[bbtowns]

Well I have to say that doing that kind of stunt crap on busy highways isn't doing anything for motorcycling. While the article reports them riding recklessly, it was a lane change that caused the accident. While there's no excuse for a reckless lane change, how many of us are nearly killed by cars and SUVs on a daily basis, with no mention in the papers. How many are actually killed without an article on reckless automobile driving?

I also notice that there's no condemnation of an SUV with 8 passengerse with only one wearing a seat belt. That's a law in all 50 states I believe. Just my $.02

 

[38500]

OK, another "motorcyclists are Satan" story. I particularly liked the comments of Judy Stone about motorcyclists going "80. 90, even 100 miles an hour." In LA, when freeways are clear, grannys on Buicks go 90 mph....

I agree extreme motorcyling in traffic is nuts, but then they show their agenda, which is really to limit motorcycling (or possibly eliminating it... much safer around when all you need to worry is a 4-ton SUV slamming into your car...

 

[7349]

This will no doubt lead to a lot of "one bad apple..." posts. And the riders who pull this kind of crap on public roads are (appropriately) usually the victims of two-wheeled Darwinism.



Having said that, what makes this story remarkable is that it was motorcyclists who were the catalyst for this tragedy. If it had been another Land-Roving cellphone user drifting into that Ford Explorer, it would barely have made the 11:00 news.



Even more telling, though, is the fact that only one person in the Suburban was wearing a seat belt. All motor vehicle operators and their passengers should prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Bikers do that every day. I'll bet that everyone in that Suburban will buckle up from now on.



Yes, this kind of hooliganism is wrong and reflects poorly on our sport. But so is the sensationalizing of these stories simply to incite anger and derision toward motorcycling in general.

 

[pdad13]

Ugh. I don't know who to be mad at. On one hand (or with one hand), I'd like to strangle every stupid squid who is too dense to figure out, or just doesn't care, that he/she makes life tougher for all of us. I'd like to advocate the liberal Darwinism, but every time one of those knuckleheads goes down, we all get lumped in.



On the other hand, I'd like to take it to the media for their typically distorted, sensationalist reporting. (No one reports every single accident that is caused by a careless or wreckless driver that injures someone--I would bet my life that there are far more of those than accidents caused by motorcyclists.)



Since I'm out of hands, I'd like to plant my boot firmly in the ass of Judy Stone, a freakin' lobbyist for the insurance industry (where's her bread buttered?). Hey, Judy, you jerk, take a ride on the Long Island Expressway. The going rate, when there isn't stop-and-go traffic, is 80-90mph. You go too much slower than that, and you're taking your life in your hands.



And while you're at it, sweetie, could you track down the fine, young gentleman in his nice, safe Navigator who quite litrerally threatened to kill me and make it look like an accident because I was simply in front of him in bumper to bumper traffic last Friday? Maybe you could make the world a little safer, then.

 

[pdad13]

Um, I meant "...the liberal application of Darwinism..."

 

[seruzawa]

I'm surprised you didn't pull out your .357, shoot his mirror off, and then ask, "What did you say?"

 

[39328]

I know we don't need the bad press but in the story Judy Stone says motorcyclists were "going so fast, weaving in and out of traffic. It was so outrageous. They had to be going 80, 90, 100 miles per hour." How often do people in cars do that crap as well and you don't hear about it. Here in Dallas 80-100 on the freeways is not a big deal for cars. But nobody is blasting them as a safety hazard. Police here are too scared to pull them over because some other bozo in a car is liable to kill the police officer. EVERYBODY needs to slow down and obey the law.

 

[sarnali]

This is just another hatchet job from the insurance industry and their butt-boys in the press. A Suburban got run off the road? tough s**t. How many people in cars and bikes get injured and killed because of SUV's?

Here's a thought, buy a car that handles avoidance manuvers without flipping off into the ditch, Ejected from the vehicale? why weren't they cited for violating the national seatbelt law. Why wasn't this insurance ***** aghast that law-abiding safety minded motorists weren't wearing seatbelts?

Stuff like this pisses me off, Janklov and these other ******* can runover and into motorcyclists left and right with nary a peep, but let motorcyclists exhibit stupid behavior or worse, actually CAUSE AN SUV TO HAVE TO SWERVE AND POSSIBLY WRECK and the sky is falling.

f*****n' assholes

 

[Buzglyd]

Now that you're a member of the GPTB

That guy in the Navigator won't be heard from again.

Believe it.

 

[longride]

Sarnali, you ok? Hardest rant I've seen from you! Keep up the good work!

 

[longride]

Re: Now that you're a member of the GPTB

Is he officially in? I'm that last to know everything in this damn club.

 

[pdad13]

Had I owned a firearm, and been carrying it, I wouldn't have had time to use it because the little p*ssy drove away so fast (after I coursteously pulled over to his driver side window because of his incessant horn-honking). I did get behind him and make subtley threatening gestures into his mirror. I had to literally talk myself down from pulling the bike over, running to the truck, and pulling him right through the driver's side window (this was not a big man). I was soooo close to doing it. Of course it was also right in the middle of jam-packed Main Street in my town. I figured I'd get myself arrested. Would have made quite a show, though.



The jerk got stuck trying to make a left hand turn, so as I was passing I "invited him to discuss matters with me." I think he just kind of looked away.

 

[pdad13]

Re: Now that you're a member of the GPTB

That's what I like to hear.

But where the hell is my membership card? I still got my eye on those fringed riding pants and the matching arm chaps and I could use the club discount.

 

[pdad13]

Re: Now that you're a member of the GPTB

Ah, sh*t. I meant the above to respond to Buz.

As for you Longride, I've actually been a member for months. Buz appointed me after one of my very first Kpaul hatchet jobs. I just haven't recieved my membership materials and Maltise cross pledge pin.

You're gonna looooove me.

 

[pdad13]

Amen, brother, amen.



Here's my question, if the motorcycles were going at an excessive rate of speed, as the article implies although I don't believe it states this outright, wouldn't the SUV have to have been doing a comparable speed, or likely, faster to be "cut off?" I don't think you can be cut off by someone who is going much faster than you. But then again, I'm an idiot.

 

[SeanAlexander]

I thought you were in Iraq?

 

[nosajwols]

What we know:



1) The idiots in the SUV were not wearing seat belts

2) If they were driving a car they would have been able to swerve without driving off a cliff

3) The press is biased against bikes

4) The world minus a SUV is a better place...



The piont we are missing for the most part here:



The idiots on the bikes caused the accident. Then the press wrote a biased article about it. Well take away the idiots on the sport bikes in the story and the press, biased or not, will have noithing to write about. As much as we like to complain (and rightfully so) about the idiots in SUVs minivans etc. it is the idiots on the sport bikes (in the story, not all sport bike riders are idiots, myself included) that are the reason we are all paying way too much for insurance. Too bad they were not directly involved in the crash, we could do with a few less idiots!!! I think motorcycling as an industry and a group must figiure out a way to get rid of these guys (I have no idea how). At the very least make sure joe public understands that they do not represent the masses.

 

[kpaul]

"You're getting ready to make a fool of yourself again, aren't you.

Step back, take a few deep breaths, go to your happy place for a minute. "

Sorry I couldn't resist. I agree 100% with your rant.

 

[kpaul]

Where did you go to statistics class? LA community college. Go to the helmet article and debate your "statistical" methods with me you Cheap shot artist.

 

[Buzglyd]

Re: Now that you're a member of the GPTB

The cool thing is, the next time I'm in NYC, you get to buy all the beer!