h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Riding a Motorbike to Work - A1050995
Author: BadZen - U101564

Just bookmarking this for the moment, so I can have a proper look at it later.

I've not heard of the term lane-splitting. I think we call it 'filtering' here.

I like this entry a lot - it's well written, informative, contains much common sense, and is witty (although in places the humour is a little over-cooked). Not being a biker myself I don't if there are any important facts you've left out, but what's there looks good.

"Remember that every car, truck, or bus-driver is out to get you, or deaf and blind."
I think you'll need to reword that to say '*It often seems* that every car, truck, or bus-driver is out to get you, or deaf and blind.'

"...could be the one who you wish would use a truncheon on the lunatic in the Volvo tomorrow."
That part will almost certainly not be allowed by the Editors. Perhaps you could replace the part about the truncheon with some other police activity which would give the rider pleasure, like handing the Volvo driver a summons for dangerous driving

Who's Daredevil?

There are two n's in manna.

I believe that filtering (or lane-splitting) is indeed illegal in some countries, such as Sweden for instance (but don't quote me on that), and I've never seen anyone do it here since I moved to Texas from London, after having been used to all the motorcycle couriers who do it there.

Well done, really good idea for an entry

Thanks for your comments which I'll take on board...

Daredevil was a comic-book character that was blind, but had the ability to sense danger etc...a movie came out recently - apparently not very good, unfortunately.

Great Article!! I spent a few years commuting on my trusty little 500cc Yamaha, and I can empathise with most of it. A few suggestions...

Windshield - An absolute godsend when on the motorway in the wet.

Heated Handlebars - Rubbish, but they exist so you could mention them.

Handlebar muffs - Keeps the wind off the gloves, and therefore keeps the hands warmer.

It's easier to filter in urban traffic with one of those new little scooters than with a bigger bike.

Spare clothes stored in polythene bin liners!!

These are suggestions, not criticisms. I like the entry as is. Good luck with it.



Geoff

Don't believe everything you hear, BadZen! I thought that Daredevil was a great fun movie!

Now to business:

Typo - 'police,but' should be 'police, but'.

Did you know that you can get waterproof socks? I know both motorcyclists and cyclists who wear them?

As I understand it, filtering (or lane-splitting as you call it) is so common here, that if a rider failed to do it when appropriate on his/her test, s/he could be failed for failing to make progress. I have to say that I agree in general with your comments on it, however.

In London, motorcycling and in particular, travelling by scooter has become very popular in recent years and the numbers of riders has increased quite dramatically. Given that we have had a congestion charge introduced for central London, it is expected that more and more people will choose to ride to work.

As far as road safety is concerned, there has been a reduction in most classes of collision, except in the case of powered two wheelers - motorbikes, mopeds and scooters, which have risen dramatically. The collisions may partly be the result of a skills lack and attitude deficiency, but as the number of right turning collisions bears witness to, often drivers who hit riders have 'looked but failed to see'. Good to see that your entry mentions defensive riding. Research shows that drivers fail to see riders because they are looking for box shapes and not the slender shape that bikes are. Wearing fluorescent and reflective materials helps, but riding defensively is probably the best thing a rider can do.

You might be interested in this link: http://www.handleitorloseit.com/motorbikeframeset.html - or it could be more appropriate to the h2g2 Motorcycle Club - as it is aimed more at 'born again bikers' than commuter bikers.

Thanks Geoff - do you mind if I incorporate those suggestions into the entry? And have you considered joining the motorcycle club - A724312 ?



And to you to oh singing fish, I plan on seeing the movie one day...
I didn't really want to talk about *how to* ride, because that's been covered....but still had to at least mention it briefly.

In Australia the 40+ (or around there) age group are becoming more prevalent in deaths, and other age groups are decreasing - people who haven't ridden in a long time going back to biking, or trying riding as part of a mid-life crisis thing, I guess. As you call 'em 'born again bikers'...another big portion of deaths are accounted for by riders who are unlicenced - either they've lost their licence (think they'd get the hint), or have never got one...

I like that site! I'll include it on the club page as soon as I get around to updating it again...

As for lane-splitting (filtering) I do it all the time. Not when I'm carrying a pillion, and usually only when the traffic is stopped. I have to ride 35klm to get to work, and if I were to lane-split when the traffic is moving I'd be getting to work exhausted instead of just a bit weary from the concentration level required. Just trying to be cautious about my wording in the entry... and the closest I've come to being seriously injured happened when lane-splitting. Cursed taxis. Thankfully, I did a great break-fall, slid down the road on my back and didn't get run over by anyone - just a bruised foot and a badly-damaged bike...funny thing was the taxi company then tried to take me to court!! Bad idea. They ended up paying for everything.

I've done it anyway (incorporated those suggestions). Let me know if that's OK...

Heh - I once tried wearing a hood under my helmet when I had to go to work in the rain. The pain from the drawstring pressing into my forehead almost made me pass out

A few things you could add:

1. Litter eg crushed tin cans are a real danger on a moterbike since they tend to slip.

2. If you would rather be safe than cool then wear a police-style reflective vest.

3. Be careful of multi-lane roundabouts where cars tend to float between lanes - I have a scar on my shoulder from where a surgeon had to tie my clavicle back together...

Thanks Kenno. I've stuck a mention of fluoro vests into the entry since a couple of people mentioned it, but I don't really want to list any more obstacles. Hope yer clavicle (and your forehead )is all better...oh, are you another potential member of the club?

Thanks - but i'm bicycle only now - its cheaper, greener, healthier and more likely to enrage car drivers

Yep, I'd ride a bicycle too if I didn't have to go so far every day...although Brisbane roads and drivers tend not to favour bicycle commuting...

Anyway, I've made a couple more changes, and added a reference to that site ZSF mentioned.


Bad

Bicycle commuter only me, but this gets a big thumbs up as it looks like very good advice.

You definitely can get waterproof socks, but they're expensive and pointless if the water is running down your leg...

Sprout

And I'm told that it's a strange feeling to have dry feel squelching around in a boot or cycling shoe!

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Yay! Thanks for everyone's advice and kind words...


Bad

Excellent article BadZen. Don't know why it's taken me so long to get around to reading it.

One point though. Many of the police in Blighty also ride bikes in their spare time so can be reasoned with but rarely fooled. The local force, Merseyside (which is centred around Liverpool) even have a sense of humour. Proof? Well they call theyselves 'The Road Rashers'

Thanks mate. "Road rashers", hey? Now that was a fun video game...



Bad

These 'road rashers' wear a t shirt. A pig wear the point brit police helmet, ragging the dogs bits off a fire blade. Crazy bunch, but a damn good laugh.