Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: Burn fat, not oil

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  • Paul Campbell,

    oh yeah sure "in time for the rugby world cup" has done us really well here in Dunedin, we're $200M in the hole now and counting, counting interest it's going to be more like $400M - $1M a game subsidy for every game played for the next 20 years - it's just an excuse for the good old boys to make more jobs for other good old boys

    If you actually want something done I'd suggest a different slogan ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    I would like to know more about the tanker carrying "urgently needed oxygen" to North Shore Hospital.

    Just how small a buffer does the hospital have, that a fairly typical hold up on the motorway causes this sort of concern?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    For those who mised it on the telly:

    One News

    3 News

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    The Great Ride could start at Tank Farm too, so many "synergies" man!

    Is there still time to get the work included in the clipon strengthening? Or has that already started?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Graham,

    I used to illegally cross the bridge late at night and under the influence, before they put up those pesky motion sensors.

    One night we got in and walked through the clip-ons. Believe me, driving across them these days feels risky, let alone having hundreds of thousands of people walking over them at once.

    I must say, however, the intransigence of Transit NZ (sounds like a nicely ironic turn of phrase to me) with regards to building a walkway/cycleway is such a myopic approach. Instead of - "how can we do it?" - it just gets seen as too hard and too expensive.

    It seems to be a particularly self-evident compelling idea. FFS - make it happen, Wayne. Stop fending us off.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    Chris has an account of how it all happened: Never trust a man with a megaphone.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Nick D'Angelo,

    As I've noted on your Symptoms persist thread, there were indeed some strange decisions made by Transit on the day that (for me) indicate skullduggery. The two clip-on lanes were coned off at 7am, but by 8am they were open to traffic again. As the TV1 footage (see RB's link above) clearly shows, the cyclists intitially headed up the two clip on lanes, but the mass spilled over to the two centre lanes because we were directed that way.

    The police would presumably argue that the centre lanes had to be blocked off for reasons of public safety, but I'd argue that. I doubt anyone would be fool enough to jump into those lanes since we already had the two clip ons , and I doubt any motorists would have veered over the berms to cross into the clip on lanes.

    As we returned back to our starting point many of us wondered even then if the only strategic planning Transit had done was post-event spin: if they do break thru we'll just shut everything down and let the traffic back up and then they'll get no further public support.

    And Leighton Smith is certainly playing his part this morning on that front...

    Simon Laan • Since May 2008 • 162 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    In the meantime, and especially if the leisure foot-and-bike traffic is a larger constituency than the commuter foot-and-bike traffic, could we at least have something like this?

    One of the clip-ons every weekend? Too much to ask?

    Also, I'm thinking Fisherman's Wharf would be ripe for yet another incarnation, this time as a dinner destination for bridge-walkers.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Did anyone else hear David on Radio Live yesterday morning, flushed with civil disobedience?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • David Slack,

    Mark Graham at George gets the media prize. He rang me just as the crowd surged on. Breaking news on a live cross! With actual news!

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    I would like to know more about the tanker carrying "urgently needed oxygen" to North Shore Hospital.

    Just how small a buffer does the hospital have, that a fairly typical hold up on the motorway causes this sort of concern?

    I'm aware that North Shore hospital is a bigger hospital than the one I worked in, but the oxygen that arrives by tanker was for the laundry and the medical grade oxygen came in bottles. As a measure of the vital importance of the supply of oxygen for bleaching laundry, checking to see whether we needed more was deligated to the high school kid who only worked a couple of afternoons a week...

    (Obviously, I could be completely wrong here, but I'd assume that medical oxygen would need to be a in cleaner vessel, and having a tanker devoted to that, well there just doesn't seem the need?)

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Isn't MedOx, even for hospitals, delivered in cylinders that get linked into the distribution system? Large cylinders, to be sure, but cylinders all the same.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    David, you didn't say you had Oram and Torkington there together - asking for it, surely.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    In the meantime, and especially if the leisure foot-and-bike traffic is a larger constituency than the commuter foot-and-bike traffic, could we at least have something like this?

    That's cool. Every city should have something like that - part foot/cycle transit, part street party/market.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    something like this?

    Modelled after Paris and ..... Bogota?!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • Stuart Coats,

    BTW I'm looking out of my window at the hikoi in Aotea Square (well, the bit that isn't a construction site). Looks like a good turn-out considering the condidtions. At least you had a nice day yesterday David!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report Reply

  • Whoops,

    Yay, my 15 month old son and I made the news coverage! woohoo... now if only I could work out how to grab and store the swf file I'll have something to show him in 50 years (when we still won't be able to ride across if LTSA have their way...)


    Well done David.



    ps; cops = awesome. LTSA = halfwits

    here • Since Apr 2007 • 105 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    @Whoops

    DownloadHelper (for Firefox)

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Whoops,

    ta muchly, James.

    here • Since Apr 2007 • 105 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Pictures and my own bit of drivel on the matter.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Those photos warm the cockles of my little anarchistic heart. It's so good to see people not doing what they're told for once, and having fun while doing so.

    People should do that more often.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    If Wayne McD still doesn't get it, maybe a gherao outside the AKL NZTA office would take things further.

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    Or even a bandh.

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

  • Stephen Judd,

    Devil's Advocate question: how does this piece of civil disobedience compare with the truckies' road user tax convoy?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Yes, I know it's pointless and predictable, but I can't resist, so here goes.

    This bunch of selfish,arrogant no brainers need to be taught a lesson by the police who should review all film, media and motorway closed circuit tv and prosecute those shown to be breaking the law.

    I am on crutches and to avoid walking the dangerous footpaths in Devonport, I should walk on the road, taking as long as possible, holding up traffic and expect not to be given an offence notice. A precedent has been set if there are no prosecutions, allowing anybody to walk or cycle on the motorways / roads and ignore warning signs to the contrary situated at the on ramps.

    My British Blue cat has more brain power than all of the protesters combined; this cat knows that the road is for cars and keeps to the footpath. By the way, When the harbour tunnel is designed please incorporate a lane for cyclists and peds, these users will appreciate the fumes, noise and risk of being "collected" while not being subjected to the rain and wind on the harbour bridge.

    Prior to yesterday my opinion of cyclists was .5 of 50, now it has gone to -45. A little throat clearing thru my open passenger window while passing one of these no-brainers will indicate my contempt of their antics. On y'r bikes!

    Perhaps a $1000 fine for every person who walked or cycled the bridge would be a good start to raising the money for their presious walkway? and then maybe a toll booth? nothing better than putting your money where your mouth is.

    Given that the GetAacross spokesman Bevan Woodward has now said that unless they get "their way" there will be bigger and more disruptive protests, their true colours have emerged.

    Their actions smack of nothing more than childish petulance and it's time that they all received a reality check. The protester actions at the weekend were illegal and they should be treated as such, with arrests and prosecutions. But the worst propaganda was the suggestion that "up to two thousand" took part in this illegal activity - any look at the news and camera footage will confirm that this was a gross exaggeration, but of course, Woodward proves that he won't let any facts get in the way of his own political agenda.

    Here we go again. Let us all teach our children to break Laws. Something everyone should remember is the there has to be laws we might not like them but we must abide by them. No wonder we have such a problem in New Zealand.

    There will be suicides, people who jump off the bridge, people who lay infront of cars, people like Maori who want to climb in protest to be on TV, a heart attack victim on his bike who needs an Ambulance Traffic. Disruptions we dont need.

    Stop wasting public money because fools think it a good idea.

    The exisitng lanes are narrow enough now.
    These greenie protesters who are willing to put their children's lives at risk for this cause should front with the cash for this porject. As a motorist I am already paying too much for roading.

    By the way is the Chrildren's commissioner going to look at the use of children as protest shields? Maybe the parents of these children should be interviewed by CYPS to see if they are fit parents? There maybe more than just one issue here?

    It is unbelievable they these people were not arrested. What is wrong with our police?

    Where were the "rentacrowd" when Labour was elected? It seems every time a National government is elected we suddenly see an increase of "civil action". To what end? Surely the death of one protester one of our most busy stretches of highway will be too high a price. Go back to your communes, or better still, get a job.

    Ahhhhhh.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

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