It's bad and getting worse...

[wildbears]

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/3...ies-down-2018/

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/2...rcycle-safety/

The news is even worse for bicylists and pedestrians.

[MattB]

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/3...ies-down-2018/

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/2...rcycle-safety/

The news is even worse for bicylists and pedestrians.

I'm EXTREMELY CONFUSED, you start a thread entitled "it's bad and getting worse...", the link takes me to an article proclaiming the motorcycle fatalities are DOWN. Am I missing something or are you rooting against us?

[cabnfvr]

Doomed, doomed I tell you. Anyone who travels knows the roads are more congested than ever so naturally the number of idiots goes up as well. When we were 12 we'd ride 5 miles to town on bicycles. I'd pass on a thousand bucks to ride a bicycle on that same road today. Doomed, doomed. --- Now, who's ready for Texas? Hell Yeah!!!!!!!!

[justjoe]

I'm not sure about Texas but I do believe I will become one with the hillbilly Ape that is sitting in my garage begging to be ridden.

[MattB]

Tim, I totally hear you on the then vs now. I tell my kids, "I used to ride my bike in to here" and they look at me like I was nuts. Even still, if you find someone with the $1,000, I'll ride the bicycle 5 miles.

[MattB]

Coming back, I need to clarify, I only read the HEADLINE of the first link, NOT THE ARTICLES. The first headline wrote, "Motorcycle fatalities are down", thus my confusion.

For me personally, reading an article on this topic is irrelevant as I'm unwilling to stop riding, especially due to an opinion piece of someone else. I don't know that I have a death wish, but I will say that I'd rather go while riding vs some other options, not that (m)any of us get to choose.

[cabnfvr]

Too many assume that anyone who undertakes a dangerous activity has a death wish when in reality they simply want to live, not merely exist.

[MattB]

AbsoFREAKINlutely! Spot on. My parents actually struggle with this, I recently told them that I bought a mountain bike and showed some YouTube videos with my "goals" and they asked "What's wrong with you?"

[wildbears]

My take home points (not neccessarily anyone elses):

Where, when, and how I ride is becoming more important.

My ride has to be in perfect working order.

I am going to spend more money on protective gear.

I will attend an advanced rider safety program every Spring.

I will stop and get off the pavement when fatigued even if it means sleeping in the the weeds for the night (been there, done that).

I will take an alternate route mid trip if traffic starts mishaving, road conditions get bad or any combination thereof.

I will relish every moment of riding more than ever before.

Trip plans will be more flexible with extra rest days as options.

Motel stops will occur by 4 pm when there are plenty of vacancies and no need to ride late into the night to find a room.

[wildbears]

My conclusion is that with more and safer cages on the road, more distracted driving, those at the bottom of the food chain are most susceptable.

Hence the relative increase in moto, bicycle, and pedestrian fatalities.

As drivers get more protection, their need for safe driving decreases. (I think this is backed up by studies.)

It may be that self driving vehicles will increase the safety of those not in cages but that depends to some extent on how the AI is programed.

[955i]

"My conclusion is that with more and safer cages on the road, more distracted driving, those at the bottom of the food chain are most susceptable. Hence the relative increase in moto, bicycle, and pedestrian fatalities."

BINGO! We have a winner.

[wildbears]

Post Script:

I'v had four moto friends/acquaintances die on the road.

And this Fall came up on an active moto fatality (not the first of several from the past)..

My wife is currently no longer riding with me (my decision, not hers).

[955i]

For what it's worth, I've had about 10 AUTO friends/acquaintances die on the road. My wife is currently STILL riding motorcycles with me. (Her decision, not mine.)

[MattB]

My take home points (not neccessarily anyone elses):

Where, when, and how I ride is becoming more important.

My ride has to be in perfect working order.

I am going to spend more money on protective gear.

I will attend an advanced rider safety program every Spring.

I will stop and get off the pavement when fatigued even if it means sleeping in the the weeds for the night (been there, done that).

I will take an alternate route mid trip if traffic starts mishaving, road conditions get bad or any combination thereof.

I will relish every moment of riding more than ever before.

Trip plans will be more flexible with extra rest days as options.

Motel stops will occur by 4 pm when there are plenty of vacancies and no need to ride late into the night to find a room.

wildbears,

While you and I do not share the exact same view of this situation, I absolutely applaud you and respect you for doing what you feel is best and necessary for YOU and to keep YOU safe. There's nothing wrong with that. Like you mention further down this post, I absolutely DO believe that as cars get closer and closer to being autonomous (yet not) it has increased the risk to motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians as folks are not properly focusing their attention to their DRIVING as they should.