The Stuff.co.nz Thread..

[swtchbckr]

Sad thing is it could set a precedent as a defence for people taking out cyclists with their doors

pray that doesnt happen.

in this case tho, from all the accounts i've read it sounds like he was standing next to his door and she basically collided with him and went under the truck, is that how other's have read it? in which case, its not really him 'using' his door, its just dumb bad luck. Also, an australian witness from a few days ago in the court proceedings said words to the effect that she was heading for a crash, something about the way she was riding, headphones on, weaving back and forth...??? all very sad tho

[nostromo]

Sad thing is it could set a precedent as a defence for people taking out cyclists with their doors

pray that doesnt happen.

in this case tho, from all the accounts i've read it sounds like he was standing next to his door and she basically collided with him and went under the truck, is that how other's have read it? in which case, its not really him 'using' his door, its just dumb bad luck. Also, an australian witness from a few days ago in the court proceedings said words to the effect that she was heading for a crash, something about the way she was riding, headphones on, weaving back and forth...??? all very sad tho

Pretty much my reading of it

[Simonius_Titius]

The Road Code mentions that cyclists do have the option to pass on the left in traffic queues.

Interestingly the witness who before the crash said she was riding dangerously later remembered that she was wearing an iPod and that Becker was talking on a cellphone. No ipod was found, and records proved the cellphone was not used.

He also mentioned a front basket. I removed a hook-on basket from my flatmates hybrid bike, which miraculously allowed both the gears and the brakes to work again.


Cyclist's Action Network have said that Becker is completely innocent and the road design is the guilty party.
The video shows how dangerous the road is.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/case-against-motorist-thrown-4709882

[Crashed]

Here's another angle ,If he drove along Tamaki Drive and parked on the corner just past Kelly Tarltons he must of overtaken her so he would have seen her and known that there was a cyclist heading his way . She would have been on Tamaki Dr right form town so he must of passed her at some point .

1. Did the door open itself? if not who/what opened it ?

2. Was his hand still on the Door ? or was he going to leave it open?

3. Was it his car? was he the one who parked it there ?

He was still in charge of the car because he had not closed the door and lock the car .....He was still using the car !!

Here's the sad part ,if he manned up for his Actions all he would of got was a slap with a wet bus ticket, as we all know that 's par for taken out a cyclist

[Klarkash-ton]

The Road Code mentions that cyclists do have the option to pass on the left in traffic queues.

the current NZTA page http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/cyclist-code/about-cycling/rules.html doesn't state this.

an additional linked page http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/cyclist-code/about-cycling/cyclist-responsibilities.html#keep-left contains this statement:

Pass other vehicles safely

When passing moving vehicles, pass on the right unless lanes allow passing on the left, or when other vehicles are turning right. Hang back if you see a truck turning left, because cyclists are often not seen by truck drivers.

When riding past queues of stationary or slow moving vehicles, your visibility will be reduced and turning cars may not see you. Slow down and be particularly careful when there is a gap in the queue - the driver leaving the gap may have left it for a turning vehicle.

"lanes"? I don't know what constitutes a lane, but my guess is filtering on the left is not allowed unless there are painted lane markers. I also doubt this means passing on the right is ok in a double lane situation (i.e passing between two lanes of stationary traffic heading in the same direction).

some interesting lines

Thank other road users when you can. For example, let them know you are happy they waited for you by waving, smiling, or giving them a ‘thumbs up’.

or the section on "what drivers want cyclists to know" which contains this:

Drivers expect cyclists to obey the road rules and to be courteous, ie using hand signals and not cycling through red traffic signals.

interesting.

[Klarkash-ton]

just after posting the above message I found the pdf of the web page, and possibly more. However it has this disclaimer!

Disclaimer
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has endeavoured to ensure the material in this
document is technically accurate and reflects legal requirements. However, the
document does not override governing legislation. The NZTA does not accept
liability for any consequences arising from the use of this document. If the user of
this document is unsure whether the material is correct, they should make direct
reference to the relevant legislation and contact the NZTA.

so I guess it's not the 'official' laws, even though it is published by the government and called the "official NZ code for cyclists"...

ffs

[swtchbckr]

Thank other road users when you can. For example, let them know you are happy they waited for you by waving, smiling, or giving them a ‘thumbs up’.

i been doing this a lot lately -- figure its good driver/biker relations...

[Klarkash-ton]

I agree totally Certainly on the paekak hill road drivers seem to have become more civil after three years of me waving cheerily to them

however I am currently looking for a similar sentiment for drivers in the main road code

Interesting in the main road code there is this line:

What drivers would like cyclists to know

Drivers expect cyclists to obey the road rules.

no mention of red lights

NB: the main road code has the same disclaimer as the road code for cyclists.

[swtchbckr]

Idaho has the right idea for cyclists and red lights. Treat a Red Light like you would a Stop sign, ie, if its clear, you can cross, and a Stop sign like you would a Give Way, ie, roll up, if its clear, keep rolling (no need for compulsory stop). its enshrined in their state law. I've been abiding by it recently on Salisbury St since the Central City is closed, the traffic on Durham, Colombo, Manchester and Madras is quiet i just cannot see the point in sitting there waiting for a green. I realise this probably annoys a few drivers, but i hope that they can see my point while they're sitting there and nothing is crossing their paths... gives me a better chance of catching the green lights later too...

[happybaboon]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=10783518
This is just about the most retarded thing you will read this week.

Piri Weepu feeding his baby out of a (gasp!) bottle is somehow anti-breastfeeding? What?

[nostromo]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10783518
This is just about the most retarded thing you will read this week.

Piri Weepu feeding his baby out of a (gasp!) bottle is somehow anti-breastfeeding? What?

Perhaps it didn't occur to those dipshits it could be expressed milk in that bottle? I fed our kids plenty of times in the night to give my exhausted wife a break.

[happybaboon]

Or that the positive role model Piri was providing for young dads by caring for his kid and being in an anti-smoking ad FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR outweighed the "negative" impact of feeding his kid out of something that wasn't a boobie. I have half a mind to send that organisation a very angry email. Its as if they think that their cause is somehow the only one that matters.

[znomit]

Or that the positive role model Piri was providing for young dads by caring for his kid and being in an anti-smoking ad FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR outweighed the "negative" impact of feeding his kid out of something that wasn't a boobie. I have half a mind to send that organisation a very angry email. Its as if they think that their cause is somehow the only one that matters.

Hmmm, you would have to ask a breast nazi if its better for non smoking dad to formula feed or smoking mum to breast feed.

[jo]

While I have the same opinions as most of you, the way I read the article is that the ad wasnt pulled, just that bit cut for the purposes of avoiding controversy. I can understand that.

[happybaboon]

Cut because a whole bunch of idiot breastfeeding radicals got their panties bunched way too far up their cracks. They should be thankful that Mr. Weepu let cameras follow his family around all day in the interests of displaying very positive parenting attributes (including feeding his kids, even if it was out of a bottle), rather than getting all pissy because it showed a child eating out of a bottle.