Safer on 2 wheels than 4?

[Matt]

Brought the car into work today to get a warrant (2nd time in 12 months I've commuted in the cage), and I just can't believe the amount of tonka's in cars on the road - even though there's not much traffic at the mo!

Much though I try not to get wound up, I just get really frustrated whenever I'm in the car by other road users changing lanes without indicating, tailgating, red light running etc etc - yet on a bike I'm much more chilled and don't seem to get so wound up - despite bikes being death traps to Joe Public I reckon I'm 100% safer (& happier) on a bike - is it just me, or have all the fair-weather bikers got it wrong?!

[prettybillie]

You'd think you would notice these people more when on the bike?

[jrandom]

It's just you. Motorcycles are dangerous.

If you find being in control of four wheels insufficiently stimulating, you could try driving stoned.

[vifferman]

It's just you. Motorcycles are dangerous.

True dat.
But they offer more opportunity to ride through or around the "tonkas".

If you find being in control of four wheels insufficiently stimulating, you could try driving stoned.

Or driving in a furrincuntry. Takes much the same sort of concentration as riding a bike, and is similarly dangerous.

[racerhead]

Or driving in a furrincuntry. Takes much the same sort of concentration as riding a bike, and is similarly dangerous.

Has to be in a country that drives on the right though, may aswell make it a proper challenge

[racerhead]

Has to be in a country that drives on the right though, may aswell make it a proper challenge

Kinda like this one

[vifferman]

Has to be in a country that drives on the right though, may aswell make it a proper challenge

Mais certainment!
In the last few munce I've had the dubious pleasure of driving in Belgium and Mrka. While the latter (the day before yesterday) was aided by GPS and a helpful passenger, it was certainly a little tense in that I was forced to drive faster than either the speed limit or the speed at which I felt comfortable, and lanes that felt very narrow in a car that seemed to like wandering.

While I'm waffling on about driving, just two days before we left, California passed a law rescinding a previous law banning windscreen mounted GPS units. The new law (which took effect on 1/1/09) allowed them to be mounted on windscreens but only on the very bottom of the windscreen in the leftmost 5 inches or rightmost 7 inches of the screen.
As we had no interdweeb access the last few days of our visit, we couldn't ascertain exactly what the rules I overheard indistinctly on New Year's Eve were, so we resorted to having the vifferbabe hold the TomTom in her lap, out of view yet still able to be heard (and the instructions clarified by her, if necessary).
I guess that having previously driven for a few hours with what amounted to an illegally mounted GPS, we may as well have not bothered.

I couldn't ascertain until I looked them up yeaterday on the Interdweeb what the details or even the intent of the new regulations were. Now I know, I think I'm inclined to agree with #2Son that they seem designed more to help boost sales of new cars with built-in SatNav systems than to improve road safety.

[vgcspares]

Kinda like this one

especially liked the bit where the bike cop apparently pays no attention whatsoever to his speed, filtering, wheely-popping ... at least he never seems to catch up with him does he, any idea what country it was ?

[racerhead]

especially liked the bit where the bike cop apparently pays no attention whatsoever to his speed, filtering, wheely-popping ... at least he never seems to catch up with him does he, any idea what country it was ?

Think it could be Greece but not sure.
Ye I just like how easy he lights up the rear and the way he sides up to traffic lights.
Motard style on a sportsbike

[Fatt Max]

Kinda like this one

That is mental....! Loved the copper not seeming to care. Fair shit myself watching the guy go up the side of the bus.

I've driven a car in Italy which was scary enough, they are pretty crazy bike wise over there. Also drove around Las Vegas but the yanks are so shit scared of having a bender and being sued that everyone seemed to be driving at 40km/hr.

Great vid mate, quality entertainment...

[nico]

CANT help but think it's only a mater of time for that chap, the style reminds me of " the dark prince " was a gost rider type guy in paris.
cant seem to find it on youtube, shock horor lol. Saw it on a riding course once he did a circut of paris in record time, he only did it once the carmea was wating at the finsh line for the second lap he never made it . mash pototo

[dipshit]

I feel bikes have a few advantages over cars in being safer to use.

Better visibility. No A-pillars or someone sitting beside you creating blindspots.

More manoeuvrable and better acceleration if needed to get clear of trouble.

Doesn't require as much road and can escape through smaller gaps.

Less distractions from things like radios, cellphones, passengers.

The downside is that if you do have an accident then you have less protection. This fact alone should be enough to encourage you to pay more attention and focus on what you are doing compared to driving a car.

A bit like if cars had 6" blades sticking out from steering wheel and no safety belts - people would probably drive a lot safer.

[madbikeboy]

That guy sure can ride. You hear the bike lighting up, and then the resultant wiggle on the bars. Epic.

[dipshit]

That guy sure can ride. You hear the bike lighting up, and then the resultant wiggle on the bars. Epic.

Big deal. Any 17 year-old could do that.

You are easily impressed.

[Matt]

Don't get be wrong, I do notice the tonka's on the bike, they're just not around long enough to piss me off I reckon

That and the fact that your own mortality is very apparant whilst riding makes me much safer on the Versys (strewth I even managed to commute on a GSXR 1k for 6 months without getting squashed!)