Comments on: Three Ways to Make Motorcycles as Safe as Minivans

By: citybiker

citybiker — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:01:09 +0000

Hey Mark C – I take it you don’t like hyperbole.

That’s okay… You’re right – I’d rather crash in a minivan than on my bike any day!

But I think not-crashing is actually safer than crashing in a minivan – and that’s pretty much the point.

One advantage the bike has is more opportunities to NOT-crash. Being smaller it has more escape routes, faster and more practical braking ability (ever try emergency braking in a minivan? Or a full minivan?), and fewer blind spots… And because speeding up and slowing down is not a problem, you can pick and choose what traffic pattern you want to cruise in (whereas in a car, you pretty much have to take what you can get in terms of which cars are around you)…

But it all depends on proper training – and when all else fails, the last 10-20mph of a crash… Which is why statistically riders who are trained, responsible, and wear a helmet fair pretty well…

I don’t think anyone will choose to ride a motorcycle for its safety benefits – but that doesn’t mean (through training and basic precautions) motorcycling can’t become much safer than it is today (statistically)…even on par with minivans today…

After all – flying in a commercial plane is safer than crossing the street (in some places). Who would have thought that flying thousands of feet up in the air at 400 mph in a metal container could ever be safer than walking? The safety of the airplane has nothing to do with being able to survive the crash – but everything to do with avoiding crashes altogether.

Thanks for the thought!

By: mark c

mark c — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:35:37 +0000

And you reason that these steps will making biking as safe as driving a minivan how, exactly?

The fact is that even if you do all the above, you still have much lower visibility than an automobile, and more importantly you are still naked out there, while the minivan driver is surrounded by a two-ton protective cage with air bags.

By: rogpog

rogpog — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:50:18 +0000

People, the numbers are always going to change for one. So don’t live by the ones you know about currently. But in any case I’ve been teaching motorcycle safety for 8 years now and it’s great to see someone a least try to get the point across that safety gear is a big concern when on a bike. I hear way to many people make excuses on why the won’t wear the gear and a lot of the time it doesn’t make any sense. I ask my students, what costs more, protective gear, or a nice little ride to the E.R.? That gets people thinking for sure. Which is good. Like starkravingmadeleine said in her comment, I also tell my students, know your limits and ride within them. It is very important that people know that. Like she has stated, people are riding outside of their limits, and the end results are what I like to call, less riding time.

By: Sanka

Sanka — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:46:07 +0000

Check out Draggin Jeans on you tube. Apparently they will hold up in a crash but result in “indian” burn (the black mark when your skin doesnt break). Althought they have no impact protection-which is more important.

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:03:44 +0000

Speaking of jeans – what do people think of the “reinforced” jeans that I’ve seen sold by a few companies (Icon, Joe Rocket, etc)? You know, the ones with Kevlar fibers, etc.. Do they realistically offer any protection above a normal pair of jeans, or will they rub out almost as quickly in a slide?

As I see more and more people riding in NYC, I’m surprised as to how little protective gear I see, especially among those who should know better (your suit is not going to help you!) – ride safe, people! And that goes for scooters as well!

By: Martin Banana

Martin Banana — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:32:13 +0000

I also suggest wearing jeans and a biker jacket… it’s not for the looks. If you fall and your bike falls with you, you can slide for a long distance, scraping away skin on your arms and legs.

By: starkravingmadeleine

starkravingmadeleine — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:15:18 +0000

Great post. As a female sportbike rider I get tired of people gasping at “how I’m going to get killed” riding a motorcycle. Most of the motorcycle accidents I see are young men riding waaay beyond their ability (120+mph wheelies on Los Angeles highways…) and/or riding while very drunk. I’m surprised that the drinking/riding stats are so low.

Another thing you could mention are intersection accidents… a hot-shot motorcycle rider blasting off on a green to get schmucked by someone just slightly blowing a red light or making a fast left turn in front of oncoming traffic that don’t see them.

Safe riding everyone!

By: citybiker

citybiker — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:05:18 +0000

haha – the stats are from the Hurt Report – which is dated, yes, but not entirely different from what came after, the NHTA from the same time as the Hurt report once again dated – and Jim Fitzpatrick whose “1 in 19″ number refers to the UK, not the US…

The quotes are from me. Anonymously.

By: Terroreyes

Terroreyes — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:17:11 +0000

Not too sure about the stats and anonymous quotes, but otherwise great pointers.

By: foxsden

foxsden — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:21:50 +0000

I really enjoy reading your posts and I like that most of the advice transfers just as well for me over here in the UK. Your point about helmets is spot on – I could not imagine riding without one on. I’ve come off my mountain bike and suffered bad concussion while wearing a cycle helmet so to come off a motor powered bike would be so much nastier. Not only that but they protect you from all those bugs and stones that hit your face at X mph. Some of those big bumble bees really hit my visor with a thud – that has to be painful enough to make you lose control of your bike if you got that full on in the face.