Yes, motorcyclists die. Still, I ride.

[tugrik]

While browsing a journal belonging to the friend of an LJ friend (FOALJF?) I came across a discussion about motorcycle fatalities and the risks of riding. skorzy had the misfortune of driving past a particularly visceral and upsetting fatal motorcycle accident, which apparently shook him pretty good, as it did the readers of his journal.

I've seen this exact discussion more than once and in many different forums. These types of discussions take various tacks through the usual points: motorcycles being inherently more dangerous than cars, the concept of accepted risk, 'stop riding because we love you', squidly vs. all-the-gear-all-the-time, youthful feelings of invulnerability, lust for speed. Many are valid points. Many are reactionary.

Each time I see such a conversation, I feel like stepping up to the plate and stating my own feelings on it. I know it won't help, though; most all the opinions being spouted run deep. Those discussions tend to create a lot of anger and worry, but rarely change any side's opinion. Over time I've learned to just stay clear of them.

I ride because I enjoy it. I accept the risk that I stand four times the chance of death-by-vehicle-accident than do those who only drive cars. I wear the proper gear because it feels satisfying to do so, and keeps me more comfortable against the elements. While I know for a fact the gear won't save me in a serious crash, it will at least help lower the after-effects of a survivable crash (less road-rash is a good thing) should I be in one. I ride fast occasionally, but I attempt to be cautious. I maintain my bike well, service it regularly, and do my best to learn all about it and its parameters as best I can. I practice. I challenge myself in safe environments to learn the skills that I might need if I get caught out somewhere and get forced to ride in downright terrible conditions.

All I ask is that those who care for me or love me to understand that This Is Something I'm Going To Do until I decide not to. I appreciate the concern, and in fact am flattered for it. I dislike the accusations sometimes levelled at me for this choice, but like the risks of riding, I accept them as valid opinions others hold. I want to share my riding with others when I can, and actively try to expose those I care about to it in hopes they can find some of the same joy in riding that I have. I don't force it upon anybody, and take a "no thanks" with a smile and no worries.

I ride. It's part of what I currently am. If you want to tell me what you think of this fact I will always listen, though I might not always change.

Comments

[brahma-minotaur.livejournal.com]

I hate motorcycle-riding with a passion. I hate those who drive them foolishly even more. However, I don't hate the motorcycles. Some of them are beautiful to look at. I've seen yours, and I love its style. you just won't be able to convince me to ride on it.

You keep on driving, Tug. Just be as safe as you can be, if not safer.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

My mother takes my brother's motorcycle riding rather well -- better than expected. She even is more aware of other riders, points them out, gives them plenty of room. She was never RUDE or anything, but she is more aware. Can't quite explain it.

She did joke about how he took that up the same time I took up horseback riding -- and he just pointed out to her that at least a bike doesn't have a mind of its own.

So who was nearly crippled? Yep, me on the horse.

What frustrated me though, was not the talk similar to what you get (and I got that), but people telling me "gee, you're lucky, you could have been dead/paralyzed". I wouldn't call me LUCKY. It wasn't a GOOD thing like winning the lottery. It was still a crappy thing that left me in permanent pain, and honestly still quite frightened of horses.

I did of course ride SINCE then, to prove to myself that I CAN do it. But no more. Not now, at least.

So my brother on his big ole scary motorcyle just um, 'dropped' (?) his bike once and that is about it. I'm the one that was trouble!

[gen.livejournal.com]

I type accident reports all day at my job, and because of that I've typed about a lot of accidents. It's because of that that I've learned the interesting position that motorcyclists are in. Usually with cars when someone makes a stupid mistake while driving they bump someone else or even a pedestrian... very rarely do car accidenta involve just one person. But with motorcycles, nine times out of ten you pay for your own mistakes. Unfortunately stupid mistakes are also a lot more damaging on a motorcycle, but the few times I ever even do motorcycle claims at my office are during times like Bike Week when every hotshot with a shiny bike thinks they own the state and make really REALLY dumb mistakes. (I think the last one I did was about seven months ago when a drunk biker borrowed someone's bike to try it out and slammed into a semi... sigh.)

[turbinerocks.livejournal.com]

Stop drinking, stop smoking, stop eating red meat, stop snowboarding, stop parachuting, stop bungee-jumping, stop boxing, stop skateboarding, stop having wierd sex, stop EVERYTHING FUN BECAUSE GOD HELP YOU IF YOU'RE EVER HURT!

:D

Seriously, I have no tolerance for the 'it's for your own good' crowd. If I want to do something dangerous, I'm gonna do it. Because it's fun!

Motorcrycling is something I want to try, yet am a bit afraid of because I'm a fairly inattentive driver. And I can't afford a bike. ;-) But maybe someday.

[kiala.livejournal.com]

Once, a long time ago, I hated anyone that used recreational chemicals. The idea that someone would risk their lives and the lives of those around them needlessly bothered me.. My only exposure to such people were the idiots on TV and the occasional pothead in high school, who would show up on campus stoned out of their minds, usually acting very.. uminteligently and violently.. Now in retrospect I wonder just how much of that was personality and how much the drug was actually causing..

After a long talk with a close friend who has the same kind of habits, zie proved to me that zie was actually responsible in zir use of recreational chemicals, if such a thing is possible.. Zie knew the risks and side effects and did all the research before ever actually touching any substance, always used in safe environments, etc..

And I realized that unlike that kid in high school, zie knew what zie was getting into, knew the risks, knew what zie was doing to zir body, and still continued, while doing zir best to not get anyone else involved.. It became when all is said and done, everyone's body is their own to take care of or harm as they see fit.. It still hurts me to see people needlessly hurt themselves in such ways, but all I can do is give my opinion, and let them decide their own life..

For a long while, I frowned on high speed motorcycle riding.. Mostly due to my mom working in a trauma ward and whitnessing firsthand, a cyclist not wearing a helmet and hitting a lightpole, then a curb headfirst at about 70MPH.. My fear of bikes lessened when smashwolf showed me proper bike safety.. And then what Tug gave me..

Tug, that ride on the back of your goldwing.. I know it really doesn't seem like much, but it meant a lot to me.. Getting to see firsthand just why people get on two pieces of rubber strapped together with some steel and some fiberglass and do 120MPH a foot off the ground ;> You wanted to show someone why you ride, well with me you succeded.. Thank you..

(okay.. I've rambled enough here ;>)