I have to admit that I pass on the double every now and then (Sometimes twice on Sunday), I've also seen triple digits on the speedometer in 50 MPH zones. I also split lanes and have ridden on the sidewalk to get around traffic (that's why most towns put those ramps on the corners - so bikes can get on the sidewalk).
I guess that's why after 50 years of riding I've given up riding in groups and ride mostly alone except for a few old friends. I figure the passing zones were set up for cars and we all know (or should know) that a motorcycle accelerates much faster than an automobile and can get over the line and back in without any effort or drama. I started riding because I was attracted to the power, the speed, and ultimately the adrenalin rush.
The day I no longer feel like that is the day I stop riding, I'll ride with you Abernathy.
Harry Costello -- Jersey Shore
2007 R1200R
1974 + 75 CB125S
1971 R75
2020 Guzzi V85TT
BMWMOA 57358
mogu83 wrote:I have to admit that I pass on the double every now and then (Sometimes twice on Sunday), I've also seen triple digits on the speedometer in 50 MPH zones. I also split lanes and have ridden on the sidewalk to get around traffic (that's why most towns put those ramps on the corners - so bikes can get on the sidewalk)....
The day I no longer feel like that is the day I stop riding, I'll ride with you Abernathy.
Thank you Harry.
Your comment "that's why most towns put those ramps on the corners - so bikes can get on the sidewalk" made me laugh. All I could think was "now if they could just get the wheelchairs off the sidewalk it will be much easier to get around."
2014 R nineT,
2011 Grey Matte R12R, (at the beach)
2011 Red R12R (RIP), &
'09 White R12R (RIP)
Your comment "that's why most towns put those ramps on the corners - so bikes can get on the sidewalk" made me laugh. All I could think was "now if they could just get the wheelchairs off the sidewalk it will be much easier to get around."
I always thought they were for skateboards.. go figure.
I have been known to drive on a sidewalk for a bit.. actually in NYC - all the way around BMW's flagship building on 11th Ave. People seemed a bit surprised, but moved out of the way quite nicely.
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
Sander Abernathy wrote:My point is that there is good fun to be had yanking the chains of people in the group by posing as a safety outlier because they will sound off about such matters in a fairly authoritative manner.
Here in East Tennessee and in Western North Carolina I find plenty of double lines that are perfectly safe for me me and my motorcycle to pass on.
What ever happened to the days when someone was reluctant to admit that they were scared to do the things his or her peers enjoyed doing?
I fear nothing but I exagerate like a crazy monkey.
Mark
What is happening to my skin?
Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
There are lots of places in VT where it's safe to pass on a double-yellow, and it's legal. Go figure, double yellow doesn't mean "no passing" in VT (dunno exactly what it means - mebbe it's a suggestion..) No passing zones are marked with signs telling you "No Passing" - yellow arrow sorta shaped signs. And I've passed on the double-yellow (in VT and one or two other places I'm not telling you about.. )
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
Your comment "that's why most towns put those ramps on the corners - so bikes can get on the sidewalk" made me laugh. All I could think was "now if they could just get the wheelchairs off the sidewalk it will be much easier to get around."
I always thought they were for skateboards.. go figure.
I have been known to drive on a sidewalk for a bit.. actually in NYC - all the way around BMW's flagship building on 11th Ave. People seemed a bit surprised, but moved out of the way quite nicely.
I spent some time trying to find a rational reason why you drove around the BMW flagship building on the sidewalk. My best guess is that you were test driving a bike but they wouldn't let you take it on the road. It doesn't really matter though. We don't need a rational reason for everything we do. Ride on the sidewalk because it's there. That's good enough for me.
2014 R nineT,
2011 Grey Matte R12R, (at the beach)
2011 Red R12R (RIP), &
'09 White R12R (RIP)
Your comment "that's why most towns put those ramps on the corners - so bikes can get on the sidewalk" made me laugh. All I could think was "now if they could just get the wheelchairs off the sidewalk it will be much easier to get around."
I always thought they were for skateboards.. go figure.
I have been known to drive on a sidewalk for a bit.. actually in NYC - all the way around BMW's flagship building on 11th Ave. People seemed a bit surprised, but moved out of the way quite nicely.
I spent some time trying to find a rational reason why you drove around the BMW flagship building on the sidewalk. My best guess is that you were test driving a bike but they wouldn't let you take it on the road. It doesn't really matter though. We don't need a rational reason for everything we do. Ride on the sidewalk because it's there. That's good enough for me.
It wasn't necessarily rational, but it had to do with the opening of the "Art of the Motorcycle" at the Guggenheim. You know NYC - most anything can happen there (including a parade of old BMW bikes down 5th Ave with the NYPD motorcycle cops blocking intersections for us so we had clear sailing all the way down 5th..) It was kinda cool. SWMBO got pissed when I told her - something about "A museum OPENING, and I wasn't invited?"...
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
vroomr wrote:So, is it all right to ignore red lights? You know, like if The Man isn't around?
..
well, you can't ignore them but some states will let you proceed after a full stop and check for traffic because the bike won't trip the buried switch in the road. not sure which states, though.
vroomr wrote:So, is it all right to ignore red lights? You know, like if The Man isn't around?
I am very interested in traveling safely and very uninterested in conforming to rules set without regard to prevailing conditions that don't contribute to safety.
In scandinavian countries pedestrians don't cross on red. If scandinavians walking in the middle of the night with zero traffic reach a red light they will wait for the light to change before crossing a deserted street. If you ask them why they will tell you that it is to set an example for the children though no children are present when they tell you this. The truth is that we are trained to conform from birth and we believe conforming makes us a better person and people who fail to conform are inferior.
The thought of somone running a red light or passing on a double yellow or speeding or tearing a tag off a mattress or teenage sex or drinking makes some people uncomfortable and causes them to think the scoflaw is endangering himself or others. As we have seen some choose not to associate with such people. They will cite all sorts of reasons for this such as someone wiser than you put those lines there or it's against the law or doing such a thing is always dangerous. The truth is they simply choose to blindly follow that rule or law and they feel it is their duty to monitor others to ensure that everyone complies.
We have too many laws and we choose not to pay enough police to enforce all of them. There are two solutions to that dilemna: more police or citizen informants. East Germany tried that and we all saw how that worked out. The french have a great attitude about this. They love new laws and they are always trying to get them passed but no frenchman thinks those laws apply to him and they just ignore them with abandon.
2014 R nineT,
2011 Grey Matte R12R, (at the beach)
2011 Red R12R (RIP), &
'09 White R12R (RIP)
Careful Sander, getting close to political content and that has runed many a list. I have relativily strong thoughts about how I live my life and what I do and can't do and who should tell me - but not here.
OTOH it would be fun to meet up with you, throw down a few beers, tear the mufflers off our bikes and go out and terrorize the neighborhood. Maybe even vist the local BMW dealer and do wheelies in the parking lot.
Harry Costello -- Jersey Shore
2007 R1200R
1974 + 75 CB125S
1971 R75
2020 Guzzi V85TT
BMWMOA 57358
mogu83 wrote:… Maybe even vist the local BMW dealer and do wheelies in the parking lot.
"Pulling up to valet park, I'll sometimes do donuts for a good 20 minutes, locking eyes the whole time, just to show them who's boss." — @Mickey__Rourke
mogu83 wrote:Careful Sander, getting close to political content and that has runed many a list. I have relativily strong thoughts about how I live my life and what I do and can't do and who should tell me - but not here.
OTOH it would be fun to meet up with you, throw down a few beers, tear the mufflers off our bikes and go out and terrorize the neighborhood. Maybe even vist the local BMW dealer and do wheelies in the parking lot.
Harry:
I think you should do exactly what you want, when you want, where you want.
Sander
2014 R nineT,
2011 Grey Matte R12R, (at the beach)
2011 Red R12R (RIP), &
'09 White R12R (RIP)
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