Motorcycle Menace

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#653630 10-Jul-2012 16:29

richms: Except those 50cc monstrosities will always push to the front at lights and then they accelerate at the same pace as a ride on lawnmower. real bikes get moving fast enough to not hold up cars causing the problems.

They also struggle to hold a decent speed up a hill like symonds street so cant make their mind up if to be in the bus lane or the real lane.

Probably whats most worrying is the lack of decent clothing. No leathers or abrasive resistant textile motorcycle gear. Nope go down the road in a helmet that lacks facial protection, dress gloves and wear normal attire and in some cases wearing heels and stockings

not exactly abrasion resistant!

tdgeek

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#653632 10-Jul-2012 16:30

Reading James post, I filter. Only when I know the light won't go green on me, thereby putting me in compeititon to get back in lane. I park a meter or more ahead of the car, and I'm gone. I've released space in the lane, and not got in anyones way.

The other morning I got raced by a new Euro car, pathetic.

networkn

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#653633 10-Jul-2012 16:30

I suggest that's because your in a car. Go ride a motorbike for a year in Auckland or similar then come back to me. I grew up on a farm so had my own bike since I was 9. So far I can proudly say I've never had a road accident of any kind and I ride daily to and from work.

I lived on a farm for most of my life, I have not ridden a motorcycle in a suburban setting.

A car driver for the most part can (I'm not saying they all do) drive in a near stupour i.e. just break when the car in front of you does and for the most part just play follow the leader while they listen to the radio or thing about whats for dinner. Do that on a motorcycle you'd be dead in no time.

I am not sure what your point is at this juncture. I don't see anything except reasons for riders to exert even more due care, something I would say 2/3 of the riders I see, don't do.

I spend my whole time adjusting my position relative to other vehicles making sure to put myself out of the blindspot(s) of the car(s) beside me while identifying hazards of which they are vast from drivers who just aren't paying attention:

Well that makes you the exception not the rule in my experience.

U-turns directly in front of you, people moving into your lane as they see a "gap" (ie don't notice your in that space or worse, think what they can do is partially move in next to the motorcyclist as they don't need all of that lane, then slow the trailing vehicle and "force a gap". Right down to one idiot I remember completely forcing me off the road while laughing and he was wearing a suit and driving a fancy commodore.

I would consider the last example extremely unfortunately but hardly typical.

But its only motorcyclists that are the idiots right? Fact of the matter is, there will be idiot motorcyclists, idiot car drivers, idiot scooter riders, idiot cyclists, idiot pedestrians, idiot cats, other pets and maybe livestock.

You seem to have taken umbrage to the fact someone started a motorcycle specific thread to complain about their experience with undue care and general careless behaviour exhibited by riders. Yes of course there are idiots in all walks of life, however the consequences most of those other examples aren't generally as catastrophic.

If you don't behave badly you have no reason to be incensed by this thread.

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#653635 10-Jul-2012 16:33

rphenix:
richms: Except those 50cc monstrosities will always push to the front at lights and then they accelerate at the same pace as a ride on lawnmower. real bikes get moving fast enough to not hold up cars causing the problems.

They also struggle to hold a decent speed up a hill like symonds street so cant make their mind up if to be in the bus lane or the real lane.

Probably whats most worrying is the lack of decent clothing. No leathers or abrasive resistant textile motorcycle gear. Nope go down the road in a helmet that lacks facial protection, dress gloves and wear normal attire and in some cases wearing heels and stockings not exactly abrasion resistant!

So true, it's horribly frightening.

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#653636 10-Jul-2012 16:35

I strongly disagree that Lane Splitting should be legal. I don't see any reasonable upside. All it takes is for the car to want/need more space where you are, and you get pushed into oncoming traffic, and you are gonna be dead! Why anyone would do it in most situations even if it's legal defies belief.

I am of the belief motorcyclists should only be allowed to use the road the same way a car does. Take a position in a lane and have your entire section to yourself. I am not completely opposed to 2 abreast if you are a rider, but I wouldn't do it myself. If you want to pass, do so where it's allowed if you are a car.

John2010

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#653637 10-Jul-2012 16:37

sleemanj: A few facts if I may...

+1. Fantastic post.

Will just add, for those that get road ragey, that when a 'bike is filtering up on the left at an intersection the other vehicles do not have to be actually "stopped" in the case they are indicating a right turn and the mo'bike is going straight ahead.

It is many, many years since I have ridden a mo'bike so I have no romantic attachment to their always being right even when wrong, but have to say I cannot recall ever being inconvenienced in any really inconsiderate way by a rider of one. I can see though how those car drivers who do not understand the rules as you have set them out and who tend to be a little bit road ragey or else wanting to control others would get testy.

For those car drivers worrind about their wing mirrors I suggest just use your mirrors instead of worrying about them. Move over to the left when you see a 'bike working his way up through the traffic behind and 80% of the time when he gets past you you'll get a thankyou wave.

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#653641 10-Jul-2012 16:42

John2010:
sleemanj: A few facts if I may...

+1. Fantastic post.

Will just add, for those that get road ragey, that when a 'bike is filtering up on the left at an intersection the other vehicles do not have to be actually "stopped" in the case they are indicating a right turn and the mo'bike is going straight ahead.

It is many, many years since I have ridden a mo'bike so I have no romantic attachment to their always being right even when wrong, but have to say I cannot recall ever being inconvenienced in any really inconsiderate way by a rider of one. I can see though how those car drivers who do not understand the rules as you have set them out and who tend to be a little bit road ragey or else wanting to control others would get testy.

For those car drivers worrind about their wing mirrors I suggest just use your mirrors instead of worrying about them. Move over to the left when you see a 'bike working his way up through the traffic behind and 80% of the time when he gets past you you'll get a thankyou wave.

I don't see why this should be allowed. Two days ago I saw someone ride between two lanes at a set of lights, lost his balance at low speed and caused MASSIVE damage to the paint job of the car and his bike. All so he could get to the front of the queue and save himself a few moments. The time he saved over a lifetime is negated now due to the time spent swapping details, plus all the time from both of them getting cars repaired etc.

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oxnsox

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#653644 10-Jul-2012 16:51

rphenix:Probably whats most worrying is the lack of decent clothing. No leathers or abrasive resistant textile motorcycle gear. Nope go down the road in a helmet that lacks facial protection, dress gloves and wear normal attire and in some cases wearing heels and stockings not exactly abrasion resistant!

Whilst it's true they should wear some protective gear it is a contentious point. And not just because it's about personal responsibility and choice either.

When you leave your house in the morning (whether traveling on 2 wheels or 4) you have no intention of having a road crash... just as you may not take a warm coat or umbrella.... All power to rational denial, but it is human nature.

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#653651 10-Jul-2012 16:56

networkn:
tdgeek:
jonherries:
tdgeek: I agree, some blike riders are bad. I have a nice new car, but I commute to work on a motorbike. I'm on 2 wheels so I need to drive safe. I thus ride in the lane like a car. Riders going up the line between lanes is risky in moving traffic. Even at a stop light, they will no doubt clip the odd wing mirror. Be considerate

If the lights are red and will stay red, I will go up the inside to the head of the queue. Allows me to get away sooner, frees up one space in the lane, I keep away from the cars. Simple manners

This!

What is your point?

He is agreeing with the quoted text.

this!

tdgeek

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#653653 10-Jul-2012 17:02

I see bikes lane splitting and at speed. Madness. Not often though.

Was on motorway the other morning, cruising at 100 kph, it was dark. Taking me by surprise, a guy on a noisy trail bike roared past, gave me a hell of a fright. And he was close as he zoomed past, I guess he was being cool, made him feel powerful and a man.

bradi

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#653662 10-Jul-2012 17:21

Never ceases to amaze me how "person a's thing" annoys, offends, or iritates "person b". Move on, get on with your life.

If you want to get upset about something here are few things that really are sh1tty and worth having a bitch about!!! (the idea behind a b1tch session being getting constructive arguments for change).

Taxes
Fractional Reserve Banking
Democracy
Ignorance
House prices
Invasion of Privacy
Environmental concerns
Corporate greed
Financial system collapse...

At the end of the day we all need to stop, think and understand what is going on around us, until we do pointless b1tch sessions are worthless.

Have a smiley day.

BTW: Been riding like a "idiot" for 20 years, no desire to change, I enjoy it ;)

mjb

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#653734 10-Jul-2012 20:16

tdgeek: If the lights are red and will stay red, I will go up the inside to the head of the queue. Allows me to get away sooner, frees up one space in the lane, I keep away from the cars. Simple manners

[snip quotes]

Oh ok, i thought it meant he was putting me in the bad bin! As regards my last sentence.

Conversely, I do put you in the bad bin.... I've never seen your reasoning before, and it makes sense to me now, but in the past nothing makes my blood boil more than the motorcyclists that sneak up the queue, effectively jumping it.

To me, a queue is a queue. I was there first, why should you jump in front of me and potentially stop me being able to cross an intersection/make a turn? Sure, it's rare, but that's my point of view as a car driver. Granted, I do see your point of view now, and it does lessen my angst ;)

Disclaimer: also a cyclist, and the bad cyclists (dangerous, riding without helmets, not looking, blocking traffic, etc) drive me mad too.

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mjb

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#653737 10-Jul-2012 20:24

networkn: I'd like to see the road code changed to acknowledge that a motorbike should be followed with greater than the arbitrary 2 second rule. A bike stops a LOT faster than a car :)

How the hell do you keep up with them to follow at 2 seconds? I only ever see them racing past me about about 130km/h.

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stevedg

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#653783 10-Jul-2012 22:02

a lot of bikes filter up past stationary cars at the lights to avoid being rear-ended! It's actually safer with a few stationary cars behind you.

Mark

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#653874 11-Jul-2012 09:39

To be honest I've not seen to many bad bike riders here in NZ, mainly because there are relatively few bikes compared to cars. I've seen one or two bad riders, mainly when they decide that stop signs don't apply to them at crossings but they are the minority I think and cyclists do that trick far more often.

Most sensible riders are not just riding their own bike, they are also backseat driving the cars and trucks they can see around them in an attempt to predict where they will go and be sure they are not going to end up under them ... bike riders generally become very paranoid very quickly :-) And you can usually spot a biker driving car by the way they look over their shoulder before changing lanes.

Also the riders you see riding around in shorts and T-shirts are newbie bikers (or stupid), no-one who has every come off in the past would do it, because it's not a case of IF you come off, it is WHEN you come off!

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