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Bikers are older, but not always wiser
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | July 14, 2007 | ANNYSA JOHNSON

Posted on 07/15/2007 7:30:18 AM PDT by BraveMan

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To: 43north

If you do indeed work in emergency medicine, how is it you don’t know (or are unwilling to admit) that people who die from traumatic head injuries are rarely, if ever, organ donors?

Furthermore, would you be willing to admit you see far more traumatic head injuries resulting from auto accidents than motorcycle accidents?


41 posted on 07/15/2007 8:29:57 AM PDT by BraveMan
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To: BraveMan

There’s a reason motorcycles are called, “donorcycles”.


42 posted on 07/15/2007 8:35:09 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: Eagle Eye
What this article doesn’t tell us is how many bikers were killed by careless cagers.

In all reality, it might not be the biker’s fault but that of the car drives.

We stopped riding for the simple reason that the roads are getting more hostile and stupider.

Someone pulled out in front of my wife. She ONLY had three lights on the front of the bike. Her helmet was smashed when she went over the car and her leg was messed up but she recovered. A few weeks later, a Senile Citizen made a turn across the road in front of me. We had ridden since the late 1960's, but took these events as a "clue". Time to take our luck and cash out.

Another local syndrome is, "Mooooo! Gotta get the Kids to Soccer! What is YOUR life compared to THAT?...I'm BUSY!"

43 posted on 07/15/2007 8:35:15 AM PDT by Gorzaloon
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To: pt17
secret is assuming you're invisible to all, keeping your bike well-maintained and never outdrive your headlights, eyesight or skill. Also, don't drink and drive.

Yet another is turn off that GPS unit unless you are seriously in need of directions and then don't be looking at it while your moving.

44 posted on 07/15/2007 8:36:32 AM PDT by pt17
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To: mtbopfuyn
There’s a reason motorcycles are called, “donorcycles”.

Reason #1 = MORONS and ignorant fools need a catch phrase.

45 posted on 07/15/2007 8:38:54 AM PDT by JoeSixPack1 (Think not of today.)
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To: mtbopfuyn

Yes, and its the same reason African-Americans are referred to by some as “Niggers”. To some people, epithets are fun.


46 posted on 07/15/2007 8:41:26 AM PDT by BraveMan
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To: BraveMan
Aside from the trends and the growing number of bikes on the road, it's difficult to explain the rising death toll. However, that could change in the coming years.

Helmet helmet helmet....

No mention of cagers with cell phones, DVD players, cooing at their navigation computers, yadda yadda yadda.

One thing hasn't changed, though.

"But, officer, I didn't see him!"

47 posted on 07/15/2007 8:43:03 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: BraveMan

I rode a motorcycle for over 20 years before having an accident. I was wearing full leathers, a full face helmet. While it did leave me a paraplegic, it did not leave me a traumatic brain injured paraplegic. So anytime I see or hear some anti-helmet idiot I feel like giving them the news. Don’t wear a helmet and you will certainly be more ****ed-up in your accident.


48 posted on 07/15/2007 8:47:50 AM PDT by Bogtrotter52 (Reading DU daily so you won't hafta)
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To: Squantos
Same here, I ride with boots, gloves and helmet everytime I get on the bike. I have a 94' Nostalgia and love riding it. For seven years in college in Knoxville, Tenn, I rode a Yamaha 400cc because it was cheap and the Knoxville drivers and weather tried to kill me daily. I learned that everything could be a hazard and to look ahead for potential dangers and moves by the cagers.

IMO the cell phone users are the most dangerous to bikers...I have had several close calls with those using cell phones and they were oblivious to my presence.

49 posted on 07/15/2007 8:48:11 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: csvset

“Actually, I don’t ride and do think that it should be up to the rider.”

I do ride, and I think riding without a helmet is stupid. Nonetheless, I agree - leave it up to the rider to choose.


50 posted on 07/15/2007 8:51:11 AM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like ox.)
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To: csvset

Keep you helmet laws off of my body!
Actually, I don’t ride and do think that it should be up to the rider.”

I feel the same way about my horses and riding. It is my choice. Since I wear bi-focals, the helmet straps cause my glasses to jostle, and I get nauseous in a matter of seconds. Riding and barfing needs to be an Olympic sport before I will willing do it.

I wonder even more what other factor is part of the higher use of motorcycles?

The price of gas being double of what it was 3 years ago?
Seems to me this analysis is missing a number of contributing factors.

How many of these accidents involved illegal intruders who did not belong here or have proper drivers licenses?????


51 posted on 07/15/2007 8:51:16 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: AmericaUnited
I ALWAYS assume they will do something stupid and am thinking defensively to the max.

I feel the same way about bikers. I've taught my soon-to-be-licensed 16 year old to GET OUT OF THE WAY if he sees or hears a motorcycle on the road. Five dingbats on crotchrockets doing wheelies on Veteran's Parkway were enough to convince him that I'm right. You never know when one of them is going to lose control and go down in front of you. It's easier to slow down to avoid bikers than to swerve around one who fell off.

53 posted on 07/15/2007 8:51:53 AM PDT by reformed_democrat ("... it's a dishonor to leave your allies." President Traian Basescu, Romania)
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To: ichabod1

Not everybody can afford a$40,000 hybrid.”

Not only the price, but the construction of these hybrids would keep me from owning one. I think they are rollerskates with an engine.


54 posted on 07/15/2007 8:53:42 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: BraveMan

There are no old fools riding motorcycles. Motorcycles have a way of discriminating against fools,


55 posted on 07/15/2007 8:57:18 AM PDT by Citizen Tom Paine (Swift as the wind; Calmly majestic as a forest; Steady as the mountains.)
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To: reformed_democrat
If you want to see idiots on bikes come out to LA and drive northbound on the 405 at 4:30. Whether traffic’s going 5 miles an hour or 60 bikes are weaving in and out of lanes and splitting lanes like there’s no tomorrow.

We always have 2 or 3 fatalities on that one freeway alone every year.

56 posted on 07/15/2007 8:59:07 AM PDT by oldleft
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To: Eagle Eye
I'd rather have my 800lbs and 1700 cc than my old light 650cc!

As the driver of a car, I'd rather have you on something with 1700cc than 650cc. And the louder the better. I have a much better chance of noticing you in my blind spot if your bike is making lots of noise. I usually hear bikes overtaking me from behind long before I spot them in the mirrors.

57 posted on 07/15/2007 8:59:48 AM PDT by Redcloak (The 2nd Amendment isn't about sporting goods.)
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To: BraveMan
She has little tolerance these days for motorcyclists who forgo protective gear.

And I have little tolerance for busybody buttinskys who think their personal tragedies give them the moral authority to rule my life. Sarah Brady comes to mind. And Cindy Sheehan. And now this meddler ...

58 posted on 07/15/2007 9:01:06 AM PDT by IronJack (=)
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To: Smokin' Joe

My, my, touchy this morning, aren’t you?

Perhaps you would feel better if I used the term “crotch rocket” instead?

Motorcyclists are treated the same as everyone else in my ER. Its always a tragedy when someone is injured. However, you make certain choices in life that can be hazardous to your health. If that’s what you want to do, go right ahead. This is still (mostly) a free country.


59 posted on 07/15/2007 9:01:53 AM PDT by 43north (I hope we are around long enough to become a layer in the rocks of the future.)
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To: Redcloak

My bike isn’t loud. You won’t have worry about noticing me in your blind spot, because I won’t be there. Having said that, it also helps if people actually turn their head and do a shoulder check before changing lanes. But I know that on my car, even doing a shoulder check tends to leave a blind spot on the left side of the car. Is it just me, or have the A and B pillars on new cars just gotten thicker and thicker?


60 posted on 07/15/2007 9:02:34 AM PDT by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like ox.)
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