More Transit discrimination against bikes. FIGHT BACK

**Firefight** · 27th December 2006, 06:47

Originally Posted by 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.

anyone know how much they cost to put in ? , have to be a few $K, what the fuck do we need one on the southbound on ramp at papakura ?,never seen any Q's on that on ramp. seen a few knee scraper marks thou

F/F

**Fub@r** · 27th December 2006, 07:07

Originally Posted by Firefight

what the fuck do we need one on the southbound on ramp at papakura ?,never seen any Q's on that on ramp. seen a few knee scraper marks thou

Same with the Southbound on ramp at Takanini?

**Big Dave** · 27th December 2006, 10:05

Just logged on to check this thread.

I'm sorry but i don't share the positive sentiments. I thought we got a very thorough snow job by a well trained professional.

I wasn't worth addressing the real issues with the bloke because he is just another cog in the wheel of a done deal. We 'won' nothing.

FWIW I believe system is quite fucked and will not work while Auckland drivers cannot merge properly - regardless of how well regulated the flow. They are flogging a 50 millon dollar dead horse. I'll be glad if it proves me wrong.

It wasn't worth pressing the issues with this rooster because he is paid to implement them and has been well trained to sell it. I don't buy it, but until BRONZ or whatever develops real clout, and it appears that won't happen till there are some real issues - like compulsory hi vis vests eg - we have a contact for a good policy salesman.

**Ixion** · 27th December 2006, 10:22

Well, I don't believe that the ramp signal thing is going to work. But so long as we (bikers) don't have to wait in the queues, I don't really care. We can filter straight to the front (or bypass them in the priority lane). And once on the motorway it will be less congested (cos all the cages are stuck back in the queues).

So, I reckon that's a victory. I'll swear when I'm in the cage, but I very rarely use the cage in peak hour motorway. So as I see it , it'll be a problem for cagers, and I could care less.

Yep, it was a snow job, and a well rehearsed one. But that doesn't alter the fact that we got what we wanted. Bikes don't have to wait in the queues.

**Big Dave** · 27th December 2006, 10:39

Yeah - it's quite possible your email did change their thinking - but I reckon this was all done and dusted before that.

Just presented in a way to make us feel good.

The BRONZ position is that the money should be spent encoraging people to travel and park more efficiently - motorcycles and scooters and safety - not millions in traffic lights.

**ZeroIndex** · 27th December 2006, 10:43

Originally Posted by Ixion

Well, I don't believe that the ramp signal thing is going to work. But so long as we (bikers) don't have to wait in the queues, I don't really care. We can filter straight to the front (or bypass them in the priority lane). And once on the motorway it will be less congested (cos all the cages are stuck back in the queues).

So, I reckon that's a victory. I'll swear when I'm in the cage, but I very rarely use the cage in peak hour motorway. So as I see it , it'll be a problem for cagers, and I could care less.

Yep, it was a snow job, and a well rehearsed one. But that doesn't alter the fact that we got what we wanted. Bikes don't have to wait in the queues.

stop complaining, and just use the priority lane. Wherever a bike is going is bound to be more important than any other road user..

Seriously though.. either use their system, evade their system, or don't live in auckland.. quite simple really..

**terbang** · 27th December 2006, 10:56

Originally Posted by klingon

terbang... do you have something to admit?

Umm, sorry it was me, I just cut and pasted my returned E-mail and fired it off through my Data card to his number. Looking back through my outbox and I now see that it broke it down to a whole bunch of small bits..! Bet his phone was making a fair racket that certainly got his attention. At that rate I bet his missus thought he must have a teenage girlfriend on the go.

**WRT** · 27th December 2006, 10:58

BD - you're right that the lights were always going to go ahead, I think everyone realised that before our submissions were made. Certainly when I emailed him I was not trying to get that changed, the only points I was raising (even though I do sometimes use the car to get to work) were relating to bikes using the priority lanes.

While I now believe that we would always have had a blind eye turned to filtering (when done in a sensible matter), its nice to know that where the priority lanes will be put in place that we can confidently use them without fear of prosecution. Especially as when the lanes first go in they will be getting monitored, much as the bus lanes are now.

I think it was a good out come for motorcyclists, and just a shame that the priority lanes will only be on 6 of the onramps, as I think they are a far safer opiton for us than filtering between queues of stop/start traffic.

As for the whole debate of whether the ramp signalling will improve congestion or not, we will just have to wait and see on that one. I personnally think that it will just shift congestion, not ease it. But, like you said - I'm happy to be proven wrong.

Also - the letter to Transit is still up on the BRONZ site, might pay to take it down now if the matter is as resolved as its going to get. No point getting on the fella's bad side by having irate bikers continue to spam him.

**Squeak the Rat** · 28th December 2006, 20:44

I only just remembered this, the big item that worries me but was glossed over was the plan to implement a system of increasing the number of lanes during peak hours by using some sort of variable marking system.

This means narrower lanes, and a reduced speed limit to ensure safety while vehicles are in closer proximity.

Which means lanesplitting becomes lethal if not impossible.

And we can't use bus lanes.

[Edit:] The way I understood it was that the priority lanes only exist at the on-ramp signalling areas, not for the majority of the motorway.

**Ixion** · 28th December 2006, 20:47

They were going to use the shoulders. I doubt they can reduce the lane width in most places, it has to be wide enough to accomodate big trucks at speed. They've already cribbed all they can at the tight spots. But some of the newer motorways are wider. The Mangere one is quite luxurious.

**Squeak the Rat** · 28th December 2006, 20:52

Ah that rings a bell. So what happens to the emergency stopping (bus) lanes that are so dangerous for us bikers to use?

**Ixion** · 28th December 2006, 20:54

Dunno. That was the bit he quickly wriggled out of. But not all motorways have "bus lanes".(Presumably becos some don't have a bus service to use them. )

**Drum** · 28th December 2006, 21:15

The variable marking system, as I understand it, is a system of controllable led road studs that can be used to replace the existing witchhat/ cone system on the approaches to the Harbour Bridge. No lane narrowing involved, just getting rid of the traffic control trucks off the bridge.

Heres a link to the product..........

http://www.astucia.co.uk/catalog_pro...spx?prod_id=33

**Drum** · 28th December 2006, 21:19

There are going to be bus lanes on the shoulders from Fanshawe Street to the Bridge in both directions (a single lane in each direction). They will operate southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening. They will be normal "emergency stopping" lanes outside those hours.