NZ Herald: no wonder bikes have their "downside"

**Quartida** · 6th July 2006, 09:54

ARGH!

Opened up the Herald to page A5 and what do I see?

"Cheap motorbike travel has dangerous downside"

And with what picture?

A girl on a Ginny 250 with NO GEAR apart from helmet.

No bloody wonder it has a "dangerous downside" then, I say. I'll tell you what will happen to her "downside" if she falls off...

**Smokin** · 6th July 2006, 09:58

What, NO gear on, can you scan it for me please?

**Str8 Jacket** · 6th July 2006, 10:00

Originally Posted by Smokin

What, NO gear on, can you scan it for me please?

Thats right, NO gear... the only way to make a GN look good.

**Quartida** · 6th July 2006, 10:03

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Thats right, NO gear... the only way to make a GN look good.

Haha....

I was trying to get to the nzherald site to get the link but their server seems to be down/slow. I'll go and scan it now.

/EDIT: Forget it - here you go: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/st...ectID=10389972

**marty** · 6th July 2006, 10:12

i ride my scooter in shorts and t-shirt all the time. it's my skin. mind your own business.

**Macktheknife** · 6th July 2006, 10:17

Dozy bitch!

From the article..
She said 19 motorcyclists had been killed this year, compared with 24 at the same time last year.
So the bike sales have gone up but the fatalities have gone down in the same time period! I notice there are no stories about this then, even tho bike registrations have doubled the are only a couple of more fatalities then previous years.

**Quartida** · 6th July 2006, 10:19

Originally Posted by marty

i ride my scooter in shorts and t-shirt all the time. it's my skin. mind your own business.

I don't deny that people can wear what they like, but I think it's a bit irresponsible for a mainstream media outlet to show this picture and then talk about the "dangers" of riding.

I wasn't getting specifically at you, or anyone else who chooses not to wear gear - it's our choice whether we wear gear or not. It's more the way in which the Herald has presented their argument that bothers me.

**Postie** · 6th July 2006, 10:20

Originally Posted by marty

i ride my scooter in shorts and t-shirt all the time. it's my skin. mind your own business.

hopefully you won't have anyone pull in front of you, else you'll be using some one else's blood.

**Motu** · 6th July 2006, 10:22

The Harold is selling a product....itself,not the NEWS.

**Quartida** · 6th July 2006, 10:24

Originally Posted by Macktheknife

Dozy bitch!

From the article..
She said 19 motorcyclists had been killed this year, compared with 24 at the same time last year.
So the bike sales have gone up but the fatalities have gone down in the same time period! I notice there are no stories about this then, even tho bike registrations have doubled the are only a couple of more fatalities then previous years.

Even more telling - the little top right-hand corner box says:

2003: 6772 regos, 761 injuries (well, reported injuries anyway!), 28 fatalities.

2004: 8869 regos, 721 injuries, 34 fatalities.

2005: 12789 regos, 903 injuries, 36 fatalities.

Which, as a percentage of regos for that year, is:

2003: 11.2% injury, 0.41% fatalities
2004: 8.1% injuries, 0.38% fatalities
2005: 7% injuries, 0.28% fatalities

**Bend-it** · 6th July 2006, 10:25

Yeah, wait till I start riding a GN with no gear on... that'll show you a thing or 2 about making a GN look good...

**Quartida** · 6th July 2006, 10:25

My letter to the Herald (not sent yet = there's time for constructive criticism):

Dear Sir,

Many bikers I know would be horrified to see the picture you published with your article "Cheap motorbike travel has dangerous downside". Although the law requires that only a helmet be worn, bikers who choose to wear only a short-sleeved T-shirt are running the risk of causing themselves serious damage should they have an accident. Contrary to what the media would have us think, bike accidents are not always serious, but even the most minor accident can be exceptionally painful without good protective gear. Too many new bikers (and indeed, scooter riders) are forgetting that good protection is an investment, not a cost.

Yours,
XXXXXX