Why don't they just accept that motorbikes are deathtraps and campaign against people riding them?

[GoshAnneGorilla]

Instead of spending so much time and money going on at car drivers, wouldn't it be better to discourage people from using motorbikes in the first place?

Sparkling - you said bikers in helmets were sinister because you could only see their eyes and elaborated that you couldn't tell if they were male or female, young or old, I said that was a bit of a strange thing to say, and you would be unlikely to feel comfortable using the same description for someone in a burka.

But yes, driving and riding defensively is what we all need to do, rather than travelling around in our own little bubbles.

It doesn't piss me off they go to the front of the queue. It's not a race as far as I am aware vinegar.

True, Dress - it's also a fact that most cyclists/motorcyclists are also car drivers, so have a good understanding of that POV, while the opposite is definitely not true.

Bye all, I am about to be called racist on a thread about motorbikes. Enjoy the debate.

Why does it bother you then sparkling ?

Not racist, just pointing out that perhaps you need to think about why you feel that way.

bikist if anything :)

YABU

Yup. After driving a car for years, I feel very vulnerable on my motorbike and ride defensively. I wish car drivers would do the same. Massively agree with Sleepless - People would be much better car drivers if they'd done their CBT and rode a bike.

Soooo funny at sparkling being a racist!! It's Friday so assume some posters are pissed otherwise don't be so freak in daft.

Sparkling is one if our sensible ones.

Op, I hate all vehicles as dd was so badly injured in one but you could as easily break your neck in a trampoline.

Love to ban them.

Funny you should say that thebody - my MIL is convinced that trampolines should be banned for exactly that reason.

My dads best friend was killed on a motor bike accident

sparkling
as far as I can see, no one pointed the word 'racist' anywhere. The word 'burka' was used simply as another example of face covering.

YABVU. Totally agree with DressMe and Sleepless.

I actually raced a motorbike (on racetracks) for a few years, and I still only ever potter about when riding on the road; it wasn't about the speed, it was a convenient mode of transport, probably much like most people's cars. It seems that all bikers get a bad name for the minority bad riders, but this doesn't seem to happen with bad car drivers. There are idiots all over the road, they are certainly not all bikers.

"motorcycles are dangerous"

No, as someone said upthread, stupid people are the danger, let's ban them instead. Sometimes stupid people ride bikes. More often, they drive cars.

How often does a biker kill someone other than themselves? (Personally I am not particularly bothered by people who do this. It's up to them really)

How often does a car driver kill an innocent?

According to local newspapers, its the roads which are dangerous whenever a boy racer skids off one and crashes into a wall/tree/lamppost, killing himself and his passenger.

So on that basis, we should ban roads. Damned dangerous things...

I love bikers, every person on a motorbike is one less car causing congestion on the roads.

Wouldn't do it myself though, too many gormless idiots in cars, not to mention idiots who seem to think bikers filtering are "getting one over on them" and try to block them.

I rode motorbikes from my late teen to early 40s. Progressed from old British oil fields to modern Japanese. I rode round London and many Asian cities on them loved virtually every minute and never the danger a thought. I have known several friends who were killed riding, but it didn't put me off.

Then I joined the Ambulance Service. I have told my children I will pay for driving lessons, buy their first car and pay their insurance, tax etc to try to stop them riding them. I have been to a lot of people killed outright and just as bad, people with horrible life changing injuries. The vast majority of bike accidents I have attended have been youngish men, 20-30s and most of them around 70% have been caused by a car driver. The accidents where it was the bike riders fault have usually been caused excessive speed. I now hate motorbikes, but I don't want to ban them, just ban my kids from riding them.

It's a massive generalisation to make that all motorbike riders are irresponsible and speed around like loons. Just like we get good and bad car drivers, we get good and bad motorbike drivers, who take risks.

Is it really that hard to be aware of bikers? It doesn't take much effort to keep your distance and check for them when we're driving.

My husband is an ex bike rider now. He had 3 crashes, each increasing in severity each time. Each time, the accident was caused by a car driver not paying attention. One pulling out at a T junction on him. One jumping a red light and hitting him. One turning into the road without noticing him. I totally agree with the campaigns to raise awareness of motorbike riders.

Yes I am interested in why filtering is seen as a Bad Thing if not jealousy?

Just re read the OP. Basically you want to ban motorbikes so that car drivers can behave like fuckwits without worrying about killing a biker?

I am so i have to go and have a lie down.

More people are killed inside motorcars each year in the Uk than motorbikes - so why not ban cars as they are death traps and this would save in the region of 6000 lives per year

that is 500 people every month

125 death trap deaths every week

massive savings of lives

bann the motor car as it is the most dangerous form of travel

then people could get round much quicker on buses, trains, cycles, and motorbikes with side cars

What a bizarre OP. Are you that bad a driver, GoshAnneGorilla, that you want to call for a ban on bikes?

I don't want yo ban them, but I want to ban black motorbike jackets and helmets. It is very hard to see bikes sometimes, even when you are paying attention.

Over my cold dead body will my son ever be riding one either. You are just so unprotected, and I don't want anyone I love travelling at such high speeds without a decent chunk of metal between them and any outside forces.

Actually ivykaty you might be on to something, I've always thought it would be so much quicker to get around if everybody biked (either bicycle or motorbike). No congestion, just get straight to your destination. Would also be far safer and accidents would generally be self inflicted due to poor riding rather than caused by inept car drivers.

I drive much more defensively in my car BECAUSE I have a motorbike

YABVVVVVU

Lots of things MIGHT kill you. They aren't all banned. Thank goodness