Would you let your loved one ride a motorcycle?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
Walnut Creek, California
April 21, 2018 11:48am CST
I commute to work weekday mornings. Sometimes I amuse myself by trying to estimate things like the number of cars versus the number of motorcycles on the freeway. The ratio has to be at least 2,000 to 1.
And yet, every morning, when news radio does the traffic report, they tell of a hit-and-run here (how one "runs" in commute traffic I don't know) and a motorcycle down there. Yesterday's motorcycle accident proved fatal to the motorcycle rider. He and his bike wound up wedged under a truck.
If my math is right, that means that riding a motorcycle is about 2,000 times as dangerous as driving a car. High-speed lane-splitting is common here, and I can tell by the lanes blocked (usually the fast lane and the lane next to it) that this practice is the cause of many motorcycle accidents.
Would you let someone you love ride a motorcycle? Do people practice high-speed lane-splitting where you live?
22 people like this
19 responses
@rebelann (112961)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Apr 18
What is high speed lane splitting? I have never heard that term before.
As for letting a loved one ride a motorcycle, I have to ask just how anyone can stop a loved one from doing so?
I would never ride a motorcycle, I'd be too freaked.
3 people like this
@rebelann (112961)
• El Paso, Texas
22 Apr 18
Ohhh you mean tho wee buzzers @TheHorse I hate those stupid things, they've caused a heck of a lot of trouble in the Mountain region of Loop 375. I'd never want to be on one of those and I've noticed that usually it's the 20somethings that drive em.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
21 Apr 18
No, they are way too dangerous. I have heard way too many stories of people being killed in motorcycle accidents. I have never ridden one and wont.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
21 Apr 18
@TheHorse I wouldn't even ride small ones around the neighborhood.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Apr 18
@LeaPea2417 I don't know that I would now.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55901)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Apr 18
Growing up, my dad has told us time and time again to never get motorcycles. He used to ride one in Japan - and apparently he fell off a bridge. I don't know the details, but it was enough to scare us. So I passed that story onto the kids and have hopefully discouraged them from ever having a motorcycle. I've also seen one too many bad motorcycle accidents near a busy intersection in back of my parents' house. Oh, I hate that lane splitting that they do . . . I see it all the time and I cringe thinking how long they will continue to do it til something happens!
1 person likes this
@just4him (317249)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Apr 18
@TheHorse 44. He has always had trouble with anything on two wheels. He landed in the hospital one time when he rode into a telephone pole. He flipped over the back of his bike and landed on his head, also a trip to the hospital. He got hit by a car and was thrown up against the windshield. I don't remember if he told me, but should have been a trip to the hospital. And then he wants to own a motorcycle? I told him it has two wheels and best stick with four.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
21 Apr 18
I would allow my children or other loved ones to ride motorcycles if they accept the responsibility that goes with it. My brother pimps up old motorcycles and re sells them. He also races dirtbikes. It is his passion.
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
21 Apr 18
Yes, I understand your apprehensions ...unfortunately despite I don't like it my son who is a Senipr engineer in R&D division of a a MNC, he rides about 50 Kms on his Motor Cycle to commute to his work place! he is having a KTM motor cycle with him. I am asking him to get another Car for himself as the present one is being used my daughter in law to commute to her University and back as she is working there as an Asst Professor! Thanks @TheHorse !
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
23 Apr 18
High speed lane splitting? All the time.
When I was a kid about 5 years old, I learned how to ride a bicycle without my father's knowledge. I loved it and actually I still like cycling. I was about 9 years old when there was a motorbike sale and my mom told me to ask my dad for it. It was the first time my father said no to me. I was his favourite daughter and I've always gotten his approval except for buying a motorcycle. He told me that if people could die in a car with four wheels, how much more in a two wheel vehicle? I could never ever forget what he said. I am still interested in bicycles and I taught my son to ride a bicycle at the age of 4, but I would never ever let im ride a motorcycle.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49703)
• Mojave, California
21 Apr 18
I would never stop anyone, its their choice, but for me, I would never ride a motorcycle in this state. Not even to the grocery store. I almost get ran over trying to cross the crosswalk let alone on one of those contraptions that people do not even look for or care is there. The driving in this state gets worse every year.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49703)
• Mojave, California
21 Apr 18
@TheHorse I am sure we do. One of my cars was totaled from a hit and run driver. It was parked in front of my house and somebody clipped the whole left side of car. Damage was worth more than the car cost so just got a new one. Not even sure how someone does that. Neighbors said it was one of those white company vans too. Of course to far away to get a plate number. Police pretty much told me chance of catching person was like 1 percent.
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
22 Apr 18
My partner is crazy about motor bikes and has more than one. He is in his 60s now and has had two accidents, one where he damaged his hip and had to have a hip replacement in his 50s as he could barely walk.. Both times it was the car driver who was at fault. He isn't a mad rider though, quite the reverse.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
22 Apr 18
Driving a motorcycle on the freeway is too dangerous.I won't let my loved one do it.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
22 Apr 18
@TheHorse Many people here ride motorcycles, The ride it on the city road, not on the freeway.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 18
@caopaopao Probably safer, then?
1 person likes this
@Tutufaith (209)
• Nigeria
22 Apr 18
My boyfriend is a power bike freak, he got 4 powerbikes and 2 cars. He calls his powerbikes his babies. Be he is very careful and loves speed, I just sound silly. How can someone love speed and be careful, but he know how to handle his bike. Since I met him in 2015 he has had any accidents.
1 person likes this
@Tutufaith (209)
• Nigeria
22 Apr 18
@TheHorse when he is in Nigeria, there is a long bridge and it is always a fast lane bridge, he speeds through or he goes to a big road where other bikers and car stunt guys gather to show how fast or how cool there bikes and cars are
@AlisaTR (936)
• Trinidad And Tobago
22 Apr 18
My dad rode the motorcycle a lot! I think it was a big deal to own and drive one back when he was younger, and he was really in it for the thrill. My mom, of course, was scared all the time. She was extremely cautious and she would say that driving at high speeds might seem fun, but the motorcycle provided little security, there was nothing between the motorcycle and everything else. It turned out, in the end, that it was not the motorcycle that killed my dad.
For me, even though this was not the way my dad went, I know at least two people who lost their lives on bikes. And I am not criticizing it as a mode of transport, I am just saying that I will not be very comfortable with a loved one riding one.
1 person likes this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
25 May 18
This is a funny question for me to reply to. I was almost born on a motorcycle. My mom went into labor while out driving hers as my dad was driving his. You have to realize that this was in 1942 and traffic was no where like it is these days. I always said I wouldn't drive one but after seeing so many neat ones down here in Florida I asked my husband if we should get one. I never got an answer.
My parents and friends of theirs all had motorcycles back in the day where the traffic was not so bad.
@andriaperry (117133)
• Anniston, Alabama
21 Apr 18
I don`t see many on motorcycles yet, its a summer thing around here, and we are required to have on a helmet. Yes everyone drives to fast on the interstate around here, 80-85 is the norm. 
but 70 is the limit posted.
I suppose I could not rule someones life, if they chose to ride a motorcycle or drive a car.
but 70 is the limit posted.
I suppose I could not rule someones life, if they chose to ride a motorcycle or drive a car.1 person likes this
