KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's biggest organised motorcycle ride is revving up for what could be the last time, after a row involving police and Transit NZ.
Organiser Robert Leeper said this weekend's ride would go ahead with up to 2000 bikes expected, including one carrying Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard. But it could be the last.
He said new traffic control demands from Transit NZ would cost around $10,000, the same amount the Ulysses Club event usually raised for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.
Mr Leeper believed the change was linked to the first complaint, made last year, in the ride's 12-year history.
The complaint ended up at Parliament and with police and Transit NZ.
"This has just blown up out of all proportion," said Mr Leeper. "It's operated fine in the past and there's been no problems."
He wanted to allay fears the ride was a "motorcycle gang holding the public to ransom" and assured motorists it was organised by a dedicated group trying to help a worthy cause.
Police close motorway on-ramps along the route during the ride and previously traffic has been kept at a standstill by club marshalls.
Under the plan for next year, paid professionals would control traffic.
Transit operations manager Joseph Flanagan said the traffic management plan and paid staff were needed because the police wanted to reduce their involvement.
He said police could close the motorway at any time but it was more difficult and expensive for Transit. Costs included ads to alert the public.
A police spokesman said their involvement next year would be determined after this weekend.
Mr Leeper said ending the ride would be a loss for the region and changing the route to avoid the motorway was virtually impossible.
"Wherever you go in Auckland, you are going to strike some form of problem somewhere."
