Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: This is a Photograph of Me

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  • Islander,

    O, and a quite large percentage of that $21billion odd actually heads overseas (hotel chains with overseas owners, and campervan companies, ditto, to give but 2 examples.)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    You take your life into your hands every time you get in the car, too. Cycling is not a special death-defying feat.

    Yup, it should be approached with the same caution, and a higher duty of care to others.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Hot tip for all cyclists btw: I got a handlebar mirror a few weeks ago and it's greatly improved my rides around town. When the ambient noise level is high, quiet modern cars or trolleybuses can sneak up behind and catch you completely unawares, but no more, now I have a mirror.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    chris, I'm sure your tongue is sticking through your cheek when you write

    i need better camouflage.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    it should be approached with the same caution, and a higher duty of care to others.

    Not sure if this is referring to cycling or driving...? I would expect that anyone using a public road ought to strive for the highest possible care for others, regardless of their mode of transport or the degree of damage they could potentially inflict upon other road users.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Yup, when I'm pedaling at normal road speed up New North Road, ...care to others.

    Yeah but nah.That lane becomes parking at 6.00pm, well, in Kingsland anyway. I got the honk for parking at 6.15 by a scrappy lil' sports car wanting to overtake all traffic on the centre lane, which brings me back to my point, that being, even the cars get a hard time on New North Rd. It's not all just about the cyclist Sam. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Yeah but nah.That lane becomes parking at 6.00pm, well, in Kingsland anyway.

    Sorry for editing that angrypost out prior to your response - although IMO nothing of value was lost... :)

    To clarify, I meant a particular point on New North Road going east, by the Dominion Road underpass, where the cyclelane goes straight across the mouth of a turnoff that leads to Ian McKinnon Drive. Because it's not a sharp turn, cars often gradually drift across the cyclelane at 50k or so - without watching for cyclists who have the right of way in the cyclelane before turning...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    .Sorry for editing that angrypost out prior to your response - although IMO nothing of value was lost... :)

    Phew! thought I was really stoned or something ;) and yes, no loss. That bit o' road houses a few dangerous people too on skateboards.Known to lurk and attempt to rob my friends.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Not sure if this is referring to cycling or driving...?

    Driving. Soz. Cycling's not that much of a danger to others. It should be approached with a lot of care for yourself, a big part of that is empathy with the other people on the road. See it their way, and live.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • JackElder,

    When the ambient noise level is high, quiet modern cars or trolleybuses can sneak up behind and catch you completely unawares,

    The Prius dilemma. This is quite an issue for the designers of electric or hybrid cars, because people are used to telling where cars are by listening out for an internal combustion engine. One of the near-unconscious checks you do when deciding whether it's safe to step out into the road is to listen and see if you can hear anything. I had a mate who had an early generation Prius back in 2004 who reckoned it was bloody murder in supermarket carparks, because at low speeds the electric engine is very stealth, and people kept stepping out in front of him without looking.

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Maybe they could add to the Prius a rotten egg smell, like they do to gas.

    "Did you just fart?"
    "No, LOOK OUT!"

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Urquhart,

    I had a mate who had an early generation Prius back in 2004 who reckoned it was bloody murder in supermarket carparks, because at low speeds the electric engine is very stealth, and people kept stepping out in front of him without looking.

    Which is why you become very vigilant for such and very courteous with giving right-of-way as a Prius driver (or should, can't really speak for anyone but myself, been driving one for a similar period).

    More of a problem is the bloody great blind spots to the left & right rear, exactly where a vehicle in the parking row behind might be pulling out. Had a couple of close calls.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2009 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Maybe they could add to the Prius a rotten egg smell, like they do to gas.

    That smell occurs naturally - it's caused by the smug cloud that develops around all Prius-type vehicles.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    One of the near-unconscious checks you do when deciding whether it's safe to step out into the road is to listen and see if you can hear anything.

    ...the electric engine is very stealth, and people kept stepping out in front of him without looking.

    Big issue for blind people - seriously.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Urquhart,

    That smell occurs naturally - it's caused by the smug cloud that develops around all Prius-type vehicles.

    Actually I'm pretty sure they spray it in from an aerosol or something during the annual service.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2009 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Must be something to do with the CFC's in the aerosol.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Simple solution. Give 'em all an artificial V8 sound grrrRRRrrr phutt phutt.
    That'll go down well out West.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Amusing concept. When will GM realize that the Chinese already use electric vehicles on a massive scale? My own electric bike is Chinese, and that kind of thing retails at about $500NZ, probably much less in China. Not to mention the standard safety bicycle, which is a great old idea, and very cheap, space efficient, emission free.

    They aren't gonna go for it. Americans might, though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Amusing concept. When will GM realize that the Chinese already use electric vehicles on a massive scale?

    Looks like a tarted-up Segway to me.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Looks a helluva lot less prone to people falling off the thing -doors! Good move!- than the Segway - which seems to have died as a mass-mover (and wasnt that its stated purpose?)

    Electric bikes (which can be pedalled I understand?) and small electric cars sound* like the way future city traffic should go.

    O, wait- what about all those massive roads being built or contemplated? Well, I suppose there will be a MARKET for people to dig 'em up and - somehow - recycle the aggregate, bitumen, and concrete...

    *I have empathy for people who are blind: it shouldnt be too difficult to have a low but distinct chirrup emanating from 'silent' vehicles?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Electric bikes (which can be pedalled I understand?)

    There's many configurations. Some are basically a push bike with a bonus motor and battery (like mine). Others are basically a scooter (I have one of those too). Having owned the former kind for a few years, I think the idea is good, but now I'm actually pedal fit enough to just find it limiting, and have gone back to just a decent pushbike. The scooter kind was something I tried, but in Auckland they just don't have enough range, and they're a real bugger if you pull up short. What then? Push the damned thing home? Mine has pedals, but no gears, better than pushing, but still a real grind. Got caught a couple of times and decided that this was not a solution for a hilly town. But for a big flat city, or for urban dwellers, it could be perfect. But, OTOH, so could a pushbike. The electric appeals to old people and people who don't want to get all sweaty.

    it shouldnt be too difficult to have a low but distinct chirrup emanating from 'silent' vehicles?

    The silence factor is tricky - balancing silence danger and noise pollution. Pushbikes are dead silent. An electric with a brushed motor (the cheapest, most common kind) has a very distinctive sound when it's straining, but goes back to silent when it's coasting along at top speed. Brushless motors, however are very silent. They are also the most efficient, and can naturally take advantage of regenerative braking, so they are really the motors of the future. My scooter (also Chinese) has one, and it's freakishly silent. But it also has other safety features like a loud horn, a bright headlight, indicators (which also make an annoying beeping sound), mirrors, etc. It even has an alarm with a remote. Quite a cool device, not bad for $300, but I actually have no use for it. My size is a real problem, it's designed for people under 80kg really.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I have unusual hearing (I can hear pushbike-tyres on tarmac) but I agree, the noise pollution factor could be a problem...

    And, "under 80kg"? There goes any incentive for me to buy one for round-town (e.g. Oamaru) use- and for almost all my family except the small & growing ones-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    I generally use my firearms licence for situations that require non specific photo ID, which does sometimes weird out the people who ask for ID as it generally is when I'm being a tourist somewhere. Sure beats the national ID card they have forced upon selected groups of migrants (I think ancestry and partner visas so far) to the UK

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Oamaru is a pretty small town, so it might be OK, actually. Depends how far out in the sticks you are. Mine pushes me along, it just doesn't give the range that it would to a smaller person. Some of the scooters would do just fine, if you don't want to pedal. You're lucky to be down that way, most of the electric bikes and scooters for sale in NZ are in Christchurch.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    BenWilson -thanks for the info.

    We're midtown - but there are some grunty hills between us and Thames Street- and an awful lot of tourist traffic...

    I havent driven in CHCH - and here's me, big people-mover Mitsubishi L400- since 2007-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

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