How dangerous are bikes?
Discussion
Ridden thousands of miles in the last few years (averaging 8k a year - which is relatively high) and not dangerous.
I have have incidents, situations and a few close calls - but have had the same with cars too. But on bikes I have enjoyed most of it (apart from the parts where I got utterly soaked, cold or both). Not ridden for the last 7 months due to relocation - missing it terribly....
I have have incidents, situations and a few close calls - but have had the same with cars too. But on bikes I have enjoyed most of it (apart from the parts where I got utterly soaked, cold or both). Not ridden for the last 7 months due to relocation - missing it terribly....
Crossflow Kid said:
I stubbed my toe wheeling mine out of the garage last week. Lethal, I tell thee.
Similarly, the first time I ever sat on a bike I somehow managed to pin my foot to the ground with the kickstand. A ZX-6R weighs a bit. A hidden danger of motorcycling that I was never warned of.I once dropped a Gold Wing GL1000 at 80mph along a dual carriageway and cracked a bone in my hand. Technically, I am dead.
I think as long as you are always a thought ahead of the cars, you're fine. it's not that hard as most car drivers are brain dead while driving so you have to look ahead and plan for them. I think the hardest thing is threading through traffic but the most dangerous part of biking is a dark lane, ste headlight, potholed road and a profusion of wet leaves. You can't avoid what you can't see.
I think as long as you are always a thought ahead of the cars, you're fine. it's not that hard as most car drivers are brain dead while driving so you have to look ahead and plan for them. I think the hardest thing is threading through traffic but the most dangerous part of biking is a dark lane, ste headlight, potholed road and a profusion of wet leaves. You can't avoid what you can't see.
moanthebairns said:
I can't believe this has actually been treated with serious responses. I mean fk me really!
next up, how tall is a china-man
Yeah he's a really nice chap too next up, how tall is a china-man
Clinton Baptiste said:
carmadgaz said:
Life is dangerous. 100% of people who are born die.
Really? I didn't know that, thanks.I was chnanging the sprockets on my bike once with a cheap socket set.
Inevitably it slipped off and I mashed my hand into the swingarm with all my might.
I nearly cried a little bit, left the bike as it stood and went to try and play Xbox to take my mind off the pain.
It didn't work and was hundreds of times more painful than the three bike crashes I've had.
The nail came off about 3 months later when I was pulling in the messenger line during a RAS between HMS Enterprise and RFA Flippetyflipflop and I've never had as much as a bruise when crashing.
Inevitably it slipped off and I mashed my hand into the swingarm with all my might.
I nearly cried a little bit, left the bike as it stood and went to try and play Xbox to take my mind off the pain.
It didn't work and was hundreds of times more painful than the three bike crashes I've had.
The nail came off about 3 months later when I was pulling in the messenger line during a RAS between HMS Enterprise and RFA Flippetyflipflop and I've never had as much as a bruise when crashing.
moanthebairns said:
id say its safer than smoking and drinking but not as safe as taking eckies.
Agreed. Perception of risk is not the same as true risk.Ecstasy is a funny point and I mention this a lot at work. As a society we tell children it is dangerous when actually they are more likely to die from the paracetamol we give to them as babies. Not sure how we expect them to respect authority after that one. That said you start doing five Garys's a night with cocaine and booze three times a week you can't expect your life expectancy not to drop.
Same is true of bikes I think. No more dangerous than a tin of biscuits on its sidestand.
moanthebairns said:
in 2011
79,100 people died in England from deaths caused by smoking
8,748 people died from alcohol-related deaths
6 people died from Ecstasy-type drugs
id say its safer than smoking and drinking but not as safe as taking eckies.
But I mean come on to fk, who dies of eckies, I took 5 vallies one day, fell asleep at the football, drunk for 16 hours, I was that tired I went to the strippers for a seat, then took 4 eckies to perk me up and downed a pint of wine and all I had was a 2 day hangover.
You and I would get along on a night out79,100 people died in England from deaths caused by smoking
8,748 people died from alcohol-related deaths
6 people died from Ecstasy-type drugs
id say its safer than smoking and drinking but not as safe as taking eckies.
But I mean come on to fk, who dies of eckies, I took 5 vallies one day, fell asleep at the football, drunk for 16 hours, I was that tired I went to the strippers for a seat, then took 4 eckies to perk me up and downed a pint of wine and all I had was a 2 day hangover.
ChocolateFrog said:
DaveH23 said:
Bikes are 100% safe if riden within your limits.
That's clearly not true.You can mitigate the risks from other road users to a degree but there are some situations that are unavoidable however observant you are or how defensively you ride.
Prof Prolapse said:
moanthebairns said:
id say its safer than smoking and drinking but not as safe as taking eckies.
Agreed. Perception of risk is not the same as true risk.Ecstasy is a funny point and I mention this a lot at work. As a society we tell children it is dangerous when actually they are more likely to die from the paracetamol we give to them as babies. Not sure how we expect them to respect authority after that one. That said you start doing five Garys's a night with cocaine and booze three times a week you can't expect your life expectancy not to drop.
Same is true of bikes I think. No more dangerous than a tin of biscuits on its sidestand.
MadProfessor said:
I'm sure this has been done to death (no pun intended). However, I'm thinking of returning to biking. How dangerous do you really think biking is today? The figures hide too much information (e.g. recklessness of rider).
The skill/recklessness of the rider is the primary factor in determining how safe a bike is, so I don't see how the figures are hiding information? If you are asking "how dangerous are bikes if you are a completely perfect rider", then clearly not very dangerous at all.
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