National day to ride motorcycles to work is this week

Yes, joeb68935, cyclist get threaten by stupid drivers everyday on the road and so when they get a chance to talk about it in a setting such as this, they sound very threatening. How many times have you nearly died today because of some moron? I am not a cyclist yet but I can very well understand where they are coming from. In my very short drive to work there are at least three idiots who threaten my life by pulling out in front of me, changing lanes without a signal, often times while I am right beside them!!

Some people on bikes do some really stupid things but more often then not, it is some idiot in a car, not paying attention to what they are doing, who causes the accidents on the roads.

Quote "more motorcycles that will be tailgating, changing lanes,turning without signaling, cutting people off, and driving between lanes."

So...the bike riders will be behaving like the auto drivers??? That is truly a scary thought.

I've not decided if I will be on my new Ducati 848, Harley Road Glide, or 1974 Kawasaki H2 Triple tomorrow but I can guarentee you that like everyday, I will be riding...saving fuel, putting up less C02, congesting less lanes and enjoying myself much more than if within the confines of a car sipping coffee and jawing on a cell phone.

55 and hope to live a while longer? I've been riding for over 35 years and have yet to have an allision with a car so.....you can probably make it to 90 or so in good shape. Go enjoy. We'll all die at some point, the minority of us will live.

"The lady on Indian River last night turned left into the motorcycle's path--he is dead and she will get off with a wrist slap because she hasn't learned how to use her eyes efficiently."

That woman was charged with reckless driving.

I was thinking about the writers who said they should not get a manslaughter charge for killing a cyclist because . . . if they had "only" hit a car, the person would have lived. I find that to be an arrogant statement, as we never know what the outcome of "only" hitting a car will be. I also find it to be a frightening statement because it shows that the people saying that are also prepared to "only" cause minimal damage going about their daily driving. How about a society where we try to do no harm at all to other people and their property???

If we do the crime, we should be willing to do the time. If we happen to hit a cyclist, instead of a car, or a car that breaks up on impact, well, that is manslaughter, my friend, if we were inattentive, on the phone, or reading a road map as we did it. Cheers, MGM

Like any otehr segment of society, motorcycle riders will have idiots as well. I look out for them. However, some of these riders are obnoxious. I had one doing 35 in front of me on PA RD. I tried to pass and they sped up. As I tried to ease back into my lane all three riders slowed down and blocked me into the lane w/ oncoming traffic. First it's illegal not to give way to a passing vehicle. The question of decency bothers me more though. What was that about? We get alot of traffic on the weekends from day trippers and tourist and they are often intimidated by the winding roads and passing is a daily occurence.

"Submitted by dannyb70271 on Tue, 07/15/2008 at 1:32 pm.
more motorcycles that will be tailgating, changing lanes,turning without signaling, cutting people off, and driving between lanes."

Now this is just DUMB, driving a car must make you blind as hell, cause I see car and truck drivers doing this stuff everyday. And motorcyclist have to pray everytime they attempt to pass a slow moving "death cage on wheels" just to make it around safely. Now get off your cell phones, use your turn signals, and use those side mirrors when you cut people off while they're passing you! What is it about driving cars that makes you people ignorant?!?

P.S.
I also drive a jeep!

I am currently a 'cage' driver who is looking to purchase a bike, gas prices being my final straw to finally getting one. I've been around bikes all my life, especially in my youth, ridin' on the lap of my father and uncle around the backyard in Ohio on pedal-less mopeds and a kawasaki something-or-other. EVERYBODY needs to share the road better than we currently do, and since cage drivers are more dominant in numbers on the road, then they're the obvious majority concern. My point is that there are bad drivers everywhere and they/we need to get back to the basics and realize that if we're idiots about the way we drive, we may NEVER get to our destination. Here's to Utopia roads.

I drive a car, but fair is fair!
The lady on Indian River last night turned left into the motorcycle's path--he is dead and she will get off with a wrist slap because she hasn't learned how to use her eyes efficiently.
This really bothers me . . . Cheers, MGM

By the way, those are not threats. Its a true statement, someone could very well consider a driver endangering their life...please respect motorcyclists.

Very well put once again!

Just so you all will know where I'm coming from, I ride Harley's and own 3. My wife & I used to ride together but because of the crazy idiots on the road, she won't ride anymore on her bike. Not because she doesn't trust her skill on the road, but rather she doesn't trust her ability to avoid the situations she sees when she's on the back of my ride. She hasn't been riding for 40 years like me but is a competent driver & still doesn't trust her ability to get out of the situations that inconsiderate and dangerous drivers put her in...& I don't blame her one bit. It is shear lunacy when I have to ride faster than 65 just to stay ahead of the a**hole who wants to climb up my rear tire & has no clue that I can stop in 1/3 the distance & have quicker reaction times because of my defensive driving skill on my bike. Woe be to the jerk that rearends me because if I survive, their time on this earth will be limited. Just do us all a

I don't think that poster was stereotyping all crotch rocket riders, but unfortunately for you (a small part that rides sensibly) it's very seldom, like never, you see a Harley or custom biker riding a wheelie down the interstate. I've ridden one of those bikes and I have to say they will make you try things you shouldn't be doing! lol On another subject, looks like another one of our brothers went down again today by a motorist not watching what they were doing. I read the guy was 21 years old. Really makes me want to ride mine to work tomorrow!

I find that most of the motorcyclists are good drivers and I do believe that they are more aware and pay close attention. I've seen some bad ones too, but I'd be willing to bet that the ratio of good to bad motorcyclists is far wider than good car/truck/SUV drivers. My husband, who relied on a motorcycle for a good part of his early years, took a defensive driver's course in another state for a reduction in insurance rates. He was amazed that when he applied for a Virginia license, his road test was to drive to the end of the street and back. He says that those motorcyclists who don't know what they are doing drive down the middle of the lane where the car/truck oil is. Maybe we need more strict licensing requirements. He'd love to have another motorcyle, but I'm scared to death of his safety, not because of him, but because of the other drivers. And just this afternoon, sadly, yet another....

three threats of violence made by motorcycle riders, and their not the agressive ones. Hope the police are watching this and taking note.

Thank you 63impala!! I ride a crotch rocket and i ride extremely safe. I have never exceeded my limits on my bike. I respect my bike, and every vehicle on the road. Once you lose respect for your bike and start doing wheelies, stoppies, and whatever else stunt you feel is neccessary, thats when she puts you to the pavement. That pavement isnt very forgiving either. The people that do that stuff give all of us a bad name. On the daily when im riding i get one of you idiots that ride my bumper and decide you want to tailgate me when im doing 5 over the speed limit to keep up with traffic, & like 63impala said, most of us riders carry, and one day it could very well be taken as a threat against our life.

An unfair stereotype. The riders that ride this way get noticed. The rest of us don't.

jmo

Alright all the people out there that assume all motorcycle riders are reckless are wrong. Yeah sure we have all seen the idiots on crotch rockets doing wheelies on 264. Those jerks are just as dangerous in a car. My Dad rides his motorcycle every chance he gets and let me say that EVERY day someone who isn't paying attention almost kills him. Share the road people!!! Avoiding distracted drivers is bad enough in a car. If someone killed my Dad because they are too busy on their phone or in a hurry to get to point B trust me the courts would be the least of their worries...

You people that have nothing good to say about motorcycle riders are the same idiots I see everyday with the stupid phone in their ear driving with their knees & driving as if they are and Indy. The roads around Tidewater (such as they are) were not installed for your personal pleasure so quit driving like no one else has the right to be in "your lane". Your "one-more-car-length" attitude gets people killed & not just those of us on bikes. And as far has a slap on the wrist for rear-ending & killing a motorcyclist, its not an accident & it that deserves just as much of a penalty as a DWI death. The same stupid & selfish attitude of the cage drivers causes both tragedies & they should pay the price because you "can't fix stupid". And for those of you that like to push the envelope and try to intimidate bikers with your cage, just remember this: VA is a right to carry state and some of those riders might just decide that your little game is a death threat and defend themselves. Just my 2 cents....

So what happens if a driver hits and kills a pedestrian. You take away the risk factor for walking across the street?

"more motorcycles that will be tailgating, changing lanes,turning without signaling, cutting people off, and driving between lanes".
Maybe it is the car drivers who are unaware because most every motorcyclist is more aware of their surroundings than someone on their cellphone drinking coffee and trying to take their prescription drugs while driving.

It is survival and two wheel commuters will only grow in the months and years to come.

more motorcycles that will be tailgating, changing lanes,turning without signaling, cutting people off, and driving between lanes.

Had the other vehicle been an automobile I'm sure the punishment would have been different. Sure I take the risk riding a motorcycle but does that mean I should be treated different at times like this?

No we are not asking for the death penalty, but at least some type of punishment for taking the life of an innocent man minding his own business.
You claim the man on the motorcycle made a personal choice to lead a riskier life by riding a motorcycle. What a bunch of crap. Riding a bike would be no more risky if people in cars would just pay a little bit of attention to how they drive.
Putting on makeup, talking on the cellphone, eating, horseplaying with passengers--all stuff that shouldnt be done while driving, but it happens all day long. As long as people drive with their heads in the glove compartment and are totally clueless to their surroundings, we on motorcycles have to predict what other drivers are going to do. We are just asking that you please realize we are out there and most importantly watch out for us.

What would be justice for a mistake that caused a rear end collision? I really don't think the guy on the motorcycle making a personal choice to lead a riskier life should have any impact on the punishment for a traffic violation. In fact you REALLY don't want that because that would give the government an excuse to ban your risk choices because they impact other people.

A blurb with no history.
How about providing complete information instead of trying to scare people. The fatality rate was not "nearly" double, and you missed the fact the motorcycle ownership also "nearly" doubled. Hmmm, twice the number of bikes twice the number of crashes.
As a rider I'm grossly insulted by this pitiful report.

That is a correct statement. Seems there could have been a way to file another charge in that instance. We are also getting the bum wrap from the dummy riders who think they are invinceable. I just don't understand, but then gain I'm 55 years old and enjoy life. I would like to be around for awhile longer.

There will be no justice if you are injured or killed.
Chesapeake General District Judge Robert Carter sentenced James A. Hooks Sr. to 30 days in jail with 20 days suspended, fined him $200 and suspended his operator's license for six months.
Hooks was cited for reckless driving after crashing with a motorcycle rider at N. George Washington Highway and Yadkin Road. George Phillips Jr., 56, was riding his motorcycle southbound on N. George Washington Highway when he stopped for a red light at Yadkin Road. Hooks' vehicle, following behind the motorcycle, failed to stop and rear-ended the motorcycle. Phillips suffered serious injuries and died.
If that was a drunk driver that killed a 5 year old then there would be hell to pay. But not for us motorcyclist.

Most folks, like myself who ride motorcycles will ride everyday they can. Hopefully by making a national day for riding, folks will become more aware of us on the road. We love to ride but, some folks still don't see us. Please everyone, be safe out there.