This is obviously a stir up that has been blown right out of context. I can't believe the deep seated hatred and nasty comments that cyclists have left on the website that started this. Naming this mans children off, where he lives, where he takes his kids for lunch is down right sickening. If you read the ChCh Press you would have seen the appology made and that it was a banter session that has been twisted. Some of the cyclist out there that can't laugh at themselves in jest need to hang their heads in shame. No one in their right mind "nails" cyclists. A little common sense here
Mr Freeman, you're a knob! I used to worry that my 11 year old daughter would accidently fall off her bike through misjudgement - now I have to fear some middle aged arsehole with a hummer thing (wow wee!)is going to hit her because he can't see over the top of the vehicles dash board. And if she turned up to your door to challenge your threats, you could punch her up with your boxing gloves. As for 'nailing cyclists' - yeah right, we're more likley to see you nailed up by your shrinking bollocks!
ps I know exactly where most of the narrow minded pro car people are coming from. I too once a small man syndrome Muppet car enthusiast like this "tough bloke" {when I was in my teens, "you're an adult now mate"}. I couldn't ever gage the distance between the bars of cyclist and my big 73 valiant charger, I would often cut to close and didn't see why they were all pulling the finger at me, I also swerved for a girl in my class for a joke who was cycling to school in my little orange ford escort. Once I sold the charger I bought a bike and now see the light and can confidently pass a cyclist while driving any big vehicle. I've since appoligiesed to the former class mate. I still love classic cars and motorcycles yet I cant afford to build my dream car and motorbike as yet, but dont feel any less of a man with my collection of bicycles and crapy A-B car. Might buy some bright pink lycra before my next visit down south and ride this location
This chap seems to be extreemly homofobic and have closet like behaviour. The majority of drivers in NZ have no understanding or respect for cyclist and do not get the concept that there driving can cause death, if concrete and flesh or panel and flesh were to meet. Even simple things like corect following distance go out the window when motorists are behind a cycle, the stupid thing is that there only gona sandwich you between the next car at the next red light. I recon they should also get rid of the keep left rule, since it has claimed so many cyclists lives. Some simple minded people like this weirdo don't know what to do if law says keep left and they encounter a bike, patience is a better approach, ignoramus like him don’t stop to wonder why they maybe two abreast, the male usually sits out a bit to shield his lady or son or daughter or whoever there ridding with, well at least trying to get that 1.5m clearance from you and the bars. Most of us cyclist drive cars too, NZ seems to assume since we ride bikes we can’t afford cars. Everyone icluding myself should have to sit a far more extensive driving test that teaches people how to actualy drive{eg mirrors following distances and indicating}, if you want to be a bathurst driver just imagine that the white and yellow lines are the concrete walls and that the speed limits are the actual limtits of your big eggo trip mid life chrisis tonka toy vehicle.
I agree that Mr Freeman was wrong in his comments, but sometimes cyclists do put themselves into harms way by riding 3 abreast on narrow roads - sometimes accidentally crossing the centre line on blind corners. be aware that cars dont like to sit behind cyclists arrogantly riding 2 abreast in the centre of the road, you dont see cars doing that to talk to each other do you?
I cycle frequently in the UK and have done cycling in many European cities and I must say the courtesy towards cyclists over here is fantastic, they will always give you plenty of room when they pass - at least 1.5m. In New Zealand there is a whole different attitude, motorists seem too irate and inconsiderate to share the road with anything that doesn't have at least four wheels. I haven't been knocked off my bike yet but the closest calls I've had have all been while riding in New Zealand.
Tony says "Who cares what a little tiny man with royd rage has to say?" Well I do, for one. Freeman is a sociopath, a potentially dangerous one too - and its ok to say well, the bigger the car, the smaller the dick and the smaller the brain and in Freemans case, Im sure that description applies perfectly - but dont underestimate a sociopath; yes Freeman is a loser, a social spastic and people like him dont think like normal people - so be careful out there, cyclists of ChCh.
Who cares what a little tiny man with royd rage has to say?Let us all just sit back and watch his life unfold before our eyes as the public of chch move toward more friendly businesses. Did I mention tiny? Oh yes I drive, ride, eat, drink, and have a house mr Freeman.
OK, let me get this straight: Mr.Freeman has challenged any "Lance Armstrong wanna be" to a physical confrontation. Hmm.. let's see, a middle-aged business man, against a young, fit athlete. Sorry Richard, your whole Hummer/Rambo fantasy is just that, a fantasy. You'd get your butt kicked.
I am constantly amazed at how these guys can label motorists as arrogant road hogs, yet when it comes to inconsiderate cyclists, the response is usually "well, you'll always get a few bad apples..." Their bottom line always seems to be "So what if we cycle badly. WE are the ones who will get hurt, so YOU have to make allowances for US". I liken their selfish attitude to that of boy racers. The key difference is that your typical boy racer is called Brent, lives at home with mum and dad, and works at pack n save. Your average cyclist, on the other hand, is a white, middle class, middle aged professional, who is able to argue much more articulately about why his/her rights are much more important than everybody elses.