Hundreds turn out to protest 'cheese cutter' barriers

Labour MP Phil Twyford says there is more than enough evidence that wire median barriers are an unnecessary hazard. Photo / NZ Transport Agency

Hundreds of motorcyclists turned out to protest against wire median barriers today.

They say the wire barriers, also known as cheese cutters, are more dangerous than the concrete median barrier because they can seriously injure - or kill- cyclists.

The protesters marched to Henderson where they presented a petition to Te Atatu Labour MP Phil Twyford asking for wire medians to be swapped out for concrete ones.

Mr Twyford is calling the Government's response appalling.

"It's not good enough to say that only a small percentage of motorcyclist deaths are caused by these wire median barriers."

Mr Twyford said other options are being explored overseas and in New Zealand.

"There appears to be some cost effective innovations that would make these wire median barriers much safer for motorcyclists."

He said there is more than enough evidence to say wire median barriers on their own are an unnecessary hazard.