Comments for NRMA Motoring Blog

Comment on The diesel price rise by Neal

Neal — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:00:40 +0000

Someone should ping these fuel companies over the price of diesel. It is easier to refine and so costs less to make, I’m also beeting taxes are less. These companies should be taken to task. Does anyone know the amount of taxes diesel attracts?

Comment on Does a dropping road toll mean our roads are getting safer? by Frank

Frank — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:03:47 +0000

‘just more a little upset that I nearly got wipped out by some idiot’ - this is no surprise as a vast majority of motorists on our roads have no idea how to drive.

It is but a miracle that more people do not die more often on our roads. Actually maybe not a miracle, possibly a great tradgedy. That said - Motorcyclists are completely in control of their own destiny however, they must always be on edge lest the single celled brains of Sydney motorists would destroy them.

Remember using an indicator takes brain power and will.

Sadly Kim, you haven’t reduced your carbon footprint. Motorcycles pollute more than modern cars - they simply use less fuel but do not benefit from the number of engine advancements afforded to cars.

Comment on NSW fine revenue figures by Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:20:27 +0000

I’ve been photographed twice in the same day at the Cleveland St, Moore Park ‘trap’.

Try as I have, I couldn’t find any other 40/50 zones (school times / off times) on a main arterial road like Cleveland St.

Even in heavily built-up areas (with parking & high pedestrian crossing) like Ashfields Liverpool St, it’s a 60 zone out of school hours.

Comment on The worst of motorcycling on Australian roads by Gary Schuster

Gary Schuster — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:11:24 +0000

To Ken Travers,
I have had a marvellous time being a Member of the Metropolitan Scooter Club Sydney in the Years from 1959 - 1963.
I do remember us meeting each Sunday morning 9:00am on Martin Place, to go to many nice places. We did have lots of fun at this time. I was riding a Heinkel Tourist. Still have Photos from this time.
I’m writing this from Berlin Germany and I’m full of memories.
By accident I did read all the blogs from the NRMA. I would like to get in contact of some of the former Members of the Club if possible!
Gary Schuster

Comment on The holiday road toll by Roy Ratcliffe

Roy Ratcliffe — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:30:13 +0000

While Allen Evans should look more at what causers the “accidents”

If divers followed the following guidelines accidents would decrease dramatically ,There is no such thing as a Dangerous road if drivers obeyed some basic rules only dangerous drivers.

Unfortunately most of the comlaining drivers have been brought up to expect to be able to drive at whatever speed and conditions they want

If the Following were followed
1: Drive to road,traffic and weather conditions
2:Don’t drive if they have alchohol in the blood
3:Don’t drive with Drugs in the System
4:Don’t drive While tired
5: Don’t drive too long ,particularly after work but take frequent Breaks
IF these rules were followed the road fatalities would decrease dramaticarly

In closing Allen should go back to the country of his ancestors and see the roads they drive on ,many of them the width of one of our lanes

Comment on Does a dropping road toll mean our roads are getting safer? by Kim

Kim — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:44:07 +0000

I don’t know if it’s making them safer at all but I do think that Motorcycles should pay have the toll fare to cars as there’s half the wear and tear on the roads and half of all those other things that our wonderful dollars pay for when we pay tolls (most likely being to line the pockets of the MD’s and CEO’s of the company owners). The cost of toll roads and the number of toll roads in NSW is extortionate and in some areas there is no real choice but to use these roads as all other roads become inaccessible and the cost of tolls costs me more per week than it does to fill up my car so I’ve gone to 2 wheels to make things more economical (as well as reducing my carbon footprint) and I find that although I’m not spending much on petrol, the tolls make things a little less affordable at the end of the month.

I also think that there should be Motorcycle lanes on roads as people in cars do not look out for people on two wheels (especially in peak hour) and tend to change lanes without looking or indicating their intention to change lanes. Riding on two wheels for finacial as well as environmental reasons has left me at the risk of others and their laziness. It’s not that difficult to indicate and it’s not that difficult to indicate an intention to lane change. In fact, I’m pretty sure that when everyone is taught to drive they are taught that these things are essential parts of driving and not just common courtesy (indicating) but the law.

Enough of a rant from me, I’m just more a little upset that I nearly got wipped out by some idiot in peak hour who decided to suddenly change lanes because mine was going faster (by about 2km per hour) without indicating, looking or considering that if I have to stop suddenly, the only thing I have protecting me is clothing & a helmet rather than a metal frame and casing and air bags and yet I have to pay the same tolls/taxes etc. as everyone else. I think riders should be paid some drivers tax dollars as a bonus (or danger money) each year they survive on the roads.

Comment on LPG vs. Petrol by Wayne

Wayne — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:32:12 +0000

My first LPG car was purchased in 1988, a 2nd hand XC Falcon ($4000) that took our family of six (I had a seat for one of the kids fitted between the two front seats) to holidays in SA, VIC and QLD until I got a company car in 1993. I next had an LPG Nissan Patrol in 2000 and last year traded it on a new Toyota Hi-Ace with LPG. I’m just about to get a second car (Toyota Tarago) on LPG. The only downside in using LPG for the last 20years has been the slow rollout of LPG service stations in NSW. Unlike the unfortunate person in the previous blog, I haven’t had any mechanical issues with my vehicles and I predict that I have done over 500,000kms using LPG. FYI, when I first started using LPG in ‘88 it was 30c. per litre in Sydney and 22c. per litre in Melbourne! Victoria was way ahead of NSW in LPG usage in the eighties. Modern LPG systems use gas injection similar to fuel injection and the Hi-Ace and Tarago start on ULP and automatically change over when the engine has run for approximately 2 minutes. They tell me that this helps the engine to start and run smoothly.

Comment on The worst of motorcycling on Australian roads by Gar Schuster

Gar Schuster — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:21:13 +0000

Dear Ken,

my name is Gary Schuster and I’m writing this from Berlin Germany.
By accident I found this blog with you writing about your trip around Australia on your scooter.

I started with you, but had to leave you around Mackay as I had to start working on a sheep station in Queensland.
I remember that we had lots of rain up there at the time.

It is all so long ago, but my memories are still very often in Australia. One of my brothers is now for about 55 years living in Australia in Umina near Gosford. We are each week in contact by E-Mail and phone.

I still remember us meeting on Sunday morning at Martin Place to go on tour. I had a Heinkel, colour black and white.

But if you like to talk a bit about old times send me please your phone number on an E-Mail.

I’m now 73 but still in good condition, as we have seen last I was 32. I still got a few Photos from this time.

My E-Mail is: eschu14057@gmx.de

Comment on Hybrid vehicle update by Al

Al — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:34:54 +0000

Why have LPG prices also remained high when the wholesale price (Saudi) has recently halved over the past 4 months. Even if you take into account the US-AU$, the buy price has still gone down 30% and I haven’t seen this drop reflected at the pump.?!? More pressure please.

Comment on NSW fine revenue figures by Liz

Liz — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:37:02 +0000

RE: Geoff Sirmai Says: May 9th, 2008 at 12:14 pm

Would you mind letting us know how you went?

I have been caught at the same spot doing 63km. Who would have thought that that strip of Cleveland Street is 50Km/h.

Anzac Pde joined to that part of Cleveland Street is 70km/h and further that part of the street is not even residential. Why is it 50km and where are the signs?

Any ideas?