How aware are you?

[Kujacker]

pegasi1978 wrote:

I am hyperaware of both when they are on the roadway. My dad has a motorcycle and when I was younger we would occasionally go for rides on it so I learned the road etiquette of watching for motorcycles from the back of one. He would never let me get on the back unless I was in long pants, sneakers, helmet and occasionally a longsleeve shirt or jacket. I know to give them extra room when following behind one because they can “stop on a dime” but I can’t in a car.

Ditto the motorcycles and hyperawareness. I give them more road respect than cars, because not everyone sees them or like you said, they can stop on a dime. My dad also use to own many bikes, so he’s told me many stories about people not seeing him…
My best friend rides a crotch rocket. His first one got totalled because someone didn’t see him and charged out infront of him in his lane. He didn’t even have time to lay the bike down.
His new one, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been driving behind him (or on the bike with him), and see people almost hit him/us because they’re not looking for a motorcycle, but a car. 😕

As a driver, I look with my eyes, not my mirrors. As a driver I’m also actually LOOKING for bikers as well.

[Maebnus]

Well, I passed the test, but I didn’t see the bear (until I went back to look). It asked for something specific, so that’s all I focused on, so I don’t feel I missed anything.

As for seeing things while driving, I think I’m very aware of my surroundings. I’ve always been on the lookout for motorcycles, since it’s not just unobservant cage-drivers that cause the motorcycle-car accidents. I’ve seen too many crazy bikers, usually, but not always, on sport bikes (crotch-rockets), who drive like they should own the road. Sorry, I don’t think so. You might be able to do a wheelie and get up to speed faster, but, despite being small, my cage will flatten your bike – with or without you on it. Frankly, I’d rather not be held up while you’re being scraped off the asphalt.

Since I’m getting my own bike any day now (just waiting for the call telling me it’s here), I am extremely aware that I have to be on the defensive every time I go out. The Japanese here are pretty aware of scooters/motorcycles, since a LOT of them are on them (there are always exceptions)… it’s the Americans that I see not paying attention most frequently. Nevermind the fact that we’re required to wear fluorescent orange safety vests – it doesn’t seem to help…. 🙄

[Kristen]

I caught them both, though it didn’t register as a “Moonwalking bear”… Just as a – “Hey there wasn’t any random fuzzy things when they started WTF???”

I feel intellergent 😛

[Author]

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