Sign This Petition

[tHa ShIzNiT]

So if cyclists are so stupid, why don't you be extra careful while driving so you don't allow them to get harmed? I mean, you and all other drivers have the safety of a car so you should look out for them.

Despite how I sounded like a dick above, I actually do respect motorcycle riders and give them as much room as possible.

 

[Markbnj]

Like everything else, being stupid has consequences.

Absolutely, but I think if it were officially tolerated in more places then accidents like the one in that video would happen more often. Besides, the idea that letting motorcycles squeeze through faster would improve traffic flow seems like a stretch to me.

 

[Gillbot]

Despite how I sounded like a dick above, I actually do respect motorcycle riders and give them as much room as possible.

I applaud you, but the mentality is more often than not, "the norm" when it comes to car drivers in regards to bikers in general. Instead of car drivers giving more leeway to bikers and accepting responsibility for their poor driving and lack of attention, they want bikers removed so they don't have to look out for them.

I'd love to see splitting become popular on the east coast but I doubt it'll ever happen. Until car drivers give respect, it will always be a heated debate.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The thing about motorcycles...and some people will hate me for saying this I guess. But you're putting your life at risk. Its stupid to put your life at risk, therefore motorcycle riders are IMO a bit more stupid than regular people. So now you have this collection of people who are stupider than regular people, out there doing stupid shit on a machine thats far more likely to get them killed than a car. I mean, its ridiculous.

This is just my opinion. Sorry. We are on the internet here, right? I can have an opinion.

I love the idea of riding a motorcycle, it has always been enticing to me. But I dont want to die.

You can have an opinion, however it does not mean it's valid. I recall someone give me tough time about being rider, then about two months later had a compound fracture while skiing. Looking at injuries per mile he had a far greater chance of injury than myself. I can say that about almost all physical activity. Soccer a safe sport? Heh, no. Only idiots would play that. On and on it goes. At some point one has to either hide or enjoy life and if some risk is the price then so be it.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

My post was full of generalizations and pretentiousness. I'm really not that guy. I was just giving a quick take on it. I understand your side of the story.

I'm just saying, I don't want to die. And playing soccer would very marginally increase my chances of dying. But riding a motorcycle would greatly increase those chances.

 

[olds]

My post was full of generalizations and pretentiousness. I'm really not that guy. I was just giving a quick take on it. I understand your side of the story.

I'm just saying, I don't want to die. And playing soccer would very marginally increase my chances of dying. But riding a motorcycle would greatly increase those chances.

I am 56. Been riding since I was 10. That's 46 years. How dead should I be?

 

[Railgun]

It's a good idea. Live in London and you'll see.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

My post was full of generalizations and pretentiousness. I'm really not that guy. I was just giving a quick take on it. I understand your side of the story.

I'm just saying, I don't want to die. And playing soccer would very marginally increase my chances of dying. But riding a motorcycle would greatly increase those chances.

Statistically I have a 1 in 2000 chance of being in a fatal accident. I don't want anyone who is uncomfortable with motorcycles riding, however I'd suggest that it's not nearly as dangerous as some imagine, well at least for anyone who has an understanding that there is a learning curve and another skill set to learn.

 

[Dirigible]

Signed it. Lane splitting is legal here in California, and it's wonderful.

This.

 

[John Connor]

I sign a lot of petitions on Change.org that have more validity.

 

[Exophase]

Ignorance is no excuse.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/california-says-motorcycle-lane-splitting-is-hella-safe-really/

So according to this article, motorcyclists who lane-split are safer and more conscientious than those who don't, yet are still more than twice as likely to rear end another vehicle. Great endorsement. Just because the motorcyclists who do this are safer drivers doesn't mean that allowing it makes anyone safer; there's a pretty big difference in correlation vs causation on this one.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Done

 

[GrumpyMan]

If I am stuck in traffic, then you should be too. I don't care if you are on a tricycle. You're not fixing the root of the problem.

 

[sportage]

THANK GOD
I assumed this was some "sign the petition" thread to get me banned.
And I was ready to sign.

 

[cubby1223]

Ease traffic congestion

At least around where I live, less than 1% of the traffic on the road are motorcycles. Therefore it has nothing to do with congestion. At least near me.

It just seems it would cause far more accidents, and a result slow traffic down even further, than any reduction in congestion.

 

[BUTCH1]

Not only no, HELL NO....I don't want to be sued by someone who would claim " I was too far to one side of my lane and caused an accident". Nor do I enjoy a group of people who modify their machines to be ear-rattling when they are next to my car getting legal permission to be even more annoying.

 

[Gillbot]

If I am stuck in traffic, then you should be too. I don't care if you are on a tricycle. You're not fixing the root of the problem.

So 25% (I'm picking a random number) fewer cars on the road wouldn't help ease congestion? This is the problem, and why America has serious issues.

I'd gladly let bikers split if they want to and have no animosity if they get by me in traffic. If it grew in popularity, I'd join them and help ease congestion overall.

 

[Captante]

SIGNATURES NEEDED BY JANUARY 01, 2015 TO REACH GOAL OF 100,000 = 86,121


My guess is this is going to fall a tad short.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

So according to this article, motorcyclists who lane-split are safer and more conscientious than those who don't, yet are still more than twice as likely to rear end another vehicle. Great endorsement. Just because the motorcyclists who do this are safer drivers doesn't mean that allowing it makes anyone safer; there's a pretty big difference in correlation vs causation on this one.

I don't think I'd do it often if allowed, but there are places where traffic stops, literally. In that case I would split, but probably at 20-30 mph. That's not because of rear ending fears but at a standstill people do open car doors and i need time to watch for that.

 

[DrDoug]

I am 56. Been riding since I was 10. That's 46 years. How dead should I be?

I'm 54 and rode my first time when I was 8 so we have the same time on...lol! I think people who grew up on motorbikes have a skill advantage over people who learn to ride as adults. When you are a kid the last thing you are thinking about is staying alive. Wipe out? Then get back up and hit the dirt again! Hell, I cringe at the thought of stuff I used to do when I was young and brainless. The good news is that I survived (and more importantly, learned).

I tell anyone who, as an adult, is intrigued by riding but are afraid of killing themselves that it's probably best if they don't bother. I have seen more than a few new riders wipe out and many walk away from it. Few pick the bike back up and try it again because they get spooked. I've ridden so much that I don't even think about the mechanics of it anymore.

But I do pay attention to every car around me because there is a great likelihood that if I am going to be hit, one of them is going to do it. Cagers may think we are crazy for riding but they don't realize that they are the ones who threaten our lives.

Or maybe they do and that's why they are laughing.

 

[olds]

I'm 54 and rode my first time when I was 8 so we have the same time on...lol! I think people who grew up on motorbikes have a skill advantage over people who learn to ride as adults. When you are a kid the last thing you are thinking about is staying alive. Wipe out? Then get back up and hit the dirt again! Hell, I cringe at the thought of stuff I used to do when I was young and brainless. The good news is that I survived (and more importantly, learned).

I tell anyone who, as an adult, is intrigued by riding but are afraid of killing themselves that it's probably best if they don't bother. I have seen more than a few new riders wipe out and many walk away from it. Few pick the bike back up and try it again because they get spooked. I've ridden so much that I don't even think about the mechanics of it anymore.

But I do pay attention to every car around me because there is a great likelihood that if I am going to be hit, one of them is going to do it. Cagers may think we are crazy for riding but they don't realize that they are the ones who threaten our lives.

Or maybe they do and that's why they are laughing.

I've been "down" 5 times on a street bike. None of them involved cars. Two were at less than 30 MPH. Three were at less than 5 MPH.

I've always worn long sleeve shirts or a riding jacket. Boots, trousers, gloves and a full face helmet. I rode like that before helmets were the law in California. I've never worn shorts, sandals, etc. I cringe when I see people dressed like that.

All the time I see some guys riding a rice rocket in a $600 Shoei wearing shorts, T shirt, sandals and no gloves. Riding/perched on the back is his girlfriend/wife in a $600 Shoei, no gloves, high heels and a short skirt.

 

[Greenman]

I forgot AT was the "you'll shoot your eye out" crowd.

Should have been a petition about putting air bags on escalators.

 

[olds]

I forgot AT was the "you'll shoot your eye out" crowd.

Should have been a petition about putting air bags on escalators.

Indeed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MockAULsyxA&t=0m10s

 

[GrumpyMan]

So 25% (I'm picking a random number) fewer cars on the road wouldn't help ease congestion? This is the problem, and why America has serious issues.

I'd gladly let bikers split if they want to and have no animosity if they get by me in traffic. If it grew in popularity, I'd join them and help ease congestion overall.

Traffic congestion due to bikes is not the issue, since bikes are not the problem. The problem is that now I would have to worry about not only the 2 idiots on either side of me that are texting and not paying attention, but now I would also have to worry about some dumbass biker doing twice the speed of the congested traffic, that is at a standstill, and then some idiot texting car driver decides to change lanes unexpectedly to make their exit while this biker is rolling through in between at 2 or 3 times the speed of the congested traffic. At least in Houston, this would be a horrible idea to try out. And I know because I have ridden bikes for many years here. Now, if you want to open up the shoulder for bikes, then no problem. And they can already use the High Occupancy lanes now anyway. Just sayin.

 

[Exophase]

Cagers may think we are crazy for riding but they don't realize that they are the ones who threaten our lives.

I realize it. The couple accidents I've been in happened because some other idiot hit me. One of them was while I was stopped immediately behind someone waiting for a left turn and the guy slammed right into me, causing me to slam into the car of the little old lady in front of me. She was absolutely hysterical over it.

You can be the best driver (or motorcyclist) in the world but there are situations where you can't get around or react to other people being idiots. And I don't think it's a laughing matter. But so long as motorcyclists don't endanger other people they're free to put themselves at increased harm; I just feel bad for the idiots who have to face terms with their bad driving by having killed someone instead of just wrecking their vehicle.

I've always worn long sleeve shirts or a riding jacket. Boots, trousers, gloves and a full face helmet. I rode like that before helmets were the law in California. I've never worn shorts, sandals, etc. I cringe when I see people dressed like that.

Wait, so California has a helmet law, yet in that article you linked only like 60-70% of people actually ride with one? That's not good...