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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at 'Think Bike' posters and other ads telling drivers to be considerate to motorcyclists ??

220 replies

Tinkerbell7373 · 19/01/2017 23:19

Every time I see one of these posters or adverts on TV it really irritates me in fact totally pisses me off
We are continually told to look out for motorbikes etc - when motorbike riders are thee most reckless, dangerous, inconsiderate people on the roads !! They speed, weave in and out of traffic, cut in when they feel like it and generally think they can do whatever they like !!! How about posters and adverts aimed at them saying 'Think Car' or 'Don't ride like a dick and you won't have, or cause, so many accidents !'

OP posts:
MiaowTheCat · 20/01/2017 06:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Capricorn76 · 20/01/2017 06:43

The OP is probably a shit driver who typed this after having a scare which involved her almost taking out a bike she 'didn't see'.

I always look out for bikes as I used to have a scooter and bicycle. Having been on two wheels for ages I still think like a cyclist when I'm driving so I can almost anticipate when another vehicle will do something silly like swerve into my lane. You develop a survival instinct.

The road is for every vehicle not just cars.

Julju · 20/01/2017 06:44

I get where you're coming from, OP. I live in an area which attracts lots of motorcyclists out riding at the weekend, on sunny days, etc. and I don't think a weekend goes by where I'm not gobsmacked by a manoeuvre or by the general behaviour of a motorcyclist.

It certainly isn't all of them - it's a minority, but the fact that cars vastly outnumber motorbikes on the road and there's always a motorcyclist who shocks me means OH and I often discuss those Think Bike posters and are shocked that those motorcyclists (the minority) aren't taking some fucking responsibility for themselves.

Cakeycakecake · 20/01/2017 06:49

Yabvu

I saw the aftermath of a motorcycle vs van yesterday. The sight will never leave me. Biker splayed out in the road, being attended to by road users until paramedics arrived. Performing cpr. It looked like one of those adverts. It was real life. I guess in a few days we'll find out locally if the motorcyclist lived.

If the adverts can prevent one accident like that they're worthwhile

Retweet · 20/01/2017 06:49

YANBU

user1484653592 · 20/01/2017 06:51

yabu

Biscuit for selfish me me me thinking. op, you sound a delight.did you hope for a bike bashing with your thread? how childish. just drive sensibly. the weaving in and out if done safely is in part the attraction for bikers as they don't get stuck in traffic, guess what
shock horror bikers do not pay CC in london, you probably think that's soooo unfaaaaair.

ForalltheSaints · 20/01/2017 06:58

A former next door neighbour's son had a nasty accident when hit by a car on a roundabout. Adverts are perfectly reasonable.

As for the unreasonable and badly behaved motor cyclists, they should face the legal consequences just as much as anyone else on the road. Any driving licence should be a privilege not a right.

RunningHurts · 20/01/2017 07:00

Op I think you are getting a lot of stick here! Obviously it is important for car drivers to concentrate, observe, remember to look out for less obvious and more vulnerable road users. However , the ThinkBike slogan always makes me think why don't they also tell bikes (well, the riders) to think? I am sure many motorcyclists ride sensibly and safely, but I see many who don't appear to value their own lives

RunningHurts · 20/01/2017 07:01

Also,please someone explain time what filtering is? Is it legal for motorcycles to undertake ?

mirokarikovo · 20/01/2017 07:15

Motorcyclists don't need to be told "think car" because the whole road system says "think car" and cars, lorries etc are not hard to spot.

The "think bike" signs are actually mainly aimed at the drivers of large vehicles - lorries and buses - that have massive blind spots within their turning circles and both pedal cyclists and motorcyclists regularly get killed or injured because a driver turned left or right without thinking whether there might be a bike there.

RunningHurts · 20/01/2017 07:17

They might not need to be told to think cars. Some need to be told to Think though.

heron98 · 20/01/2017 07:30

YABVU and I say this as someone who would never dream of going on a motorbike.

I also hate the generalisation "all motorcyclists do XYZ, all cyclists do XYZ". No they don't. Some are irresponsible, just like drivers. The vast majority are trying to get from A-B unharmed.

You sound very small-minded.

user1484653592 · 20/01/2017 07:34

Motorcyclists don't need to be told "think car" because the whole road system says "think car" and cars, lorries etc are not hard to spot.

^^ this.

some bikers driver like idiots and many, many car drivers drive utterly cluelessly, aggressively caught up in their own minds and worlds. I am witnessing dangerous driving, people on mobiles, selfish I must come first driving everyday especially when it's school run time.

Thinkingblonde · 20/01/2017 07:38

Filtering is when a biker filters along a line of traffic at traffic lights or similar queue of traffic, the biker is legally allowed to do this, it isn't queue jumping. Obviously they still have to observe the Highway Code and be mindful of traffic coming the other way and be prepared to pull back into the lane.
I have seen car drivers deliberately close the gap or pull out to the right of it to try and stop the biker from filtering. Which is dangerous because it puts them into the path of oncoming traffic.
Undertaking isn't a legal manoeuvre.
I don't think I've seen a biker undertake in all the time I've been driving, 40!years. I be only seen them overtake on the outside.
I live in area where the roads are popular with bikers: rural, hilly, twisty, they have been stuck behind me for miles as it's often too busy with oncoming traffic for me to let them pass. They never undertake. When it's safe to do so I'll pull into a passing place or wave them on, they always acknowledge me with a wave or a nod as they pass.

merrymouse · 20/01/2017 07:40

Whether or not some motor cyclists are irresponsible, if you are involved in an accident that kills or injures one you will have to live with the consequences - the court case, seeing the victim's family, a possible conviction; at the very least disruption to your own life, lawyers, time off work.

Any road user can be irresponsible, but some are more vulnerable than others and like it or not, for your own benefit if nobody else's, you need to be aware of them.

TenaciousOne · 20/01/2017 07:44

I don't think you are being totally unreasonable.

Mintychoc1 · 20/01/2017 07:46

Reading this thread about all the accidents, I remain utterly baffled that anyone would be mad enough to ride a motorbike at all! Why do they do it if it's so dangerous?

harderandharder2breathe · 20/01/2017 08:12

OP you and your made up statistics are goady as fuck

Yabvu. Motorcyclists and cyclists are the most vulnerable road users. Stop acting like a twat and drive properly, looking out for them.

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 20/01/2017 08:23

I know a few people who have been in motorcycle accidents including my uncle who died in one, every bloody time it was down to the car drivers.

It's one reason why I will never get on the back of a motorcycle, people on motorcycles might be able to control their vehicle but the people with the big cars can't, and if there is an accident the car drivers would probably be ok whereas the person on the bike would either be injured or worse dead.

YABU.

marmitemadness · 20/01/2017 08:25

I'm usually a lurker but have to reply to this.

YABVU! My OH was wiped out by a car driver pulling out of a road as he drove past, falling into oncoming traffic that somehow managed to stop in time not to run him over 2 weeks before our 3rd child was born and a week before Christmas.
Car drivers are a lot safer inside our little metal boxes than motorcyclists will ever be.
Some car drivers and motorcyclists drive like twats, that doesnt mean all motorcyclists do that!
My uncle died coming off his bike, it completely tore my grandparents lives apart (I was only small so don't remember him a lot)
My other uncle stopped riding because it just wasn't safe.

The amount of car and van drivers that try to drive into my OH are unreal, he has at least one near miss a week and it isn't because he's carelessly zipping about with no regard for other drivers! He's a very careful and observant driver, especially since his accident. He's actually a nightmare to drive with, he's constantly worrying that something is going to go wrong, I don't brake early enough etc etc. All because hes traumatised from nearly dying due to car drivers carelessness and 'I didn't see him!'

expatinscotland · 20/01/2017 08:28

What an odd thing to be annoyed with. YABU.

marmitemadness · 20/01/2017 08:28

And he wears hiviz protective clothing, his helmet is bright blue with fishes all over it, he rides a 125 but it's not a ped, it's a big suzuki maruader!

Lostpangolin · 20/01/2017 08:33

I ride a bike. Due to my high seating position, I often see car , van and truck drivers on their phones, tablets or eating and drinking. I occasionally ride quickly, I use the manoeuvrability, power and small (in relation to cars) size to make progress. I regularly undertake more training, which I pay for. There are dickheads in all walks of life, including most road users. Drive with an awareness of others and it's better for all of us.

FaithAgain · 20/01/2017 08:40

YABVU but I suspect you already know that.

AChickenCalledKorma · 20/01/2017 08:40

Bikers, cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders.

All vulnerable human beings who are perfectly entitled to use the road.

The number of car drivers who seem to forget that is terrifying.

I see car drivers speeding, taking risks, eating at the wheel, sending a quick text every single day. People driving their cars badly seems to be socially acceptable, whereas every biker and cyclist is branded "irresponsible" because of the actions of a small minority.

(My husband commutes on a bicycle. I'd be very grateful if you would look out for him today as well, even if there isn't an add campaign telling you how.)