Setting the Record Straight
Motor Cycle Industry Federation speaks out against misrepresentation of bikers
The Motor Cycle Industry Association has today hit out at anti-biker coverage in the press. In particular they focus on campaigning by the North Yorkshire local pressure group BAND which has highlighted problems on certain Yorkshire rural roads.
Claims about 180 mph motorcycling, distorted casualty figures, danger to other road users from racing bikers and 'blood on the roads' are just some of the distorted coverage featured of late.
Stories and campaigns have been fuelled by an increase in casualties, particularly in rural areas, in recent years. However instead of 28,000 riders being killed or seriously injured (KSI), in 2002 (as has been claimed in various articles), the real KSI number was 7,500, with 609 riders killed. Nearly half of these tragic deaths occurred in urban areas at low speeds - often due to riders coming into collision with cars which had pulled into the path of the rider.
Recent increases in the number of casualties to a great extent reflect the massive increase in motorcycling in recent years. If the number of casualties are compared against the amount of new motorcycling that is going on (the casualty rate), the chances of having a crash are the lowest for 10 years. More recently, the motorcycle casualty rate has fallen by 12% over the Government's 1994-98 baseline casualty figures.
According to the MCI, the true picture of rural speeds is also very different to what the public is being led to believe. A spokesman said, "Claims about rural residents being terrorised by 180mph motorcycling are quite simply wrong. It is basically impossible to obtain such speeds on the kinds of bendy rural roads which have become popular among motorcyclists ."
Craig Carey Clinch, MCI Director of Public Affairs said: "Sensationalism and anti motorcycle campaigning is doing nothing but painting all motorcyclists as hooligans, when we are in reality only facing problems from a comparative few irresponsible idiots who's antics will be ultimately be controlled by police enforcement if education fails .
"We don't need new laws; neither do we need biker demonisation by the media. This type of negativity - or 'Bikeism' -- will only lead to a continuation of the current problems, with the benefits of motorcycling for both leisure and commuting continuing to be under developed.
On my road home alone about 5 bike accidents happen a year. Usually the road is closed when they happen they are that bad. It's only 8 miles from Otley to the A59 at Blubberhouses where they get their throttle back.
I know from experince that on the top of the moor bikers have flown past me at the 100 mark, so they certainly can get their speed up with even a moderately powered bike.
I think to say that it is only a small proportion who do go too fast is hard to prove. They can all go too fast for the road conditions, anyone can, and it's only a matter of time on a crowded summer road (walkers, sunday drivers, other drivers, push bikers, other motorbikers) that someone makes a big mistake.
Problem is on a bike even at moderate speed, it can end in serious injury or death. To say that three of my family in cars along that road have been involved in an accident where the biker was at fault kinda puts me off bikers on that road full stop. In all but one case the bikers went away on a stretcher with broken legs!
I do know alot of bikers drive fast, and alot are very safe, but I think that even fast drivers don't mean to make mistakes, they are just more likely even though they try their hardest not too! Just like a car driver, you may eventually make a mistake no matter how safe you are. On a bike it usually ends in tears though!
Seya
Dave
Close the door on your way out please.
I think another troll looms in our darkened corridor.
Mr Whippy said:
Well living in Yorkshire, I for one think that the vast majority of bikers seem to think the Wharfe and Washburn valleys around the Harrogate and Otley area is the Isle of Man TT.
On my road home alone about 5 bike accidents happen a year. Usually the road is closed when they happen they are that bad. It's only 8 miles from Otley to the A59 at Blubberhouses where they get their throttle back.
I know from experince that on the top of the moor bikers have flown past me at the 100 mark, so they certainly can get their speed up with even a moderately powered bike.
I think to say that it is only a small proportion who do go too fast is hard to prove. They can all go too fast for the road conditions, anyone can, and it's only a matter of time on a crowded summer road (walkers, sunday drivers, other drivers, push bikers, other motorbikers) that someone makes a big mistake.
Problem is on a bike even at moderate speed, it can end in serious injury or death. To say that three of my family in cars along that road have been involved in an accident where the biker was at fault kinda puts me off bikers on that road full stop. In all but one case the bikers went away on a stretcher with broken legs!
I do know alot of bikers drive fast, and alot are very safe, but I think that even fast drivers don't mean to make mistakes, they are just more likely even though they try their hardest not too! Just like a car driver, you may eventually make a mistake no matter how safe you are. On a bike it usually ends in tears though!
Seya
Dave
Bikes are as dangerous as the person riding them. You dont seem to like (suicidal? WTF) bikers and with bullshit views like the ones you seem to have they probably dont like you. its not a nice story about the family members thing but that is your opinionated view and to every story there is another side. Why pop into the bikers forum to post anaggrevating thread then sod orf?
Well said veetwin, taxi for Mr Whippy!
I will re-iterate; lets all use the roads together and share some empathy for one another. Focus as a 'motorist' group (2 and 4 wheels) against the real oppresion that is the government and their revenue elevation schemes. None of us are excluded from their plans to image speeding as socially unacceptable as drink driving.
Poor training and awareness is often the cause of misinterpretation which when on the highways causes accidents and the two wheeled member of the incident will generally come off worse.
We are ALL in love with the thrill of driving and we have to share the best and worst of Englands A/B roads so lets all play nicely.
I see the point your making Mr Whippy just wasnt appreciatve of how it came over thats all. No offence
Happy Hooning - Whatever your toy.
In the past I've raced against bikes on the very road I speak of, and managed in areas to do a good job up until the longer straights, and it was seriously fun, and in my eyes totally safe empty road still within my limits of heart stopping moments
I suppose like you say, it's the careless use of speed, and, not saying anything here as if I were a biker I'd do the same, but overtaking is probably where the biker could take less risks.
If I get stuck behind a granny in an old nova doing 30 before a blind brow I usually brake and stay tucked in as I approach "just in case"...
In all the accidents I mentioned above the biker wasn't just going like a twit, but was just edging round a car which itself had to take avoiding action around push bikes on a brow in one case, a car turning in another and a wide load coming the other way making the car get over on a brow.
Not saying any of them was being crazy, just maybe like me sometimes, should have waited for the next straight to get past instead of running the gauntlet with the wrong side of the road!
As per the discussion going on the proper thread this should have gone in (this has turned into me justifying my opinion (cowering away)), I don't mind bikers speeding along revving their engines, I love to see Evo 7's and TVR's and Fezza's and fast v4 bike engines flying along, it's awe inspiring! It's just when I'm on the road and they either put their head on my side of the road when going fast round corners (what if I have to get over for a cyclist etc etc), or when they go past me and I have to move over so a car coming the other way doesn't hit them.
It's kinda like when someone overtakes you in a car, and you have to brake to let them past. Just that invevitably bikes will always want to go past you (being 10x faster than most cars), and so it happens alot more often!
Suppose 150bhp/tonne 4 wheels doesn't always mix with 400bhp+/tonne 2 wheels when the speeds get up!!!
Seya
Dave
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