You wouldn't know what my biggest hazard is, Fran. You're not a motorcyclist. Instead of trying to score points, perhaps you'd just welcome the pollution tests.
Just back from Yarmouth....wonderful view from Yarmouth Pier...Hurst Castle one way, Spinnaker Tower the other, and lots of boats including a naval frigate. Low tide in the Yar Estuary...thousands of water birds feeding on the mud banks. Even saw lesser spotted tourists....must have come down from Oop North as, despite my wearing a bobble hat, padded coat and gloves, they were in full summer plumage....including one large female in a T shirt.
Touchy. Of course I welcome pollution tests, but no one can deny that motorcyclists are more at risk of injury and death than car drivers. Again (before I get jumped on again) I accept that in the vast majority of cases it is the other driver's fault, but being in the right doesn't make you less dead. I was stating a fact rather than criticising motorcyclists.
OK. However, you speak as if it is a foregone conclusion that a motorcyclist will die from an accident eventually. Most motorcyclists are alive and well. If I'm touchy it's because there is a lot of lazy talk from people who have never ridden a motorcycle in their lives, but still feel qualified to speak about the dangers.
Was going by stats. For information....I don't want motorcycles banned, I think drivers should avoid hitting motorcyclists, and men in leathers look hot.
Was ju I understand TSS - as an ex-motorcyclist who had 3 bad accidents in his life - all from idiots in cars who eventually owned up to "I didn't see him" - I think I'm relatively well-qualified to have an opinion. I certainly wouldn't ride a motorbike in this country with the amount of traffic and the number of appalling car/lorry/coach drivers there are (I seem to see at least one incident of bad driving a day and I don't drive that much), so I do think that there is a reasonable argument for Fran's comment. As we've said on this forum, each to his or her own opinion - pollutants are an issue, yes, but motorcycling safety is, certainly to me, a greater one ........
Nobodies planning to ban bikes as far as I know. If anything, things are going to get safer, what with self driving cars and bikes that can't fall over [yes, there is a motorcycle in development that can't fall over, even when you push against it - and it doesn't require outriggers either] using gyroscopes.
I understand your point Dave. I used to think the very same way. I actually gave up motorcycling for several years because I thought it was too dangerous. I was wrong. It isn't. You just need to be the eyes and ears of every car driver around you. That's not impossible, and remarkably, there are plenty of times when there's no other road user around. Funnily enough, if there's ever a time when I still get a bit nervous, it's then.
Was driving along a country road today and I only avoided hitting a man on a bend running towards me because I noticed a driver in front swerve to avoid him. A lone runner is taking quite a risk....if he was in an organised race, drivers would be prepared. In theory, you should be prepared for everything, but in the country you would have to drive at 2 miles an hour to be prepared for the odd cow, donkey and runner. A pedestrian could look out for themselves, but a runner is out of control and further out into the road. Hazards are everywhere.
You sound just like my mum Fran, she used to laugh at me for worrying about the wrong things when I'd go round to her house, talk about how I was cutting down on salt, or doing more exercise, and then get on my bike and ride away. After a couple of nasty accidents (both caused by careless car drivers)and a prolonged stay in hospital, I gave up the bike. Not saying pollution isn't a problem, but then again I rarely rode a bike in city centre or start/stop traffic so it wasn't ever a concern of mine. Perhaps bike helmets should come with built in filtration systems? I think car drivers should have to ride a bike for a year until they get a car license to make them bike aware plus more should be done to get polluting vehicles out of circulation, then we can all enjoy the roads a bit more.
The other night I was driving on the A33 to Reading from the M3. Now, that's a pretty busy road, but very dark in some places. On a quiet stretch of the road when there was no traffic, I was suddenly aware of something ahead of me, so I slowed and moved into the middle of the road. It was a lone runner, running towards me in a dark top with no light or reflective gear. I very nearly stopped and gave him (I assumed it was a man) an earful about how stupid it is to do that - I've often complained that cyclists and runners have too bright lights, but this was the other way around. I don't understand such a death wish!
I told my son (as a joke) that I was considering getting a scooter in place of my car. His face was priceless as he tried to think of a polite way to dissuade me without saying the truth....I'd be a danger to all moving objects and a few stationary ones.
Why can't someone design better lights for push bikes? A while ago I was about to pull out into traffic at night because the nearest car was a long way away....when I suddenly became aware that something had passed in front of the oncoming cars lights. It was as if the car lights had blinked. I didn't pull out and was soon passed by a cyclist who was very close to me but invisible. Perhaps we all have to face the facts that accidents will happen however careful you are...we can only do the best we can.
Whilst I agree there are idiots in cars you have to remember there are also idiots on motorcycles as well, so a mixture of idiots on 2 and 4 wheels is a recipe for accidents. Unfortunately those on 4 wheels will have a cock pit with air bags etc etc for protection whilst a biker has leathers and a helmet so ultimately will be more likely to get injured/ killed. But it's cyclists who are the most dangerous at the moment, no lights, dark clothes, no head gear, no respect for red lights, jumping of kerbs between parked cars, riding up to 3 abreast and when they have an accident it's always the car drivers fault.
Yes, OK. I took the option of viewing the news of real-world pollution tests from a motorcyclist's perspective in the hope that the subject wouldn't shift over to bicyclists, motorcyclists and the inherent dangers of riding them, but more to do with that fact that someone out in the open air would notice these things more keenly. Is there a chance we might get back to the subject matter? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35585521
I had to do a speed awareness course after getting snapped doing 45 in a 40 zone ( I know, its very naughty) and was given a picture of a typical urban road scene. When asked to identify potential hazards, I drew a circle around every single vehicle, every pedestrian plus a cat that was on the pavement. Slight exaggeration probably, but I usually assume everybody else on or near the road is just about to do something stupid. You can only take so many precautions though because some things just can't be avoided in time. In real life, I think I've come across another you a few times on scooters, weaving around, looking at the scenery and just generally giving two wheeled users a bad name. I do about 30000 miles a year and have probably seen it all now, although groups of cyclists are my current pet hate - especially these clowns wearing all the Lycra gear who ride around thinking they're in the Tour de France despite the roads not being closed. Three, four and even five abreast is not uncommon and is especially annoying when it's a group that aren't particularly fit so completely block the road doing 10 mph but make no attempt to go into single file to allow faster vehicles to get past. Plus they look hilarious which is very distracting.
A reason why we ought to be talking about air pollution and not errors from bikers or drivers: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34461450
My son is always annoyed how careful I am. I freely admit that my spatial awareness is not superb, so I am careful. I also believe that if you are stopped and the other car squeezing past hits you, they are at fault. Don't think I am one of those annoying people who drive at 10 mph, but I'm not going to whizz past hazards. Was driving near some roadworks and slowed down. My son all superior asked me why I had eased up....I pointed out that the pavement was shut and a pedestrian was about to step into the road...he did...son shut up, one very smug Mum.
Can't agree with that wholesale. Yes, some cyclists give other cyclists a very bad reputation. I've seen this more in London when I used to live there. I'm a keen cyclist and a member of my local club and it angers me when I see reckless cycling, no helmets and no lights for example. I'm relatively new to the hobby/sport, and love it. As I'm new to it, I've been quite surprised at the level of ill feeling towards cyclists, and it can feel quite overbearing at times. It has obviously grown, perhaps due to the success that the Brits have had on a competitive level, but probably also due to it being a great cardiovacular excercise for the middle aged man like myself (just!) involving stats and mapping and camaraderie. I think there is an element of might is right on the roads, and cyclists are a frivolous inconvenience for the driver who must get somewhere quickly. Of course I'm not excusing any bad cyclists or any negative experiences that you may have had.
OK, I give up on the pollution topic**. Everybody must drive diesels these days. I'll show you my picture of my new Playstation 2 Charlie Austin who scored a hat-trick on his home debut. On a football thread, of course. ** and the post on a new cancer treatment and 3D living body part printing.
