Should motorbikes be banned?

Shenshen wrote: »

Considering that the only times I've seen cars do that they were directly following a police car or ambulance, they don't appear to care all that much.

Youve seen cars on a motorway half in one lane and another passing between 2 cars where theres only 2 lanes?

Ive never seen gards or ambulances do that. They will shift cars out of the way, not drive in between 2 lanes in the gap. The cars in each lane wpuld jave to be pulled right to the out edge of each lane to make a gap remotely big enough

I'm not answering the OP, because it's an obvious troll.

freshpopcorn wrote: »

No, they shouldn't be banned.
I'd however like to see a law that banned them from weaving in between queuing traffic in order for them to skip the que!

I can see where you're coming from. You have to queue, so why shouldn't everyone else, right?

I do love seeing people getting jealous of bike riders because they're sat in a traffic jam and the biker isn't

Ragnar Lothbrok wrote: »

Do any motorcyclists EVER obey speed limits?

I can't speak for other bike riders, but I rarely obey speed limits. I ride according to the road conditions. If the conditions dictate I ride slow, I will ride slow. If I'm on a clear, open road, I'll ride faster.

rjpf1980 wrote: »

Eliminate bikes in the first place and no education is needed. If they are off the road that is the problem solved. No extra necessary expense in lives or money.

Eliminating cars would reduce biker deaths.
Eliminating jealousy would probably have a similar effect.

rjpf1980 wrote: »

Cars and other vehicles with the introduction of crumple zones protective structures within the car body and frontal and side air bags and of course seat belts have made crashes much more survivable.

There is literally no way to make lethal motorcycles safer.

Ban them and ban them now.

If people want to commit suicide that's fine. But motorcyclists endanger themselves and society.

Thoughts?

You post was sound more like a reason to ban cars than motorbikes.

Why do cars now have to have crumple zones and air bags if not to protect the occupants from other CARS.

the reality is most car drivers are far less capable on the road than the average motorcyclist.
How often do you look in your mirrors?
when was the last time you actually read the rules of the road?

Filtering (or lane splitting as its sometimes called) is perfectly legal for motorbikes, even the gardai do it.
If you looked more often in your mirrors that reckless 'weaving' as you seem to imply is only possible because a motorcyclist has far more awareness of what is going on around them than the average car driver. if you had been looking in your mirrors as often as you should it would neither appear to be reckless nor dangerous as you too would see that the motorcyclist is moving into free space.

the typical family car is far more dangerous on our roads than any motorbike and the statistics back that up. There is a small proportion of drivers and riders that definitely should not be on the road. The difference is the lunatic rider with a death wish is likely to have his wish come true, the lunatic driver with a death wish is far more likely to kill someone else.

I drive about 35,000 miles a year and to be honest motorbikes aren't on my radar. If you're watching your mirrors you can always give them a bit of room to get past and you get a thumbs up.

Dublin's a bit different and you get the odd eejit who's new to a motorbike but they're way down the hazard list. Suicidal pedestrians and those bloody free bikes with big grins :-(

Anyroadup, there's no chance you'll see me on one but no way should they be banned.

rjpf1980 wrote: »

There are numerous ads on TV asking us to be careful about motorcyclists.

I've had enough of this nonsense.

Motorcyclists are the most reckless and dangerous road users. In cities and towns and on motorways and rural roads they speed and weave through traffic and are a hazard to themselves other drivers and pedestrians.

Disproportionately motorcyclists die or are victims of accidents.

The reason is obvious. The motorcycle if it were invented today would not be allowed on the road. There is no protection for a driver whatsoever even at low speeds or legal speeds. A helmet or padded jacket or jumpsuit is rather flimsy when it comes in contact to the road or a collision with another vehicle. I have relatives who work with the emergency services and the stories they have told me would horrify. Motorcyclists literally get dismembered in high speed accidents.

Cars and other vehicles with the introduction of crumple zones protective structures within the car body and frontal and side air bags and of course seat belts have made crashes much more survivable.

There is literally no way to make lethal motorcycles safer.

Ban them and ban them now.

If people want to commit suicide that's fine. But motorcyclists endanger themselves and society.

Thoughts?

Good OP.

I'm very reluctant to generalise, but motorcyclists almost universally habitually flout the rules of the road, e.g. overtaking stationary traffic and undertaking in cycle lanes.

As for those 'Polite' jackets? Don't make me laugh (I do every time I see one!). A risible exercise in self-absorbed hypocrisy. Motorcyclist behaviour couldn't be further from that deluded exhortation.

McDave wrote: »

Good OP.

I'm very reluctant to generalise, but motorcyclists almost universally habitually flout the rules of the road, e.g. overtaking stationary traffic and undertaking in cycle lanes.

As for those 'Polite' jackets? Don't make me laugh (I do every time I see one!). A risible exercise in self-absorbed hypocrisy. Motorcyclist behaviour couldn't be further from that deluded exhortation.

are you even aware of the rules of the road? it appears not. I think you need to get you highway code book out again for a serious refresher course.

It is perfectly legal for motorcyclists to filter between traffic.
In most European countries motorcyclist are entitled to use bus lanes and cycle lanes, unfortunately not in Ireland.

Did it occur to you that if motorcyclist were unable to pass stationary traffic but instead take up position behind stationary cars, that your journey to work would be significantly longer.

Motorbikes take up more far less road space, are far more economical and environmentally friendly, and this has been recognised by cities such as London, where they actually encourage motorcyclists and penalise cars with only a single driver occupying them.
Since they implemented these new rules and applying your logic you would expect that the number of motorcyclists being killed in London would have increased since there is now a far higher proportion of them, but the reality is motorcyclist deaths have dramatically decreased. Unfortunately the cause of death for these motorcyclist has not changed with close to 50% being caused by car drivers when the motorcyclist was riding within the law and rules of the road.

McDave wrote:

I'm very reluctant to generalise, but motorcyclists almost universally habitually flout the rules of the road, e.g. overtaking stationary traffic

Lol, this is the standard you have to deal with, shouldn't hold a licence if you don't know the rules of the road.