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While I mostly agree you, I think “never valid” is a bit extreme. My uncle was hit by a drunk driver that turned left into his lane at the last minute on a stra

While I mostly agree you, I think “never valid” is a bit extreme. My uncle was hit by a drunk driver that turned left into his lane at the last minute on a straight road. These type of incidents, which are rare and can’t be avoided, is why I took my bike off the road and only take it to the track. Maybe the first rule of riding is “it’s not the safest form of transportation and you must accept the risk”?

taneq 7y ago
I see your point and there are some things that as a rider you could never be expected to anticipate, like your example where the drunk driver swerved at the last minute. (Even more defensible cases include things like "the control arm broke and the car instantly swerved across 3 lanes of traffic" which actually happened a few years ago in my city, if that happens you just gotta accept that $deity is out to get you). I'd amend it to "anything that you could reasonably have anticipated is your fault, including people pulling out in front of you, cars changing lanes as if you weren't there, etc."
Japhy_Ryder 7y ago
I've always liked "Ride like everyone else is trying to kill you, because they are." Myself, I'm a cyclist, but a lot of motorcycle rules and bike rules overlap.
- taneq 7y ago
  Definitely, the common theme is you're on the outside of the vehicle and any impact is gonna be really personal. I actually feel far safer on a motorcycle than a push bike, because I have much bigger contact patches, far better brakes, stickier tyres and the ability to out-accelerate almost any kind of trouble. I'm also wearing at least half leathers and a proper full face helmet.
- Wowfunhappy 7y ago
  If everyone is literally trying to kill you, someone will, regardless of how careful you are. I'm not being pedantic—there are situations, like the one described in the GP, that you just can't humanly do anything about.
- bagacrap 7y ago
  That's really not that helpful as a point of view. If it were really the case you'd avoid using nights at light because they'd just draw attention from all these bloodthirsty motorists and you'd be better off in a ninja suit.
- ken 7y ago
  As a rider myself, I don't understand that philosophy, and I've never seen another rider follow it, even when they claim to. Certainly, if you believed that, you would never be within a mile of any other vehicle on the road. "The Matrix Reloaded" featured a 30 minute action sequence showing what it's like when a tiny fraction of other drivers are actually trying to kill you. Spoiler: without Neo swooping in to "do his Superman thing" and save you, you're dead, even if you've got automatic weapons and kung fu training.

taneq 7y ago

I see your point and there are some things that as a rider you could never be expected to anticipate, like your example where the drunk driver swerved at the last minute. (Even more defensible cases include things like "the control arm broke and the car instantly swerved across 3 lanes of traffic" which actually happened a few years ago in my city, if that happens you just gotta accept that $deity is out to get you). I'd amend it to "anything that you could reasonably have anticipated is your fault, including people pulling out in front of you, cars changing lanes as if you weren't there, etc."

Japhy_Ryder 7y ago

I've always liked "Ride like everyone else is trying to kill you, because they are." Myself, I'm a cyclist, but a lot of motorcycle rules and bike rules overlap.

taneq 7y ago
Definitely, the common theme is you're on the outside of the vehicle and any impact is gonna be really personal. I actually feel far safer on a motorcycle than a push bike, because I have much bigger contact patches, far better brakes, stickier tyres and the ability to out-accelerate almost any kind of trouble. I'm also wearing at least half leathers and a proper full face helmet.
Wowfunhappy 7y ago
If everyone is literally trying to kill you, someone will, regardless of how careful you are. I'm not being pedantic—there are situations, like the one described in the GP, that you just can't humanly do anything about.
bagacrap 7y ago
That's really not that helpful as a point of view. If it were really the case you'd avoid using nights at light because they'd just draw attention from all these bloodthirsty motorists and you'd be better off in a ninja suit.
ken 7y ago
As a rider myself, I don't understand that philosophy, and I've never seen another rider follow it, even when they claim to. Certainly, if you believed that, you would never be within a mile of any other vehicle on the road. "The Matrix Reloaded" featured a 30 minute action sequence showing what it's like when a tiny fraction of other drivers are actually trying to kill you. Spoiler: without Neo swooping in to "do his Superman thing" and save you, you're dead, even if you've got automatic weapons and kung fu training.