (during peak times) motorbikes can use the bypass lane.

When the signals aren't operating the bypass lane becomes an emergency stopping lane, so nobody can drive on it (but you wouldn't want to - because this is only the case when the traffic is moving smoothly anyway).

Apparently the onramp at Grafton will just be for trucks initially. They have some technicalities to sort out before that one's available to buses & bikes.

And a big ups to you Klingon. I honestly think he took your very valid point on board.

Take care on that scooter of yours.

[Ixion]

Ok

A very positive result, both at the direct and at the indirect level.

There will shortly be traffic lights on all the Auckland motorway on ramps. Traffic will have to queue up and wait to be allowed on the motorway.

Some ramps will have bypass lanes, traffic in those lanes won't have to wait, can just drive straight on. Originally , motorbikes were not going to be able to use them

Now, the word is , we will. (With one exception , which will be a "truck only" lane , heavy goods vehicles only , for freight from the Port).

So, victory on the original objective.

Moreover, we asked Mr McCombs what Transit's position would be about bikes filtering down to the front of the queue on the ramps that don't have a bypass lane. He says they (Transit) are perfectly happy with that , AND they have passed that on to the police (of course, if you attract the attention of a cop by playing silly buggers , then on your own head be it)

So, an additional bonus.

Moreover, we now have a contact , and maybe even an ally within the Transit organisation. And, better still, Transit are going to add BRONZ to their list of stakeholders who get consulted about everything.

Another bonus.

We also made our positon about the motorway bus lanes clear. He ducked for cover on that one, not his area. But hopefully he'll at least take the message back

All in all, a very good result.

And cagers are really going to be envious as the bikes blat past them , while they wait, and wait, and wait. Gotta be good.

[Motu]

Excellent stuff guys - just shows what can happen if I sit on my arse and twiddle my thumbs.Will the next person who wants to complain about BRONZ please stand up...we need the target practice.

[NZHog]

Good on you guys,great work,much appreciated.

[Squeak the Rat]

Another bonus.

We also made our positon about the motorway bus lanes clear. He ducked for cover on that one, not his area. But hopefully he'll at least take the message back

And he offered to try to get one of his colleagues to come along and chat about this at a later date. Definitely worth pursuing nicely.

Well done all involved, I was very pleasantly surprised.

[klingon]

Take care on that scooter of yours.

Ha ha very funny. My Volty uses scooters as handkerchiefs.

[Citroenjunkie]

Unless we stand together and make our prescence and feelings plain we will be ignored.

We the biking community should be able to stop this insane bullsh*t. If we do something concrete instead of just rabbit on we can make a difference!

When is the protest ride, I've already signed up!

[klingon]

Unless we stand together and make our prescence and feelings plain we will be ignored.

We the biking community should be able to stop this insane bullsh*t. If we do something concrete instead of just rabbit on we can make a difference!

When is the protest ride, I've already signed up!

Ummm... what are we protesting about?

[The Stranger:Me]

Ha ha very funny. My Volty uses scooters as handkerchiefs.

I thought he got off quite lightly, had to hold back the girl who rides the Hayabusa scooter though, didn't want any blood spilled.

[WRT]

Ummm... what are we protesting about?

I think he's missed the bus, so to speak. Or the convoy of bikes, as it were. Shoulda been there last night, buddy!

[rainman]

Shoulda been there last night, buddy!

Absolutely. I have to say I went along with low expectations of Transit, thinking we'd just get the standard media training 101 brushoff, but I was very pleasantly surprised by the approach and attitude of Mr McCombs, and the overall outcome.

And, it was very pleasant indeed to meet those of you who were there over a (cheap! ) beer at the end... Yer a very friendly lot and made me feel right at home, so ta

And finally, thanks for the mag, Big Dave! Doubtless my missus won't be as pleased tho - lotsa nice things to buy.....

[Pixie]

Excellent stuff guys - just shows what can happen if I sit on my arse and twiddle my thumbs.

thanks Motu,I knew someone else would do the twiddling even though I couldn't be bothered

[Lou Girardin]

The ramp metering lights change so quickly that you may as well not bother stopping for the red. Most cagers don't seem to react fast enough to get going on the green anyway.