How people get to work...

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crackrdbycracku

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Topic # 111281 29-Oct-2012 15:42

Hi All,

I get to work on my 49cc moped. I've been doing this for about 6 months now and I doubt I'll ever commute by car again, I used to walk but now I don't live close enough to work. I would bicycle but I live in Wellington and the homeward journey would end with a climb up Maupua hill, add in the Wellington weather and that is basically out.

I've been paying a bit of attention recently and I'm starting to wonder why two wheeled motor transport is ignored in the debate.

If you read the media the options are car or bus and maybe bicycle or carpooling if you are very brave.

Motorcycles and mopeds are cheap to buy, cheap to run and free to park.

Any ideas on why they are ignored?

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Reply # 708495 29-Oct-2012 15:56

crackrdbycracku: Any ideas on why they are ignored?

They're deadly.

D

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KevinL

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Reply # 708499 29-Oct-2012 15:58

Actually, I'm fairly certain the evidence base suggests they're fairly safe in themselves. It's the other vehicles sharing the road that are dangerous.

High speed motorcycle crash is generally more survivable than a high-speed car crash. Probably something to do with momentum and rate of loss of energy (cars don't bounce, they stop).

gehenna

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Reply # 708501 29-Oct-2012 16:00

And it seems the majority of motorcyclists that commute to work don't seem to have any regard for road rules or safety, weaving in and out of traffic during the slowdowns, driving on the bus lane or the centre line, often crossing the line to get ahead of the cars.

I say "majority" because that's seriously the perception. If I see 10 motorbikes on the way home maybe one of them actually goes with the flow of traffic, the other nine weave their way through.

rscole86

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Reply # 708503 29-Oct-2012 16:01

I ride my motorbike into work 99% of the time. I have parking and a dry room provided by work, should I get wet.

Why are motorcycles ignored? I guess like most things in life, minorities normally are.

In regards to bikes being deadly? They are, but who makes it deadly? IME it is other road users who make riding dangerous.

crackrdbycracku

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Reply # 708505 29-Oct-2012 16:02

DonGould:
crackrdbycracku: Any ideas on why they are ignored?

They're deadly.

D

Yeah, people say that. It is well proven that cars driven by 18 to 25 year old males are the most likely to crash. As a former 18 to 25 year old male I can confidently say the cars are not the problem here. Part of it is training which can be improved, part of it is that people are reckless and irresponsible which is just the way it is.

I feel a hell of a lot safer on my moped than I ever did on a bicycle, they are really dangerous as they can't keep up with traffic. Maybe it was the other road users?

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crackrdbycracku

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Reply # 708507 29-Oct-2012 16:04

gehenna: And it seems the majority of motorcyclists that commute to work don't seem to have any regard for road rules or safety, weaving in and out of traffic during the slowdowns, driving on the bus lane or the centre line, often crossing the line to get ahead of the cars.

I say "majority" because that's seriously the perception. If I see 10 motorbikes on the way home maybe one of them actually goes with the flow of traffic, the other nine weave their way through.

How much bad behaviour do you see from car drivers? I see plenty.

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Klipspringer

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Reply # 708514 29-Oct-2012 16:10

crackrdbycracku: Hi All,

I've been paying a bit of attention recently and I'm starting to wonder why two wheeled motor transport is ignored in the debate.

If you read the media the options are car or bus and maybe bicycle or carpooling if you are very brave.

Motorcycles and mopeds are cheap to buy, cheap to run and free to park.

Any ideas on why they are ignored?

If I was living elsewhere I would probably do the same. But also being from Wellington a car is a no brainer, especially in winter.

Bad drivers + Bad weather + Wellington's bad roads + 2little wheels between me and the road is a recipe for disaster ...

gehenna

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Reply # 708515 29-Oct-2012 16:11

crackrdbycracku:
gehenna: And it seems the majority of motorcyclists that commute to work don't seem to have any regard for road rules or safety, weaving in and out of traffic during the slowdowns, driving on the bus lane or the centre line, often crossing the line to get ahead of the cars.

I say "majority" because that's seriously the perception. If I see 10 motorbikes on the way home maybe one of them actually goes with the flow of traffic, the other nine weave their way through.

How much bad behaviour do you see from car drivers? I see plenty.

Sure, but the topic here is motorcycles...

BTR

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Reply # 708521 29-Oct-2012 16:19

I prefer a car, I keep dry in the rain, warm in winter and cool in summer. I live over 30Km from work so that rules out biking or walking. I normally bring my laptop and iPad home with me every night at least there for I don't want to take them on the bus.

I am lucky as I have a modern car with a good stereo and nice seats so traffic jams don't bother me to much. Plus with a GPS its easy to find a side street shortcut.

Behodar

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Reply # 708524 29-Oct-2012 16:24

gehenna: Sure, but the topic here is motorcycles...

The topic is actually "how people get to work" :)

So, with that said, I'm within walking distance but heading home involves going uphill so I tend to only walk a couple of times per week. Other than that I take the car.

MikeSkyrme

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Reply # 708529 29-Oct-2012 16:42

How do I get to work....?

777-300ER - Dash 8 - Sikorsky S76C++

Not a motorbike in sight....

Michael Skyrme - Instrumentation & Controls

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Reply # 708534 29-Oct-2012 16:43

Answering the question in the subject (not the one in the message)... I walk from the bedroom to the kitchen, have breakfast with family then walk 30 seconds to the office ;)

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MikeB4

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Reply # 708547 29-Oct-2012 16:53

KevinL: Actually, I'm fairly certain the evidence base suggests they're fairly safe in themselves. It's the other vehicles sharing the road that are dangerous.

High speed motorcycle crash is generally more survivable than a high-speed car crash. Probably something to do with momentum and rate of loss of energy (cars don't bounce, they stop).

What evidence do you have to support this, in modern cars there cumple zones, energy transfer in an impact, pyro seat belt pre-tensioners, Airbags, headrests, anti-submarining seats and belts, collapsing staring columns etc etc, on a bike you have a helmet (if worn) leather clothing (if worn), I am not seeing the odds of survival here.

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crackrdbycracku

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Reply # 708557 29-Oct-2012 17:07

For those of you all who drive cars; how much are you paying weekly for parking?

On of the recent articles I have read basically said if you got a free car park from work it doesn't make sense to take the bus because the major cost for driving to work is parking. Does anybody else think there is something seriously wrong with this?

Yeah, I'm no fan of commuting but I don't like working at home either as I find it distracting but that's just me.

As far as bad behaviour goes I think all road users are guilty, peds included, but car drivers are in the majority so see it as normal.

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vinnieg

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Reply # 708560 29-Oct-2012 17:13

gehenna:
Sure, but the topic here is motorcycles...

The topic is actually scooters. Which are so slow they shouldn't be on the motorway

Myself, I drive in, in a car. Used to motorcycle, but the drivers in Wellington are pretty atrocious, as is the weather.

If the cars aren't going the speed limit, then it's not illegal for a motorcyclist to Lane-split, or filter in and out of lanes. If they are going from one lane to another, they just need to indicate.

I know a lot of car drivers seem to feel emasculated when a motorcylist comes down the side of them. Instead of following them at 20-50km/h below the speed limit. If they can fit through the gap, why not just let them go?

I stopped riding a motorcycle in Wellington, due to the inattentiveness of others on the road. Every day during peak hour, about 3-4 people would pull out in front of me on my way home. A lot were from driveways reversing, and not looking.

Same with cycling on the roads in the city. I'd only cycle out in Karori or Makara, or other cycle tracks that are off road

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