SPEED CAMERAS

Joe_Bloggs

Whilst all this head turning and twisting around in ones seat with a seatbelt is on. It might be a good idea to be indicating ones intentions. It might also a good idea to pay attention to the vehical infront in case it brakes or swerves to avoid a problem. Properly adjusted mirrors are the key. Perhaps additional mirrors to cover blind spots without the driver taking their attention of the road infront are essential.
J_B.

Daytona_nev

blind spot mirrors are a good idea. These are small triangular mirrors ( cost about a fiver ) which adhere to normal mirrors. & cover the blind spot.

Never bought any myself because i'm in the habit of doing the over shoulder look because i trust more what i can see directly rather than what i see in a mirror which warps the view. ( not including the rear view of course )

Travelqueen

Interesting thread. It's making me think 56 times before buying a bike, but I think I'm going to have to anyway, despite my friends and families conviction that its a quick way to shuffle off this mortal coil.

With regards to speed cameras, the best solution I have ever seen for regulating speed in built up areas was in rural Portugal. Couldn't understand why when I drove into a village the traffic lights would turn red (nor why they had traffic lights in such underpopulated areas!) but it soon became apparent that they reacted to speeding (before you think I was behaving totally irresponsibly it took a couple of hours for my tired brain to work out that I was checking the mph dial and not the kmph as I should have been, yes, thick, but this was when I was about 21). Anyway, in my opinion this worked very well. It could easily be applied over here and have cameras on top of the lights to record if someone jumped them....

TQ

Daytona_nev

Travelqueen,

Buying a bike will be the best decision you ever make. The sense of freedom & pure enjoyment is like nothing else. you'll be amazed by how much your driving improves after getting on a bike, as it requires 10x more concentration than driving a car. Your road awareness & general aptitude will improve majorly. Also, the camaraderie & mutual respect amongst bikers is amazing.

Ignore those who spout the same old crap about bikes being deathtraps etc etc etc yawn. They are merely regurgitating opinions & attitudes drilled into them by biased & discriminatory media reporting which likes to portray bikers as idiots.

Have you thought about training yet? or what you'd like to buy?

Joe_Bloggs

I once worked here:-
http://www.salisburyfes.com/
There did seem to be an unfair proportion of exbikers.
A biker is road user who may end up a pedestrian travelling at 50mph in the wrong direction given poor driving of fellow road users and bad luck.
This is in no way a criticism of daytona_nev and his views but an alternative view.
J_B.

trafalgar_2

I had a motorbike years ago and I loved it...............................then started having kids and it became inpractical

One day I might get another...............and be a granny biker ;D

Daytona_nev

Biking is of course statistically more dangerous than driving a car. Purely down to the fact that even at low speeds we are much more likely to be injured because we have little protection against impact.

We all aware of the risks involved, if motorcycling was as mundane as driving a car, then of course no-one would do it because the risk wouldn't be worth it.

The pleasure & joy of motorcycling is difficult to describe to those who haven't done it. We get on bikes because the pleasure from doing so far outweigh the risks involved. Traflagar knows exactly what i mean.

Joe_Bloggs

@Daytona_nev
This is off topic but start another one as you are probably the expert. Should motor cycles and similar vehicals be able to use bus lanes. There was a study in Bristol I think, but nothing came of it as far as I know.
J_B.

trafalgar_2

@Daytona_nev
This is off topic but start another one as you are probably the expert. Should motor cycles and similar vehicals be able to use bus lanes. There was a study in Bristol  I think, but nothing came of it as far as I know.
J_B.

Is this what you mean

http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/traffic/tt_ti_motorbike.htm


I do know that Bristol has quite a few 'bus lanes' that motorcycles can use...............but can't find anything on a particular study :-/
I'll start a thread in discussions if that is ok with you................and we'll see what others think ;D

Just don't take offence cause they're a straight talking bunch

scheming_gypsy

If that enables you to cover your blind spot adequately then that's fair enough.

But if you're leaning forward anyway to check your mirrors for one last time before changing lanes, you're then in a good position to look over your right shoulder which is what i do.

Of course its very difficult to check over your right shoulder if you're not prepared to adjust your body position before attempting to do so.

I tested it yesterday, i could only see a tiny bit of the window over my shoulder.. It also probably depends what car you drive as well