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

[Tinkerbell7373]

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 !'

[barinatxe]

YABU. Motorcyclists are not the most selfish or most dangerous people on the roads. Riders of two-wheeled vehicles are, just not the motorized variety.

[DeidrePewtey]

barinatxe what an incredibly ignorant post. 2500 people are killed on the roads in the UK each year. The number killed by cyclists is pretty much zero. Plenty of car drivers speed, talk on mobiles, smoke pot, drink, don't look at junctions, etc, etc.,

[PassTheWineAndFags]

Actually I agree with you. A huge percent of motorbikes I cross paths with are speeding and most seem to think the speed limit does not apply. They often sit so close to my car getting irritated I don't immediately get out their way. I have seen lots of stupid driving by all road users but seen some breath taking risks taken by bikers.

All road deaths are horrific but I don't assume that all bike deaths are as a result of another vehicle, nor all the fault of the biker. All road users have there share of good and bad.

I get your point. Its a volatile subject, obviously, but I think a generic campaign pitched at all road users would be far more beneficial.

(From someone who lost a family member to a crash caused by a biker)

[Olympiathequeen]

Just because someone is riding in a bit of a dickhead way (provided it's not dangerous to others) I'm always ultra careful of bikers. The simple reason is they are so vulnerable to serious injury and I don't want it on my conscience if they get in my blind spot and linger there and I end up killing them.

[forforkssake]

i sometimes ride pillion on DH's bike and just last summer i can count at least 4 times when we were pulled out on, nearly crashed into and the worse was when a bus decided to leave the bus stop, didnt look and missed us by about an inch - only thanks to my DH's experience...this is the reason for the think bike campaign..to remind drivers (myself included) that bikers and cyclists are much more vulnerable, so use a bit of sense and actually use your mirrors and check blind spots. so yes OP, YABVU..did you also get pissed off with the clunk, click every trip campaign?

[TSSDNCOP]

Every single day on the A2 and M25 when I drove to and from work you'd get bikes weaving across or undertaking, loads of them didn't wear Hi Vis and even if they do if there's low sun behind you it is really hard to see something that narrow if they don't have their lights on.

I'm more than happy to have the ads, the sound of that sickening crunch as the bike meets car isn't something you'd want to carry round with you. But as with some drivers being idiots, there are an awful lot of silly bikers. Not undercutting in motorway traffic should be biker mantra.

[BantyCustards]

Perhaps the statistics justify the money spent on the campaign?

[myfavouritecolourispurple]

Over ten years ago a work colleague told me that every accident involving a motorbike was the fault of the car driver.

I was incredulous. I thought every motorcyclist drove at 70mph in 30 limits etc. I had very rarely encountered a careful motorcyclist.

I feel like things have changed because I do see a lot of people on motorbikes sticking to the rules of the road now. Maybe the motorcycle test is a lot more difficult to pass than the car driving test? i don't see people acting like idiots on motorbikes anymore. However, I see drivers of 4 wheel vehicles acting like idiots most days. So I think a THINK BIKE campaign is sorely needed.

However, the biggest problem is people on their mobile phones. Unless and until we make it as socially unacceptable as drink driving, we will continue to have horrible accidents on our roads.

[NoBetterName]

TSSDNCOP, "is really hard to see if they don't have their lights on".

You do realise that you cannot switch the lights off on modern motorbikes don't you?

Further, as said earlier upthread, I ride a fully liveried hi-vis emergency service bike (in addition to my own). Even on a hi-vis bike with hi-vis vest and helmet (and it's a huge bike, especially with the necessary attached panniers) I still have drivers pulling out straight in front of me, including when I've been on an active call. So let's stop the victim blaming about lack of lights, lack of hi-vis etc and perhaps focus on look, look and look again.

[Lemonsole]

There is no one more dangerous on the roads than the car driver who is convinced that they are brilliant driver, and who seeks to deflect any perceived criticism onto other -usually more vulnerable- road users.

I'm a cyclist.

YABVVVVVVVU

[NoBetterName]

myfavourite, the motorcycle test is significantly harder than the car test these days. First you do a CHAT which is a one day basic training course allowing you to ride up to 125cc using L plates. Then, if you are over 19 you can start training for your A2 licence. This restricts you to motorcycles up to 47 bhp. You take two tests plus the theory, the first is an off road test which includes a slalom in and out of cones, two figures of 8, a U-turn within a restricted area, a controlled stop, an emergency stop from a minimum of 50km/HR and a swerve avoidance test from at least 50km/HR ending in a controlled stop. You are allowed no more than 5 minor errors on that test. This qualifies you for the on-road test where you are allowed on more than 10 minor errors and no more than 2 missed observations.

Once you've been riding for 2 years, or if you are over 24, you may take an unrestricted test. This is the same as the A2 test, so basically it is very expensive for young riders to get an unrestricted licence and even if you've taken the A2 plus 2 years route, you'll be at least 21 before you've got an unrestricted licence. Compare that to 17 years for a car and a test where only 1 in 3 drivers will be asked to do an emergency stop!

[NoBetterName]

CHAT = CBT

Stupid autocorrect!

[TSSDNCOP]

NBN - no thanks I didn't since I'm not a motorcyclist, presumably not everyone drives a modern bike though because I often see bikes with no lights. Maybe as with people that buy older cars as their get to work vehicle, there are also people that buy older bikes.

If you'd refer carefully to my second paragraph I'm not entirely sure where you get the victim blaming accusation from. I think that comment is unfair. Do you think it is safe for a motorcyclist to undertake? It isn't safe for a car to do so.

[randomsabreuse]

I spent a fair amount of time driving a small low car - plenty of people pulled out in front of it - the same happened in my DHs old SUV. People don't bother to look - they are dicks. There are also bikers who are dicks, they are more "visible" than the sensible majority...

[NoBetterName]

The headlights coming on automatically when the ignition is on became mandatory in around 2002/3 (can't remember exactly), so when I say "modern" bikes I mean those made in the last 15 years or so. Of course, the effect of bikes having their lights on in the daytime is diluted by the fact that cars also often run with their lights on in the daytime too. There is also evidence to suggest that lights actually make it more difficult to accurately judge speed. Lateral movement from bikes whilst approaching junctions can help bikers to be spotted because the brain recognises lateral movement easier than something coming straight towards them.

I have never said I think it is safe for a motorcyclist to undertake. Where on earth did you get that idea from? . However, if a motorcyclist does undertake he or she may pay the ultimate price for it if car drivers don't check and double check for the presence of any vehicles before changing lanes. Something any road user should be doing in any case. Of course some bikers ride dangerously, as do some car drivers. Part of advanced riding/driving is anticipating the behaviour of others on the road and altering your own riding/driving accordingly. As I tell my children, "two wrongs don't make a right". To be clear, that does not mean dangerous riding is OK, but if someone is riding in a way that a driver perceives to be dangerous, he or she then has a responsibility to alter their own behaviour on the road accordingly.

Btw, I forget the figures, but did you know that in most collisions involving cars and bikes at junctions that resulted in death or serious injury, the driver's almost always reported that the rider was exceeding the speed limit. However, in the majority of cases this was actually proven NOT to be the case. In fact, according to government figures, 47% of collisions involving at least one motorcycle and another type of vehicle the cause was recorded as "failed to look properly". By comparison only 5% recorded the cause as "speed"

[MyWineTime]

Why are car drivers continually told to watch out for bikes ? Are motorcyclists continually told to watch out for cars ?
How many car drivers or passengers do you know who have been killed by a biker who has walked away uninjured?
Car drivers kill bikers because when they look down the road they don't "THINK BIKE" - not the other way around.
The reckless bikers are more likely to end up killing themselves.

[Pacific]

I have recently returned to biking after driving scooters and mopeds when younger. I am now progressing through the procedures to get my full A licence. Co-incidentally my DD is doing her driving test at the same time.

I am absolutely appalled at the abuse my DD has suffered as a young female learner and every single time it has been from middle -aged men.

But this thread is about bikers. I have been riding my learner 125 for about 3 months now and I constantly have people pull out in front of me, SMIDSY. I also filter very carefully at traffic lights (perfectly legal) and have had cars try to race me away from the lights. It becomes even worse if it is a white van and they realise it is an older woman on a motorbike.

So, I drive extremely defensively and I am constantly on high alert for erratic car driving/white van driving. I also take great care around horses and most HGV drivers are careful around me.

I also watch for dogs! They often don't like bikes and bark like mad. It is usually funny to watch but I once had a huge off lead German shepherd chase me. Not funny for me or the dog dashing out into traffic.

OP. yavvvvvvvvvu but I hope you have learned something from this thread.

I love my bike and love the gear (leather trousers ha ha) and love driving through the countryside on a beautiful sunny winters day. Try it OP!

[NoBetterName]

Good luck with your test, Pacific. If it helps, I find it is better to wear nothing which would immediately identify me as female whilst on the bike. I own no pink gear and I tuck my hair away so it can't be seen. Seeing a female on a bike is like a red rag to a bull to a certain type of driver.

[Pacific]

Thank you, NoBetterName. I try to be androgenous on the bike as I have been warned about 'certain types of driver' .

I just wear a standard Revit jacket but the aforementioned leather trousers do make me curvy. Also, I have a white helmet for safety and i have noticed that only women and emergency services wear white helmets so it is a bit of a giveaway. I do tuck my hair away too.

I enjoyed your very eloquent posts upthread. I am intending doing advanced training asap but I have to do MOD 1+2 (booked in April). Pooping myself about the tests but I have booked courses and practices. I am preparing the very best I can.

[NoBetterName]

Thanks

[strugglingstepdad]

@Pacific you'll be fine. Most of the test is the road craft you've learnt already

[Pacific]

Thank you, strugglingstepdad. Roadcraft is fine as I have had a car licence for decades and have done advanced (car) driving courses.

I am great fun with it and can't wait to get on a bigger bike!

[Pacific]

I am HAVING great fun

[LadyFlumpalot]

In the summer we were involved in an RTA with a motorcyclist. Basically we were the last in a traffic jam, completely stationary when a chap on a motorbike rode into the back of our car. Just a complete accident on his part (the sun was in his eyes and he didn't see us).

Our car looked like we had reversed into a dustbin. A tiny tiny dent and a bit of a scratch.

Motorcyclist - broken collar bone, broken arm, smashed hand, smashed knee, broken ribs and a destroyed bike.

That's why they say "think bike" because motorcyclists are just so much more vulnerable than cars.

[LadyFlumpalot]

Although I do wish that motorcyclists (and everyone) would also think about junctions on roads.

I live on the junction of a 50mph main A road. The junction is on a long, gentle curve. If the road is clear to the vanishing point when I pull out I can have someone doing the speed limit in my rear view mirror by the time I'm
accelerating away. If someone is coming round that corner at 60 mph they are up my arse my the time I'm accelerating. I dread to think what would happen if one day someone takes that corner at 70 or 80 as I'm pulling out.