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Marco.911 · 11-22-2019, 10:07 PM

Hello!

I drive a car. I also drive a motorcycle and I also cycle from time to time.

When I got my licence to drive my car, I was required to take a test. I was also required to pay money for insurance and a small amount to renew my licence. If I made mistakes while driving, it would increase my insurance and I also ran the risk of no longer being allowed to drive anymore.

Driving is something that I often take for granted. It’s an extremely difficult thing to do safely and becomes increasingly so as years have gone on with added traffic, and of course our beautiful rain.

Years later I decided to get my motorcycle licence and was required to take a test. In addition to this, which I highly recommend, I took some lessons to learn about road safety since this was advice given to me by other riders.

I never fully appreciated just how important my driving was until the day I started riding a motorcycle. The split second of a mistake as a driver can instantly kill a motorcycle. I also learned from driving a motorcycle that a defensive position was the only way to ride if I wanted to live for any length of time.

While I enjoy riding, I seldom do it. Maybe because I’m old and the logic of fear is on my mind more than it was when I was 20. Maybe it is because I have sadly lost friends to motorcycle accidents over the years. Some were accidents where someone ran a red light or didn’t see a stop sign.

The thing with accidents, for the most part, is that they are genuine accidents. Nobody set out to end a persons life. As much as I feel for those injured or killed, there is also a burden that falls on the driver that caused the accident. I have thankfully been void of both the cause and recipient of even a minor accident thank goodness.

Most of the riders I know also adopt a defensive approach to riding as I’m sure most of us has lost someone to the joys of the open wind.

This brings me to cyclists, and I also cycle from time to time.

As a driver, I have nearly ended a few of your lives. A few of you know it, a few of you may not. A few of you have even fingered me and told me to fuck off when you were clearly in the wrong and failed to follow your rules of the road.

I don’t set out to harm anyone, in fact I’m willing to bet most drivers (as in virtually all) are the same way.

This is extremely unpopular because we tend to view cyclists as sort of this do-gooder group. Those that care about the environment or wish to keep fit etc. I’m not saying this is all of you. This applies to many of you though.

Please also consider that even if you’re right, it’s sort of pointless if a truck smashes into your face. In my motorcycle class a long time ago, we discussed the right of weight, not the right of way. Being right on a bike is like being right if you’re married to a woman. (For clarity, being right often doesn’t count for anything other than more of whatever it is you were arguing about.)

Some of you cyclists make me cringe with terror as you act in ways that are horrifically dangerous while actually believing you are indeed in the right of way.

Education is the first step and while it will likely never happen, and every cyclist would probably have my head on a stick, there is value in a licensing program and enforced rules to keep everyone safe.

I have had cyclist friends get hit and yes, drivers can be at fault too and are also guilty of not knowing all the rules. The issue is that the driver of the car is likely to go home for dinner that night.

Anyway. Perhaps more of a rant but just a message to drivers, be careful as cyclists really are a random object on the road. Cyclists, please for the love of god learn the rules of the road and educate yourself on protocol, your life actually depends on it.

11-22-2019, 10:07 PM	#1
Marco.911 NOOB, Not Quite a Regular! Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Richmond Posts: 43 Thanked 82 Times in 19 Posts Failed 37 Times in 8 Posts	Dear Cyclists: I’m worried Hello! I drive a car. I also drive a motorcycle and I also cycle from time to time. When I got my licence to drive my car, I was required to take a test. I was also required to pay money for insurance and a small amount to renew my licence. If I made mistakes while driving, it would increase my insurance and I also ran the risk of no longer being allowed to drive anymore. Driving is something that I often take for granted. It’s an extremely difficult thing to do safely and becomes increasingly so as years have gone on with added traffic, and of course our beautiful rain. Years later I decided to get my motorcycle licence and was required to take a test. In addition to this, which I highly recommend, I took some lessons to learn about road safety since this was advice given to me by other riders. I never fully appreciated just how important my driving was until the day I started riding a motorcycle. The split second of a mistake as a driver can instantly kill a motorcycle. I also learned from driving a motorcycle that a defensive position was the only way to ride if I wanted to live for any length of time. While I enjoy riding, I seldom do it. Maybe because I’m old and the logic of fear is on my mind more than it was when I was 20. Maybe it is because I have sadly lost friends to motorcycle accidents over the years. Some were accidents where someone ran a red light or didn’t see a stop sign. The thing with accidents, for the most part, is that they are genuine accidents. Nobody set out to end a persons life. As much as I feel for those injured or killed, there is also a burden that falls on the driver that caused the accident. I have thankfully been void of both the cause and recipient of even a minor accident thank goodness. Most of the riders I know also adopt a defensive approach to riding as I’m sure most of us has lost someone to the joys of the open wind. This brings me to cyclists, and I also cycle from time to time. As a driver, I have nearly ended a few of your lives. A few of you know it, a few of you may not. A few of you have even fingered me and told me to fuck off when you were clearly in the wrong and failed to follow your rules of the road. I don’t set out to harm anyone, in fact I’m willing to bet most drivers (as in virtually all) are the same way. This is extremely unpopular because we tend to view cyclists as sort of this do-gooder group. Those that care about the environment or wish to keep fit etc. I’m not saying this is all of you. This applies to many of you though. Please also consider that even if you’re right, it’s sort of pointless if a truck smashes into your face. In my motorcycle class a long time ago, we discussed the right of weight, not the right of way. Being right on a bike is like being right if you’re married to a woman. (For clarity, being right often doesn’t count for anything other than more of whatever it is you were arguing about.) Some of you cyclists make me cringe with terror as you act in ways that are horrifically dangerous while actually believing you are indeed in the right of way. Education is the first step and while it will likely never happen, and every cyclist would probably have my head on a stick, there is value in a licensing program and enforced rules to keep everyone safe. I have had cyclist friends get hit and yes, drivers can be at fault too and are also guilty of not knowing all the rules. The issue is that the driver of the car is likely to go home for dinner that night. Anyway. Perhaps more of a rant but just a message to drivers, be careful as cyclists really are a random object on the road. Cyclists, please for the love of god learn the rules of the road and educate yourself on protocol, your life actually depends on it.