Not a bike-cicle an actual motorcycle. I ask because in the past week or two I've been on the road and seen stupid a** riders fly by all the cars in between the lane dividers. For one I know it's illegal. But two, why the hell would you do that? Some of these people on the road don't even look while changing lanes and with you going 80 miles per hour between 2 feet of space anyone that even nicks you will probably cause a major wreck. I almost ran into one of them and was almost wishing I did just to teach them a lesson, but I'm not that evil. I know there's no way you that perform these acts of idiocy will stop but I do ask, why would you? Really, how smart is that?
I think you can expand this to apply to both motorcycles and bicycles. They constantly ride between cars, ride two to a lane, turn without signaling, run red lights and stop signs (for bicycles), etc. And then, they have the temerity to ask car drivers to be careful and look out for THEM? In Austin, the bicycle problem is pretty bad. Motorcyclist, not so much.
Splitting lanes on a motorcycle is illegal in Texas, but it's pretty common in other places. It happens a lot in California, but in places like Israel or Italy it's the rule rather than the exception I do it on a bicycle in slow (as in surface streets and standstill) traffic, but that's kind of reasonable. I never rode a motorcycle much. I had an old roommate that loved defying death on a Harley on LA freeways and once lost all of his remaining teeth (and existing dentures) in a bad spill after splitting a lane between a pickup and an 18 wheeler. On I-10. In rush hour. In the rain.
Most of us are from Texas (like me) so I wouldn't know plus everything is legal in Cali so why the fu** not!
Except bicycles aren't allowed on the highway...at least not here... Maybe everything is wackier in Texas
Yeah, I've been seeing it a lot lately. Splitting lanes and swerving back and forth in traffic at a high rate of speed. I just mark it down as a "death wish."
I ride a motorcycle, and I've never split lanes. That being said, when it's done properly, it is safe barring someone in a cage getting mad and opening a door in front of you. In California, you cannot go faster than 10-mph above the speed of traffic, and you cannot split lanes if traffic is moving faster than 30-mph. Whitelining (or worse, yellow-lining) at 80-mph should only be done if you want to die before you're 30.
Of course, it's when drivers cut a cyclist off, violating their right of way (swinging an unprotected left turn, swinging right turns without a blinker and yakking on a cell looking only to the left) - cyclists get a broken collarbone. Remind me how many drivers have died in the last couple of years in a car-bike accident....and remind me how many of those involved a cyclist pulling a hit and run. When a cyclist rides between cars (99% of the time, this means the cars are backed up at a light or stop sign)....tell me again how the drivers get screwed? Nearly all cyclists are drivers. Nearly all drivers don't bike. One population has a better perspective than the other. I do everything I can not to cause any driver anywhere to have to touch their brakes, I do everything I can not to impede traffic (avoid riding on roads at all costs)....but it's incredibly aggravating putting up with drivers violating my right of way at intersections because they can't handle 3 extra seconds in their mobile living room.
I wonder if there is a statistic about who gets in more accidents, etc....those who ride the standard cruiser type motorcycle or those who ride the ninja crotch rockets. I am always careful on my bike - its a Yamaha V-Star 650 but I always see crazy people on sport bikes weaving it between lanes, going 100 mph. Those people are crazy.
^ Crazy isn't the wording I'd use. F***ing stupid is what I call them. I'm so tempted to open my door when I see one of these morans coming. Will be this weekend. The crotch rockets will be up and down I-35 for the Texas Relay weekend.
I ride safely on my Harley. I don't see the joy in speeding and splitting lanes on my leisure biking time. My friends ride crazy on their Harleys, crazy mofo's. I usually get uneasy when there's a motorcycle in front of me when I'm in my car. I'm afraid if I bump into them just a little bit they'd flip and I'd be responsible for a fatal crash. I don't actually own a Harley, nor do I have Harley buddies...
I have a crotch rocket, but dont drive crazy, especially in traffic. I do drive fast though, but I drive my 335i faster than my bike. If I feel like going fast, I get in the left lane only, and if someone is going slower in front of me, i slow down, i dont dart in between the cars. I prefer to live.
Thanks wes. I didn't know the specifics of lane splitting in California. Years ago it was the second year riders that topped the "most accidents" list. It didn't matter your bike style at all. It suggested that the first year riders were playing it safe. After they got some experience in them they started to take chances. But now I suspect the first year riders on rice burners top the list. leroy420, I've been tempted to stick my foot through a window when drivers don't look or don't use blinkers to change lanes. It really goes both ways you know.
I sold my bike a couple of years ago, I miss it so bad......but basically the time to ride just shrank. Agreed on the crotch rockets weaving in and out of traffic...that is so stupid it is not funny. Years ago in Houston on 610, one bike passed me doing this...and about 5 minutes later we drove up and his bike was a mess and he was dying on the pavement. Such a waste. DD
Feel you, DD. Marriage really changed my riding habits, but I'll won't sell. (thank buddha the misses don't mind my bike taking up space in the garage. )
I often wonder how otherwise sane, life-loving people think riding motorcycles is anything but a stupid idea. I'm not exactly Mr. Safety Guy but even I know enough about physics and human nature to realize I cut my rate of survival significantly if I chose to ride a motorcycle somewhere as opposed to driving a car. Even in my young days where I did all kinds of stupid **** I never thought riding a motorcycle was very smart (unless that's the only transportation you can afford). I know not all of you motorcycle riders are macho-wannabes or men afflicted with little man syndrome so tell me what motivates you to take such a pointless risk.
I hung on to mine for years too, but then just ran out of people to ride with, and kids sports just took all my time. I will get another one some day.....my college roomate is still holding his bike, but he never rides either.... He told me last week he is going to sell.....time marches on....I guess. DD
For me it wasn't motivation, but continuing a family tradition. But man, by stating its a "pointless risk" convinces me that there will be no words good enough for you to get you on a bike. In fact, I can't think of anything to say to convince you that riding in the Dakotas is a religious experience, or that riding down the highway with nothing but the wind in your hair is a sweet form of freedom. Please know that there are more than one type of biker. Some of us like the long road, some of us wants to shorten a city block. Some of us wants to go to another state while others are going for a pack of smokes. Some, like my Dad, leads the Honor Guard riders, some, like me, rather ride alone. So, is bike riding pointless? Maybe to you, but for me and a million other riders, it's a form of expression, a form of freedom. One thing I relate to a lot is thinking I'm a lone cowboy on my horse with my bag of beans. I could've been a damn good cowboy!!!! :grin:
