Cyclists

Before meeting you in Thorndon I had a car, two pedestrains and another cyclist all try and kill me.

Am I allowed to be surprised he called me f*cked in the head?

I'm not saying it is untrue, just that I didn't expect it.

The most important question is of course, we know Wellington buses dont stop for pedestrians or cars, do they stop for cyclists?

wrong thread - this has nothing to do with cycling.

Have your first Kharma point Jonesy.

meh - I want no part in this barely hidden popularity contest.

Legend!

 

As I've stated before, "the fucked in the head" is a collective acceptance that 90% of Kiwis consciously or unconsciously, have in vary degrees, that cycling is a form of deviant behavior and that cyclists do not belong on roads and that cyclists break road rules and are a general menace.

You said that you were all for cyclists rights, but then as a joke in response to HN's very genuine comment implied that we are all out to jump reds and mow down pedestrians.

As cyclists we get really tired of being lumped in with the small minority of law breakers and idiots, really tired. Particularly when we have to put up with cars trying to hook us, buzz us, or as a guarantee for me cycling on a Friday night into work abused by people. I've also had on a couple of occasions people try and run me over or physically threaten me with their cars, once actually run off the road.

The scale of danger that is posed by cyclists is nowhere near the danger that cars pose to us, nowhere near.

In the 13 odd years of living here, 8 or 9 of which I've been actively into cycling advocacy, apart from individual attempts dotted around the country to make cycling a little more pleasant there has been no shift in this country's thinking of cycling. We still get 15 odd people die each year, the roads are still dodgy as hell and peoples attitudes haven't shifted.

As a cycling advocate I was always expected to be nice and pleasant to non-cyclists, when I ride I do, but that approach has not made any difference to changing the attitudes of non-cyclists and these days I have very little time for people to peddle the old myths that we are all dangerous.

Sorry if you got upset, but you basically poked me with a stick.

I, in fact, did not have any idea what Newsy was talking about.

That wasn't a joke, that was me being...well I guess...f*cked in the head.

There are 2 junctions in Karori where, if I am on top of it, I will actively run the red light if there are no cars coming either way.

The first of these is because the Donald Street traffic sensor doesn't seem to recognise my size (yes, a surprise...), so the cars behind me will be waiting 5minutes for a light change. The second of these is because the short length of time that the Whitehead Rd access gets green, means that by me getting away early might get 2 extra cars through onto Karori Rd.

Obviously I am sensible, and do not exercise my choice to break the law if there is traffic coming up or down the Karori Rd. Nevertheless this is a law breaking cyclist out to help tin-tops :-)

  

That's interesting - the Aluminium must have special anti magnetic properties then!

Learn something new every day. Didn't know that's how they worked.

 Good post Smithy.

Yeah there are a few countries dotted around that let you run reds as you can trip the lights. Copenhagan and I think they were looking at it in Portland USA.

My understanding was it was a weight issue that triggers the lights, but its possible it's magnetic

Seen that before.  Amazing stuff.

Meh no more that what you're used to on your commute HN?

The descent down Dowse Drive is very similar.

Fuck me, I felt every bump he had on that trip. What an awesome course.

Love the random dog at the start. Awesome vid.

I'm a very confident cyclist but this is nuts.

Alive cyclist -
 

 

Dead cyclist -

I've spent many hours talking about the pros and cons of ghost bikes. In the early days of my cycling advocacy I bowed to the wisdom of elder folk who felt they reinforced the dangers of cycling and so were unhelpful.  I never really agreed, but toed the party line in my support of cycling advocacy.

I've always found them deeply moving. I found the one outside Palmy on my training for the Enduro by accident and it was wonderful. I always feel I'm being watched over on that stretch which is nuts but comforting.  People who ride and those that ride a lot always care about their fellow cyclists.

Wow, that is seriously crazy. How on earth could he stand there arguing that it was the cyclists fault? Worse, in the full version the policewoman just berates the cyclist for being on the phone (which was of course pretty stupid also).

Two wrongs dont make a right but both of them were wrong and thats not right. Motor bike should never have overtaken and cyclist should never have been on the phone.

watch in big screen.

That was bloody hilarious

Utility Cycling!

Yes my kayak is pink and looks like a giant vagina according to the wife. (I must have issues as I enjoy sitting in it floating around in the sea).

Hooked up the kayak and Kayak trolly to an old mountain bike via bungee cords and a knackered bike rack. I'm about  a 5-10 minute slow ride from my house to Pukerua Bay beach. 

Going down the steep hill was not much of an issue and coming up the hill was tough but doable as the kayak, trolly etc probably weighs around 23kg. 

Will probably get a few more cords just to make it more secure and hacksaw off the pannier sides of the rack just to cut off some more weight.

A lot more stable than I thought it would be.

Wouldn't it sink in the water with the extra weight of the bike?

Next time you go out, take a fishing line with ya. I'll take any snapper you get so long as they are legal size. Wife loves Snapper.

I am amused by what your wife said. You might want a peice of cotton around the neck for easy pull out when you exit it.

"The Netherlands has launched its first 'intelligent bicycle' fitted with an array of electronic devices to bring down the high accident rate among elderly cyclists in the bicycle mad country. The prototype runs on electricity and sports forward radar mounted below the handlebars and a camera in the rear mudguard. These devices are linked through an on-board computer with a vibrating warning system in the bicycle's saddle (ooh err!) and handlebars. ... It also has a cradle for a computer tablet to wirelessly flash a signal of an approaching obstacle. " etc.

- see today's NZ Herald : "Smart Bike to warn riders'

You got a link? Couldn't find it. I heard that similar things would be fitted to cars. The biggest danger to cyclists particularly in this car crazy country is getting hit by a car. Not sure how a bike computer is going to tell you that a car driver, is drunk, stoned, half asleep, texting, drinking coffee, all of the above, etc and how to prevent stop them hitting you.

I would have thought the biggest danger to cyclists is what damage the lycra does to the meat and two vege.

No link sorry. But the above is most of the article minus cost, $1700 per bike, and estimated production time - 2016. Think it's also govt. funded.

How about the biggest danger to cyclists is getting hit by a car as the cyclist speeds down the left side of a single lane during rush hour and  car or bus moves over to the left (e.g. to avoid oncoming traffic)?