Lockdown - Why are bikers taking the **** so much right now?
Discussion
Here comes the disclaimer: I'm a biker myself.
Go on any of the large Facebook UK Biker groups, or even regional Police pages or Roadwatch type groups, and you will see many, many people getting upset at bikers that are still refusing to stay at home.
Every day this week we have seen numerous photos or videos posted whereby groups of fat old men in leathers seem to think it's fine to go out on bikes and then sit crowded round picnic benches discussing life in general.
When challenged by members of the public they first look embarrassed, then just become abuseive.
Most of the public generally think of bikers as the first people to help when charity or assistance is required. They all know about Blood bikes, Easter egg runs, hospital visits, and so on, but this reputation is rapidly turning into one where bikers are just selfish
s who insist on going out for a ride, including in groups, when the advice of 'no unnecessary travel' is extremely clear.
What is going on?
Go on any of the large Facebook UK Biker groups, or even regional Police pages or Roadwatch type groups, and you will see many, many people getting upset at bikers that are still refusing to stay at home.
Every day this week we have seen numerous photos or videos posted whereby groups of fat old men in leathers seem to think it's fine to go out on bikes and then sit crowded round picnic benches discussing life in general.
When challenged by members of the public they first look embarrassed, then just become abuseive.
Most of the public generally think of bikers as the first people to help when charity or assistance is required. They all know about Blood bikes, Easter egg runs, hospital visits, and so on, but this reputation is rapidly turning into one where bikers are just selfish
s who insist on going out for a ride, including in groups, when the advice of 'no unnecessary travel' is extremely clear.What is going on?
I've heard a few cars giving it the beans and clearly having some fun as well .
Bikes stand out even more on the quieter roads and I do think Joe Public now believes anyone on a bike CANT be making an essential journey....my colleague is using his bike to deliver food and medicines to his (vulnerable ) Dad but if Joe Public saw him out on his van rather than the bike with its loud pipe, it wouldnt even register ...
Other than that, I think the answer is simple, people have been waiting to get out after the Winter and cant resist the fine weather & they've made the decision they are not harming others , not saying I agree with it but if you can "pay at the pump" and keep your social distance, my uneducated brain would take the stance that its safer to be riding a bike than popping to Tesco's for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk at the moment...what do you think?
Bikes stand out even more on the quieter roads and I do think Joe Public now believes anyone on a bike CANT be making an essential journey....my colleague is using his bike to deliver food and medicines to his (vulnerable ) Dad but if Joe Public saw him out on his van rather than the bike with its loud pipe, it wouldnt even register ...
Other than that, I think the answer is simple, people have been waiting to get out after the Winter and cant resist the fine weather & they've made the decision they are not harming others , not saying I agree with it but if you can "pay at the pump" and keep your social distance, my uneducated brain would take the stance that its safer to be riding a bike than popping to Tesco's for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk at the moment...what do you think?
podman said:
I've heard a few cars giving it the beans and clearly having some fun as well .
Bikes stand out even more on the quieter roads and I do think Joe Public now believes anyone on a bike CANT be making an essential journey....my colleague is using his bike to deliver food and medicines to his (vulnerable ) Dad but if Joe Public saw him out on his van rather than the bike with its loud pipe, it wouldnt even register ...
Other than that, I think the answer is simple, people have been waiting to get out after the Winter and cant resist the fine weather & they've made the decision they are not harming others , not saying I agree with it but if you can "pay at the pump" and keep your social distance, my uneducated brain would take the stance that its safer to be riding a bike than popping to Tesco's for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk at the moment...what do you think?
Agree with that. Thinks its the standing around at cafes in large groups that is pissing people off. Rightly so. Bikes stand out even more on the quieter roads and I do think Joe Public now believes anyone on a bike CANT be making an essential journey....my colleague is using his bike to deliver food and medicines to his (vulnerable ) Dad but if Joe Public saw him out on his van rather than the bike with its loud pipe, it wouldnt even register ...
Other than that, I think the answer is simple, people have been waiting to get out after the Winter and cant resist the fine weather & they've made the decision they are not harming others , not saying I agree with it but if you can "pay at the pump" and keep your social distance, my uneducated brain would take the stance that its safer to be riding a bike than popping to Tesco's for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk at the moment...what do you think?
I was wondering this very thing last night, stood in the garden and could hear many many bikes out and about, sounded like not one was up-shifting below 15k........................ lucky gits!
However I also couldn't help but feel it was a little daft and asking for trouble, would seem I am not the only one who thought that way.
However I also couldn't help but feel it was a little daft and asking for trouble, would seem I am not the only one who thought that way.
Zarco said:
podman said:
I've heard a few cars giving it the beans and clearly having some fun as well .
Bikes stand out even more on the quieter roads and I do think Joe Public now believes anyone on a bike CANT be making an essential journey....my colleague is using his bike to deliver food and medicines to his (vulnerable ) Dad but if Joe Public saw him out on his van rather than the bike with its loud pipe, it wouldnt even register ...
Other than that, I think the answer is simple, people have been waiting to get out after the Winter and cant resist the fine weather & they've made the decision they are not harming others , not saying I agree with it but if you can "pay at the pump" and keep your social distance, my uneducated brain would take the stance that its safer to be riding a bike than popping to Tesco's for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk at the moment...what do you think?
Agree with that. Thinks its the standing around at cafes in large groups that is pissing people off. Rightly so. Bikes stand out even more on the quieter roads and I do think Joe Public now believes anyone on a bike CANT be making an essential journey....my colleague is using his bike to deliver food and medicines to his (vulnerable ) Dad but if Joe Public saw him out on his van rather than the bike with its loud pipe, it wouldnt even register ...
Other than that, I think the answer is simple, people have been waiting to get out after the Winter and cant resist the fine weather & they've made the decision they are not harming others , not saying I agree with it but if you can "pay at the pump" and keep your social distance, my uneducated brain would take the stance that its safer to be riding a bike than popping to Tesco's for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk at the moment...what do you think?
tish, if they have found a cafe open (other than takeaway I guess...) that would piss me off as wellI do agree (last weekend you could hear almost non-stop bikes - in fact unfortunately there was a fatal RTC half a mile away) not every biker out there is out just for a jolly.
I rode to and from work last night/this morning.
In the coming weeks, i'll hopefully have the opportunity to ride some more. I have seen a few posts on some groups about doing NHS volunteering, so at least you could have a little bimble.
Also have seen the arguments about putting unnecessary strain on the NHS in the event of an off - I feel its a valid point, but as the counter argument has gone, you could be at risk of an accident doing just about anything - DIY, driving, jogging, cycling etc. Definitely toning down any Rossi-like riding should be a given - its tempting with the roads so empty but its not hard to keep the speed down and just potter along.
But wont be riding every day, even so.
I rode to and from work last night/this morning.
In the coming weeks, i'll hopefully have the opportunity to ride some more. I have seen a few posts on some groups about doing NHS volunteering, so at least you could have a little bimble.
Also have seen the arguments about putting unnecessary strain on the NHS in the event of an off - I feel its a valid point, but as the counter argument has gone, you could be at risk of an accident doing just about anything - DIY, driving, jogging, cycling etc. Definitely toning down any Rossi-like riding should be a given - its tempting with the roads so empty but its not hard to keep the speed down and just potter along.
But wont be riding every day, even so.
Lord Marylebone said:
Every day this week we have seen numerous photos or videos posted whereby groups of fat old men in leathers seem to think it's fine to go out on bikes and then sit crowded round picnic benches discussing life in general.
When challenged by members of the public they first look embarrassed, then just become abuseive.
Are you referring to the one in Llandovery, South Wales?When challenged by members of the public they first look embarrassed, then just become abuseive.
Whilst I'd love to be out riding on my brand new CB1000R and do the final 300 miles of the 600 mile running in service...I'd feel like such a twonk if something happened and I needed to call for NHS assistance. It's just not worth the risk.
For me that's what it boils down too, chances of something happening are unlikely, I use my bike to commute daily (currently WFH) so accept the risks of riding a bike, however the NHS have got bigger things to worry about than me putting myself in a silly situation.
For me that's what it boils down too, chances of something happening are unlikely, I use my bike to commute daily (currently WFH) so accept the risks of riding a bike, however the NHS have got bigger things to worry about than me putting myself in a silly situation.
MillenniumFalcon said:
Also have seen the arguments about putting unnecessary strain on the NHS in the event of an off - I feel its a valid point, but as the counter argument has gone, you could be at risk of an accident doing just about anything - DIY, driving, jogging, cycling etc.
But, and I speak as a biker, the probability is that an accident on a bike will result in a more serious injury than the other activities you mention, therefore more likely requiring treatment in a hospital, possibly as an in patient. Likelihood of an accident low but consequences likely to be high.I could put some luggage on my bike, ride from Andorra (where I live) into Spain with a UK licence, and if stopped by the Spanish Police say I was en route to, say, Santander. But if I have an accident do I want to end up in a Spanish hospital which are under severe strain - same goes for France.
I think the responsible thing is to stop riding until this situation is under control and non essential driving or biking is authorised again.
Just in addition to my opening post:
I have absolutely zero problem with anyone using a bike as ordinary transport, when they don’t have a car available.
It’s the piss takers this is aimed at:
Going for a ride just because you want to.
Using your bike instead of using your car because the bike is more fun.
Pretending to use your bike for ‘essential journeys’ but in reality you are just going for a ride and calling into Sainsbury’s for milk to obtain an alibi.
Using your bike to go and meet other bikers.
Etc
I have absolutely zero problem with anyone using a bike as ordinary transport, when they don’t have a car available.
It’s the piss takers this is aimed at:
Going for a ride just because you want to.
Using your bike instead of using your car because the bike is more fun.
Pretending to use your bike for ‘essential journeys’ but in reality you are just going for a ride and calling into Sainsbury’s for milk to obtain an alibi.
Using your bike to go and meet other bikers.
Etc
Taff107 said:
Are you referring to the one in Llandovery, South Wales?
That one, but also the images from Devils Bridge on Sunday where there were hundreds of bikers all stood around and sat around talking/eating/drinking together.Fair enough the ‘new rules’ went fully laid down at that point, but the ‘stay at home’ and ‘no unnecessary journeys’ message was loud and clear.
There have been images and videos popping up on bike groups every day this week of different locations where the message was still being ignored.
zzrman said:
But, and I speak as a biker, the probability is that an accident on a bike will result in a more serious injury than the other activities you mention, therefore more likely requiring treatment in a hospital, possibly as an in patient. Likelihood of an accident low but consequences likely to be high.
I could put some luggage on my bike, ride from Andorra (where I live) into Spain with a UK licence, and if stopped by the Spanish Police say I was en route to, say, Santander. But if I have an accident do I want to end up in a Spanish hospital which are under severe strain - same goes for France.
I think the responsible thing is to stop riding until this situation is under control and non essential driving or biking is authorised again.
Jogging and cycling I would concede your point. Biking vs driving would be more of a matter of injuries related to speed and mechanism of injury. But I do accept that the risk of speed related injury is an important factor right now. I could put some luggage on my bike, ride from Andorra (where I live) into Spain with a UK licence, and if stopped by the Spanish Police say I was en route to, say, Santander. But if I have an accident do I want to end up in a Spanish hospital which are under severe strain - same goes for France.
I think the responsible thing is to stop riding until this situation is under control and non essential driving or biking is authorised again.
Regardless, something such as taking my bike to work on an occasional basis is a, if you will, a moral issue rather of going against any official directions. If that were to change, then I would be following those.
An occasional, sensible ride to work once or twice a month I believe is an acceptable risk. The last government advice on the issue was solo riding was not a problem - now things have moved on a little, any new decree to stop riding would be followed.
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