Comments on: Honda Australia stands up to TAC’s motorcycle scare tactics

By: DNA

DNA — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:52:56 +0000

Do you actually do much driving? I have been commuting the same route for two years and I have had at least two cars trying to merge on me when I am in a car and double that when I have been on the bike. Some indicate but non bothered to look. There is something about those drivers as I mostly get the feeling of “I knew they were going to do that” or its just that I have bike riders mentality and treat all other road user as a potential idiot.
I have been over taken by car drivers driving in the bike lane when I was driving my car! I have seen cars driving down the wrong side of divided roads (the last just this morning) Waved at by kids standing up in the back seat as there parents speed past. At the lights I have watched mothers looking at there babies in there laps in the font seat. Wondered why the car in front was weaving all over the road. To be fair the Guy was doing a good job its hard to light a cig while talking on the phone and drive in rush hour traffic. On my ride in today a large black 4WD parked on side of the road suddenly and without indicating did a U turn in front of me – I wasn’t speeding or splitting lanes I was in the middle lane of a four lane road.
The most scariest near accident I have seen was a 4wd driver weaving onto oncoming traffic in the country. After a near head on with oncoming traffic at 80km/hr I leant on the horn and flashed the lights and got him to pull over. I thought he was a drunk and went to take the keys only to find he was a diabetic having an episode (useless police would not leave there speed trap to get this driver off the road luckily the Ambulance hasn’t been told to concentrate on revenue instead of safety).

People don’t need to break any laws to get knocked off by another idiot on the road. Both idiots and non idiots need to be aware both are on the road. Being and idiot and crashing or law abiding and having an idiot crash into you makes no difference you are still wrecked. See and avoid.

By: DNA

DNA — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:04:02 +0000

Unfortunately some car drivers arnt restrained like you.

By: Anthrax

Anthrax — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:23:31 +0000

great attitude Bob.

Should all pedestrians who walk against a red light be killed? What about pushbike riders who don’t wear a helmet or aren’t riding in the correct position on the road? Should they be killed too?

A for motorcyclists never riding within the rules, you need to stop watching TV and get out a bit.

By: Anthrax

Anthrax — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:19:23 +0000

Zumbella, what planet are you on? Riders with Brains know they are on the way to having an accident????

I’m a rider, with a brain. I wear the correct gear ALL the time (full leathers, helmet, leather gloves, leather boots). I check my bike before EACH ride, I check the lights, brakes, tyres and pressure. It is well maintained and everything is kept in tip top shape. I am focussed on the road and my surroundings when I am riding because of the fact that if I crash it WILL hurt. I take more care on the road than most other vehicle drivers. I ride within mine and the bikes limits.

Why am I on the way to an accident? Just because I ride a bike does not make me an idiot. It’s idiots with no sense of anything other than their own little sheltered world that are the problem.

TAC and our Government increase the danger of motorcycists face every day. They support the wire cheesgraters on the side of the road, and the put bloody stupid billboards up on the side of the road telling us that if we slow down we wont die.

Newsflash idiots. People die because they crash into things… not because they are doing 102km/h in a 100km/h zone. Yet the government and TAC want to put more hard, immovable objects right on the side of the road.

Motorcyclists would be better served by TAC spending our extra rego fees on making leathers mandatory, same for rider training courses, and looking into why motorcyclists are dying on the roads.

The blanket reason of speeding is wearing thin and is total crap! Not everyone who dies on the road is exceeding the speed limit. Yet that is what they would have you believe.

By: LogicalOne

LogicalOne — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:45:48 +0000

Agreed – and its soo sooooo soooooo tempting when they’re lane splitting and you see them coming in your rear view mirror to move right in front of them or knock them off as they approach. Some of them should consider themselves lucky that I have half a heart, and i’m actually one of the drivers who can see them coming in their rear view mirror. One of these days, they wont be so lucky.

By: Rhubarb

Rhubarb — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:52:21 +0000

Seriously, when was the last time you saw any of these ‘responsible’ bike riders doing anything under 20kmh over the speed limit?
We used to call them ‘temporary Australians’ in the 70′s.
I notice they go all nice and within speed limits around cop cars.

By: christos

christos — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:44:50 +0000

I once heard a quote;

Those who prefer safety to freedom deserve neither.

Motorcycle caused f-ups are caused less by splitting or speeding or not wearing a helmet, and more by excitable riders with bikes bigger than their abilities..

By: ohreally

ohreally — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:09:38 +0000

Some riders are responsible some aren’t.
Same goes for drivers.

Riders pose minimal risk to others, but maximal risk to themselves.

Riders should not lane split through an intersection… too many drivers decide its a perfect place to change lanes.

Nationwide about a quarter of the public dont know lane changing etiquette. This is a greater problem

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:56:34 +0000

Safety First, that’s where your wrong. I ride bikes. I don’t blame cars should I act like a fool on the road. I don’t see anyone disputing that motorcyclists act like fools on the road.

As for bike riders (push bikes), that is a different story. They don’t pay any registration to be on the road, take more risks on the road than anyone else, and are NOT capable of riding to the road conditions.

If you want drivers to be more aware of bikers (any kind) then they need to drive/ride a little safer – well a lot safer. For a start, and irrespective for the reason – for the accident – riding a bike in thongs, shorts and shirt is just plain suicide! The risks of being on a bike and having an accident are high, as I say, irrespective of the reason for it, yet why would anyone want to actually make the chances of dying higher? Fools! If you ride your bike at extremely high speeds, weaving in and out of traffic and as a motorist moves lanes and takes out a biker then I don’t think the biker has anyone to blame other than themselves! I don’t see to many cars merge into other cars? I don’t see to many cars merge into motorcyclists who keep their distance and ride safely.

As I mentioned before, if more motorcyclists road safely and not expected everyone else to be watching for them while they ride like fools then most of the accidents would not happen.

Cyclists – of any type need to be responsible. Which, sadly, they are not.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:47:15 +0000

Ohhh I know those pesky road rules – why should we have any of them! I mean, what cheek the government has to enforce wearing helmets, making bikers where Australian standard helmets – and enforcing it. Making it illegal to ride up between stationary cars, parking/stopping in front of traffic at lights, speed limits. I know, how rude of them.

While some road rules may be, or just seem stupid, their there for a reason. So the fact they are there means that they need to be followed. No matter how much people – like you, don’t like them.

I think you may have missed the whole point of what “the tall poppy syndrome” means, however, should a motorcyclist switch lanes in an unsafe manner, at the speeds most bikes are capable of and they lose their life then fine with me. Just like 21 yr old’s who drive boy racer cars and wrap themselves around lamp posts, big deal! Drive safe, ride safe, be safe and obey the rules and you are less likely to wind up dead. Might not always be the case, yet tends to be the case more often that not.

I ride bikes and drive cars, and given the dangers, I make no apologises for those who die on their bikes – bikers need to stop blaming others, and start taking responsibly for their own actions, sadly its like the rest of society, blame others, blame the rules – as you do, and don’t worry about your own actions.