Is biking too dangerous?

Yes, it's dangerous, but so are most things if you do them wrong. Hell, I've fallen down the stairs in my house at least twice and that's before you consider the possiblity of my set of kitchen knives, various electrical goods and the dreaded shower.

I carry on biking (and intend to in spite of my crash) because I enjoy it, because my missus enjoys it, because I like the feeling of freedom and the wacky people I meet and all the other great stuff that comes with being a terrifying hairy biker.

The only person who can tell you what to do is YOU, unless you still live with your parents in which case move out and then go and buy a bike!

Originally Posted by metalangel

Yes, it's dangerous, but so are most things if you do them wrong.

you have to do most things significantly wrong to make them life threatening!...the average house hold good isn't dangerous provided you're not a total douche or very unlucky

A bike can still be life threatining even when YOU are doing everything RIGHT; idiots cagers, mechanical probs, loons running out onto the road, horse poo/oil etc.

I find it hard to defend biking to my friends and loved ones...

So I just say that I know its dangerous, I've seen what can happen, I don't wanna die or get hurt (ie full leathers/boots/back protector always), but it's just too much fun for me to give up, simple as that.

Is the motorbike in my life a necessity? - No
Is it the/if not one of the most dangerous things I do - Probably yes

I don't try and kid my mates with shpiel like everythings dangerous, and you have to live your life to the max,etc. Biking is dangerous, and it is serious, and everytime we ride, we're risking life and limb.
The problem for me was trying one out in the first place - cos now I'm hooked, and have to accept the dangers as a trade-off for the fun and joy it gives me!

Originally Posted by jamesw1024

Hi All

My Dad nearly died recently, for the first time in my life I realised just how fragile life is.

I'm left wondering if riding a bike is a bit daft. I've always been of the opinion 'It's worth the risk (albeit small)' but now I'm thinking otherwise.

Has anyone else had any thoughts like this? I'm guessing if you did and stopped riding you probably won't be on the forum anymore but I'll try anyway.

Thanks

Sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he is doing better now.

I lost my dad a few years ago (he died at the age of 52 from cancer) and this has done the opposite to me. I realised how short life was and that life is for living. When you go the opportunity to learn anything new or have an experience you have always wanted to do then you should do it. You should live life with no regrets.
Like many who have replied to this thread I agree that there are risks in every day life. My opinion is that people should live life like there is no tomorrow as you may not get the chance tomorrow because life is too unpredictable.
If you started weighing up the risks in everything you did then you would never do anything.
Just enjoy it as much as you can and dont go and bin it around a corner now ok

I have three young kids, and of course they come first, but my bike makes my life such fun and I wouldn't be without it!
You literally have to live your life, one day at a time.
I could go out today and be knocked down by a bus!

Life is short and hard like a body building elf.

Originally Posted by Razor

Life is short and hard like a body building elf.

Originally Posted by Spiderman

People tell me all the time that riding a bike is dangerous.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Bringing statistics into it is a bit of a fail, multiply them out by the proportions of bikes vs cars on the road and bikes are a sight more dangerous.

Originally Posted by AndyW

There are lie, damned lies and statistics!
If you think of it as there are 60,975,000 people in the UK, 2,500 dying on the roads every years is a very small proportion. Murdered in 2000 there were 790, so.... 20% 2946 is approx 600 motorcycle deaths.
You are more likely to be murdered than die in a motorcycle accident.

You are more likely to be murdered than die in a motorcycle accident, because everyone could possibly be mugged and murdered, only a minority ride motorbikes and run the risk of dying in a bike accident.

But the statistics are definitely lies. They completely skew the public perception. I recently posted this in another thread....

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Rupert Paul wrote an article in Bike magazine, which I agree with, to summarise:

Inspector Simon Labbert concluded in 2004 after investigating 55 fatal bike crashes in Sussex in over a three year period, that

• 37 of the dead riders were on sports bikes, 11 on sports tourers
• 92% of those died due to rider error

The conclusion was that the riders effectively all killed themselves, and that thrill-seeking was the cause of a huge majority of bike fatalities in open road collisions. Open road collisions make up the vast majority of bike accidents. If you ride sensibly, biking actually isn't all that dangerous. Take the remaining 7 or 8 fatal crashes that were a genuine unavoidable accidents, not some idiot trying to kill himself, then ask how many fatal car accidents were there in Sussex in the same three years? If you took out all the idiots, suddenly bike accident statistics wouldn't look so bad would they? The public and the politicians wouldn't have the impression that what we do is so dangerous

So basically it's riders killing themselves with risk taking that skew the statistics so much. Accidents as the result of rider error, with no other vehicles involved. If you are a careful rider you are much less likely to have an accident than the statistics would suggest. You are less visible, and more vulnerable in bad weather conditions, but other than that there is no more reason to have an accident than there is in a car. Obviously once the accident happens you may be hurt more badly than in a car, but if you avoid the accident in the first place this isn't an issue.

Originally Posted by Nick_69

Everything in life has a certain element of danger put we just have to live life to the full, and make the most of what we have got becuase one day you might not be able to.

Originally Posted by Shellywoozle

Surely an experience like this should make you realise life is too short and you should do as much as you can in your life to make you smile and live for the day.

Life is fragile, we are a long time dead so go out and do what you love but do it carefully reducing the risks

Well said!!

Originally Posted by SVStorm

Sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he is doing better now.

I lost my dad a few years ago (he died at the age of 52 from cancer) and this has done the opposite to me. I realised how short life was and that life is for living.

Me too, about 10 years ago, also at the age of 52. Not cancer, septicaemia, but he was fit as a fiddle moving furniture with me one weekend, the next he was in hospital, the next he was dead.

A good friend of mine only just survived a bout of Pancreatitis a couple of years ago.

My wife came within feet of being hit by a 60mph car that she hadn't seen when crossing a country road three weeks ago, I screamed a warning and she took fright and ran in the opposite direction, could so easily have been a different story.

Life is short and you could be dead by Monday. I'd rather die today doing something I loved, than sit in my chair as an old man regretting not having done it, and my wife and family fully understand that every time I lift a glove off the bars and wave goodbye.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

You are more likely to be murdered than die in a motorcycle accident, because everyone could possibly be mugged and murdered, only a minority ride motorbikes and run the risk of dying in a bike accident.

But the statistics are definitely lies. They completely skew the public perception. I recently posted this in another thread....



So basically it's riders killing themselves with risk taking that skew the statistics so much. Accidents as the result of rider error, with no other vehicles involved. If you are a careful rider you are much less likely to have an accident than the statistics would suggest. You are less visible, and more vulnerable in bad weather conditions, but other than that there is no more reason to have an accident than there is in a car. Obviously once the accident happens you may be hurt more badly than in a car, but if you avoid the accident in the first place this isn't an issue.





Well said!!



Me too, about 10 years ago, also at the age of 52. Not cancer, septicaemia, but he was fit as a fiddle moving furniture with me one weekend, the next he was in hospital, the next he was dead.

A good friend of mine only just survived a bout of Pancreatitis a couple of years ago.

My wife came within feet of being hit by a 60mph car that she hadn't seen when crossing a country road three weeks ago, I screamed a warning and she took fright and ran in the opposite direction, could so easily have been a different story.

Life is short and you could be dead by Monday. I'd rather die today doing something I loved, than sit in my chair as an old man regretting not having done it, and my wife and family fully understand that every time I lift a glove off the bars and wave goodbye.

Very well said Ralph.

NO

Originally Posted by darylB

No, biking is not too dangerous, Yes it is dangerous but so is anything you do, it just depends on your perception of danger. Some people think it is too dangerous for them to do so don't. Others think it isn't dangerous and end up taking risks in the way they ride and don't wear proper protective clothing, and end up having accidents. The rest of us realise that it is a dangerous and take steps to minimise the danger. i.e, wearing the proper gear, taking extra advanced training etc, people have to decide if they are prepared to take the risk and do what they want.

Daryl.

Totally agree with Daryl.

If I died in a motorcycle accident, I wouldn't want anyone giving up their bike simply because of that. No way.