Posts by Lilith __
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Southerly: One Hundred and Thirty-one…, in reply to David Haywood,
Having criticized our skinny cycle lanes in Christchurch, I would still much prefer them to no cycle lanes at all. My personal experience (not a scientific study) is that motorists often become enraged when they perceive that cyclists are on their territory, i.e. on the road. By having a ‘declared’ cyclist territory this appears to have a beneficial psychological effect upon Christchurch motorists
+1
But I have to say it makes me boggle when I look at the width of the cycle lane, and see those ads telling motorists to keep 1.5m between themselves and cyclists, and for cyclists to keep 1.5m between themselves and the doors of parked cars. Where are all these spare metres hiding?? It's like the cycle lane is some kind of Tardis!
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In my Uni days (many years ago now) I used to wear long, flowing, brightly-coloured satin and velvet garments while riding my bike. This was partly because I liked wearing them anyway, and partly because I figured motorists were more likely to notice me and therefore less likely to hit me. O'course, they may have been more likely to hit other things. :-)
Wear what you want.
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Southerly: One Hundred and Thirty-one…, in reply to Alice Ronald,
Changing into lycra is quite simple and quick:
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Southerly: One Hundred and Thirty-one…, in reply to Megan Wegan,
David talking to Kathryn.
(And sounding So. Freaking. Clever)
Not AGAIN! ;-)
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Southerly: One Hundred and Thirty-one…, in reply to BenWilson,
For Chch, I have to ask: Were bikes handy immediately after the quakes? They’re not going to get bogged down, or stuck in a crack, and you can walk them through any ruined areas.
Yes, bikes could get around some obstacles more easily (and clogged up the roads less, which was important given the number of emergency service and repair vehicles trying to get around). But I found that biking was almost too exciting, given the sheer number of hazards, many of which were hard to see, like dips and bumps in the road. Plus navigating around incredibly slippery silt and puddles of raw sewerage. The roads here in the East are still fairly challenging on a bike. The council’s done a huge amount of work, but the road surfaces are far from smooth.
An absolutely brilliant time to redo the roads with dedicated cycle paths and crossings! Crossings are an important part of the cycling infrastructure. If you have to get off your bike and be a pedestrian to cross roads, it’s really offputting.
And shower facilities which someone meintioned upthread are vital, too. Anyone with a job where they need to be well-presented will need to have a wash and change. I have a nephew in London who cycles to a train station which has a bike lock-up with shower facilities, has his morning shower and shave, gets into his office clothes, and has breakfast on the train en route to work.
Waterproof gear makes life much easier in the rain (or if it's very cold), but it does make one perspire more. Also proper mudguards are a must, if you don't want your face and bottom drenched!
I splashed out and bought some proper panniers last year and it was some of the best money I ever spent. It makes SUCH a difference not to have to carry a backpack. So much more comfortable.
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Hard News: Three months after, in reply to Kyle Matthews,
it’s largely not going to be knocking the buildings down that is going to take a crapload of time
In some cases, it is. High-rise buildings in the CBD need to come down before anything can be done in the surrounding area. There are plenty of buildings that are basically fine but can’t be accessed or used until those highrises come down. the prospect of waiting up to a year for that to happen is pretty grim.
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Speaker: Bad Aid: How Murray McCully is…, in reply to Andrew E,
It seems to me Terence that your last post is a good draft of a counterblast to McCully’s op-ed. I think you should phone the Dom Post op-ed editor and offer them an article.
+1
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This is an important matter, thanks for writing it up, Terence.
Why is it that so many Ministers in the current government seem allergic to expert advice or evidence? (Anne Tolley and National Standards springs immediately to mind, but there are plenty of other examples) They think that some uninformed idea they happen to randomly think up will be better than the ideas of experts in the field.
So depressing. And I sympathise with this placard.
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Hard News: Three months after, in reply to Islander,
And anyone in NZ who doesn’t have a full civil defence emergency kit, or who has an unreinforced brick chimney – get it sorted. You could be very glad you did!
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Hard News: Three months after, in reply to Hebe,
That last paragraph is rather chilling, and perhaps not very helpful:
As hard as it is we just have to wait a little longer. In many ways this is probably the calm before the storm, a storm which I suspect is likely to fall upon us in the depths of a long, cold, Canterbury winter. All the more reason to hold the ones you love close, do the things you enjoy best, and try as hard as you can to keep the faith that we must be in for brighter days to come.
Something else we have to be frightened of? Oh great.