Motorcycle riders

[Pootle]

Why are motorcycle riders allowed to drive like complete w***ers?

[ursula62]

Because Merc, BMW and Rangerover drivers can, and do.

I was stopped by the police for following a rangerover round a roundabout.  The police told me I should have stopped for a pedestrian who was standing near the kerb but not obviously waiting to cross. I asked the policeman why he had picked on me when I had followed the rangerover. He said "Because I can't get him but I can nick you".

The number of times I have seen drivers of big cars completely ignore bikers is unbelievable. We all pay road tax. We are all entitled to take up space on the roads, and we all need to be considerate of each other.

[Loosehead]

The roads would be a lot safer if all car drivers first spent a year riding a motorcycle. If you hit something on a bike it hurts! If you hit something in your slow moving metal box it usually doesn't. Bikers are trained to a much higher level of road craft, ok there are idiots that let the side down but we, to survive, are forgiving and defensive road users. Some things you see may seem odd. Like my favourite "I was waiting at a roundabout and this biker came right past me and round it, didn't even look". Guess what? he did look, about 50 yards ago and worked out that he didn't need to stop, You see that's one aspect of what causes congestion, car drivers, you ARE allowed to look before you do the emergency stop at the roundabout!

[Cockney_si]

Having been both a biker and a car driver I agree that we equally blame each other as much for bad road etiquette.

However, where I live the moment the sun comes out so do the twist and go and crotch rocket brigade, equiped with the standard issue Tshirt, trainers and jeans.

Usually the fair weather only bikers here are the worst type.

Unfortunately it only takes one biker behaving badly on the road to take down the repuation of them all.

As the Hells Angels say; When we do good, noone remebers, when we do bad, noone forgets.

[Jay70]

I can honestly say the only motorbike riders I have ever experienced riding dangerously are the suicidal couriers. Other than that in 17yr of driving I've never had a problem.

[Grunty]

Our view of motorcyclists is coloured by those who tear along between the lines of traffic on a motorway, just as our view of heavy vehicle drivers is coloured by those who wait until we are beside them, then pull out, then signal.  There are far more good than bad in each group.  Follow a motorcyclist for a few miles.  He or she is probably paying far more attention than many other drivers.  They are likely to be travelling at such a speed  that they can stop within the distance they can see to be clear, and showing consideration (or tolerance) to other road users.  It is an education.

[WoWo]

"Bikers are trained to a much higher level of road craft, ok there are idiots that let the side down but we, to survive, are forgiving and defensive road users"

As a biker and car driver I totally agree with that. When I'm driving my car I'll admit there are periods where I just switch off but on a bike I'm totally focused on what's going on.

I'd also agree that once the suns out you get the fair weather boys out on their toys. Riding a bike is about experience and these boys don't ride enough to get it.

[Ducati]

Usually to avoid the complete knob 'eads who have no idea how to drive a car.

 

As previously posted, everybody who drives a car should be made to ride a bike for a bit - trust me, you will be a better car driver for it.

 

Not only do we have to think for ourselves, we also have to try and second guess what idiot car drivers are going to - I have been over a bonnet twice in the last few years because a car driver "didn't see me" as they were pulling out of a side road - I mean, for effs sake, what's not to see??? To help you I've got my lights on, and still you can't see me!!! Unbelievable.

 

And I've lost count of the number of times I've been filtering down the outside of traffic, perfectly safely and legally, when a driver sees me in their side mirrors, drifts out on purpose, forcing me to either brake sharply or swerve into the other lane. Presumably they do this because they are jealous of (A) us getting ahead of them in traffic, and (B) becuase they know they are maggoty little onanists who haven't got the swingers to ride a bike themselves.

 

Bike riders make better car drivers.

 

We have to deal with idiots like this everyday