How I ride is perceived by others...

[AD345]

Why angst over other peoples perceptions? Seriously.

Yes, yes, - "they" will do something about "us" if "we" don't do something first.

Well, I'm afraid I have to call B.S.

I've been involved in a lot of fringe motorised activites and the perceived threat to the freedom of those in any given fringe is ALWAYS and WITHOUT EXCEPTION simple paranoia on the part of the participants more than it is an impingement on the public consciouness.

"what about the boi-racers?" some might cry. "there's been laws passed against them!"
This is true. Those laws, however, have only created narrower interpratations of previously existing laws and, like most such legislation passed in a mood of hysteria, the impact has been more in the headlines than on the ground....

But I digress.

In response to the OP - I never think about how my riding might impact on the wider public consciousness of riders in general.

Ever.



.

[Mom]

In response to the OP - I never think about how my riding might impact of the wider public consciousness of riders in general.
Ever

Well you know something, neither do I really, I ride how I do. But I do make an effort not to piss people off as I go about my pootle. Having said that, look at Ixions post, he was not doing anything inconsiderate to that wanker that abused him, but it still happened.

I cant remember who, but someone mentioned consideration. Maybe that is the key?

[doc]

It is about time that a thread on taking personal responsibility for your actions on the road,
So, ground rules established here goes.

Remember folks, this is a discussion for grown ups. Lets see if we can manage to behave in this thread as well as we would expect all bikers to behave on the road, with courtesy and respect.

GO!

Faaark had to refresh the page twice. This is KB.

[AD345]

Well you know something, neither do I really, I ride how I do. But I do make an effort not to piss people off as I go about my pootle. Having said that, look at Ixions post, he was not doing anything inconsiderate to that wanker that abused him, but it still happened.

I cant remember who, but someone mentioned consideration. Maybe that is the key?

Hmmm

I tend to try to do this:

But I do make an effort not to piss people off

in a lot more parts of my life than just riding.

Thats comes with the caveat that it is meant in the sense of not undertaking something just for the sake of pissing someone else off (generally).

if, on the other hand, someone gets pissed off by something that I do, I generally view it as more their problem than mine.

[Ixion]

I do think a lot of the "of dear oh dear, people will hate us" is misplaced angst.

I just don't see it.

Most certainly courtesy and consideration is the key , on a bike or in a car. But I think that this is really pretty much the norm.

Every day I am the beneficiary of at least one act of consideration or courtesy by another road user (three, today). People who put themselves out in some way to accomodate or convenience me

And I actively, in turn, look for opportunities to reciprocate. They are by means hard to find.

Certainly there is a small proportion of raving nutters and/or haters out there. And a small proportion of people so dozy and incompetent that they object to the unobjectionable simply because they don't understand it.

But these people (and they are found both on bikes and in cars) are far far outnumbered by the courteous and capable road users.In cars and on bikes.

How I ride is of course perceived by others. In some cases negatively. But, I hope, in far more cases , positively. The truck driver who acknowledges my "after you" with a quick double indicator flash. The middleaged lady waving thanks. The others who do not specifically acknowledge (because it's really not necessary) but who, I'm sure, take away a positive vibe .

To the extent that our riding is noticed at all, I believe that for the majority of riders, the positive far outweighs the negative.

[Mom]

Most certainly courtesy and consideration is the key , on a bike or in a car. But I think that this is really pretty much the norm.

To the extent that our riding is noticed at all, I believe that for the majority of riders, the positive far outweighs the negative.

Well now, we agree!

[beyond]

This question is a difficult one, in that as Ixion pointed out, there are many drivers out there who just hate motorcyclists for whatever reason.

If you ride fast or slow or are careful, it doesn't matter to them. It is best to put as much room between you and them as you can.

The question of mild mannered drivers: what is mild mannered, what is a good driver and a bad driver? You can overtake a car driver at well within the legal limit and safely and they will still think you are a hoon or dangerous, in many cases.

Some people never look in their rear view mirror and you will scare the shit out of them no matter how hard you try not to and they will definitley take a negative reaction.

Some think they drive fast but in reality travel well below the speed limit and anyone faster is considered a reckless hoon. Others think they are being shown up and try to stop you overtaking, even to the point of swerving out to try and knock you off.

I try to allow drivers plenty of time to see me and often, the good ones will pull over to let you pass even though they don't need to. I always wave at them as I pass to say thanks for the consideration.

There is no way we will be perceived by all drivers as good sorts so ride your own ride and give motorists as much consideration as you can whilst not endangering yourself around them.

[Squiggles]

If i make a pass on someone and it puts their lives unneccesarily at risk (more than they normally would be), then i am an idiot. Also, should i bring motorcyclings "good" name into disrepute (similar to how "boyracers" bring the name of car enthusiasts into disrepute), i'd consider myself to be acting idioticly.

[Pedrostt500]

I generaly don't worry about what others may think, what they think is what they think.
yep read the book got the tee shirt for being an idiot, and been called as much here in some threads.
The thing about Defensive driving / riding is you have to some times think for other road users, some times its good just to give way even if you are the one in the right, because its no good to your loved ones if you are DEAD RIGHT, and belive me there are worse things than being dead.
most car drivers view the world happening around them, from the safty of their steel cocoon, on a bike we are interacting in the world, a minor accident in a car may buckel a panel or two, a minor accident on a bike can have far more serious implications, to rider and bike.
Any trip that i get from point "A" to point "Z", with out knowingly causing any one else, or myself, harm or damage, has to be a good trip, regardless how slow or fast I made that trip.

[rickstv]

Although I would be slightly annoyed at myself if I accidentally did something stupid in front of a car. I would bloody embarrassed in front of another motorcyclist.
I think I would like the earth to just swallow me up.
Rick.

[Fatjim]

But but but....yeah, ok, you are right. Not even Jesus was perfect.

I think Jesus would be the only fella that could ride a Tuono and not be tempted to continuously break the law.

Tuono, it's my cross. But bearing it sure is fun.

[MarkH]

Ya know something that really makes me laugh is that very few people admit that their driving is below average.

If you survey every driver you will find that more than 80% believe that they are above average drivers. The phenomenon does have a name: Lake Wobegon effect

I like to call it 'delusions of adequacy'.

[Katman]

If you survey every driver you will find that more than 80% believe that they are above average drivers. The phenomenon does have a name: Lake Wobegon effect

I like to call it 'delusions of adequacy'.

And that phenomenon is equally applicable to motorcyclists.

[jono035]

If you survey every driver you will find that more than 80% believe that they are above average drivers. The phenomenon does have a name: Lake Wobegon effect

I like to call it 'delusions of adequacy'.

Aha! That's the bugger, thanks mate

[caseye]

If we as riders/ car drivers could be persuaded to try being courteous and considerate things would start to change on a large scale.
How could it not? if every other driver out there was suddenly waved through, given that park, smiled at instead of flipped a birdy, they'd freak out! Then they'd realsie that the road can be a safer and happier place, then horror of horrors they'd actually begin practising being courteous and considerate themselves.
Pinch me! I'm dreamning again.I try to behave well at all times, biking or driving, I see the same people on the same stretch of motorway everyday and lately I see more and more nice things being done for each other, it's really quite cool.
Nice work there Mom, it's got em all thinking.