[lovias]

I have avoided ride formations except for the Pat. Guard and now avoid those if I know the destination. Yesterday we had a huge turn out in Hastings, Nebr. and yep two riders were run off the road. 2 bikes crashed and at least one broken leg. 1st indications are that the rider with the broken leg has just started a new job and didn't have insurance. Don't know how that's going to turn out.

 

[rmw]

There are idiots on motorcycles and idiots in cars, there are just a lot more cars....g

My experience with driving emergency vehicles (fire trucks and ambulances) taught me that X% of people on any given day will have their heads somewhere other than looking down the road and you just have to deal with it.

A number of years ago when FF still rode the tailboard we had a lady tailgate us on a run so close that the guys on back swore they could have put their boots on the car's hood. We had one guy that chewed and he spit this huge wad of tobacco onto the woman's windshield. She actually called the police to file a complaint which earned her a following too closely ticket. Even with that she felt she had done nothing wrong.

Morons, they are out there.

 

[LONNIE]

I'm a Contractor with a few Vans on the rode. Most are the standard E-250 cargo vans. Recently bought a Cube Van. It's an E-350 with a 5.4 liter, with the big exhaust, K&N filter, and a hi-pro computer reprogram. For a One ton van it gets up and goes. But every body seems to jump in the other lane at stop lights to keep from getting caught behind me. then race to get in front of me just to turn at the next block. Have never had so many close calls in such a short time frame.

 

[Hondaguy]

ALL laws were created due to the idiots who made them necessary... speed limits would not exist if not for the morons who think they can drive faster than their skill allows.

Drunk Driving laws... due to drunk drivers...

Rape.
Murder.
Littering.
Assault.
Jaywalking...

None of the laws we have are created to limit anyone's freedom... they're created to protect us from those who lack the common sense to self regulate. Unfortunately, it means the rest of us feel like we're being "picked on".
Don't blame the lawmakers...blame the ****wit next to you that feels his "freedom" allows him to act like an ******* all the time.

+1 and then some.

+1

safety is OUR responsibility, not those we do not have control over.

Some choose to wear helmets, and complain about other drivers. Some choose not to wear helmets and complain about other drivers regarding the threats to their safety.

By riding a bike we choose to accept the risks at whatever level we are comfortable and some seem to expect the rest of the world to comply by not using cell phones, breaking "formations" etc. In their eyes we are the foolish ones being exposed to danger all the time. They are in a cocoon we are winged.

Understanding is the key to safety, not condemnation.

 

[Evil Twin]

No, you're not being thin skinned. These drivers should be cited for reckless and aggressive driving, negligence, etc.

Oh wait... if forgot... we don't need more laws. Or enforcement. We're supposed to wait for these people to see the light and take responsibility for their own actions.

Ya know... it actually *is* possible for *you* to prosecute for the same things a cop can write the average ticket for. The difference is, basically, the cop has the right to stop you and write the ticket without witnesses. If you have witnesses and get the information and vehicle/driver information, you can actually go to court and have them cited. It's just a whole lot more legwork than the cops need to do... or than many feel is necessary.

Not true. In a traffic infraction, the State is the victim. A private citizen is not the victim of a traffic violation. A privat citizen can only be a possible witness to a trafic infraction. A private citizen has no powers of citizen's arrest in traffic matters, as he/she would have in a misdeamenor or a felony case where he/she is the victim of a crime. A "sworn" peace officer is the only person that has the powers to stop and cite a traffic violator based on "probable cause". Also, a sworn peace officer is the only person that can represent the State in court traffic matters.

 

[earlfo]

Riding a motorcycle is dangerous. Then again so is getting out of bed in the morning.

Like others on this thread have said, I ride expecting EVERY vehicle out on the road is aiming at me. That way I do not have expectations that they will do the right thing for me. If they do, that is one less issue to deal with on the road. If they do as I expect, I am hopefully ready for it...

 

[AngryHatter]

I am going to play devils advocate here by saying that I don't think there is a law preventing a vehicle from going through a bike formation. Say there is a formation of fifty bikes all using the stagger formation and following the two second rule, that takes up a lot of highway. What happens if said formation is going to prevent you from getting to your exit lane? Just because there is a group of bikes it does not give them any special breaks, if you watch when cars are cutting in and out of lanes they are not leaving a whole lot of space but it is not as noticable because they have a cage surrounding them. This is one of the many reasons I will not ride in a group of more then two or three. As far as cel phone use goings that is a whole different ball game. I think they should be outlawed in vehicles unless the vehicle is pulled over to the side of the road and not moving period. As far as I am concerned they are more dangerious then a drunk behind the wheel.

How about ettiquette?
How about respect for someone other than themselves?

As to phones, I for one am very glad they will not be legal in California after next year(without hands free).

 

[Hondaguy]

Yeah good ole California. $3.00+ Gas, Helmets, taxes, and a lot more laws. Been there done that.

Some people would say my loud pipes are not showing respect to others. Some people would have me ticketed in some states.

Live and let live. just be careful when out numbered.

South Carolina. Where one can ride to a Wal Mart and buy a sixpack of beer and a shotgun without a peep. And then ride home on a bike without a helmet.

Fewer laws are a good thing and imply a more responsible population if as mentioned laws are created do to the irresponsible.

 

[strider]

I am going to play devils advocate here by saying that I don't think there is a law preventing a vehicle from going through a bike formation. Say there is a formation of fifty bikes all using the stagger formation and following the two second rule, that takes up a lot of highway. What happens if said formation is going to prevent you from getting to your exit lane? Just because there is a group of bikes it does not give them any special breaks, if you watch when cars are cutting in and out of lanes they are not leaving a whole lot of space but it is not as noticable because they have a cage surrounding them. This is one of the many reasons I will not ride in a group of more then two or three. As far as cel phone use goings that is a whole different ball game. I think they should be outlawed in vehicles unless the vehicle is pulled over to the side of the road and not moving period. As far as I am concerned they are more dangerious then a drunk behind the wheel.

I concur, sort of. What concerns me here in the original post and some responses is all this talk about riding "in formation" and being "in formation," as if riding a motorcycle is akin to being in a fighter squadron. It is, most assuredly, not, although it would be tough to convince a lot of riders of this.

I'm not defending careless drivers on cell phones. What I'm suggesting is that it might be a good idea to re-think the notion that bikers "in formation" are some sort of infallible force that everyone else on the road must yield to. If your "formation" is holding up traffic, then you need to break it up. That's just common courtesy, and common sense.

Just because we ride motorcycles doesn't give us the right to hog the road.

Finally, I completely agree those those who are leery about riding in groups larger than three. I'm pretty particular about my riding partners. There are all kinds of folks out there who think it's OK to ride two abreast, who ride a bike exactly like they drive a car (which is to say, not defensively), who just don't have sufficient or experience to be on the road with others. You see it all the time. Exhibit A is Sturgis. Yikes. Check out the accident and death statistics for that event.

 

[morepower]

[/quote]


As far as cell phones in cars, why should I be banned from using one because Joe Schmoe does not have the mental capacity to use one and be aware at the same time?[/quote]

Because no one can devote the attention to the road they should while talking on the phone. Joe Schmoe may be worse than some others, but no one is immune.

 

[AmishWarlord]

South Carolina. Where one can ride to a Wal Mart and buy a sixpack of beer and a shotgun without a peep. And then ride home on a bike without a helmet.

Just don't try and buy your beer on Sunday. Heak don't even go to the store before 1:00 PM on Sunday.


It's OK though you can ride up here to NC to get your beer on Sunday. Just bring a helmet. LOL


LONNIE Your cube van must look like a City bus from the back becuse that what people do to mine all day long.

 

[White Knight]

man thats no fun. they really are out to get you now ride like it...you'll find that you take it less personally or at least i do/dont whichever fits theres.

as for the trucks getting cut off at every turn and then some oh yeah been around trucks nearly all my life the bigger the truck the closer they cut and quicker they are to do it.

glad you all lived to ride again