Road user fees.

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 23:42:55 +1100

yeah, sloppy workding. Motorcycles have the same crash rate (as well
as such things can be determined), no idea about pushies.

Like motorcycles, bicycle safety depends a lot on the rider's attitude
and roadcraft. And to some extent what the drivers are sued to and
expect....

Never ridden a bicycle in Canberra, I suspect that the network of bike
paths means that car drivers don't expect to see bicycles on the road
and maybe even get annoyed in the "get out of my space" way that some
people develop where cars are concerned.


Zebee

 

Well you'd be wrong.

Aeek, taken on its own (as it has been) and taking the rest of what followed
out certainly changed the meaning of what was a connected piece. The most
idiotic sub-editor can do it to make a point. Remember the "nixon interview"
in Good Morning Vietnam? Extreme example, but same principle.

That's why I spent so much time trying to find out what happened, as you
know - pre-dawn, dark, poorly-lit stretch of road, motorbike neatly parked
(as well as a couple of 4 wheeled vehicles), a fire-engine, several people,
one of whom was on the ground being covered and a pushbike on the ground. I
was really shaken.

We all take our lives in our hands evey time we walk out the front door,
every time we go on the road (no matter what we're in or on) - and we know
that - and on that particular stretch of road at that hour, and with
speeding Canberra drivers all over the road (the boys in utes and fluoro
shirts always seem to be in the biggest hurry), I'm thinking a general risk
management plan for ANYBODY moving so much more slowly than the speeding
drivers might at least involve high visibility clothing. I've often noticed
that it doesn't and felt a twinge in my gut. I'm not "looking down" on any
particular group of road users, as Nev contended - it's probably closer to
"motherly concern", truth be told - if ppl have a problem with that and
choose to interpret it otherwise, it's their problem, not mine.

I'm a bit awed by pushie riders because they DO seem so much more vulnerable
than the rest of us. I don't ride a pushbike - for two reasons - 1. I'm too
bloody lazy, and 2. I'm too bloody chicken. I tried it, and felt so
vulnerable - Canberra drivers can be bastards. And that is the spirit in
which I wrote what I said. You and Nev want to put your own spin on it,
fine.

betty

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 8 Mar 2007 06:45:56 +1100

It's the same way many people think about motorcyclists.

I don't find it any scarier, because I am not focusing on that, I'm
focusing on having fun.

Same same motorcycle.

Zebee

 

Interesting way of putting it - I live in a "quiet coastal country town"
with 4 traffic lights and a bazillion roundabouts. I've driven 18 years
ridden pushies since I was able and motorcycles 3 months.

Even here, a pushie is a **** of a lot more dangerous. On a pushie every
car driver is an arsehole - I've had one prick miss my handlebars with
mis mirror by about an inch when passing me on an empty 2 lane road. On
a motorcycle every car's a hazard but at least on a motorbike you can
get away a little easier. On a pushy there's nothing but you .. the bike
frame won't absorb much. I've spent a bit of time in Canberra and seen
how retarded many of the drivers are .. eg one dick stopping on a
highway to let someone out who had a give way sign .. and then those
diplomatic plates .. no WAY I'd get on a pushie in Canberra if it went
near the road.

On another note, I've been 90% motorbike since I got my license. I
actually drove the car today and my partner wondered why I expected no
bastard to see me, or give way. I think riding's made me a much safer
driver, cliché as it sounds.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:19:48 GMT

It is true that the interactions are different.

I don't find people are bad to me, on the whole. I probably have more
close passing on the bicycle, but then I am passed more often

On the whole I find that people give me enough room and are polite.
Some of it might be the weird factor of the recumbent, some of it
might be the road position I take, I dunno. I haven't commuted by
diamond frame bike on this route, when I did commute by DF I don't
recall that much monstering either. City vs country? No idea.

I enjoy all my two wheelers. I like the recumbent so much I ride it
on journeys I might otherwise have taken the motorcycle on. I do
encounter idiots on the road, but very few. Most people are polite
and cope.

Zebee