Every Monday morning on here: RIP, biker down... [Archive]

Conquiztador

26th November 2007, 09:03

I need my magic wand!

I want to fix this, to stop this waste!

But I do not have these powers. My "White Mans Magic" only goes so far.

Or perhaps something can be done?

What about one weekend a year when there is no biker deaths in NZ? I hope we have many of them as it is. But what about a guaranteed "NO BIKERS TO DIE" weekend?

The only solution I can come up with right now is to take all bikes off the roads for a weekend. And that sounds harsh. Harsh on all the bikers who want to ride. But also, think if this was picked up by the media?

I can just see the headlines: "Bikers have come to the conclusion that the only way not to die is to not ride..." No, we can not have that.

We coud take all cages off the road! But then someone will go and ride out in a bend and wrap them selves around a tree.

So what to do? Get all bikers to travel to the same place on a Thursday and stay there until Monday?

Suggestions please as to read these threads after each weekend kills me from inside!

HDTboy

26th November 2007, 09:09

While we're at it, I'd like to see a Healty Heart weekend. A weekend where noone dies from heart failure. Any suggestions?

Conquiztador

26th November 2007, 09:14

While we're at it, I'd like to see a Healty Heart weekend. A weekend where noone dies from heart failure. Any suggestions?

My first reaction to your post was: Phuck off!! I am serious here, and your sarcasm has no place in this thread. But then I started thinking: Are you suggesting that the issue is too big, that there is nothing that can easily be done? Just education, regulations, buy in?

I would hate if you were right...

jrandom

26th November 2007, 09:20

My mum didn't like the fact that lots of guys died on bikes, either.

So I was never allowed to have one.

Fuck that shit.

jrandom

26th November 2007, 09:21

Are you suggesting that the issues is too big, that there is nothing that can easily be done? Just education, regulations, buy in?

Yes, because it this in fact a serious topic, I will translate Gav's and my posts for you.

You got his one right. There ain't nothin' you can do about it.

And my post is a warning against erring too far in the direction of cautiousness.

hospitalfood

26th November 2007, 09:37

It bothers me that so many die.

lets face the facts :-

lots of riders speed and push the limits.
NZ roads have plenty of cow shit, gravel, oil spills, etc just around that blind corner.
Many cars don't see us.
Riders are often road racing each other, trying to be the first/fastest.

I think things can be done to reduce the deaths, but it comes down to personal choice.
We could choose to try and reduce the deaths by changing our riding habits and our opinions on what is acceptable behavior for us on the roads.
People will always do what they want, and often it is not the riders fault, but I think if we decided that we wanted to reduce deaths we could.

I'm all for it, have not been at a fatal crash yet but I'm sick of people chucking bikes down the road when I'm out riding, I dont want to do it myself either, and the way its going its only a matter of time before I witness a death or worse.

I think that if we all decided to slow down on group rides, or at least try to, it would be a start.

jrandom

26th November 2007, 09:45

... only a matter of time before I witness a death or worse.

:confused:

Or worse?

I think that if we all decided to slow down on group rides, or at least try to, it would be a start.

You know, every year at about this time, deaths are reported in the news, and a bunch of folk on KB put their hands on their hearts and promise to slow down on group rides.

And then nothing changes.

In the end, it just comes down to each of us on the bike at each moment in time on the road. If we don't take responsibility for our own safety, we die. Simple, really. Nobody forces us to ride in any particular way.

Toaster

26th November 2007, 09:46

It bothers me that so many die.
....
I think things can be done to reduce the deaths, but it comes down to personal choice.
....
I think that if we all decided to slow down on group rides, or at least try to, it would be a start.

Absolutely, as I have said before, we are free to choose how we live our lives. However we are never free from the consequences of those choices.

Conquiztador

26th November 2007, 09:49

We just carry on as it is and we will in a not-too-far-distance all end up with dayglo's, speed limiters, only factory bikes that have been fitted with all sorts of life saving devices, air bags, and list goes on.

Or pehaps the decision will be made by someone who has the power that Bikes kill too many, so lets not allow them...

James Deuce

26th November 2007, 09:53

You should have learned by now from reading KB that asking people to behave a little more sensibly on the road is tantamount to asking them to rape their sister.

Ride your own ride. Maybe someone will learn from your example.

Usarka

26th November 2007, 09:56

Sanx

26th November 2007, 10:04

You should have learned by now from reading KB that asking people to behave a little more sensibly on the road is tantamount to asking them to rape their sister.

Whose sister? And is she cute?
:chase:

mangell6

26th November 2007, 10:21

Watched Harry Potter, the Pheonix one, and there the Ministry only wanted the students to learn the "theory" as it was to dangerous to practice. Life is a risk and giving newbies all the knowledge and training is all that one can do. Pity the powers that be don't seem to agree that a higher skill level will reduce the actual deaths.

Sad sad weekend.

Banesto John

26th November 2007, 10:30

Yes, I ponder my own life when I read about bikers who have suffered at the weekend. I ride like a nana, and people take the piss out of me for doing so. Go figure.

Out of interest, a bloke lost a lot of meat from his broken leg and shoulder when he hit a bank going up the hill from Sumner at the weekend. Wearing jeans and a t-shirt on a bike is self selection for bad things to happen. Kind of Darwinism.

Burt then, I see one of the tragedies at the weekend was caused by a cage doing a u-tun in front of a bike. Cringe, the law of physics, the tiny tyre contact patch we have and the bad luck of wrong place wrong time just make us all vulnerable.

Maybe the ACC people are right, and we should all sell up and start walking. Yeah right.

Anyway, I can't change the way the world rides, but I can change the way I ride. I'll do whatever I can to live to ride, maybe we should all look in the mirror and do the same.

Anyway, RIP to those that have gone, and peace on their families, as much as can be.

janno

26th November 2007, 10:34

I understand where you are coming from C, but also every weekend it's RIP driver, and RIP partygoer, and RIP sportsperson, and RIP smoker . . .

It's all about personal responsibility, and to some extent, luck of the draw.

It seems to me the only thing safety legislation, or the "we should all . . ." mentality, improves is the wallet size of beaurocrats and lawyers.

And no, I don't have an easy answer or another suggestion to help stop the carnage. Even if there were no other traffic on the roads at all, the bikes would still crash. Actually, the carnage would probably be worse!!

Lucy

26th November 2007, 10:41

Perhaps it's a sheer numbers thing. Yesterday was such a beautiful day, I drove down from Auckland (in a van unfortunately) and saw lots and lots and lots of bikes out and about. Singles, doubles, loads of pillions, one biggish group. Maybe more are crashing because more are riding. Long may it continue (the riding not the crashing) there is safety in numbers. Just got back from Rarotonga and there are so many bikes and scooters there that they are treated as valid and proper members of the traffic community. It is lovely to have cars and vans give way, and for people to look and see you before they pull out of their driveways etc.

Hitcher

26th November 2007, 14:52

Pwalo

26th November 2007, 14:57

Life is a sexually-transmitted terminal disease. Everybody who hasn't done so already is going to die. You can bore yourself shitless trying to avoid risks or new experiences in case you get hurt, our you can embrace life to the fullest and not die wondering. I vote for the latter. Who's with me?

Yep life's too short to wait to see what happens if you don't do something. Statiscally I'm pretty sure that not taking risks won't extend your life anyway, and let's face it we've all got to die of something apparently.

I'm hoping for extreme old age whilst annoying the hell out of everyone with my 'thing were so much better in the old days' stories. Bugger that's how it is now!

Take care guys, you can only rely on your own judgement on the road.

illusivemenace

26th November 2007, 16:29

when ya numbers up ya numbers up so make the most of ya life id rather die a bit younger in a bike crash than die a geriatric old fart who lived his life in cotton wool and a constant fear of hurting myself .i mean shit theres a lot of things in this world that can kill ya ride safe ride within ya limits have a blast and hope that your not the next to be taken out by a fuckwit cager "not seeing ya"
when we take up riding we are aware of the risks .

The Stranger

26th November 2007, 16:43

It bothers me that so many die.
...

I think that if we all decided to slow down on group rides, or at least try to, it would be a start.

That, and not drinking and riding.

Mom

26th November 2007, 16:47

MSTRS

26th November 2007, 16:50

ME!!!!

Life is too short guys, plenty of ways to die. Biking is fun, and exciting and......

+1. Bravado demands it. Besides, who wants to end up dying of nothing...

Renegade

26th November 2007, 16:57

James Deuce

26th November 2007, 17:01

10 people died on the roads over the weekend, 3 of them bikers and from what i think i read two of those bikers were'nt at fault, still, 7 deaths in cages compared to 3 on bikes, me thinks its safer to ride a bike with those stats.

i went from welly to napier and back over the weekend and saw and waved to so many friendly bikers and thats why i ride.

Go to the Stats NZ website. Look for the registration stats. Compare registered motorcycles with everything else on the road.

I think at that point you'll see you'd rather be in a car.

Conquiztador

26th November 2007, 17:18

"Just ride, take your chances and live! We are all gonna die anyhow. I rather die young on a bike then..."

Sounds good, brave, tough. And selfish. Try to tell the parents of the young riders from this w/e that died that it's the way to go!

I am never stopping my riding. But I want to be around for a little longer. And I was hoping that some suggestions would have come from this re what we can do to save a parent or two from burying their children.

But obviously not. It is clear that as long as it is someone elses family that died on a bike, then as long as we post a R.I.P on here we have done our part. It's not really our problem is it?

No, I don't have the soution. But perhaps together we can find something??

eliot-ness

26th November 2007, 17:52

Grim though the weekend figures are there is some consolation in the fact that it's not the norm nowadays as it was 20 years ago. In the 1980s biker fatalities accounted for up to 28% of all road deaths; 130 in one year. That figure is down to 9%. A huge improvement. As the figures have gone down the average age of bikers involved in fatal accidents has gone up. It is now 35yrs old, and that in itself is cause for concern. Are these riders late newcomers? returned bikers? or is it simply that bikers are getting older and fewer teenagers are taking it up. There certainly seems to be a lot of middle age and older guys on the road nowadays.

James Deuce

26th November 2007, 17:56

We're sorry. We'll stop riding. That will fix it.

Rockbuddy

26th November 2007, 17:56

easy get that bradford bitch to pass a law making it against the law for bike riders to die on the weekend

boomer

26th November 2007, 18:16

No winners without a few binners!!

kevfromcoro

26th November 2007, 18:31

Well its does happen.
Everytime a biker goes down it get posted on here.
Not pleasant at all..
We all hope it will never happen to us.
And sometimes it hits home really bad.
There are a lot of guys riding in NZ.
Looking at the sastics ,,and how many people ride its probably not that bad
We are allways going to get this through the rest of our lives
Not nice,,,but shit happens
Wouldnt it be nice to have an accident free week...from bikers

Conquiztador

26th November 2007, 19:52

Wouldnt it be nice to have an accident free week...from bikers

Precisely!! We could start a "NO BIKERS WILL DIE THIS WEEK" where we would try to get the buy in from all NZ bikers. Message would be: This week we will all ride to survive.

Or am I in lala land??

James Deuce

26th November 2007, 19:57

Lala land.

Seriously.

No one under 25 gives a rat's banana about riding to survive and a big proportion over that age figure have survived the odds so long they still have immortality syndrome.

MotoGirl

26th November 2007, 20:21

And no, I don't have an easy answer or another suggestion to help stop the carnage. Even if there were no other traffic on the roads at all, the bikes would still crash. Actually, the carnage would probably be worse!!

Sometimes I watch other riders and wonder they will be the next roadkill statistic. IMO too many riders fail to respect the road for what it is, i.e. a mechanism that commuters use to get from A to B. The primary purpose of roads isn't for our enjoyment and we need to stop thinking we own them.

I've seen loads of people ride too fast for the road and they tend to come off a lot more than us slower guys. I wonder why that is? Like I've said in other threads, there's a time and a place for going fast so if you're that desperate to ride like a lunatic, take it to the track. :dodge:

skidMark

26th November 2007, 20:25

stay off the magic mushys man.

www.badgerbadgerbadger.com (http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com)

MotoGirl

26th November 2007, 20:27

No one under 25 gives a rat's banana about riding to survive and a big proportion over that age figure have survived the odds so long they still have immortality syndrome.

Would you say this applies to both sexes?

James Deuce

26th November 2007, 20:30

No. Generally speaking women aren't wired for risk taking behaviour. Those that are shouldn't be allowed on bikes, just like lads under 25 who ARE specifically hard wired for risk taking behaviour shouldn't be allowed on bikes, on the road with other road users. They shouldn't be allowed to drive anything bigger than a 1:43 scale model of an Aussie V8. Even then someone will get hurt when they start racing them by firing them out of modified shotguns.

It's patently obvious that I shouldn't have been allowed on the road with other people until I was over 25.

boomer

26th November 2007, 20:52

need to stop thinking we own them.

Wooooah steady on there girl... yours is the same as mine and it clearly says.....'Own the racetrack'

boomer

26th November 2007, 20:53

Precisely!! We could start a "NO BIKERS WILL DIE THIS WEEK" where we would try to get the buy in from all NZ bikers. Message would be: This week we will all ride to survive.

Or am I in lala land??

go hug a tree fella... the tree will appreciate it and i'm sure you'll feel better. :yeah::yeah:

Conquiztador

26th November 2007, 21:31

go hug a tree fella... the tree will appreciate it and i'm sure you'll feel better. :yeah::yeah:

There's my answer. Would never work. There is always someone who would have no understanding of what is going on and have the need to do a wheelie.

I will just take same approach here as to other parts of my life: I take care of my self and mine. And leave the rest to someone else.