Lies, Damned Lies, and This!

[bogan]

Well, my boss keeps getting on my case about the dangers of riding motorcycles, so Ill see what I can do with the stats out there.

From this (http://www.ecan.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/1BAE6989-B816-4B45-A90F-90F2C5828213/0/JeanSimpsonPresentation.pdf) it says we're 18 times more likely to be in serious accident than the cagers. Heard that before, but 18 times more likely than what? I've never heard an actual probability.

Fatalities (http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/780634) for the last few years, combined with the registered motorcycle count in above article give 0.000441 fatality chance per year, this doesn't take into account rider demographic.

Another stat I'd like to throw into the mix (or in this case take out of the mix) is the chance of a rider fault crash, personally I feel I'm less likely to cause a crash on my bike than in my cage. So taking the rider fault out of the mix from here (http://www.aa.co.nz/aadirections/driver/Pages/Accident-Analysis.aspx) it is around 73.5% which is a lot higher than I though it'd be. Now the chance of being killed on the road is 0.000117 per year, excluding rider fault.

Now I plan to be riding for at least 50 years, the chance of surviving is (1-chance of death)^50.

So taking rider fault into account the chance of death is 2.18% for 50 years of riding.

Without rider fault accidents the chance of death is 0.58% for 50 years of riding.

Dunno about you guys but I can certainly live with those odds!

[cheesemethod]

How unpatriotic of you suggesting that riding a motorcycle could be considered safe. Calm down and take your folate.

[miSTa]

He/she is your boss not your mother, tell them to fuck off.

[Squiggles]

To fuckup your calculations, i currently own 2 registered motorcycles (last year owned 4)...
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129276834&postcount=62 may be of some use, although you're mostly pissing into the wind.

[bogan]

To fuckup your calculations, i currently own 2 registered motorcycles (last year owned 4)...
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1129276834&postcount=62 may be of some use, although you're mostly pissing into the wind.

yeh, thought someone would pick up on that, but it still gives a general idea which is all I was after

[p.dath]

Your boss is right. It is dangerous riding a motorcycle. It's more dangerous than driving a car.

It's a calculated risk us riders are aware of, but choose to accept and ride anyway.

Driving in a car is also a calculated risk - and one that car drivers accept.

Ditto walking on the foot path.

[James Deuce]

Pssst. It's none of his business.

[Headbanger]

Every time he brings up bikes, You should ask him about his sex life.

[YellowDog]

I had something quite similar from my preveous boss. He didn't say anything directly however he just made the odd negative comment.

His 15km journey to work too 55 minutes each day. My 15km journey took around 12 minutes. One of us was happy and smiling after an exhilarating blat down the motorway.

What a Tosser!

[serious4]

Riding bikes is dangerous. Your boss is right. Good effort on trying to statically shut him up but:clap:

[Ms Piggy]

Well, my boss keeps getting on my case about the dangers of riding motorcycles...
To feck with the stats - if you choose to ride a motorcycle it's your choice! What business of his/hers is it?

I remember my mates flatmate asking me: "Why do you ride 1 of those death machine?", my reply was: "Because I love riding those death machines", I think he had thought I'd say something else cos he shut up. Dork!

[swbarnett]

Damn I feel lucky, never had a negative word out of my boss regarding my bike obsession. They even set aside one car space for the three regular bike commuters in my building. In the car park that's reserved for only top managers (which we're anything but).

If my boss pestered me about the "evils" of motorcycling I'd be looking for another job.

[kevfromcoro]

I still get that shit all the time....

iam to old to ride. motorcycle satcics.. well a lot of it true.

but in some ways i think you are more safer on a bike.

its just something we live with...

you are going to get it for the rest of your life...
but fuck them.. we all ride

[Genestho]

Despite what the stat's or the boss says
People ride because it's not just a mode of transportation, it's a lifestyle.

It's the eye watering view coming over a hill, it's the west coast of the south island and the amazing bitchumen, the passes (I'm talking Lindes and Arthurs), the many twisties on offer in our countryside - knowing you could reach down and touch the road... the adrenalin... the 'zone'.
It's the pulling up somewhere with your friends, grins plastered on. Stories and yarns, the comraderie of experiences shared. Tenting in snow...(ugh)
The grunt in the rain.
Stinky smelly hot leathers, and the rigamoral of putting everything on, and taking everything off to go to the toilet, the wet stinky leathers leaving your legs black in the rain.

It's the feel and the sound of Jappas through to rowdy Harleys, in a group, enjoying and sharing the same space.
That's what it's all about :thud:

[Kickaha]

He/she is your boss not your mother, tell them to fuck off.

Abusing another member of staff is serious misconduct he could be sacked for that :rolleyes: :bleh:

[Phurrball]

Simply put, you're boss is right...statistically right anyway...

However, you're 100% likely to be happier riding your bike than trading it for a cage because of 'statistical risk'. (time and convenience are also cited here)

There's a reason that riders wave and nod to one another. We know and enjoy something that 'pure' cagers are oblivious to...the sheer pleasure of motorcycling...

...and I fuggin love it - as I'm sure you and every other rider on here does too!

[klingon]

It's dangerous riding a motorbike. It's dangerous riding a pedal bike. It's dangerous being a pedestrian. It's dangerous driving an older car that doesn't have all the airbags and everything-assisted brakes. Driving any vehicle above about 50kph is very dangerous.

Swimming is dangerous. Jogging is dangerous. Going outside when the ground is icy is dangerous. Or even when the ground is wet and slippery. Going up or down wet stairs is positively lethal!

I bet it's more dangerous wearing high-heeled shoes than it is wearing flats. Jandals are dangerous because they don't have a heel-strap to hold them on. Lace-up shoes are dangerous because I know someone who tripped over his laces. You should never just wear socks on a varnished wooden floor.

Every bathroom should have non-slip mats on the floor. In fact you should have a rubber mat on the floor of your bath or shower so you don't slip. You should never stand on a chair to reach a high cupboard.

Head injuries due to accidents in the home would be reduced considerably if everyone crawled instead of walking. They would be almost completely eliminated if we all slithered around on our bellies instead of crawling. While wearing helmets.

[rocketman1]

All good things involve risk, I done many risky things in my life, Driving drunk when I was younger, Surfing, I could have drowned; Snow skiing, I could hit a rock or broken a leg;Water skiing, break my neck; Tramping, get lost fall down or fall down a cliff; Fishing, the boat could sink and could have drowned; Cycling, take your life in your hands; Eating fatty foods, have a heart attack; Smoking, get lung cancer; Drive a car, enough said; Walking through the city late a night, get beaten up by low lifes; and many others.... wow it seems there are few dangers out there aye.
Riding a motorbike is another danger, My colleagues at work advise me of the risks of riding a motorbike, like.........., as if I didn't know.
Just tell you boss to curl up on little sofa at home, and dont venture outside, its a dangerous world, safer to just watch sport and recreation on TV.
God help him if we have another war, that thought will get him real scared.

[Supermac Jr]

my boss doesn't give me any trouble about the bike.
Um maybe is't because he also rides...

I do get the occasional 'take it easy' comment - all goood!!

[bogan]

Simply put, you're boss is right...statistically right anyway...

However, you're 100% likely to be happier riding your bike than trading it for a cage because of 'statistical risk'. (time and convenience are also cited here)

There's a reason that riders wave and nod to one another. We know and enjoy something that 'pure' cagers are oblivious to...the sheer pleasure of motorcycling...

...and I fuggin love it - as I'm sure you and every other rider on here does too!

exactly, its pretty hard to get that point across though. He just made me wonder what the actual probability was.

I think he's a bit put off cos he fell off a horse and confused '4's with 'g's for a while, bit of a pansy if you ask me.

One of the other benefits that I don't think is considered to often, is on a motorcycle you're far less likely to cause injury to somebody else, both cos its easier to avoid the accident, and you carry less mass, so less damage to the other party.

[gatch]

I remember my mates flatmate asking me: "Why do you ride 1 of those death machine?", my reply was: "Because I love riding those death machines"!

Gold.. Death machines, I'll have to remember that when I tell people about my hobbies.

[Conquiztador]

Ask your boss if he gets a wave from all other car drivers...

Lifestyle.

[MarkH]

I know that it is much more dangerous to ride a bike than drive a car - but I am an adrenaline junkie and I delight in taking risks.

Apart from riding I also cross the road as a pedestrian - I am sure there are stats to back up the assertion that crossing the road is dangerous, in fact potentially fatally so!

I have on a couple of occasions been fishing - the most dangerous sport in the country (in terms of fatalaties). In fact I had an uncle that died fishing (RIP).

I have also been tramping - I am sure we are all familiar with various cases in the news where someone has died tramping (including the Te Papa guy + companion - RIP).

I also handle and cook raw chicken (raw before I cook it, obviously) most weeks - big health risk, fatalities are possible.

I guess I am just a crazy risk taking fool!

[Badjelly]

...So taking rider fault into account the chance of death is 2.18% for 50 years of riding.

Without rider fault accidents the chance of death is 0.58% for 50 years of riding.

Dunno about you guys but I can certainly live with those odds!

Your call.

I'm not so sure about the assumption of no rider fault, though. :rolleyes: You never make mistakes?

[kevfromcoro]

It's dangerous riding a motorbike. It's dangerous riding a pedal bike. It's dangerous being a pedestrian. It's dangerous driving an older car that doesn't have all the airbags and everything-assisted brakes. Driving any vehicle above about 50kph is very dangerous.

Swimming is dangerous. Jogging is dangerous. Going outside when the ground is icy is dangerous. Or even when the ground is wet and slippery. Going up or down wet stairs is positively lethal!

I bet it's more dangerous wearing high-heeled shoes than it is wearing flats. Jandals are dangerous because they don't have a heel-strap to hold them on. Lace-up shoes are dangerous because I know someone who tripped over his laces. You should never just wear socks on a varnished wooden floor.

Every bathroom should have non-slip mats on the floor. In fact you should have a rubber mat on the floor of your bath or shower so you don't slip. You should never stand on a chair to reach a high cupboard.

Head injuries due to accidents in the home would be reduced considerably if everyone crawled instead of walking. They would be almost completely eliminated if we all slithered around on our bellies instead of crawling. While wearing helmets.

How true..
i read somewhere that a lady died by accidently dropping her hair dryer in the bath..
so lets all ban hair dryers..... and irons... and heaters.. and toasters,
toasters are a definit risk. to your heath.
were does it stop..

just keep riding. and tell ya boss to shove it.
or even beter
take him for a ride.................

[bogan]

Your call.

I'm not so sure about the assumption of no rider fault, though. :rolleyes: You never make mistakes?

course I make mistakes, though I like to think I make less than the average rider. Just thought that'd be an interesting way to manipulate the stats, and I'd be far more pissed off if someone else takes me out, not so much if I do it myself.