Living on borrowed time?

On my daily commute this morning, I encountered another motorcyclist whose behaviour really got me thinking about why some people choose to ride and if they are really gaining any pleasure from it...

To set the scene: our paths crossed in the portion from Fig street and continued on over the harbour bridge until he turned off along the North Sydney exit.

This young male rider was on his L plates and riding a Hoonda. His aggression was almost palpable...he had absolutely no patience, to the point where his physical actions included angry head shaking, arm waving and continual shifting around in his seat, simply because he couldn't bear to be behind a car for more than a milisecond...

Ironically, with all his anger and lane splitting, my comparatively less aggressive riding and lane splitting got us to the very same point in the traffic flow, with far less negative energy being used on my part.

All I kept thinking was, "It's only a matter of time before this guy is eventually going to come off in a big way"...he had no regard for myself and another motorcylist he pushed past and certainly no regard for other drivers and even less for his own safety.

Don't get me wrong, I can be as aggressive in traffic as the next person (read: survival aggression), but I like to enjoy my bike, not use it as a weapon of anger!

I only hope that when - and unfortunately it is when, not if - this guy crashes, that no-one else gets hurt...

What is it with some people?

It's quite amazing to see the aggression displayed by road users - both in cars and on bikes. I've always wondered if it gets them anywhere faster. ...and what does it do to their blood pressure and mental health?

Narrow-minded was my first thought Colette, same thing happens at trackdays with some guys riding outside their abilities causing other people to come to grief & they don't give a shit.... its all about them & their shallow world

i dont know if it's actually happening, but i think everyone has gotten a lot more impatient/aggressive on the roads-to the point that i am getting abused for obeying the road laws. everyone needs to relax and think about what they are doing!!!!

Hmmm well I'm not going to make any comment bout aggressive car drivers ... cos thats me
I cannot cope with dickheads and incompetence, where someone can't understand the meaning of 'left lane unless overtaking' and no I don't care what speed you're doing, if you're not overtaking then farken move left. It really is that simple. And the people that do it are just plain ignorant imo. And yep, I'm in a hurry to go nowhere - what can I say?

When it comes to riding tho, I'm a defensive rider. I believe you have to be to stay alive.
A lot lately, I have found myself shaking my head at what I have seen new/other riders do, or not do, and it amazes me.
Being new riders means they have not long ago completed their riding courses/test and yet . . . it appears as tho they have already forgotten what they were taught.

Agree entirely Collette, I have seen a few riders in the recent week riding very dangerously: 3 L platers!

They were tail-gaiting within 2m of the car in front. Riding like that I'd give them a few weeks or months until they run up the back of a car and end up on the boot eating rear window!

Hmmm well I'm not going to make any comment bout aggressive car drivers ... cos thats me
I cannot cope with dickheads and incompetence, where someone can't understand the meaning of 'left lane unless overtaking' and no I don't care what speed you're doing, if you're not overtaking then farken move left. It really is that simple. And the people that do it are just plain ignorant imo. And yep, I'm in a hurry to go nowhere - what can I say?

+ 10000

If the posted limit is 80 and you are not passing anybody move left....... It dosen't matter that you are doing 82 in an 80 JUST GET LEFT. (rant over)

A lot lately, I have found myself shaking my head at what I have seen new/other riders do, or not do, and it amazes me. Being new riders means they have not long ago completed their riding courses/test and yet . . . it appears as tho they have already forgotten what they were taught.

That is the truely amazing part of it isnt it!!! Not only rider behaviour but also riding gear... I guess we were all invincible at some stage

Being new riders means they have not long ago completed their riding courses/test and yet . . . it appears as tho they have already forgotten what they were taught.

This is a bit of a bug bear of mine, dunno about other states but here in Vic you do a one day course that probably involves 2 hours (max) on the bike riding around in a car park, don't drop the bike and basically here you go, here's your learners permit, now get a bike and go riding...

There is NO and I repeat NO on road component at all, not that I agree with the Qld way of doing it with having an "experienced" rider accompanying you every where you go, but I really think there needs to be some sort of on road training, one on one or one to three ratio, something like that, everyone miked up so they can receive feedback "on the road" as to how they are riding, what to watch for etc etc.

End rant!

The thing is Mick you can do a one day course up here and you have a licence, not a learner.
I'd say the percentage of people doing it the way of having L's and being escorted is minute compared to the people who do Qride.

I think one of the last group rides I did there was a young bloke who hadn't had his licence long, and he did some really stupid shit, including a move to get past me, and yeah he did crash not long after (not too badly hurt)
Unfortunately some people don't learn until they do come a cropper and for some of them the realisation comes too late.

Colette

there are some people you just cant tell..........
and unfortunately (for them and/or their families) Darwins theory will apply

The thing is Mick you can do a one day course up here and you have a licence, not a learner.

Really? Never have managed to nut out the Qld licensing scheme, so someone comes off the street, does Qride for a day and then has a motorcycle license??
I'd say the percentage of people doing it the way of having L's and being escorted is minute compared to the people who do Qride.

I think one of the last group rides I did there was a young bloke who hadn't had his licence long, and he did some really stupid shit, including a move to get past me, and yeah he did crash not long after (not too badly hurt)
Unfortunately some people don't learn until they do come a cropper and for some of them the realisation comes too late.

Yup... and some of them won't get the chance to learn from their mistakes, if lucky they will be a paraplegic, a lot won't be that lucky I suspect, but, as I always say, males from 16-25 are basically a testosterone bomb so they're invulnerable and they know it all, after 25 or so some get some sense, not all though.

Being male, having once been in my 20's and only getting my licence in my 30's I have to say, if I had gotten my bike licence when I was in my 20's I would not be here today.
I would have been one of those aggressive riders who filtered, split, mono'd, tailgated, honked my horn etc. that you encountered.
Thankfully I got my licence after I had matured/become more sensible.
Idiots are everywhere and some of them own bikes...

What's wrong with doing monos? Oh that's right, you lot live in the city. There's a time and a place for fun but peak hour traffic is probably not one of them. As for filtering, if the traffic is stopped and there's plenty of room between them I can't see a problem with it, but it should be at walking pace in case some dickhead cager decides to open their door.

That is the truely amazing part of it isnt it!!! Not only rider behaviour but also riding gear... I guess we were all invincible at some stage

Funny you should mention 'riding gear' Rob .... whilst picking up some take away last week, I heard a bike and as you do, I looked to check it out. Well fark me, I had to look again and then again
At first I thought the guy was naked, only to realise he was wearing shorts AND ONLY SHORTS (oh and a helmet) Not that it matters, but he wasn't on a small bike either. I was gobsmacked!

The amount of times I have seen riders wearing SFA it continues to astound me
Me personally, regardless of being involved in a bad off earlier this year, I don't care how hot it is, how short your trip is etc etc I believe riding gear is imperative! And if you can't afford the gear - just like insurance - you can't afford the bike!!

+10000 If the posted limit is 80 and you are not passing anybody move left....... It dosen't matter that you are doing 82 in an 80 JUST GET LEFT. (rant over)

but it should be at walking pace in case some dickhead cager decides to open their door.

I am very aware and cautious when lane splitting as I had a gf pass away cos some fark opened their car door on her