Motorcycling Then and Now

[SpontaneousOrder]

That's because you ride on my side of the road not on the white line Am I suppose to plough into you?

It's not your side of the road. He's allowed to share it with you.

[bluetoaster]

I've never had a problem with keeping my helmet on in garages either. If I did I would just take my business elsewhere.

[hyperD]

Not had a problem with helmet on and visor up in petrol stations. There's a few car parks around town here that have free parking still.

I think generally most people road users are fairly considerate to bikes even if you are filtering. The ones to watch are the spatially challenged and you need to make sure your spider senses are tingling for when they pop out in front of you.

[Sarah1980]

I used to ride a bike but always kept my helmet on.

[SueEllen]

1) Plod are always over you like a rash.

They are trying to stop you becoming an organ donor. I just spoke to another guy who moaned about this but least he understood why.

2) People, in general, still don't seem to like motorcyclists. I get the impression that my neighbours were far from impressed when I pulled up on my Ducati Monster. It does have a set of very loud cans, mind you.

That's because you ride on my side of the road not on the white line Am I suppose to plough into you?

Otherwise you don't bother me.

[vwdan]

Presumably you go more than 5 minutes from your house on your bike

Find a station who either don't care about helmets or have pump payments, and take your custom there to stick it to those who upset you.

Oh, none of the ones here have ever actually said anything about me going in with my helmet.

[d000hg]

Can't speak for him, but I have 4 petrol stations within 5 mins of the house and none of them are pay at pump.

Presumably you go more than 5 minutes from your house on your bike

Find a station who either don't care about helmets or have pump payments, and take your custom there to stick it to those who upset you.

[vwdan]

Why don't you just pay at the pump?

Can't speak for him, but I have 4 petrol stations within 5 mins of the house and none of them are pay at pump.

[d000hg]

Why don't you just pay at the pump?

[vwdan]

I don't ever remove my helmet in petrol stations for the reasons you describe. Plus, if I'm wearing my glasses it's a bit of a faff.

You're right about the rest, but there is still SOME parking for bikes. Though, in honesty, I tend to just put it somewhere convenient, out of the way and hope for the best. I'm not a daily rider, though, so it's not really something I worry about.

[vetran]

I had this debate with someone the other day & my view is that since we're never stuck in traffic queues belching out fumes giving people asthma or whatever, there is some justification in the green argument.

No that I ride a Ducati Monster mind you...

apparently they are on the whole worse.

Greenlings: Which is greener, having two wheels or four?

[wurzel]

not sure a Ducati Penis extension can be viewed as green.

At least Suity can be happy that is one more organ donor in case the sniffles turn into something serious.

Will you be in my blind spot and ready to pounce whenever I put on the brake? Speed past into whatever I'm trying to avoid.

I had this debate with someone the other day & my view is that since we're never stuck in traffic queues belching out fumes giving people asthma or whatever, there is some justification in the green argument.

No that I ride a Ducati Monster mind you...

[vetran]

not sure a Ducati Penis extension can be viewed as green.

At least Suity can be happy that is one more organ donor in case the sniffles turn into something serious.

Will you be in my blind spot and ready to pounce whenever I put on the brake? Speed past into whatever I'm trying to avoid.

[Freaki Li Cuatre]

Anybody gone back to two wheels after a number of years out?

Some things have changed in the 20 years since I had my last bike.

1) Not removing your crash helmet when entering a garage (or any other shop) is apparently now a cardinal sin and you will be treated like a potential terrorist for not doing so.
WTF? Nobody used to give a damn. Besides, when its cold, I have to take off my lid, unravel my keffiyeh, whip off my balaclava just for a few seconds while I pay and then stick it all back on again.

I committed this supposed faux pas last week and I was informed by the manager of the garage that I had caused distress to his staff by entering with a helmet on.

I resisted it, but I wanted to ask him what his policy was towards people in burqas.

2) No free parking slots. Every carpark would have a section for bikes. And it was free. Not any more. In fact, in the car parks round here you're expected to park like a car , use a full space and pay accordingly. Great joined up thinking there from local government. Aren't they the ones who like to use a big stick to get people out of their cars and into greener forms of transport?

3) Cars, and vehicles in general, are bigger than they used to be and are a bigger obstacle to avoid. Especially people carriers

Some things haven't changed at all though:

1) Plod are always over you like a rash.

2) People, in general, still don't seem to like motorcyclists. I get the impression that my neighbours were far from impressed when I pulled up on my Ducati Monster. It does have a set of very loud cans, mind you.

My revenge for their noisy offspring that they refuse to keep under control!