slidecontrol wrote: my latest interaction with a truck seems to demonstrate that the truckies ( at least the one I encountered this evening ) is that they don't give a toss about anyone.

I was out running this evening, on the footpath and in a well lit area, as i come past the local supermarket a Halls truck swings straight off the road across the foot path and into the supermarket, with little apparent reduction on speed forcing me to back up real fast...

I was not happy about this, and went to the cop shop ( which happened to be next door to the supermarket) only to be given the brush off by some disinterested cop. maybe he was more concerned about making his shift as easy as possible? his words were, "if you had been hit, then we could do something"

my worry here is that the motorists as a group don't give a rats arse and the one group empowered to administer our laws are apathetic ( at least in Hamilton anyway)

It seems that because supposedly minor infractions go on ignored and allowed to continue unabated when the dice finally roll badly the individuals involved have no idea why some one is injured or dead, because they have always driven/ridden that way. ( yes i am getting at cyclists as well)

my sympathy goes out to those who were killed today, and i thank my lucky stars i didn't end up joining them.

Rark the fil;th up, ask for their badge number

don't beat yourself up kiwis. i'm an american ex-pat, and i completely disagree with any notion that kiwis are the worst drivers around cyclists. texas was a nightmare to ride in. i've been assaulted, run off the road, had objects thrown at me and threatened more times than i could even count. it's much better over here. now, that said, there are far better places to ride a bike. I had less trouble in Cairo, Paris, Madrid, or Mexico than I've had here. in fact, spain which has the highest fatality rate in western europe, was an absolute joy to ride around!the problem as i see it , is that this is a car culture with very poor infrastructure, and does not have adequate road space to accomodate cyclists and motorists. i deal with it nearly everyday. I just want to get home to the kids at the end of the day in one piece, and have taken substantial measures to ensure that drivers see me. But they don't. I'm a rolling neon sign, yet they still take my life in their hands.
yes, there needs to be more awareness raised by transport.
but, take heart. you've got alot of other things to worry about. the stats and probabliites are on our side. http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/
godspeed amigos. we're the solution and not the problem.

Terrible news, shite for everyone involved, thoughts for families and friends.

YANKEEHOTELFOXTROT wrote: ...the problem as i see it , is that this is a car culture with very poor infrastructure, and does not have adequate road space to accomodate cyclists and motorists. i deal with it nearly everyday. I just want to get home to the kids at the end of the day in one piece....

I agree, the only hassles I really get are where it's too narrow, otherwise I don't have problems with motorists generally.

With all the waffle about wanting more trips done by bike, walking etc, you'd think a little funding could be found to sort out the worst places to accommodate bikes, the Petone over bridge is just plain dangerous.

Wow, only just caught up with this. What a tragic day

As for the truck drivers, I don't want to get into (or start for that matter) any arguements in this thread - but I think that you'll find that the number of cunzzors driving trucks is exactly the same (percentage wise) as the number driving cars, 4WDs, hell - even riding bikes.

In my experience truckies are accutely aware of exactly how big there vehicles are, much more so than people driving smaller vehicles.

My thoughts to all involved.

I'm both a cycle commuter and work for a freight company.

Most truckies love their job. They take great pains to be as courteous a driver as possible since the last thing they want to happen is to be involved in an accident or hurt somebody. But trucks are not cars and can not be controlled the same way (breaking, turning, de-acceleration, blind spots etc) so other road users have to be aware of this as well.

BUT like any road user category there are bad drivers in the industry. If you have a close call, get cut off, blown off the bike because it was too close etc then the best thing you can do is to call the company the driver works for or is contracted to. Try to talk to the area manager or a person as high up in the chain of command as you can get, telling the receptionist won't get you very far. Don't confront the driver as this will probably just lead to a yelling match, and I doubt the police will do anything unless there was some damage to your bike or person as it will be just your word against the drivers.

If you complain to the company they will listen. You may not hear back from them but the driver will be hauled over the coals and if too many complaints are laid against the same driver then his job / contract is on the line. In fact it will be more then his job since despite the number of trucks on the road the freight business is a "small community" and nobody will want to employ somebody with a reputation of a dangerous driver.

If the phone number is not on the back then the name of the company will be on the drivers door. If you can only see the advertisement on the curtains then phone that business and ask who their freight company is.

Conners wrote: Wow, only just caught up with this. What a tragic day

As for the truck drivers, I don't want to get into (or start for that matter) any arguements in this thread - but I think that you'll find that the number of cunzzors driving trucks is exactly the same (percentage wise) as the number driving cars, 4WDs, hell - even riding bikes.

In my experience truckies are accutely aware of exactly how big there vehicles are, much more so than people driving smaller vehicles.

My thoughts to all involved.

Here, here.

I hear what you're saying Shilo, I'll be giving the Co a call in the morning, no point doing it while I'm mad.

I was in petone a couple of weeks back when a cyclist was hit at the roundabout after dusk and injured. I guess it's the same thing again but with a more unfortunate end result.

The recent crackdown on Bike lights might be a more regular thing now...and rightly so.

Not sure what to say, everyone has said everything...i just feel hollow.
Only a few weeks ago i was part of the Ride of Silence. A ride to remember those killed and injuried on bikes. 12kph all the way down 3 Mile Hill( Dunedin) gives you plenty of time to think and reflect. i know many people injured and 1 guy no longer with us. reasons ranging from 'didn't see you' to poor council procedures leading to failure to follow up on contractors work.

I wonder what the best way to actually raise awareness not just a fluffy campaign that is a half arsed attempt by ACC? as mentioned (bus stops/small print). Daily emails from as many people as possible to LTNZ/local government/council maybe??? Something to FAIRGO/CLOSE UP/60 MINUTES to replace the everso enthrawing 'exclusive' reports on minor life topics.

E Dogg Capizzle asked what the stats were
2006 833 reports accidents involving cyclists with 6 or 8 deaths.

Too many questions....how do we get answers?

CAN's press release out already

Cycling group calls for action on safety
Thursday, 19 June 2008

LATEST: A cycling group is calling for improvements on road design and motorist behaviour following two fatal accidents in the Wellington area today.

Cycling Advocates' Network (CAN) chairman Robert Ibell said the deaths of two cyclists showed that central and local government were not moving fast enough to make roads safer for cycling.

A 61-year-old male cyclist died after falling into the path of a truck outside St Patrick's College in Silverstream, Upper Hutt, at 8.40am today.

Police said it appeared the driver of a parked vehicle had opened his door, and the cyclist crashed into the door, falling into the path of a truck travelling in the same direction.

A 57-year-old cyclist heading northbound from Wellington was killed tonight at the roundabout with the Hutt Road and the Esplanade at the Petone foreshore.

The cyclist and a truck and trailer collided and the man died at the scene.

Police were still investigating how the crash happened.

"Neither of these tragic deaths should have happened," Mr Ibell said.

"In the case of the Petone crash, continuing procrastination by Transit and buck-passing by several other authorities in the Wellington region have meant that the Ngauranga to Petone cycle track is still incomplete.

"Local cyclists have been asking for at least 14 years for something to be done on this route."

Mr Ibell said cyclists had no choice but to share the road space with high speed motor vehicles.

He said there also needed to be more education around driver care around cyclists.

"How many fatalities will it take before something is finally done? We need action on cyclist safety now."

- NZPA

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4589897a10.html

Good work by CAN, and no doubt by Stuff editor and keen cyclist Simon Vita.

I'm just stunned.

If this doesn't bring about a real change from those in the police, land transport and government about the way they educate drivers to genuinely share the road and towards a serious attitude shift in recognising cyclists as legitimate road users then I fear that positive change will never come.

Seriously, everyone email LTSA and any media you can think of. Let's make our voices heard!

By the way, big ups to Thing One for the impetus - thanks Clive.