Cyclists in Aussie
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/82718003/anger-as-truckie-films-himself-deliberately-soaking-cyclists-on-highway'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/82718003/anger-as-truckie-films-himself-deliberately-soaking-cyclists-on-highway</a></p>
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<p>Is it normal and acceptable for cyclists to to ride in a group in a middle lane in Australia?</p>
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<p>I certainly don't condone what the truckie has done but it struck me as bizzare where they were cycling.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="602250" data-time="1470092724">
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/82718003/anger-as-truckie-films-himself-deliberately-soaking-cyclists-on-highway'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/82718003/anger-as-truckie-films-himself-deliberately-soaking-cyclists-on-highway</a></p>
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<p>Is it normal and acceptable for cyclists to to ride in a group in a middle lane in Australia?</p>
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<p>I certainly don't condone what the truckie has done but it struck me as bizzare where they were cycling.</p>
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<p>Fuck I hope the Wellington city council don't see this or else they'll want a cycle lane in the middle of the main drag in Island bay cos apparently one on either side isn't enough. Incidentally I rarely, if ever, see it used but the amount of cars parked there with dings on them has certainly increased.</p> -
I don't see the problem.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="602250" data-time="1470092724">
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/82718003/anger-as-truckie-films-himself-deliberately-soaking-cyclists-on-highway'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/82718003/anger-as-truckie-films-himself-deliberately-soaking-cyclists-on-highway</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Is it normal and acceptable for cyclists to to ride in a group in a middle lane in Australia?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I certainly don't condone what the truckie has done but it struck me as bizzare where they were cycling.</p>
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<p>Because this road isn't classified as motorway, cyclists are allowed to use the road lanes. The story would be different on e.g. the M2.</p>
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<p>Typically you would want the bikes - as the slowest members of traffic - to be in the left lane. That stretch of road is pretty much 80km/h the whole way.</p>
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<p>I can't see exactly where on General Holmes drive they are, but the point about moving into the middle lane when they have the option, rather than being forced to later, means they're less likely to hold up traffic at that point and cause a bottleneck or accident.</p>
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<p>That said, I don't agree with cyclists using any road where they can't really keep up with the maximum speed limit. Realistically a pack of cyclists is going to max out at 50km/h and I understand why they don't want to stick to 50km/h or 60km/h zones - traffic lights and breaks in continuity.</p>
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<p>But shit, in the event where a truck has something fall off the back on an arterial road like this? Carnage.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="602260" data-time="1470095115">
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<p>I don't see the problem.</p>
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<p>Truck driver 1. Cyclist 0.</p>
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<p>Reported to the Police? Lol what are they going to charge him with? Driving through a puddle?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="602260" data-time="1470095115">
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<p>I don't see the problem.</p>
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<p>Generally in NZ it wouldn't be considered acceptable to be driving as a group in the middle lane or outside lane unless about to turn. Hense the question, wondered if considered acceptable in Australia </p> -
<p>I don't have any love for cyclists which I made pretty clear on a thread a few months back.</p>
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<p>However you have to be pretty fucken dumb as a truck driver to do what he did. I think it's safe to say he's not a lunatic who's going to run them down but still, you're asking for trouble putting it on social media and one could argue the cyclists in question are possibly going to feel like they're in danger. ( they can be a rather precious bunch )</p> -
What I don't understand is why cyclists even want to ride like that. A slight clip from vehicles on either side and you're pretty much dead. Ride around a farking park or something.
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<p>OK I've just seen the video start to finish - that piece of road is heading south through the airport tunnel. If the cyclists stayed in the left lane, they're forced to either:</p>
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<p>1) Enter the M5 (which they're not allowed to do)</p>
<p>2) Cross back over a lane of traffic that is in a split option - traffic can exit to M5 or stay on General Holmes Drive down into Kyeemagh and then Brighton-Le-Sands.</p>
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<p>About 200m from the puddle he splashes them with its basically dual carriage streets. So, to answer your question Hooroo: that lane is pretty much their only option IF they're going to road ride south from there.</p> -
They shouldn't have been allowed on that road in the first place. Bloody madness
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="602280" data-time="1470100109"><p>
As a cyclist, I can only say Dickheads all around - on both sides of the camera.</p></blockquote>
<br><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="602448" data-time="1470124286"><p>
They shouldn't have been allowed on that road in the first place. Bloody madness</p></blockquote>
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Agreeing with both posts.<br><br>
Really dislike militant cyclist. Almost as much as I hate dickhead drivers who treat all cyclists like speed bumps.<br><br>
And just because they're allowed on a road doesn't mean they should actually use it. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="602448" data-time="1470124286">
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<p>They shouldn't have been allowed on that road in the first place. Bloody madness</p>
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<p>The issue can't be tagged as lack of cycle infrastructure, really. There are paths, its just that the TdF wannabees don't want to have to dodge families or dogs while they're clocking up km.</p>
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<p>Not really sure what the answer is - the most financially sound one is to let cyclists use roads that only have a certain speed limit. Otherwise, get on a path and respect other users.</p> -
If they were going to work then you might be tempted to cut them some slack but this was nothing more than them trying to simulate dreams of TDF glory that will never be a reality. I can't for the life of me understand why these guys would even want to ride there. A fall is pretty much certain death.<br><br>
Was listening to the radio about this last night and the presenters tried their best to be sympathetic to cyclists but caller after caller absolutely destroyed their arguments.
