Advocacy & Safety - So now we have to look out for motorcycles too?

Here are two articles about a bicyclist that was killed by a motorcyclist. This happended within a few miles from home, but not someone that I think I know. The comments following the first article are typical of what we face around these neck o' da' woods.
http://www.news4jax.com/news/20376386/detail.html?dsq=14821802#comment-14821802
http://jacksonville.com/community/my_clay_sun/2009-08-12/story/1_person_killed_in_clay_county_accident

Sorry no more to say for now (its past my bed time and I'd gotten distracted by the comments), discuss it amoungst yourselves.

I for one haven't had any real issues with motorcyclists. I did have some teenagers riding street/dirt motorcycles pass me a few weeks back, and one made a pedaling motion with his feet as he went by, other than that, motorcyclists have been respectful toward me.

Oh man. That's terrible. Given the time of day that I ride, mid AM, I usually don't see many motorcycles for whatever reason. I ride all over Orlando and I can tell you that there is no love lost for cyclists. Florida is one hell of a place to drive a car let alone a bike. It really seems like a horribly unfortunate incident. There could have been so many factors. But in the end, in this state at least, the responsibility lies with the motorcycle. If it were two cars the one coming up from behind would be at fault. Unless of course the biker was right on top of Mr. Coulter when Anthony made his move. It's tragic.

PS- Don't have a link, but I caught a thread on here about a cyclist in the UK that was jailed for hitting and killing a pedestrian. It's like a f***in food chain, and I don't like my chances.

Screw motorcyclists. Tell them to get there fat arse off the bike and actually work to get up hills. I had some jackass do that "pedaling" thing while I was climbing a rather steep mountain pass. They are, well, quite stupid. It just gives me less reason to respect them or give them any room out there while driving. If their self esteem needs that much a boost, they truly are worthless in-duh-viduals. I've seen too many driving in bike lanes, parking on sidewalks - even locking to a BICYCLE rack, driving on the shoulder... I even had one turn in front of me and then tell me to "chill".

That's why I keep a pocket full of pennies. It straightens 'em right out. I don't take too kindly to mocking.

My favorite is catching one of these "pedaling" MFers at a light. **** changes when the can't speed away.

its really just so ignorant

"he shouldnt have been crossing with oncoming traffic!"

you gotta be a real idiot to pull something like that, ofcourse the cyclist waited untill it was clear, tried to cross, and BAM speeding motorcyclist.....................

What do you mean, "now"?

I don't think it is about looking for motorcycles as much as it is about looking before turning into traffic.

I admit I have the stereotypical view of people who ride motorcycles.Even though really the only negative thing that has happened to me is last year during the harley 105 anniversary some guy called me sally (haha).

So the other day I was riding down this faster road that runs along the lake, pretty much as fast as I could in the headwind. Mostly because I don't want to get run over by some guy going 45. So this motorcycle pulls up next to me and the guy is saying something and I'm thinking oh man what the hell is he going to say to me and I start to hear him and hes saying "pick it up, pick it up, pick it up". I couldn't stop laughing, that was awesome.

I admit I have the stereotypical view of people who ride motorcycles.Even though really the only negative thing that has happened to me is last year during the harley 105 anniversary some guy called me sally (haha).

So the other day I was riding down this faster road that runs along the lake, pretty much as fast as I could in the headwind. Mostly because I don't want to get run over by some guy going 45. So this motorcycle pulls up next to me and the guy is saying something and I'm thinking oh man what the hell is he going to say to me and I start to hear him and hes saying "pick it up, pick it up, pick it up". I couldn't stop laughing, that was awesome.
That rules.

I for one haven't had any real issues with motorcyclists. I did have some teenagers riding street/dirt motorcycles pass me a few weeks back, and one made a pedaling motion with his feet as he went by, other than that, motorcyclists have been respectful toward me.

Same here. I was out yesterday and, a motorcycle shared the lane with me, at a light. I didn't like the fact that he did it. But, He wasn't bringing about the end of civilization as we know it.

Sport bikes around here seem to like to buzz me and rev the engine really high right as they pass, regardless of which direction they're going... Looking for the "startle" but it just doesn't phase me.

You would think that motorcyclists would share our feelings on sharing the road...

Screw motorcyclists. ... They are, well, quite stupid. It just gives me less reason to respect them or give them any room out there while driving. If their self esteem needs that much a boost, they truly are worthless in-duh-viduals.

More hate, a product of ignorance and stupidity.

More hate true, but a product of experience. While bicycles can do similar things as motorcycles, the end result of things gone bad is usually worse on motorcycles, sometimes leading to other people getting killed. Those on motorcycles that have no regard for others lives don't deserve ANY respect. Again, as stated by a previous individual, you would think that motorcyclists would share our feelings on sharing the road.

More hate true, but a product of experience. While bicycles can do similar things as motorcycles, the end result of things gone bad is usually worse on motorcycles, sometimes leading to other people getting killed. Those on motorcycles that have no regard for others lives don't deserve ANY respect. Again, as stated by a previous individual, you would think that motorcyclists would share our feelings on sharing the road.

Any time you paint an entire class of people with the same brush you're guaranteed to get it wrong, whether it's their religion, their skin color, or their mode of transportation. Many bikers do share the feelings of cyclists with regard to sharing the road. But it's a large group of folks and some will not. If all your experiences with bikers have been negative, spend some time in front of a mirror.

any time you paint an entire class of people with the same brush you're guaranteed to get it wrong, whether it's their religion, their skin color, or their mode of transportation. Many bikers do share the feelings of cyclists with regard to sharing the road. But it's a large group of folks and some will not. If all your experiences with bikers have been negative, spend some time in front of a mirror.+1

So far bikers have been cool to me. Several times already, when a light turns green, they have ridden beside me (when I ride quickly) and given me smiles. The ones in all their leather seem to be the coolest.

SD mike and probably others seem quite as polarized as they cast others to be. Quite silly and uncalled for. Quite a few of us ride both, I imagine, just as most of us cycle and drive autos.

From my experience, very few motorcyclists intentionally harass cyclists. Certainly a little foot pedaling action hardly counts. At least the fellow saw you!! Buzzing - well. That's stupid. The fellow moving 50 is going to get lots more hurt than the fellow doing 15 if there's a little clip.

I might as well ask why cyclists are so rude; few of them return my wave or salute when I'm on a moto.

This accident seems like a variation on a dart out. Cyclist from shoulder swings across traffic and gets hit by motorcyclist alleged to be speeding. Was the motorcyclist speeding? We don't know. Even if he was, did that contribute to the collision? Again, we don't know. People fail to see cyclists and motorcyclists all the time. Cyclist could have just overlooked the motorcyclist and turned in front of him.

And hairnet, those of us in leather or armored cordura are indeed the coolest motorcyclists. Especially compared to those getting skin grafts!!

It is pretty funny. When I'm cycling I talk to the motorcyclists and they act funny at first, and vice versa. The funniest thing is to roll up to the Harley dealership or something or other on my road bike in full gear. Hysterical to watch! Separates the bikers from the posers. The bikers think my carbon bling bike is cool. The posers turn up their noses.

I generally have no issue with motorcycles; get more respect from other two-wheelers than I ever do from car drivers. We even have a chuckle most times: "OK, yours is faster, but I get better mileage!" (One smartazz wanted to be cute: "Mine sounds better, too." Big whoop.)

This whole incident sounds like two people in the wrong place at the wrong time; blame is pretty trivial.

I also get a lot of revved motors just as they pass, don't know what that's about. I could do without it. You have to look out for everyone. As much as I feel endangered by motorists, cyclists are also dangerous.

My general experience is that, like anything else there are good and bad. Around here, a stone's throw from the accident, we have many different types a motorcyclists. Too many ride in shorts and flip flops without helmets on cruisers/choppers and crotch rockets. I love seeing the guys going by with their girls on the back and only one with a helmet. It makes you wonder how that went down, "Get on the back, and no I'm not wearing that helmet." Or maybe "Lets go to bike night, I'm not wearing a helmet, its not far and I don't want to muss my hair."

Anyway, I haven't had any more problems with motorcycles than other motorists. The annoyances have been pretty evenly shared, except that many of the cruiser/chopper rider don't have mufflers (loud pipes make me wanna play RoadRage) and even if they approach respectfully they often throttle up as they pass at a blaring volume (if not speed).

As for the accident above, it has come through the neighborhood grapevine that Culter was a pedestrial on a bicycle and the motorcycle swung out from behind a car at a section of a 6 lane road that goes out of suburbia and the speed limit increases from 45-55. Now why this guy was riding a bike down the shoulder needing to make an unregulated left, when there is a controlled intersection just back up the road, is beyond me.

As to the speed of the motorcycle, it has been said by known leos that it was excessive. Granted, I've not heard that directly from those involved with the investigation

In my experience there are "bikers" and then there are "motorcyclists" Just like there are people who ride bicycles and then there are "Cyclists", I happen to belong to the Cyclist and Motorcyclist group. The difference is, I know what I am doing on either two wheeled vehicle and am constantly on the lookout for anyone or anything that could take me off my bike regardless of which one I am on. I also wear all the gear all the time (ATGAT) when on my motorcycle, dress for the crash not the ride. When some one finds out I ride a motorcycle the first thing they usually ask is what kind of Harley do I ride. Much to their surprise HD is not the only motorcycle on the road. The general public either thinks of us as leather wearing wanna be bad asses or dare devils on crotch rockets. Neither is necessarily accurate just as not all bicycle riders are drunks without a drivers license or spandex wearing racers. The bottom line is as long as there are people on two wheels sharing the road some of them will give the rest of us a bad name so let's not generalize either group, not all of us fit either stereotype. Oh yeah FWIW I have a lot more miles on bicycles than I do motorcycles and have been riding both for a very long time. I am sorry to hear about both riders going down and the death of the cyclist, it was clearly operator error on the part of the motorcycle my thoughts and prayers are with both families.

A couple of days ago I had a motorcyclist rev his engine loudly when he was along side me, but it was not intended for me. We were both going down a slightly inclined roadway close together at about 30 mph, when a motorist pulled out in front of us both.

We both hit the brakes hard since the motorist took their time getting across the road, and the motorcyclist revved his engine, while looking a the motorist, to show his displeasure. Since I'm prepared for this type of incident on a daily basis, it was just another reflex action on my part, and even if I did yell at the motorist, it would have been a mute point.(literally, the Harley's twin pipes were not factory ones)

I wiped out bicycling on the road the other day. Two people stopped to help me. One, driving his company's delivery truck, rides MTBs. The other fellow, in an SUV, was wearing Harley colors.

OTOH, I just took a ride with my brother in his car on the Merritt Parkway. Lane-splitting isn't legal in Connecticut, but there were two dimbulbs on riceburners passing everybody by weaving on either side of the lane lines. Jerks.

Moral: There's good and bad examples in every group.

Kevin

SD mike and probably others seem quite as polarized as they cast others to be. Quite silly and uncalled for. Quite a few of us ride both, I imagine, just as most of us cycle and drive autos.

From my experience, very few motorcyclists intentionally harass cyclists. Certainly a little foot pedaling action hardly counts. At least the fellow saw you!! Buzzing - well. That's stupid. The fellow moving 50 is going to get lots more hurt than the fellow doing 15 if there's a little clip.

I might as well ask why cyclists are so rude; few of them return my wave or salute when I'm on a moto.

This accident seems like a variation on a dart out. Cyclist from shoulder swings across traffic and gets hit by motorcyclist alleged to be speeding. Was the motorcyclist speeding? We don't know. Even if he was, did that contribute to the collision? Again, we don't know. People fail to see cyclists and motorcyclists all the time. Cyclist could have just overlooked the motorcyclist and turned in front of him.

And hairnet, those of us in leather or armored cordura are indeed the coolest motorcyclists. Especially compared to those getting skin grafts!!

It is pretty funny. When I'm cycling I talk to the motorcyclists and they act funny at first, and vice versa. The funniest thing is to roll up to the Harley dealership or something or other on my road bike in full gear. Hysterical to watch! Separates the bikers from the posers. The bikers think my carbon bling bike is cool. The posers turn up their noses.

Well said!:thumb:

My general experience is that, like anything else there are good and bad.

The annoyances have been pretty evenly shared, except that many of the cruiser/chopper rider don't have mufflers (loud pipes make me wanna play RoadRage).

I agree -- I remember when loud pipes from a couple of local Outlaws (affiliated w/ the 'club')would rattle my windows and make me growl; now, though, I'll listen to that any day, ALL day, rather than hear the !@#$%^&*( thumpin' BASS thug stereos! I get a little tired of hearing someone drive by a HALF-MILE AWAY!

Point of explanation, generally the better motorcyclists will slow for hazards then accelerate to clear the hazard. Dogs, cyclists, blind driveways, known bad road surfaces. This acceleration will give a certain increase in volume, especially if it involves a downshift. So extra noise when passing may well not be intended to alarm.

That doesn't excuse illegally loud pipes.

Also, most noise goes back, so many motorcyclists have no idea how loud their pipes really are. Certainly at speed I can barely hear my pipes - I can hear the engine noises more easily. Motorcyclists tend to either have ear plugs (me) or be slightly deaf (me).

Mine is quiet enough that I've snuck up on people. So I tend to pull in the clutch and rev a little 50 yards back from cyclists. Attempt not to surprise people.

Point of explanation, generally the better motorcyclists will slow for hazards then accelerate to clear the hazard. Dogs, cyclists, blind driveways, known bad road surfaces. This acceleration will give a certain increase in volume, especially if it involves a downshift. So extra noise when passing may well not be intended to alarm.

That doesn't excuse illegally loud pipes.

Also, most noise goes back, so many motorcyclists have no idea how loud their pipes really are. Certainly at speed I can barely hear my pipes - I can hear the engine noises more easily. Motorcyclists tend to either have ear plugs (me) or be slightly deaf (me).

Mine is quiet enough that I've snuck up on people. So I tend to pull in the clutch and rev a little 50 yards back from cyclists. Attempt not to surprise people.

Lately, I've only caught one ped off guard, but usually I seldom startle anyone due to my "loud" bicycling attire ;)

Point of explanation, generally the better motorcyclists will slow for hazards then accelerate to clear the hazard. Dogs, cyclists, blind driveways, known bad road surfaces. This acceleration will give a certain increase in volume, especially if it involves a downshift. So extra noise when passing may well not be intended to alarm.

... Motorcyclists tend to either have ear plugs (me) or be slightly deaf (me).

Mine is quiet enough that I've snuck up on people. So I tend to pull in the clutch and rev a little 50 yards back from cyclists. Attempt not to surprise people.

As someone who once rode both a t-bucket chopper and a rice burning scooter this make absolutly no sense to me what so ever.

1) Where as I understand slowing to clear any obsticle/hazard, maybe even those that aren't wven in the lane (ie shoulder or bike lane), there is never an excuse to sharply accelerate as or immediately after passing anyone, pedestrian, cyclist, motorist or elsewise. This is plain assinine, inferiority complex behavior that should be erradicated. No excuses.

2) I don't know about where you live, but it is illegal to have any type of plugs/earphones in your ears in the state of fla while operating any type of vehicle, including bicycles. Of course there is the exception of handsfree phone adapters, which normally only involve one ear (and in my opinion should be wore on the inside ear as to leave the road side ear open to hear sirens etc).

3) Is it really possible to say that your MC is so quiet that you've snuck up on people while also saying that you wear earplugs? WTF? As has been stated, while riding at speed the driver of a MC can not tell how loud their pipes really are, however they say "loud pipes save lives." In an auto, one can't hear the pipes untill the MC passes and often these pipes are purposely directed at the driver's window of an auto. I've even seen Jesse James state that intention on his TV show.

4) Once again, epic fail on reving the engine behind anyone or thing with total disregard for anyone else. See point 1.

OTOH, I just took a ride with my brother in his car on the Merritt Parkway. Lane-splitting isn't legal in Connecticut, but there were two dimbulbs on riceburners passing everybody by weaving on either side of the lane lines. Jerks.

Man, some people are just plain nuts. This reminded me that a couple weeks ago I was in my car on MD 29and saw a guy IN A CAR (granted, a compact) come flying past me and edge through the gap between two cars ahead of me that were driving next to one another, in adjacent lanes. Craziest thing I've ever seen anyone do on the road before. I couldn't believe he was really gonna do it -- or make it through -- until he did. Not a damn reason for it, either, as the road wasn't crowded. :notamused:

Man, some people are just plain nuts. This reminded me that a couple weeks ago I was in my car on MD 29and saw a guy IN A CAR (granted, a compact) come flying past me and edge through the gap between two cars ahead of me that were driving next to one another, in adjacent lanes. Craziest thing I've ever seen anyone do on the road before. I couldn't believe he was really gonna do it -- or make it through -- until he did. Not a damn reason for it, either, as the road wasn't crowded. :notamused:
Next time someone pulls some c**p like that keep an eye on them. Half the time (in your car) you'll end up behind them at the next light. It's hilarious how many times someone will whip around me and jump in front of me just to be stopped by the same red light 30 seconds later.