Annual Ohio Motorcycle Rant

[mizarchivist]

I swear to god. Every time I see someone without a helmet on- or even better, no helmet, no shirt, shorts, sneakers (and probably no ear plugs, so quickly going deaf on top of it all)-- cruising down any road, but particularly doing 70 on the highway- I feel physically ill. I'm looking at all these people who will more than likely DIE because they're not willing to take the precautions when they get on a bike. I know it's 90 degrees and humid. Don't care. skin & bones + speed + pavement.  I am not going to draw a picture because then I really would barf.  (This means the rest of you shouldn't draw in my space on this, too). 

Comments

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Well, on the other hand, those people are the best friends of the local transplant surgeon. When taking care of one one day after a crash, I called said surgeon at the place where I was working, and he told me so.

[mizarchivist]

This is true. The lemonades of the lemons, if you will. Watching the "before" is still cringe-worthy, though.

[penk.livejournal.com]

don't forget the squid kids that also decide flip flops are the way to go.

Add to that their trophy bimbo perched on a post-stamp sized rear seat, similarly (not) attired.

Both imminent squid bait.

I was passed (flocked around) by 4 of this nimrods on I95 yesterday coming back from Maine while in New Hampshire. Blazed past me at about 90 in heavy traffic. When we came over a hill, I saw red lights and stopped (in that 'omg, something just happened' way), and was sure one of this mental midgets had had a close encounter with someone's SUV hatch.

Alas, it wasn't, just normal traffic, and the squidkids were still wiggling around the cars.

Very sad. As niven said, though, think of it as evolution in action.

[srl.livejournal.com]

I saw sooo many helmetless motorcyclists on my Long Bike Ride; it was a little mindboggling. OTOH, they almost inevitably waved back at me when I put out my left hand--- which never happens in MA.

[feste-sylvain.livejournal.com]

Is Ohio a mandatory-insurance state?

Can the premiums be increased for any of those idiots who get caught riding without even the most basic body armor?

Kansas *cycle Rant

[gamehawk.livejournal.com]

Ditto here, and it's illegal on top of that.

Ditto bicyclists without helmets. Or in flip-flops. Or with those nifty little toe-catching pedals in stop-and-go city traffic (I don't care if you CAN balance perfectly on your bike while it's standing still... in this traffic you *need* to be able to abandon ship in a hurry).

Also bicyclists who pass me in the gutter while I'm stopped at a light, RIGHT after I JUST gave *them* an entire lane when passing them a minute ago.

I mean, I'm willing to cut motorcyclists *and* bicyclists a lot of slack for the whole saving-gas thing, but work with me here people!

[wurmwyd.livejournal.com]

Hi there!

Yes ... but it's just so ... self-Darwin-izing. That's a good thing, right?

[dakotakym.livejournal.com]

There are droves of bikers like this in NH, too.. many of them, after crossing from MA into NH, will literally stop at the side of the road to remove their helmets before continuing on their journeys. It boggles my mind.

[cad-red-ducati.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way. it's werid how in the universe of motorcycle culture, sqiuds wear helmets alot, but little else in the way of safety gear. and of course, for the boomer/cruiser crowd, it's all about "sticking it to the Man" or being a rebel or some such shite. this whole thing really gets in the way of haveing a civilzied conversation with a non-motorcyclist who's all like "motorcycles=DEATH!!!"

very annoying.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

it's werid how in the universe of motorcycle culture, sqiuds wear helmets alot, but little else in the way of safety gear.

I see similar stuff going on with bicyclists a lot -- a cyclist might be going the wrong way up a one-way street, weaving in and out of traffic, blowing through a red light, but damned if they aren't safe 'cause they're wearing a HELMET.

Drives the folks on the massbike list crazy. It seems like so much effort has been spent on persuading people to wear helmets (either on motorcycles or bicycles) that some of the even more important stuff, like "obey the rules of the road" and "remember to wear other protective gear" has gotten completely left behind.

[lightniing.livejournal.com]

When I was out on motorcross there is always one person riding without any gear. Now granted it's a very risky sport right, motorcross is fast and hard and over rocks & trees, so the rest of us wear protective pads, huge special boots, gloves with plastic protection against the bush scratches, shin guards, knee guards, not that we are going to fall (this trail is designated for experienced riders) but just in case, you know? No law requiring this stuff, but almost everyone does gear-up. Almost. At least once every ride you see someone screaming around with a concert T-shirt, street pants, and half-face helmet, no other protection and you got to wonder - are they trying to save money by not buying the gear, or what?

Sorry to rant... I just meant that "I hear ya" - fortunately at least in that location, they are the exception, most gear-up very well.

[manderwoos.livejournal.com]

We have helmet laws in Michigan, but the accidents still don't fare out well usually. We had an accident yesterday and thankfully no one was hurt beyond repair.