Bikers getting Older!

[TONO]

The following is an extract from the latest AA Directions Online.

Bike Alert

Take the helmet off a motorcyclist these days and you may be surprised. For the face of motorcycling is changing. Over the past 25 years, the average age of the motorcyclist has risen from 22 to 33 (in 2005). And while the perception might be that those threatening, black-clad bike riders are lawless and tough, they are more likely to be stockbrokers, corporate managers or teaching professionals than anything nefarious.

Statistics also show that most injuries and deaths of motorcyclists are in the 40 years-and-over age group.:sick:

Last year, 39 motorcyclists were killed and more than 900 were injured in road crashes. In around 40% of those accidents, the bike rider was not to blame.:yes: Many crashes happen at intersections, where oncoming motorcyclists are vulnerable to being overlooked.

In an effort to reduce the number of injuries and deaths among motorcyclists, ACC’s injury prevention unit is working to increase motorists’ awareness of bikes and to improve motorcycle safety in general.

ACC’s programme manager for motorcycle safety Phil Wright has been preparing the safety campaign and and is surprised at attitudes revealed in the process. “Courteous sharing of the road is a concept we endorse at least intellectually – but with the motorcyclist vs. car divide, the problem is quite serious.”

Surveyed car drivers confessed to considering the typical motorcyclist ‘a law unto themselves’ :woohoo: and that, while they were confident of seeing other cars and trucks, they might not notice a motorbike.:shit:

He also found that car drivers disapproved of motorcylists’ behaviour, believing that they ride too fast and carelessly.:zzzz:

“A recent phenomenon is lane-splitting where on motorways when traffic is slowed, motorcyclists dodge left and right passing the cars by riding along the dotted line. Legally the practice is doubtful,:innocent: although there is no specific lane-splitting regulation. Drivers get annoyed when motorcyclists do this;:whocares: however, they should contemplate that if all motorcylists drove cars, how much longer the queues would be. You can get eight motorbikes into one parking space taken by a car,:gob: so they help ease parking and congestion.”

Another factor motorists are urged to consider is that despite their relatively diminutive size, motorbikes can – and do – inflict damage :Playnice: on larger vehicles. There have been around 1300 intersection crashes involving motorbikes :dodge: and cars over the past five years; one car driver was killed and around 70 injured by the motorcycle.

As well as campaigning to increase motorist awareness of motorbikes, particularly at intersections, ACC also plans to promote defensive driving to motorcyclists.

[terbang]

I havn't been riding with or seen any oldies on bikes..Anyone out there know of a good roid cream..?

[Ixion]

And while the perception might be that those threatening, black-clad bike riders are lawless and tough, they are more likely to be stockbrokers, corporate managers or teaching professionals than anything nefarious.



Oh gawd. That's just what we need. NOT. So now Joe Soap will not only hate us, but despise us too.

[terbang]

He also found that car drivers disapproved of motorcylists’ behaviour, believing that they ride too fast and carelessly.



We may be a tad fast but not careless. Seen a few careless road users this morning talking on phones, applying lipstick and texting. They weren't on bikes..!

[Waylander]

All I can say is finally ome common sense.

And ofcourse the average age of bikers is rising. First off those bikers that were riding when in thier 20s are now in thier 40s or 50s, The rise in bike prices over the years doesn't help younger riders either, add with that the current trend to drive modified cages...

[doc]

Terbang I really like your Avatar, they are all role models to some.

[Deano]

And while the perception might be that those threatening, black-clad bike riders are lawless and tough, they are more likely to be stockbrokers, corporate managers or teaching professionals than anything nefarious.
.

Screw that - I'm black clad, lawless and tough, thanks very much.

[Motu]

Shit,they are spot on! I've just had a look....and discovered I've been getting older every bloody year! Why didn't anyone tell me about that? And here I was all these years thinking I was a spunky looking 22 year old....

[Grahameeboy]

Shit,they are spot on! I've just had a look....and discovered I've been getting older every bloody year! Why didn't anyone tell me about that? And here I was all these years thinking I was a spunky looking 22 year old....

Life's a learning curve eh...............age is just a number and so is the date?

[JimO]

Shit,they are spot on! I've just had a look....and discovered I've been getting older every bloody year! Why didn't anyone tell me about that? And here I was all these years thinking I was a spunky looking 22 year old....


i doubt you were ever a spunky 22 year old:yes:

[quallman1234]

Spot on im actually happy with AA actions for once, lets hope the campaign will actually be a decent one.

[Drum]

Whad'ya know. I'm above average after all.

[MidnightMike]

The rise in bike prices over the years doesn't help younger riders either

Got that right, their pathetic to say the least. :angry:

[Daffyd]

They're pretty sharp, these journalists. I've known I'm getting older for years!

[Viking Steven Poulson]

There is something we should all focus on as we mount our machines and that is we should always ride defensively no matter whether we have been riding for years or not or who we have been riding with it makes no difference there is always something or someone out there awaiting to bring us to a halt and usually quite abruptly so be carefull out there I have seen to many bros killed out there so ride on aware of whats out there forever two wheels:scooter:

[beyond]

Oldies on bikes?? Never. We're all still young :)

[jafar]

“A recent phenomenon is lane-splitting "

Since when has this been a "recent phenomenon" ?? :shutup:
Some have been doing it for years, interesting that there is no specific lane-splitting regulation though.... wonder if i can tell THAT to a cop? :dodge:

[Swoop]

That fuck*r called me a stockbroker or corporate manager???

WTF!!!

Where does he live? I'm on my way round to see him...:angry:

[terbang]

Gee I'm unique, he didn't mention bus drivers..

[BarBender]

Gee I'm unique, he didn't mention bus drivers..

Wonder what the ave age of scooter riders is?

[doc]

Every time I get a new one it's faster that the old one. Where the f..k are the regulations when you need them. 20 years times my estate should be able to sue the govt for their recklessness.

[Babelfish]

did a quick scan for the stats: http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/NewPDFs/NewFolder/motorcycle-crash-facts-may-2006.pdf

[MisterD]

Wonder what the ave age of scooter riders is?


Probably not much different, there's still a fair few old mods and 80's scooter boys keeping the demographic greyer and balder..

[Smokin]

one car driver was killed and around 70 injured by the motorcycle.

Damn, he must have been going fast.

[rainman]

Wonder what the ave age of scooter riders is?
It's the average IQ I'd be interested in... :ducks:

... I mean, have you seen 'em buzzing around with shorts, tee-shirts and jandals on?

[Delphinus]

84% of all injured motorcyclists and 93% of motorcyclist deaths are male

But what about the actual Male : Female ratio of the people actually riding the bikes?
What would be more accurate would be what percentage of male riders crashed vs what percentage of female riders crashed...

[SPman]

Getting older!

Why, I'll have you know, I'm not a day over 90

[Swoop]

did a quick scan for the stats: http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/NewPDFs/NewFolder/motorcycle-crash-facts-may-2006.pdf

Some interesting stuff in there! (for "statistics" of course - which can be twisted many ways)

I will no longer be able to ride on a Sunday afternoon or weekday afternoons (getting home from work might be an issue here...).
Morning rides may be more popular however!

[Edbear]

Gee I'm unique, he didn't mention bus drivers..



Cool! You drive a bus with retractable wheels!! And around 64,000 shaft/hp I believe..:innocent:

[mstriumph]

................And while the perception might be that those threatening, black-clad bike riders are lawless and tough, they are more likely to be stockbrokers, corporate managers or teaching professionals than anything nefarious. .........

...... in my humble opinion stockbrokers, corporate managers etc are MUCH more likely to be nefarious than us bikers :innocent:


- heck, i only WEAR black because it's sooooooooooo slimming :shutup:

[mstriumph]

Oldies on bikes?? Never. We're all still young :)

"Those the gods love die young .. no matter how old they be" anon :yes:

[smoky]

who do you consider to be old for a bike rider?
over 30
over 40
50
60+
I've been riding a bike for 27 years now - I would like to think i would get another 27

[Edbear]

I've been riding a bike for 27 years now - I would like to think i would get another 27



Wow! That's some bike...! :gob: I bet you've serviced it well! What is it? Must be a Suzuki...!:yes:

[smoky]

Wow! That's some bike...! :gob: I bet you've serviced it well! What is it? Must be a Suzuki...!:yes:

Gotta watch how ya say things here.
I've been riding bikes for that long - as well as sleeping, eating, working and all that sort of stuff.

[Edbear]

Gotta watch how ya say things here.
I've been riding bikes for that long - as well as sleeping, eating, working and all that sort of stuff.



LOL! I LOVE the English language! One can have so much fun with it...!:second:

[Ixion]

Wow! That's some bike...! :gob: I bet you've serviced it well! What is it? Must be a Suzuki...!:yes:

I've owned and ridden Tessa for 25 years. And she's a Suzuki.

[BAD DAD]

[or teaching professionals than anything nefarious.

WHAT is a teaching professional ? Is that a new PC term for nefarious, or is it some other deviant?

[McJim]

I've owned and ridden Tessa for 25 years. And she's a Suzuki.

How long have Suzuki been making Inflatable ladies?

The results are all my fault - I skewed the statistics by buying my first bike last year. Sorry.

[Pixie]

But what about the actual Male : Female ratio of the people actually riding the bikes?
What would be more accurate would be what percentage of male riders crashed vs what percentage of female riders crashed...

whatever the ratio, women will show a lower percentage in accident statistics.
This is due to a smaller percentage of women exhibit coprocephaly than men.

[Disco Dan]

[or teaching professionals than anything nefarious.

WHAT is a teaching professional ? Is that a new PC term for nefarious, or is it some other deviant?

I would assume... that maybe a teaching professional would infact be... * a teacher *


How long have Suzuki been making Inflatable ladies?


25 years acording to Ixion... :dodge:

My suzuki is very red... am I doing something wrong? :shutup:

[KATWYN]

We may be a tad fast but not careless. Seen a few careless road users this morning talking on phones, applying lipstick and texting. They weren't on bikes..!

If they were doing those things on a bike they would be darn clever :laugh:

[Bonez]

I've owned and ridden Tessa for 25 years. And she's a Suzuki.Well done. I've got 21 years out of two of my Hondas so far. Disposable motocycles phewwy!! Got a few grey hears in the process to prove it. ;) Age has nothing to do with it.

[DougB]

There is at least two of us over seventy years old on this forum.

[Edbear]

There is at least two of us over seventy years old on this forum.



Mmmmm! Was that you heading south from Warkworth a couple months ago? Hadn't seen one of those for years!

[Ixion]

I don't mind being called old. But being tied in with "stockbrokers, corporate managers or teaching professionals" - them's fighting words!:nono: How do we get back to being "lawless tough and nefarious".:Punk:

[McJim]

I don't mind being called old. But being tied in with "stockbrokers, corporate managers or teaching professionals" - them's fighting words!:nono: How do we get back to being "lawless tough and nefarious".:Punk:

We're doomed Ixion - even The_Dover has a posh job title now. :(

[Disco Dan]

I heard pak 'n' save are looking for people..... :dodge:

[rok-the-boat]

All this crap about the age of riders increasing is probably part of a ploy that insurances companies are creating to hit us with increased premiums at some future date.