Joined: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 3,598 Location: Hamiltron
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 4:33pm Post subject: Give A Damn - Wtf?
Who else has noticed the "give a damn" safety campaign at intersections around Hamilton? I initally thought it was pretty good. Apparently some people thought it was pretty edgy with it's use of the word "damn".
I quite liked the "give a damn: look twice for bikes" one. Nice. We need people to look out for us and share the road.
But then I saw "give a damn: stop on red". WTF? Sure stop on red, but has everyone forgotten that orange means stop too? If the lights turn orange you must stop if you can do so safely. It doesn't mean accelerate to get through the intersection before the light turns red. It doesn't mean just carry on through the intersection, because it's not red yet.
Red light runners are complete knawers.
I think I need to make my own signs to add below the 'give a damn: stop on red" signs. I'd have to use some edgy/buzzy/marketing language too. How about:
"orange means stop too, elohesra."
Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 3,203 Location: In the 'Tron.
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 4:38pm Post subject:
Since moving to the 'tron, I'm constantly being amazed at how bad Hamilton drivers, and to some extent cyclists, are at obeying the road rules. It's like there is a void in driver education. On a number of occasions I've been lucky not to be rear ended because I stopped at an orange light.
Could be worse though I suppose. At least it's not as bad as Auckland.
Joined: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 3,598 Location: Hamiltron
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 4:54pm Post subject:
Yeah, buses, cars, cyclists... I've seen them all running the red (and into the green for the opposing traffic!). It's sucks. I'm not sure if Hamilton is any better than Auckland though, perhaps there's just less traffic so it doesn't seem as bad.
Joined: Aug 04, 2003 Posts: 9,464 Location: Hamilton
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 5:48pm Post subject:
ratrod wrote:
Since moving to the 'tron, I'm constantly being amazed at how bad Hamilton drivers, and to some extent cyclists, are at obeying the road rules. It's like there is a void in driver education. On a number of occasions I've been lucky not to be rear ended because I stopped at an orange light.
Could be worse though I suppose. At least it's not as bad as Auckland.
Tis true. I live in Hamilton, spend most weekends in Auckland...
Auckland drivers are a whole new level of bad, pretty much every second car has a dent (or collection of dents) and everyone jumps lights. Its scary being up there with the girlfriend/her flatmate driving Yet down here they drive better - still not great. Its amazing how little attention some people pay to their driving, truly scary seeing muppets too busy telling stories/doing other stuff to notice anything going on around them.
I guess this is another useless driver rant, but go for the signs Mel - sounds fun Perhaps add something about 'watch for cyclists' means don't just see them and still try pass in stupid places
I'm not sure if Hamilton is any better than Auckland though, perhaps there's just less traffic so it doesn't seem as bad.
It's better than Christchurch!
There's a distinct lack of right-turn arrows in this town so you get people sitting out in the middle of the intersection and waiting for the orange to turn.....assuming that the oncoming traffic doesn't go through the orange
Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 3,203 Location: In the 'Tron.
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 6:28pm Post subject:
Before here I lived in Palmy for 6 months. Before that Welly. Welly is pretty safe to drive around I reckon, mainly because the roads are so narrow and twisty that you can't drive at 50+, more like 30-40. It took me a while to get used to actually driving AT the speed limit not well under it.
Joined: Dec 20, 2004 Posts: 185 Location: Bum-Polishing-Seat-Place
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 7:16pm Post subject: RE: Give A Damn - Wtf?
Mel wrote:
Red light runners are complete knawers. kcuf red light cameras. We need red light guns.
Oh dear, I, ah, run reds on my bike all the time, especially on the work run - you know? Like... I take it as granted that I, as a superior, smug, biker, can ignore the lights...
Red light runners are complete knawers. kcuf red light cameras. We need red light guns.
Oh dear, I, ah, run reds on my bike all the time, especially on the work run - you know? Like... I take it as granted that I, as a superior, smug, biker, can ignore the lights...
Am I going to get a gun?
I must also confess to red-light indiscretions when Im cycling. I know its bad, I feel guilty, and I still do it.
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 7:42pm Post subject: RE: Re: Give A Damn - Wtf?
07eastride wrote:
Mel wrote:
Red light runners are complete knawers. kcuf red light cameras. We need red light guns.
Oh dear, I, ah, run reds on my bike all the time, especially on the work run - you know? Like... I take it as granted that I, as a superior, smug, biker, can ignore the lights...
Am I going to get a gun?
That's one of my pet hates What makes you think you're above the rules of the road?
It's bloody tempting to run a red, sneak on through. I know I've been tempted but then I think of the example I'm setting. Motorists have enough ammo against cyclists (deservedly or not), I don't really want to contribute
Joined: Dec 20, 2004 Posts: 185 Location: Bum-Polishing-Seat-Place
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 8:10pm Post subject: RE: Re: Re: Give A Damn - Wtf?
scatter wrote:
07eastride wrote:
Mel wrote:
Red light runners are complete knawers. kcuf red light cameras. We need red light guns.
Oh dear, I, ah, run reds on my bike all the time, especially on the work run - you know? Like... I take it as granted that I, as a superior, smug, biker, can ignore the lights...
Am I going to get a gun?
That's one of my pet hates What makes you think you're above the rules of the road?
It's bloody tempting to run a red, sneak on through. I know I've been tempted but then I think of the example I'm setting. Motorists have enough ammo against cyclists (deservedly or not), I don't really want to contribute
I'm making good for the environment, i'm damned well allowed to run the reds.
Anyway, if I don't run the red I'll normally pop onto the curb, make like a pedestrian - sift along the footpath until the coast is clear and be a bike again.
Eh.
I'm making a difference, I get my own special green lane, why don't I get special road rules.
Joined: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 3,598 Location: Hamiltron
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 9:05pm Post subject:
Heck, I've even run reds on my bike... but in my car - hell no! I no longer run reds on my bike. It just makes me feel like a complete knawer. If I disrespect the road rules, then why can't everyone else? I don't want to give the car driviers any reason to gun it next time the lights go orange (or red) on them.
If you run a red you might cause an accident... in which case you may well end up being very speshcial*.
Riding on the footpath is a slight grey area for me. I have done that (and still would) when it feels safer than being on the road. And of course I have to slow down and be careful of cars entering or exiting driveways.
* said with a dribbly lisp, whilst your left hand paws uncontrollably at your crotch.
Joined: May 25, 2004 Posts: 11,398 Location: V8 Street Race NZ
Posted: Wed 9th Apr 11:12pm Post subject:
We are trying to get all cycle friendly for the V8's, same with the buses. Never had seen anything or heard about taking a bus or cycling untill the V8 adverts come up.
People still seem to think that all buses run 20minutes late and get stuck if traffic (not that would be possible with the way some drive ) all the time. Only get stuck cause there is 100 other elohesras like you* that think buses should just kcuf off.
*you as in the people that talk about how much buses suck but never take them.
Joined: Dec 20, 2004 Posts: 185 Location: Bum-Polishing-Seat-Place
Posted: Thu 10th Apr 9:24am Post subject:
Datsane wrote:
We are trying to get all cycle friendly for the V8's, same with the buses. Never had seen anything or heard about taking a bus or cycling untill the V8 adverts come up.
People still seem to think that all buses run 20minutes late and get stuck if traffic (not that would be possible with the way some drive ) all the time. Only get stuck cause there is 100 other elohesras like you* that think buses should just kcuf off.
*you as in the people that talk about how much buses suck but never take them.
My wife is a regular busser, as am I when I'm not riding or walking, and I have to say that the busses can be as bad as people think. I'm going to take umbrage with the big, moustachioed driver of the #17. He's hopless. Also, I get pretty peeved sitting in a bus at the start of the run while the driver finishes their smoke, has a chat to the other drivers and then decides it's time to get rolling about 7 minutes late.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a bus advocate. But, as a busser, I can state, qualified, that the busses can be rubbish.
Back to the bride - she's constanty let down by busses not getting close to being on time. But she has developed a deep and powerful love for the Asian driver who wears gloves and is ALWAYS on time. That man needs some mad props.
Joined: Sep 04, 2002 Posts: 21,095 Location: Riding the Entertainment Mastodon
Posted: Thu 10th Apr 10:40am Post subject:
07eastride wrote:
My wife is a regular busser, as am I when I'm not riding or walking, and I have to say that the busses can be as bad as people think. I'm going to take umbrage with the big, moustachioed driver of the #17. He's hopless. Also, I get pretty peeved sitting in a bus at the start of the run while the driver finishes their smoke, has a chat to the other drivers and then decides it's time to get rolling about 7 minutes late.
Where are you? Buses in Chch are excellent, punctual, mostly clean, and lots of them. The one I take is especially good because it is used mostly by students and lecturers.
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Yet down here they drive better - still not great. Its amazing how little attention some people pay to their driving, truly scary seeing muppets too busy telling stories/doing other stuff to notice anything going on around them.
Perhaps add something about 'watch for cyclists' means don't just see them and still try pass in stupid places 
