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Melissa_Theuriau
Vorb Newsreader
Joined: Mar 22, 2006
Posts: 2,149
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 Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 11:12am Post subject: Cycling Advocates Call For Full Review Of Cycle Accident |
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The Cycling Advocates Network (CAN) is distressed at the serious injury of a cyclist at the K2 cycle challenge, in which the behaviour of a ute driver resulted in a cyclist colliding with a milk tanker.
CAN spokes person Stephen McKernon says "we are especially appalled at the attitude and comments of Police Inspector Earle McIntosh. He appears to believe the cyclists were 'using the road as if they owned it'. It is a completely inappropriate and unwise comment given the behaviour of the ute driver, the injury to the cyclist and potential dangers for the milk tanker and its driver. He is clearly siding with the ute driver's account and endorsing extremely dangerous driver behaviour."
"The Road Code states the ute should not pass the cyclists until it is completely safe to do so. This does not just mean safe for the ute, it means safe for all vehicles in the vicinity," comments McKernon.
"Drivers must get used to the idea they don't own the road, and have to share it in safety with other road users, including cyclists and milk tankers. Obviously Police officers need to get used to this idea as well."
CAN calls for Inspector Earle McIntosh's role in the investigation to be reviewed and the appointment of a new senior officer with a better understanding of the Road Code's provisions for cycling.
"There are 1.274 million cyclists in New Zealand, or about a third of the population. Drivers and cyclists must learn to share the road in safety," says McKernon "and the Police must learn to enforce this appropriately".
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Oli
Mangled
Joined: Aug 03, 2005
Posts: 32,945
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 11:15am Post subject: |
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Hear hear. Good stuff, CAN.
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slidecontrol
Thrashed
Joined: Apr 09, 2007
Posts: 1,514
Location: I used to have tourettes, now I'm rolf harris
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 11:27am Post subject: |
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+1 
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xcmtb
Flogged
Joined: Aug 01, 2007
Posts: 2,743
Location: Gangstaville (Manurewa)
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 11:29am Post subject: |
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Have the Police seen this? If they haven't, they should. 1/3 of all police officers are cyclists too, surely some of them would have thoughts on this.
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Fergie
Wrecked
Joined: Jun 04, 2006
Posts: 5,340
Location: Christchurch
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 11:49am Post subject: |
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That being said when I rode Round Lake Brunner last year riders were riding all over the road and were quite indignant at my suggestions that it would be safer for everyone if we kept left. I am sure everyone is quite upset about this crash but we have to make sure emotion is not clouding our judgements when reporting what happened.
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Lozz
Worn
Joined: Oct 03, 2006
Posts: 909
Location: Tuahiwi/Dunedin
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 12:17pm Post subject: |
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True, bunches can get pretty sloppy at times but that doesnt make it acceptable to weave a 2 tonne piece of tihs weapon into ppl
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Fergie
Wrecked
Joined: Jun 04, 2006
Posts: 5,340
Location: Christchurch
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 12:51pm Post subject: |
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True, but share the road goes both ways.
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Spokes
Wrecked
Joined: Nov 13, 2005
Posts: 5,784
Location: Skyway
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 1:14pm Post subject: |
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Gotta feel for the tanker driver though. Hope the rider comes right.
I heard the comment from the Police on the radio this morning. I think a complant to the PCA is in order.
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happybaboon
Mangled
Joined: Feb 06, 2002
Posts: 28,784
Location: doing skiddds
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 1:22pm Post subject: |
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That cop sounds like an epic chump.
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skeletor
Flogged
Joined: Oct 20, 2006
Posts: 2,498
Location: Slapping Squirrels
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 1:57pm Post subject: |
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These public servants should perhaps be a little more understanding towards all the people involved. Everyone is supposed to have a fair hearing yes? The driver of the ute sounds like a pillock, road users are tax payers in all forms so equally have the right to be there. We've all said this before, 100kg (approx) mass vs 2000kg odd? The ratio for reponsible behaviour is pretty heavy on the vehicle user. Cyclists are unpredictable, do weird stuff at times etc. but are still the most vulnerable part of the equation and respecting that personal space bubble is imperative. The truck driver will be utterly mortified, pulled into a situation he was not intentionally part of. Sounds rather reminiscent of a certain accident in Upper Hutt some months back? Oh wait, Was that not a police officer killed then? Yeah, it was. I think Inspector desk jockey needs to get out more and perhaps see that we are not just a bunch of hippies out smelling the air and wombling about. He would be screaming bloody murder if it had been a friend or family member.
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speedystu
Dusty
Joined: Jun 17, 2008
Posts: 66
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 2:21pm Post subject: |
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Interesting to read the various opinions in this post. I have been with the race doctor in the Benchmark series for a couple of races. There have been very clear instructions re staying left at all times especially when there are double yellow lines on the road and we remain very concerned at what might happen when cyclist go all over the road as they inevitably do, particularly in a cross wind as they echelon. As cyclists we are super vulnerable and in a car or truck versus cyclist collision we will always come off second best.
Many NZ drivers consider a bunch or a race etc as a huge impediment to their essential progress and react very badly when confronted by this "nuisance" on the road.
In Europe they stop and watch!
We need far better driver education but also cyclists do need to act responsibly particularly when bunching up in big groups at the bottom of a climb and also in cross winds.
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Fergie
Wrecked
Joined: Jun 04, 2006
Posts: 5,340
Location: Christchurch
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 2:44pm Post subject: |
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Well said Stu. The level of officiating in Canterbury is very high and we live in constant fear of not being able to run road races if riders constantly ride on the wrong side of the road. At Brunner I was part of a very large bunch that on a Public Highway was taking up both sides of the road with people attacking going into blind corners. Racing was nearly stopped by Police at Road Nationals in Wanganui because riders (who were given pretty clear instructions on obeying road rules) were all over the place in strong cross winds. In Canterbury 3-4 races get stopped a year because riders fail to folow simple instructions and think their race entry gives them special rights. Common sense is 100kg rider and bike vs 2 tonne motor vehicle is going to end worse for one no matter who is at fault. We got a report today of a rider in Bike HQ gear running red lights. We will be speaking to him. This sort of thing does our case no good and turns ignorant drivers into aggressive ones.
Was there a traffic management plan for K2 to assist motor vehicles to pass large bunch's? When running races like Hamner to Christchurch we had plans to assit cars getting past bunches on the main Highway.
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RussS
Ridden
Joined: Aug 11, 2006
Posts: 164
Location: Hamilton, NZ
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 4:39pm Post subject: |
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| speedystu wrote: | | We need far better driver education but also cyclists do need to act responsibly particularly when bunching up in big groups at the bottom of a climb and also in cross winds. |
Very well said. I could expand a lot on driver education in other countries, but quite frankly driver education here is parc.
Now about cyclists and behaviour - some education is needed there too. Last year I was fishing up the top of the Coromandel and was coming back when K2 was on. Came up to a bunch that was 3 and sometimes up to 5 riders wide - had to wait about 3 1/2 K until there was an opportunity to pass. Several passing opportunities were available but the riders were right out on the centre line and passing would have been dangerous. A couple people in Mercs or Beemers tried to pass, but my van moving out discouraged them - why they wanted to pass when they could not see exactly what was in front of me is easy to understand - ssip poor driver ed.
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OnnoG
Worn
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Joined: Nov 28, 2007
Posts: 689
Location: Inside the drum & base swindle
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 4:43pm Post subject: |
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Sad news about the crash, all the best for a speedy recovery, at least he sounds alive in that report, that’s very positive after being hit by a car.
Riding the roadie in Chch amongst traffic = a low form of suicide. Commuting to work in town = DEATH, so that’s a definite don’t do  .
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graham
Ridden
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Joined: Sep 16, 2003
Posts: 255
Location: Auckland
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| Posted: Sun 2/Nov/08 4:46pm Post subject: |
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Someone who saw this needs to speak up
From talking to various people who did you get a very different sorry to that told in the newspaper.
Its going to be a sad day if this driver gets off scot free like. The paper was pretty much excluding any form of guilt to the driver.
When will people learn. Merge like a zip does not apply when driving pass a bunch
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