A Wellington businessman who has declared “open season” on cyclists has outraged cycling advocates who say his comments are frightening and dangerous.
David Ware, managing director of publicly listed mobile radio company TeamTalk, wrote an editorial in the latest company newsletter railing against cyclists.
He calls them “sodding road vermin”, “roadkill”, “weasels in Lycra”, and said “it’s time to declare open season”.
“More than anything it’s their unbridled arrogance that gets up my nose.
“Unlike the rest of us they don’t pay road user charges or extra ACC premiums. But in spite of being guests on our roads they think they have some god given right to ride wherever they bloody-well please, whenever they please.”
Ware’s idiocy, in my personal view there is no other apt description, can be contrasted to the recent maiden speech by former cigarette peddler and new National List MP Chris Bishop. I listened to his speech and thought it was a superb piece of drafting. It covered all the bases, at one stage he said things about poverty that I could agree with then with the next sentence he engaged in not very well designed dog whistle to make sure that National’s rabid supporters had something to chew on. Clearly National is trying to monopolise both sides of the political debate and is attempting to be all things to all people while the views of at least some of its supporters are less, shall we say, nuanced.
Ware has some interesting family relationships. His wife is Belinda Milnes, previously appointed by the Government as a Families Commissioner, but who recently quit this role to go and work for Paula Bennett. Coincidentally she is Amy Adams’s sister.
But apparently the decision to employ Ede was not politically inspired. According to Mr Ware “[t]he decision to hire him was mine and mine alone – or to contract him I should say. I can 100 per cent tell you it was not a political decision.”
You have to admire National’s abilities to move people around. From MPs past their use by date to reputedly potential opposition leaders to former public servants whose actions need to be examined.
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“…“Unlike the rest of us they don’t pay road user charges or extra ACC premiums. But in spite of being guests on our roads they think they have some god given right to ride wherever they bloody-well please, whenever they please…”
So much wrong in this statement it hard to know where to start. Cyclists almost always also own cars – and therefore pay road user charges. Bikes don’t pay road user charges because they wear out the roads. Secondly, the road code defines a bike as a vehicle, has no category of “guest vehicle” and the police consider cyclists as drivers (hence the police think they can breath test you on a bike). Therefore, as a vehicle a bike has as much right to use the road as a car, and car has to treat a cyclist exactly as it would any other vehicle – and that includes only passing when safe.
Yes I agree…
…though the twice I’ve been cycling home and joined the queue for breath-testing, the officer picked me out and said “no, you don’t need to”… 🙂 So I didn’t.
But this Ware chap seems an arse. Incitement to violence in those words, too??
It would be quite clear to the cops from many metres away if I were cycling under the influence 🙂
Police resources have limits. Drunk Cycling is not a pressing problem. Most drunks could not actually maintain themselves on a bike. And therein arises the puzzle. Were you really drunk, or just influenced to troll.
Plus Ware hasn’t considered that when someone cycles instead of using their car, there’s less wear on the roads, less pollution, etc – even though most cyclists pay the same for registering their cars, etc.
Not really less ‘wear’ on roads as cars hardly have any effect for roads designed for heavy trucks. Main effect is for car volumes and having to add more lanes etc.
Using your car less is covered by part of ACC fees coming out of petrol tax, ie young males drive more than retired pensioners.
Except they don’t.
I stopped cycling when I was hit by a Land Rover. I stopped motorcycling after numerous incidents. Until there are proper, separate cycleways, biking in high traffic areas is imprudent.
It’s all very well to ask people to drive more carefully, but they won’t.
I remember this. As a regular cyclist I took note of this when it happened
The part that MickeySavage his missed out (intentionally?) is that David Ware finished his newsletter stating that he had just purchased a bike and would let readers know how he would get on,
It was a poor joke. Supposed to be an ironic way of letting people know he had taken up cycling. It was a stupid thing to write, and not funny. But it was reasonably clear to everyone who actually read the whole thing that it was tongue in cheek.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8323890/Businessmans-anti-cyclist-article-ironic
thanks for this j mex
Another thing, everybody pays ACC for their out of work accidents, just that cycling is covered by your normal activities where accidents can occur such as sport.
Spell it peddler or pedlar please.
Perhaps you got confused by the cyclists.
[Obviously! I thought it looked wrong … now corrected – MS]
I do like that one.
Perhaps “budgies in Lycra” is sometimes more accurate?
🙂
haha.
Momentum Consulting (Chair Jenny Shipley) is one of the avenues used to cycle people around. Michelle’s Boag’s Boag Allen can also play a similar role.
The Nats have been excellent a finding a home for people who they want out of the Beehive, whether unfashionable politicians or back-office “operatives”. Peter Goodfellow would also have a significant set of helpful contacts for this purpose.
Now who can find a marketing job for the Brand-Guru who thinks that Labour clashes with Red?
Strange fella that Ware. I once worked alongside him at a company called Databank. Somewhat meek and mild, quiet disposition, but also over-ambitious (like a lot of budding masters of the Universe). An ego busting to get out. And so it’s come to pass.
Of course his disciples will fawn all over his taking an opportunity with the early privatisation of things like 2-way radio communication, and admire him for it. It’s what they do.
Now I see that since he’s made a mill (like so many), we’re ALL expected to fawn all over him – cyclists included. What else doesn’t he like I wonder – I’ll bet it’s things he’d previously never have wanted to own up to.
I wonder if he’s into philanthropy. If he is – he could probably bail out some of his former colleagues (not me btw but a Tichbon or two), ripped royally by those I surmise he now admires.
To me he’s like a case study in how someone comes to be ‘a master of the Universe’ (and of course with a false claim to having been a sel-made M A N)
perhaps he wants to replace bob jones, who eventually must die, as writer of vacuous nonsense for papers?
mmm, well no doubt he could become an advisor on ‘entrEpreneurship’ and how to take risks. I can imagine the spiel now: “Don’t be afraid to fail”; “I’ll be your mentor” (for a fee, AND JUST DON’T RIDE A BIKE!); etc., etc.
I hope he’s figured out a way of taking it all with him.
well said….
lying is in the DNA
He reminds of the flagrante bros from the 90’s nz comedy program, skits.
jones, that is.
I worked along side him to for time too. He was a meek sort of chap. Wildly entertaining at times though.
There is a lot of nonsense in the media. I even heard a right winger spout hardline communism about working setting people free. That there was no dignity in living in a cross supporting society. That individuals would turn out better if they weren’t always maintaining the rest of us. Its not going to be the first time hate speech will be used against a group, this time cyclists, and Police are not called in.
Ware mirrors Slater’s anti-cycling and anti-fitness outlook on life.
How cute that Ede now works for both of them.
Hi,
Just to let you know I’m still enjoying my cycling. Its mostly commuting and the occasional bit of mountain biking.
I’m still sponsoring cycling events around the country – though less than I used to.
And I’m still angry about the way that many cyclists make things difficult for the rest of us by using the road as their personal gymnasiums – and by ignoring road rules etc. I still believe that this behavior winds up motorists and that makes the roads more dangerous for other cyclists.
I enjoy your commentary
Regards
David Ware.
Gets angry about minor breaches of the traffic code.
Employs Jason Ede.
That’s some lovely shiny cognitive dissonance you have there David.
Interesting. You appear to have tied yourself in knots.Are you an anti-cycling cyclist?
Seems strange.
Every been knocked off a bicycle? You’ll experience a very different sort of dissonance.
If nuisance cyclists deserve to be hospitalised what’s the appropriate punishment for abuse of power?
I just don’t like those cyclists that blast around on footpaths, run red lights, cut people off, hog country roads etc etc. I think these people give cycling a bad name and provoke car drivers into doing stupid things.
If you’ve ever cycled in Europe you will see that motorists respect cyclists because cyclists respect the road code.
If someone wishes to be in charge of a ton or two of high speed metal, they should develop a little self control. I take responsibility for my own acts. I do not blame provocateurs. It’s part of being an adult.
Interesting how these fiercely independent Tories up on their personal responsibility hobby horses can always instinctively point to a scapegoat to blame.
I couldn’t agree more with you Murray. And I’m sure you will agree with me when I say that not all roard users have your degree of self control. I’m therefore surprised that you don’t think that there are some idiots in cars who get wound up by stupid cyclists.
There is a real problem with road user behaviour and people are getting maimed as a result. I’ll make no apologies for speaking out about it.
And Tom what’s so your problem with road safety – since when did attacking cyclists become Comintern Policy?