Problem is motorcyclists, not cyclists

[shootingstar]

I keep on my forgetting: one of my brothers-in-law has a Vespa that he rides regularily to and from work. He enjoys his Vespa and does exercise care only to ride during certain seasons of the year.

He has 2 young children. My sister does not ride the Vespa...she walks, transit or drives. She's not interested in trying. She is a jogger when she can squeeze in time. They have 1 car.

They live very close to downtown Toronto. He works in downtown Toronto.

I think I have a problem: I don't see my family enough and I keep on forgetting alot of stuff about them!!

When we were in Greece ...over 25 years ago, on one of the islands there was motorcycle rental for a low rate. So my friends used them for about an hr. No helmet. It actually shocked me...at that time, because of some of the speeds that I saw. And I know my friends had no previous motorcycling experience. I absolutely did not want to try..and part of it was related to my distrust..of driving a car.

I had not even returned to cycling at that time.

[bmccasland]

prejudiced ideas about those who ride "crotch rockets" ... BUSTED!

So there I was having a nice lunch today on the open front patio of a restaurant when guy backs his "crotch rocket" into a parking directly in front of me. I was not thinking pleasant thoughts, as I've noticed that most guys riding crotch rockets tend to be the ones weaving in and out of traffice as compared to someone riding a Goldwing. So there I was thinking not nice things about the young punk, when he takes of his helmet... dude was in his 50s, and he set at the table next me. Was a nice guy.

My personal experience is basically been good with motorcycle riders. The m/c club that rides escort with the LA-MS 150 Tour for the Cure are saints, there was the group of Christian Motorcycle Association that set up a field kitchen in Chalmette, LA in the immediate days after Katrina, the guy that was out for a nice sunday ride and stopped for us when we were broken down on the side of the freeway 5 miles east of Yuma, AZ in early September (pre-cell phone days) and no one else did.

So if maniacs want to test the laws of gravity and fate and ride their bikes like idiots, I'll be more than happy to dial 911 when they wreck. They have a right to the road just as much as anyone else. Drunk drivers on the otherhand, well don't get me started.

[tangentgirl]

Yep, motorcycles are dangerous. Mostly to the motorcycle rider, same as a bicycle.

I think that people who ride motorcycles are more likely to be aware of anyone on two wheels, and give extra courtesy to bicycles, even when the MC rider is in his or her car.

I too drive on the LA freeways. Motorcycles take up less space and help alleviate traffic, something we really need here. They also get waaaay better gas mileage than a car - 80-100 mpg rocks. Splitting lanes is legal in California, so you do have to watch out for them. Overall, though, I feel like motorcycles have a positive impact.

All that said, if someone I love was in a motorcycle accident, even if they were relatively ok, I'd be pretty freaked out. I kind of understand where Sapphire is coming from, even though I don't agree with her.