Discrimination against m'cycles/cyclists/

[Pplater]

It is dangerous to always think that motorcyclist are discriminated when using the road, because this will lead to complacent, and you will think that other road users must respect your right as motorcyclist, and they must behave properly while on the road.

 

It is not the case in life, and on the road, every road users think only about theri own safety first before the safety of others, this if life.

 

Why the press or the public percived the motorcyclist as always speed, cutting lanes, riding in between lanes ,etc. Look at the number of fatal accident against the total no of motorcycles in singapore, the rate is so much higher than other type of vehicles.

 

It is in our interest to take care of our safety on the road and beware of other reckless road users for the shake of our own safety.

 

No point crying loud about discrimination because the bikers are a minority and insignificant group of road users, other road users will no give a damn to our problems.

 

As long as the accident/fatality rate remain higher than other road users, it is the failure on our part as bikers to protect ourself.

 

sometimes luck do play a part even you have taken every precaution and accident do happen, but that is very rare and if that happened, that is life, fate.

 

No offence bro. my opinion after 30 years of riding/driving.

 

Its about the most sensible comment i read in this forum. 30 years experience makes a difference. I may not agree with all that you say, but you say it well.

 

I do agree with you the press and usually safety ads is not wrong in depicting bikers as daredevils by squeezing at high speeds. (remember the red carpet safety ad?) However, sometimes we need to get away because of others' agressiveness. How does that justify our actions then? To accept a low level risk for prolonged periods (being talilgated by a vehicle that acclerated towards you at high speed) or accepting higher risk for shorter period (lane split at varying speeds to get to free space)? It all comes down to personal preferences in the end. Different people, different choices. I was not surprised when recently, in SG car forum, i opened a thread to find out what car drivers think of us lane splitting, only to find out most car drivers think of it badly. Those who ride are supportive of us lane splitting, while at most we can expect the rest to tolerate it if we do so at safe speeds. However, some dun care if we go under, in their own words. We are after all human, and younger riders like me need more time to pass by before we mature. Sometimes controlling our temper may be difficult for some of us, although at our own expense. But then.. Darwin's theory may apply to us, on top of a bit of routlette.

 

I hope I'm still alive in 30 years to talk about safety. lol

[kucari]

did anyone else read one of the entries in todays ST forum page sent in by a TAXI DRIVER abt RIDERS...really pissed me off man...

[Wankidal]

PSA ban bikes for a reason . I thinks its due to the movements of the containers . Wat if the cranes were to drop the containers n a bike happen to pass by ?

 

i think it will have the same impact as car right?

[HondaSP]

Add 2 more points:

 

1. Other road users feels that they have every right to ask us to give way. May even treat us invisible. I was riding in the middle of the 2nd lane on PIE, a car honk me to move left so he can pass me. Aren't they suppose to do something call "overtaking"? If buses see bikes coming, they heck care just turn out.

2. Shopping mall "allows" illegal parking for bikes. The parking of bikes in Suntec yesterday was super pathetic.

 

i encounter alot of buses acted like wat u said ... especially at orchard n Plaza sing there

[SlowButSteady Bro]

As a road users we should be more considerate rather than making sweeping statements like why the cars/buses/lorries like dat one uh?SG is a small country cant afford every vehicles had to give way to bike,As a small size we always must had this considerate feelings if we're to survive long on the roads.I possess class 2/3/4 & Bus Vocational license.Through experiences and patience that i'm still on the road with free mind today.There's no suchs thing as dicrimination towards Bikers.In SG usually the smaller vehicles bullied big vehicles,No offence though.Remember earn respect on the road not gain.

[HondaSP]

lorries n those car with speed limit DOESNT obey the limit at all i seen a private bus travelling at 100km/h n when pass me at the second lane when i was one the 3rd lane ... that moment sudden i feel scary....

 

Most of the spd limit car does not obey rule so we cant expect to see full a great singapore with lesser accident ...

 

its sad singapore have such attidude...

[minorsage]

then sentosa will say it bans bikes for safety reason too..

 

i would also like to try riding in sentosa.. it's a superb racetrack with all the curves there.

 

precisely because there are fools like you who will think sentosa as a racetrack.

 

so many tourists. elderlys and young kids walking/playing around.

who will be responsible?

 

even when i drive in, i will park at the open space behind the 1st bus station and take the free bus in.

[roseonfire]

Motorcyclists & cyclists deserve to be discriminated. COz they are very "safe" on roads,tracks n bla bla

[minorsage]

Number 2. usually wen i go petrol kiosk.. when i struggle with d stuff.. they offer to help me pump but i politely say no thanks.. So they do help motorcyclists.. its just dat usually guys show dat kinda face that they noe everything so the pump attendants dun bother to help. If u look helpless, they will help.

 

 

when you are struggling, they are thinking what if you dropped the bike.

 

petrol spillage all over the floor, they will have a harder time cleaning up and they will have alot of answerings to do.

so they rather not take the risk, just pump the petrol for you.

 

or even worst, what if the petrol spill and caught fire due to static, who will be responsible?

[ghost04]

true enough...anyway petrol kiosk i visited they actually offer bike wash. cost the same as normal car. $6. pump for us for wat? tank so small nia...put side stand or main stand lor...

[ghost04]

road hoggers is a favourite topic agaist cars.

[aimanbeck]

did anyone else read one of the entries in todays ST forum page sent in by a TAXI DRIVER abt RIDERS...really pissed me off man...

 

oh yess! i read that article 3wks back in the forum section.. blardy taxi driver can talk bad about riders..

 

if we all write in about taxi drivers, it'll fill up the whole forum page. tio bo?

 

[ghost04]

See Taxi Stare At Them.

[Pplater]

I honestly believe the notion that bikers are discriminated against is overhyped at times. It could be due to defensive perception at times. I do believe if you ride in a safe and responsible manner, switching lanes in a considerate manner with soft lane changes, that kindness often influences those around you and they reciprocate. U sense the mood of the drivers around you.

 

Of course, you get the occasional AR$E tailgating you, but tell me this is not balanced by the young punk blowing you at traffic lights for a race. Yeah, that car could have exercised more care cutting your lane, but doesn't JB Kup circle you one round before overtaking? Of course, some shopping centres are not biker friendly, but we already have it good parking everywhere for kopi.

 

My point is that bad road behaviour transcends class, gender and experience. Everyone has their grievances. We are often caught up into our myopic perspectives.

 

It makes life much more pleasant cherishing what we as bikers enjoy that others don't, rather than lament what others have that we don't. After all, for us, it could easily all end tomorrow, and isn't it not worth sacrificing today getting upset over someone we will not meet tomorrow?

[xiaobanz]

Actually is cos of the perception of most users against bike. Imagine in the fully packed expressway and bike weaving in and out. Some of the drivers who got new cars are sometimes afraid of us scratching their precious new baby out there on the road. Then also cos we are small, how much of the expressway we can take up? That's what most pure drivers mentality are.

 

But the also got some of the people in the riding community which are you know, black sheeps. As humans, we would usually remember most of the bad things rather then the good ones.

[fireshamie]

Yup, cuz of these black sheeps, even the non-riding and non-driving community have a thing against bikes..Very too much obvious of tha society, driving/riding or non..So back to the question..

 

Is there discrimination against m'cycles/cyclists in SG

 

There so totally is..More to the stereo-typical mindset of the society that is causing this..Though I do agree with all the points pointed out above, both sides of the coins..

[sheep]

i sometimes wonder why can't riders ride in the middle of the lane? Seen alot of riders ride on the dotted white lane markings when the road is obviously clear. Its dangerous and frustrating for drivers trying to overtake. I ride and drive.

Its even more dangerous when they ride on the dotted line in the rain.. those markers are a curse to the tyres!

[fireshamie]

cuz maybe they just prefer something they can follow on the road (ie markings)..yup, those lines are kindaf dangerous..a fren of mine got into a small incident where one side of his bike got stuck to a big concrete trailer when he was riding on the lines (a habit of his..dangerous habit i must say) and the trailer was making a lane change..lucky he can handle his bike when he untangle his bike frm d trailer..his bike alignment was out and he injured his hand..his gf (also my fren) wasnt so lucky, and her feet sustained injuries..

[jodalejos]

all paint markings on the road when raining is bad for bikes.

[clef]

hmmm let me tink abt tis..

 

 

1) when buy personal accident insurance from NTUC, if we declare we are motorcyclists, a 10% additional premiun will be charged, ==> insurance go by stats, so accident free riders will b dragged down by accident prone riders (BIASED..time for insurance companies to do a more detail study for example personal claim history n give more NCD)

 

2) when we go petrol station, nobody help to pump, petrol station don't wash bikes, although we are ready to pay, ==> motorcycles tanks openings r horizontal to the ground as opposed to most cars which r vertical to the ground..i dun tink u will like pump attendants to pump ur bike than accidentally drip on ur tank..furthermore, most bikes r parked on side stands..

(not completely biased)

 

3) some shopping centres totally ban parking for bikes, ==> to be fair, some shoppin centres r overfilled wif bikes n some bikers dun really have the consideration to park in proper lots..tis may have turned off the various shoppin centre management to totally ban motorcycles in their carparks..alternative would b to charge for the carpark..tangs is a super classic example..tink they charge $5 for bike entry now..i m not willin to enter the carpark n chk if its still as messy as before..(not biased in terms of shoppin centre management)

 

4) both Sentosa and PSA port ban bikes totally, ==> Sentosa BIASED, PSA no comment..

 

5) "Motorcycles and slower traffic, keep left" signs along E'ways, ==> BIASED..bet the implementer of the sign didnt noe that bikes can break the speed limit as often as cars also..

 

6) Media portrays m'cyclists as speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, ==> BIASED

 

7) Police often classifed bike accidents as "loss of control", often fail to understand or find out why he out of control. ==> to be fair again..i dun tink the Police can investigate 100% wad happened..so its ur statement vs the other party statement..

[Tyrian]

1) when buy personal accident insurance from NTUC, if we declare we are motorcyclists, a 10% additional premiun will be charged, ==> insurance go by stats, so accident free riders will b dragged down by accident prone riders (BIASED..time for insurance companies to do a more detail study for example personal claim history n give more NCD)

 

statistics are there for a reason.. however, most people doesn't know statistics only show part of the story (coz ppl collect data based on samples, not popluation)

 

2) when we go petrol station, nobody help to pump, petrol station don't wash bikes, although we are ready to pay, ==> motorcycles tanks openings r horizontal to the ground as opposed to most cars which r vertical to the ground..i dun tink u will like pump attendants to pump ur bike than accidentally drip on ur tank..furthermore, most bikes r parked on side stands..

(not completely biased)

 

well, dat i oso duno y.. gotta ask them

 

3) some shopping centres totally ban parking for bikes, ==> to be fair, some shoppin centres r overfilled wif bikes n some bikers dun really have the consideration to park in proper lots..tis may have turned off the various shoppin centre management to totally ban motorcycles in their carparks..alternative would b to charge for the carpark..tangs is a super classic example..tink they charge $5 for bike entry now..i m not willin to enter the carpark n chk if its still as messy as before..(not biased in terms of shoppin centre management)

 

sometimes car also park inconsiderately.. in some shopping centres, sometimes l always hear "attention please, could the vehicle owner of S** **** *, please remove your vehicle immediately as it's blocking everyone".. now have u ever heard of a motorcycle's plate being announced b4?

 

4) both Sentosa and PSA port ban bikes totally, ==> Sentosa BIASED, PSA no comment..

 

sentosa already given their stand that bikes are noisy and pose as a hazard for the users.. so now we also have souped up rex, evo and lots of racer-boy wannabe that are capable of emitting loud exhaust "music" too compared to our 2-stroke bikes as well..

 

as for PSA, i oso duno..

 

5) "Motorcycles and slower traffic, keep left" signs along E'ways, ==> BIASED..bet the implementer of the sign didnt noe that bikes can break the speed limit as often as cars also..

 

that sign is a rectangular sign, not circular.. rectangular sign is information sign.. circular sign is mandatory sign.. it seems that those who can't get this clear should go back to BTT, basic theory test..

 

6) Media portrays m'cyclists as speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, ==> BIASED

 

the media also potray cars turning turtle and cars head on with a tree..

 

7) Police often classifed bike accidents as "loss of control", often fail to understand or find out why he out of control. ==> to be fair again..i dun tink the Police can investigate 100% wad happened..so its ur statement vs the other party statement..

 

this is subjective..

[clef]

point 3..

 

i personally tink shopping centre management should jus wheel clamp like wad their warnin signs say they will do if they find illegal parkin..

 

mayb bcoz the motorcycles blockin the way were shifted by the security....hahaha i really duno..jus a poke in the dark..

[rrr]

I think all the points all pretty relevant...how abt ppl not giving way to bikes.. n i 've always felt that at traffic lights sometimes if u take up a position behind a car,ppl tink u take up space..then if u squeeze in bwtn, ppl also tink u trying to squeeze wif them!

[fireshamie]

haha, yeap, true when u think abt it or ever xperienced it..

[CoStar]

i believe management of shopping centres have their reasons for implementing their rules. you and i may not be an irresponsible rider and park any o how. but there are many others who do. so they have to do what is best, although, some places really exxagerate their rules.

of course places like psa ban bikes for safety reasons. but they do allocate lots for bikes at another area.

and why complain the pump attndent don pump for you? our tanks are small enough and we can do it ourselves for goodness sake. there are more cars pumping usually and they cant attend to everyone immediately too. some drivers are realy noob at pumping petrol.

GENERALLY, i believe most riders are more considerate than drivers. drivers who also ride are much more road friendly IMO coz they emphatize with the bikers too.

 

just my twenty cents.