Motorcycle Safety Code

[Totallywasted]

I found this old article from Sport Rider Magazine online, and thought it highlights some very pertinent points worth thinking about:

 

 

"As a group, we motorcyclists would be well served by adopting a code of behavior. At a minimum, every rider should follow the physician's motto: "Above all, do no harm." Examples:

 

Don't tailgate. It's rude, it's dangerous (unless you aspire to be a bumper sticker), and it's counterproductive. You will be able to make a much faster passing maneuver if you have room to accelerate before moving into the oncoming lane.

 

If you lane-split on surface streets, watch the traffic light. And when it turns green, be gone. Remember that lane-splitting at a red light is psychologically equivalent to cutting in line for ice cream. It can only be justified if you are a phantom-you don't impact traffic at all. If you're sitting there when the light changes and the cars behind you can't go, you've just cut in line.

 

Don't make impolite gestures at drivers who pull out in front of you. (You have to be Gandhi to always adhere to this one.) It's a visually structured environment out there. Besides the other cars, motorcycle riders are competing for attention with McDonald's signs, traffic lights, billboards-all things that were expressly designed to get noticed. On top of that, the primary visual clue we humans use to determine the speed of an oncoming object is the rate at which it grows in size. Being rather narrow to begin with, it is inherently difficult to judge the approach speed of a motorcycle. When you are traveling significantly faster than the speed limit, that guy about to turn left is not likely to realize how quickly you're going to be right there.

 

If you are really committed to the cause:

 

Wave thanks. When a car moves over to let you by, slows down to let you into a stream of traffic or gives you priority at an intersection, show them you appreciate it. Even if you're not sure it was intentional, do it. After all, thank-yous don't cost a thing. If you won't do it for motorcycling, do it for your mother. Let everyone know she didn't raise an ill-mannered mouth breather.

 

Facilitate traffic flow. Make space for merging or lane-changing cars (especially those that use a turn signal). Pretty soon people will subconsciously start feeling relief instead of anxiety when they see a bike on the road.

 

Offer assistance to stranded motorists. There is no quicker way to destroy negative stereotypes. Chances are your knowledge of mechanical things far outstrips that of Johnny Four-door. Show off a little. Most likely you can make a great contribution just by calling someone for them.

 

On these pages we've read about the Pace. Fundamentally, the Pace is about riding with responsibility to yourself. The natural extension of the Pace is the Code. The sport rider's Code of Behavior is about responsibility toward your sport and your fellow riders. And, at the risk of going a little over the top, toward your fellow man. Everybody knows it's a jungle out there on the road. As kings of the jungle we can afford to show a little grace, tolerance and restraint. And with all the legislative restrictions being bandied about, we really can't afford not to."

 

 

What else do you think should belong in the unwritten rider's code of conduct?

[NisMo7]

good share of information.