Posts by Maz
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Hard News: Narcissists and bullies, in reply to Hebe,
"Thank you to all the men in the thread recognising in their comments the culture change needed."
Hebe, you were exactly right in complaining about the lack of generosity of spirit in the Henrys, JTs and Willies of this world (oh, and most N drivers). This place has it in spades, which makes it a pleasure to frequent.
I think we as men really need to be brave enough to actually talk our sons and other boys, not just grunt and go fishing. It takes real skills to be a human being, and it would seem that too many grow up not learning them.
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Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Chris Waugh,
In my experience, it IS the worst, i.e. I have never felt more unsafe anywhere else.
That doens't make NZ the worst in the world, as I have not been to China, Bulgaria, Timbuktu and many other places.
Nowhere else have a been deliberately swerved at, cursed at, told to f off, had bottles thrown at me, been threatened with violence etc. So yes, in my view NZ has a bloody long way to go. -
Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Chris Waugh,
With all due respect, that Fred Dagg thing is the kind of sentimental claptrap that keeps anything from ever being done, from ever changing for the better.
It also seems to be the standard response to anyone who criticizes anything Kiwi.
There's a lot of things that bug me about Denmark (no "please", no "you're welcome"), and I don't live there anymore, but driving and cycling there is a treat. And yes, I go there and to other European countries every other year or so. But they don't get defensive or tell you to f off to wherever you came from.
NZ is a First World country, and pride ourselves on it, and many things we do better than others. But that shouldn't keep us from having a good, hard look at what we could do better - especially things as glaringly obvious as our traffic issues.
That Wellington, for instance, with a population of less than 300000 should have gridlock every morning and evening is pretty ridiculous.Re China, that may be everybody's nightmare, but I haven't been so can't comment.
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Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Islander,
Nope Islander, I'm very much just one person. So just for the record, I have nothing to do with Moz, nor have I any clue who he/she is.
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Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Stewart,
The point was surely that it was ridiculously easy to get a license, not that all older drivers are bad. Come on!
When I converted my Danish license 12 years ago, I had to sit a written test. The very friendly AA lady pointed out the 4 sheets of test questions AND ANSWERS, that I could buy for a few bucks. I.e. I didn't have to know a thing if my memory was even half alright. And it's multiple choice, for goodness' sake. Not quite like sitting an oral exam with a police officer asking tricky questions. -
Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Matthew Poole,
Just saw this. Sadly a not-atypical attitude, but rather a higher profile on the part of the utterer. I hope it costs his company some business.
He now says it's a joke, and that cyclists need to have a better sense of humour.
We all need a better sense of humour, that's true, but it was hard to spot the humour in his rant, I thought. -
Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Islander,
"I’m sick of the bitching and moaning about NZ’s driving culture. You’re basically saying that most people in NZ are uneducated, uncaring fuckwits. And we aren’t."
"Me too.
There is a road problem and there is - big fat elephant- people from overseas wreaking mayhem (O! not mentioned much eh?) but actually, ANZ drivers are not all that bad-"
Kiwis are very good people, and settling here 12 years ago was easy because of the open and friendly attitude.
But driving here is actually atrocious, and not just from a cyclists point of view. For example, try sitting down at a roundabout for ten minutes and count how many people indicate correctly, and I guarantee it'll be less than 20%. How many people tailgate, change lanes without indicating, drive slowly then speed up once there's a passing lane? The list goes on.
Having driven and or cycled in Europe, Asia, South America, North America, Australia and NZ I can safely say that standards here are the worst I've seen. And it puzzles me :o(
Maybe one reason is that you don't have to take driving lessons from a professional. If your dad/mum/uncle Ted/friend don't know how to drive, how can they teach you? -
Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Matthew Poole,
Hmm, I (possibly :o) stand corrected on NZ figures. Aussie stats cite a 30% reduction in mode share there, and most publications I've read cite 20-40% reduction.
So while it might not be 50% in NZ, I think you'd be wrong to completely disregard the effects of our helmet law. -
Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Russell Brown,
Not quite the same, RB, that's true, but still a question of using all your available means of awareness.
However, while it is sound to scrutinize your own behaviour and habits, I think we as cyclists have a tendency to become too apologetic.
Be courteous, friendly, give a wave, a smile and a thank you, but stand your ground in a debate.To Stewart: Your comment that "sure, it should be recommended", and that not wearing hi-vis is due to stubbornness, seems to indicate that you've not noticed or read any of the arguments against such recommendations?
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Hard News: When "common sense" isn't, in reply to Russell Brown,
Again, sorry to be a pain in the neck devils advocate, but how well do you hear in your car with the radio on?
I too, would not cycle with headphones on - I like taking in everything, and feel like in a cocoon wearing them - but it is the same for motorists.