Posts by Sol K
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Hard News: Anzac Day II, in reply to BlairMacca,
<removed after I read it back and realised it came across as aussie bashing>
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The question is... Is this another "announce something hysterically outrageous to get away with then pushing through the merely abhorrent" scenarios?
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Hard News: Lowering the Stakes, in reply to Gaz Tayler,
Hi Gaz, care to give a supplier some free publicity? my googleness failed me on finding any NZ suppliers.
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Hard News: Big Friday Music: Counting…, in reply to Russell Brown,
YUM!
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Hard News: Lowering the Stakes, in reply to Richard Stewart,
agree, 1) there's a time and a place 2) a long train can be particularly annoying. That small group of inconsiderates causing angst. Whenever I've gone bunch riding, if a car comes, back rider calls "car back" and we all drop to single file so they can pass safely.
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Hard News: Lowering the Stakes, in reply to Su Yin Khoo,
chur
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Checking again… who are the key cycling advocates when it comes to city planning? who can we as a community/voting public lean on?
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Hard News: Lowering the Stakes, in reply to Moz,
I mix defensive and assertive ;) keep out of blindspots, watch for movement in windows, regularly check behind, occasionally (e.g. going up newtown gully to K’Rd) hitting the footpath so I don’t block fast flowing traffic but also holding my place in the lane when doing anything else would be dangerous. Being assertive and in the lane makes you much more visible – both to following traffic and leading at least some people check their rear view.
Edit: removed general lobbying comment
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In my many many years of riding in auckland i've struck a varied set of drivers from the nice lady that wound down her window to apologise for not seeing me to the young yob who brown eyed me out the side of a landy. I've been nudged twice, once by someone pulled left without seeing me (dark night, him hurrying and not indicating/looking) and one by someone turning down wakefield when I was going straight (I expect he underestimated my speed as he over took me). Neither stopped.
I think the primary cause is that NZ drivers are in the main blinkered and inconsiderate to ALL other road users. But when you're on a bike you're much more vulnerable and being "different" are easier to hate on.
I also want to balance that tho. There is a small element in the cycling community who don't do us any favour and I have had many many many occasions to think "hey thanks for being so considerate" and have had no trouble with buses during a recent year of sharing the symonds street and dominion road bus lanes at peak time.
I think the key to survival today is making smart and DEFENSIVE decisions; being clear, predictable, and positive in your maneuvers; and avoiding obvious trouble spots.
I would really like to see more of my hefty rates and income tax going to cycle friendliness (infrastructural, educational, and enforcement) because there are definitely 3 areas to address. Govts are very quick to address car black spots. Are there any good lobby groups? BikeNZ's Ridestrong appears to have disappeared
I would be very interested to know what the accident rate is per rider. Anyone know?
Would be cool if #BDONZ put on some bike parking facilities :)
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Hard News: Lowering the Stakes, in reply to Bart Janssen,
I avoid going up the left if I can help it because of car door risks