One day Transport NZ might listen..

[Pip]

I agree Millie NZ. If officialdom had allowed the protest to happen in a regulated fashion then things wouldn't have had to go all outlaw, and traffic wouldn't have been held up for over an hour. I wish I could have ridden over the bridge, but seeing as I live in Wellington these days it would have been a hike to get up there ...

Unfortunately the protestors managed to annoy a large number of motorists, so although they made their point they also potentially earned themselves some enemies.

[Kiwi Stoker]

There's a number of conflicting stories here.
According to the organisers they weren't going to cross the bridge. They didn't have permission and they didn't have safety/traffic management in place (like the Marathon does). The protest was to simply get people to the park to show how many people would use the bridge.

I can see both sides of the issue (cost, safety and numbers using the bridge vs access without having to ride the long way/use the ferry). To be honest I would rather see that money used to create more off-road cycle ways around Auckland (like up the Southern motorway for instance) which I think would be used more- the cycleway along the North Western motorway is a total success. Its a matter of best use of money for the best benefit. I'm glad our cycle club decided to NOT make it an offical ride for our members- it sounded totally dangerous and yes I think they haven't done much for the cause- they look a bit mad now.

[MillieNZ]

Hey Kiwistoker

I've subsquentially heard different story too, seems like a lot of miscommunication !

I watched the debate on Close Up on Monday and have to wonder given Paul Henry's agressiveness towards the matter, if he was held up on the motorway on sunday too

BTW do you ride with the Manukau Vets ?

[crazycanuck]

I guess I didn't read the article that well

In a way i'm happy they held up traffic on the Harbour Bridge..Auckland's a pretty poorly designed city in my view & I think motorists deserve something like this once in a while.

When we lived in Auckland, there didn't seem to be any attempt at improving public transport( do NOT get me started on the trains AGGGHGH..they couldn't even give a general indication if the trains would ever arrive!!!!)!

If we ever moved back to NZ, there'd be no freakin way i'd ever ride on the Auckland roads!!! I hated riding on Mt Albert Road UGH. Riding on the shore wasn't too bad...

It would be all mtn biking!!!

[Kiwi Stoker]

Yes I ride with the MCVCC, currently just moved to Singapore for the next 6 months- strangely enough I think I am going to miss the hills..

Anyway cycling in Auckland isn't all bad. Mt Albert Rd now have a cycle path marked on it so its a bit better. I did/do most of my riding in South Auckland around the Hunuas/Clevedon/Pukekohe way and that's heaps nicer- quiet country roads.

You cannot knock Auckland too much, building on area with two habours, lots of volcanic cones and natural choke points is not easy.

[deeaimond]

unrelated but...

OMG! this is like the first TE person I know who is in Singapore! That makes 2 of us wanna meet up? need someone to show you the sights?
pm me

cheers,
D

Yes I ride with the MCVCC, currently just moved to Singapore for the next 6 months- strangely enough I think I am going to miss the hills..

Anyway cycling in Auckland isn't all bad. Mt Albert Rd now have a cycle path marked on it so its a bit better. I did/do most of my riding in South Auckland around the Hunuas/Clevedon/Pukekohe way and that's heaps nicer- quiet country roads.

You cannot knock Auckland too much, building on area with two habours, lots of volcanic cones and natural choke points is not easy.