3 ms·

Interesting to know about the turning radius issue. Bicycles can cut very sharp, and I suppose that's a function of both mass and velocity. (Possibly the lighte

Interesting to know about the turning radius issue. Bicycles can cut very sharp, and I suppose that's a function of both mass and velocity. (Possibly the lighter bicycle is easier to tilt over into a tight turn, driven down by the rider's weight, while the motorcycle has to tilt under its own weight.) Ultimately, though, on a city street my gut says that motorcycles are in pretty much the same situation as bicycles, or better. Not sure how the stopping distance compares, but what a motorcycle lacks in being able to swerve, it should make up for in power. (Different benefits in different situations.) I believe part of why drivers don't see bicycles is that bicycles are usually ridden on the right side of the right lane. But I have never ridden a motorcycle, so my gut could well be wrong. :-) (Highway, that's a different beast. I care less about how loud motorcycles are out there.) So I guess here's a question: Should bicycles be equipped with constant noisemaking devices?

polaritron 8y ago
Air horns are probably a great idea for bicycles. It would put someone on a bike eye-to-eye with a motorcycle in dense downtown traffic. The thing about turning on a motorcycle, is speed's effect on the weight, and the only counter to prevent it from falling over is your strength, and ability to feel for leverage, versus tire friction. At low speeds, powerwalking (letting the engine's idle push the bike at a walking pace) everything is reasonable, as long as you stay balanced. At speeds above 20 miles an hour, you cannot corner a motorcycle casually. You must pay attention to the road surfaces, and caliberate your speed according to how safe it is to lean the bike. If there is sand, gravel, rain, ice, oil/grease spots, or at night, flying blind to conditions beyond headlights, if you don't take the bike slow, keeping perpendicular to the ground, you risk a wipe out. Staying upright means taking a wide turn, or slowing down.

polaritron 8y ago

Air horns are probably a great idea for bicycles. It would put someone on a bike eye-to-eye with a motorcycle in dense downtown traffic. The thing about turning on a motorcycle, is speed's effect on the weight, and the only counter to prevent it from falling over is your strength, and ability to feel for leverage, versus tire friction. At low speeds, powerwalking (letting the engine's idle push the bike at a walking pace) everything is reasonable, as long as you stay balanced. At speeds above 20 miles an hour, you cannot corner a motorcycle casually. You must pay attention to the road surfaces, and caliberate your speed according to how safe it is to lean the bike. If there is sand, gravel, rain, ice, oil/grease spots, or at night, flying blind to conditions beyond headlights, if you don't take the bike slow, keeping perpendicular to the ground, you risk a wipe out. Staying upright means taking a wide turn, or slowing down.