Have you ever noticed how you can spot a biker a mile away that potentialy could put your life, someone elses life, or their own life at risk?
Everytime I've seen a biker do something completely stupid, they've all had one thing in common.
No safety gear, except a helmet.
A true biker is aware of the risk's associated with biking. You'd be stupid not too right? A true biker who is passionate about their sport/lifestyle makes their own personal safety their number one priority, if your not alive or if your disabled you can't enjoy your passion, biking. So of-course true bikers make sure that in the unfortunate event of an accident that they have every possible chance of walking away from the accident, or recovering fully. Helmet, Jacket, Pants, Boots and gloves... sometimes a back protector and who knows what other precausions REAL bikers take to portect themselves so they can enjoy their sport/lifestyle to the full.
Living in Auckland I see an average of about 10 bikers a day if not more, and the ones that take risks with their lives, and other peoples lives, are the ones who have nothing on but a bloody helmet. And the bikers that ride safely and are considerate towards all other road users have gear from head to toe.
On Wednesday night, heading on the Northern Motorway towards the North Shore, a biker pulled up behind me (I was going 100kph) and he/she overtook me in my own lane, I looked in my mirrors, saw him/her to left of me, so I moved slighty over to the right (staggered formation), the biker must have taken that as an invite to scare the living shit out of me, and risk my life. He/she shot up next to me, then hooned off weaving in and out of the traffic... wearing... yes... only a damn helmet, track shoes, black slacks and jacket that looked like it was made of thin cotton.
Further up the motorway another biker pulled up behind me and did the EXACT same thing. Scaring the shit out of me again by passing so close I nearly swerved into the left hand lane because I thought he/she was going to ride into me.
Then yesterday, heading home on the Northern Motorway again, as I headed on the Fanshaw street on ramp, looked over my shoulder to change lanes, saw a biker 2 lanes over, first thing I noticed in my 2 second glance... helmet... no other safety gear. Thought I wouldn't leave it to chance seeing my current experiences with bikers like these... I changed lanes, and by the time I got into the lane next to me, I looked in my mirror and sure enough this biker was right behind me weaving back and forth in the lane. I choose my side of the lane and hoped he/she would calm down and assume the staggered formation behind me... Next minute this asshole overtakes me in my own lane, scares the shit out of me (again) and I nearly swerved into the lane next to me, causing that car to slam on his brakes, then this asshole biker shot up between the traffic and into the far left hand lane as we head over the bridge (never using his/her indicators) and then overtook the car infront of him/her from the left hand side, between the car and the barrier, the driver had the same reaction as me, shat himself and nearly swerved into the lane I was in, causing the driver infront of me to slam on his brakes, again risking my life for the 2nd time in 4 minutes.
Think about it seriously
When you see bikers with no protective gear on except a helmet - SLOW DOWN AND LET THEM PASS.
If these people are careless enough to not even protect themselves, if they don't care about their own safety you are STUPID to assume they give a shit about your safety.
Ride Safe everyone![]()
End of rant.
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