"start seeing motorcycles" stuff

[darxus]

http://ruiner.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/howclose.mpg (3.2mB, from http://community.livejournal.com/motorcycles/1370305.html)

I would appreciate you watching this short video. I met at least one person who is now dead because someone failed to see him while he was riding, with no excuse.

I have this kind of problem on a regular basis. If I didn't regularly expect people to be this stupid I would... not be so healthy.
One of the people actually said to me afterward, when I pulled up to them, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you!" Those words... piss me off.

Comments

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

When I ride, I don't expect to be seen - I assume I won't be. But just because I assume inattention doesn't mean my risk won't be reduced if someone occationally reminds people, "Hey, pay attention." Will people forget or ignore the message? Oh hell yes. But if one less accident happens because someone remembered or decided to look twice, then it's worth having someone say, "Hey, pay attention." Sometimes the life that's saved by paying attention is your own (just ask the woman who "didn't see" the dump truck).

I think you're trying to assuage some sort of guilt, either about no longer riding or about accidents that occur due to inattention. Please, for the love of $diety, don't do so in a manner that increases everyone's risk by indicating that drivers are excused from needing to pay attention. We are not perfect, but that doesn't excuse us from striving to be better.

[ex-absurdmin176.livejournal.com]

No no, I'm not assuaging anything. People should be held responsible for their actions and their choices.

What I said was that I accepted the inevitibility of me colliding with something possessed of more mass than myself. Based on that, I've choosen a different mode of transportation. I found this choice easier than trying to change my environment to suit my preferences.

I think what made me annoyed was the attitude that only people driving cars do stupid things.