Why are bikers treated as second grade citizens compared to car drivers?

[alzoron86]

whether it be the look you get at the petrol pump or lack of bike parking in many major buildings, i always get this impression

[xavw]

1) Perceived lower income & lower social status - this alone causes a lot of commercial companies to not be interested in bikers or earning biker's money.

 

2) Bikes/bikers tend to be associated with 'hooligans'/'anti-social' people/public nuisance, caused by anyhow parking, riding, loud pipes.

 

3) Poor understanding of bikers & bikes - Some people 'up there' or in certain social categories do not have biker friends, they only know the dispatch rider and the pizza delivery guy. They never get to hear about the biker's point of view

 

4) No biker's 'union' - Aside from the hobby clubs (?) like Harley, BMW, there's no organized representation for bikers (especially the 2B bikers), there's no biker's voice on issues that matter to us

Edited March 12, 2011 by xavw

[cougar]

It doesnt matter, others' perception dont mean sqwauk to me.

[MS]

whether it be the look you get at the petrol pump or lack of bike parking in many major buildings, i always get this impression

 

Did this epiphany manifest only recently?

It has always been the case in many countries. It's not only a Singaporean problem. It's a problem encountered by many people in many countries.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

There is the option not to view oneself as a second grade citizen and review (from public opinion) why bikers are seen as second grade citizens, and take small but crucial steps to neutralising the perceived negative image.

[antartica]

There is the option not to view oneself as a second grade citizen and review (from public opinion) why bikers are seen as second grade citizens' date=' and take small but crucial steps to neutralising the perceived negative image.[/quote']

 

well said...

how can you expect to be treated as a gentleman even if you dress up in a suit but behaves like a rascal?

treat yourself with respect and forget about the views of the world if you know you're alright.

[xXxRatedxXx]

whether it be the look you get at the petrol pump or lack of bike parking in many major buildings, i always get this impression

 

cos you never ride BMW... bike not atas enough... hehehhee

[Wayang]

every pavement is a potential parking lot for motorcycles and i duno y u r lookin at the pump attendant ? chio bu izit ? hahaha.. think positive my friend.. i always chuckle when i ride past cars stuck in traffic while i squeeze my way to the front..

 

as much as i love cars.. the money needed to buy n maintain one is just too much for me to justify.. so i dun envy people who drive cars at all (maybe i'm in self denial) ok i admit i wld love to drive a roadster

[Throttle]

So rightly pointed out, you are what you want yourself to be.

 

If you act second class , you will be second class.

[kimmeng]

just move on man.

[RageMyDream]

Who cares abt their impression?

First grade, second grade, x grade so

[Option]

Who cares abt their impression?

First grade, second grade, x grade so

 

Agree, having a car shows nth more than..you can afford it? Or you cant afford it but u die die wanna afford it in the end in debts, i know ppl like that

[roadster101]

There is the option not to view oneself as a second grade citizen and review (from public opinion) why bikers are seen as second grade citizens' date=' and take small but crucial steps to neutralising the perceived negative image.[/quote']

 

those who feel second class are often insecure in the first place. whether they ride bike, drive car, stay in whatever flat, they would feel the same.

[cougar]

i've known some University professors who refused to drive cars or take bikes, because they like taking buses and trains. These are 3rd grades citizens!!!

[thrasher]

study too much until gong gong..

[xavw]

i've known some University professors who refused to drive cars or take bikes, because they like taking buses and trains. These are 3rd grades citizens!!!

 

No lah, some of them just believe and practice what they preach about BMW (Bus, MRT & Walk)

[xavw]

those who feel second class are often insecure in the first place. whether they ride bike, drive car, stay in whatever flat, they would feel the same.

 

hur, i think the self-esteem issue is another thing all together. also put aside the inherent advantages of a bike vs car (mobility, cost), cuz that's not the qn.

 

class bias against bikers, besides disapproving looks, i think does play out in other ways. for instance the law (anyone observed that the penalty for causing the death of a biker seems very light? or accident between bike vs other vehicle, biker tend to be percieved as the one at fault? ), planning for parking spaces (some places prohibit bikes all together)

 

guess most of us just live with it, or have gotten used to it.

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

My experiences with cars & bikes for the last 10 years of adult life:

 

Car - I love driving, I learnt to drive (NOT IN SG) at the age of like, 10? 12? Later taught older persons in my family to park properly

 

Then when I was old enough my (late) father asked me to take car and bike license together.

 

I ended up liking the bike more. It's not because of the machine. The car is definitely a much more refined mode of travel. Really easy to drive. But it was a very lonely mode of travel. With the bike, the other riders at BBDC sweated, bled and learnt together with me how to beat the 8 stages and the TP test. There was community spirit when any of us dropped the bikes and there were heroic moments when people sticked to the bikes to pass the courses no matter what, even after accidents.

 

Knowing how it feels like to be un-horsed,for one, makes bikers concerned for each other and share tips (thats why we have SBF).

 

My favourite vehicle is now a van, because there's nothing like a friendly van driver stopping to give you a lift to near his workplace when your pocket rocket broken down unexpectedly. In future, I'd get a comfortable, fast van, register it as a passenger vehicle and use it as an aircraft carrier for overseas trips. Not exactly economically sound, but hey, it's for bikers

 

Short summary: Yeah, who cares about public image, just ride and do the right things on the road, whatever that means.

[ohayo]

I dont care what others think of me. Simply because i have achieved more than what these self proclaimed 1st class citizen (cager) can do.

 

As a rider, i have to set foot on 2 nations in a day.

As a rider, i rode to Phuket while these 1St class Citizen still thought that it is accessible only by flight.

As a rider, i can brag all my achievement to these 1st class citizen and see them gawked with admiration.

As a rider, i can go places which they can only dream about.

As a rider, i clear traffic jam quickly, shower and have my dinner while these 1st class citizen still struggling with their right foot on the highway.

 

Recently i rode to Melaka on my X1R, you should see their expression when i told them. Priceless.

I just cannot imagine the look on these people if they knew there are riders who rode moped to Golden Triangle. Superbly Priceless, i supposed.

[Wormwood]

To put it baldly, in Singapore, people who have money are worshipped. And everyone tries to prove themselves by appearing as wealthy as they possibly can. Why do you think there's such a high proportion of luxury cars on the roads? Many of these vehicle owners are paying through their noses. When you think you've "made it in life", driving a "lousy" car is just not socially acceptable.

 

No matter what you think you've achieved or how you live, so long as you don't appear to have money, mainstream society here will never view you as being of equal standing as someone who does.

[cougar]

To put it baldly, in Singapore, people who have money are worshipped. And everyone tries to prove themselves by appearing as wealthy as they possibly can. Why do you think there's such a high proportion of luxury cars on the roads? Many of these vehicle owners are paying through their noses. When you think you've "made it in life", driving a "lousy" car is just not socially acceptable.

 

No matter what you think you've achieved or how you live, so long as you don't appear to have money, mainstream society here will never view you as being of equal standing as someone who does.

 

That is stupid. Yuppies i supposed. Short-term pride, long term hardships, eventually end up mopping tables.

 

There are those older generation richies who dont believe in debt. And yet they are filthy rich, have land, have house, wear old cloths, lim kopi at kopi shops kind. Some even drive taxi to pass time! Believe me, its true.

[captainstag]

Xavw is right on the money. I'd also like to add the 'small' size of bikes compared to cars is an issue. For some reason, the smaller the ride, the less respect on the road. Bicyclists have it worse than us.

[B20]

its like tat... bo bian... i also feel pai seh sometimes... i even use 2 look down on myself...

 

if u think biker is 2nd class citizen... den move on... work for the 1st class tat u think... use this 2 motivate urself for upgrading and progress...

[Demon]

if u think biker is 2nd class citizen... den move on... work for the 1st class tat u think... use this 2 motivate urself for upgrading and progress...

 

to become a first class citizen then can look down on bikers

[CivicDash]

Bikers can laugh their way to the bank while those 1st class citizen still paying their car loan off.