View from the cop

By Loreal D.

June 26, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

That’s something we ALWAYS see being civilians. The first thing on my mind is always, “now if that were me, the police would have BEEN on my tail”.

A lot of these bikers are always zipping around like they’re untouchable. And for some odd reason, the police are NEVER around? This is the reason I would LOVE for the cameras with the speed detectors to be FULLY enforced.

I remember Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach a while back when traffic on Kings Hwy was backed up for MILES! We saw the police, ambulance, and fire truck flying down the shoulder. We found out an hour later by a very nosey man that a guy went speeding down the middle of the lanes, he popped a wheely (WITHOUT A HELMET) and his head was busted WIDE open.

By then, it’s TOO late. I think bike should be outlawed personally.

By W8

June 27, 2007 12:23 AM | Link to this

The police do an excellent job of traffic control and people in cars are more wreckless and speed more than motorcyclist. Don’t buy into the fact that just because you see a few people acting fooish on motorcyclist that they are all wreckless and ALWAYS zipping around. I promise you wreckless car drivers outnumber reckless motorcyclist.

By nunya

June 27, 2007 12:39 AM | Link to this

I think your’re all full of sh!t

By rick

June 27, 2007 12:39 AM | Link to this

Mr. D., If we are to outlaw motorcycles then we should go ahead and outlaw cars-trucks-cellphones-coffee-makeup and careless drivers. I would venture to say that you yourself have been careless at some point and amost injured a motorcyclist. Make no mistake,careless,inattentive,aggresive, drunk,etc etc drivers kill, mame and injure more motorcyclists every year than any other cause. Do not put all bikers in the same classification, the ones that you see riding like idiots do not represent the rest of the motorcycle community. Believe it or not some of us are adults.

By nunya

June 27, 2007 12:40 AM | Link to this

I think your’re all full of sh!t

By nunya

June 27, 2007 12:40 AM | Link to this

I think your’re all full of sh!t

By rick

June 27, 2007 12:44 AM | Link to this

blow me

By motorcycles are dumb

June 27, 2007 5:53 AM | Link to this

Motorcycle riders are donors and the world needs donors. Lots of people need hearts, livers and kidneys and high speed accidents involving motor cycles fills the niche. If you drive 100mph on a motor cycle you are stupid—plain and simple. Expect to die. Darwin was right!!

I guess I should also say that if you drive 100mph in a car, you’re also stupid. It goes both ways. Stupid is as stupid does.

By jess.me

June 27, 2007 8:05 AM | Link to this

Steve, seems like you hit a nerve. Though I don’t know nunya or rick, I want to apologize for their childish and rude comments. Thanks for bringing the subject to the attention of those who might have, otherwise, been oblivious.

By Dan

June 27, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this

I don’t think the column generalized in the least. Steve told about one individual who was acting foolishly and pointed out that the danger and consequences of foolish acts are simply compounded when on a motorcycle. Really nothing that a confident, intelligent indiviual could take offense to or argue with. Sometimes I wonder how some of these bloggers manage to log on

By Shutit

June 27, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

Most of the speeders and reckless drivers I know on motorcycles are cops themselves.

By Jay

June 27, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

On NUMEROUS occasions, I’ve been passed on the right and on the left by groups of young men doing about 130mph on the “ninja” style crotch-rockets. they white-lined it between me and the car directly next to me, squeezing thru the space! I always think about the greiving mothers on tv when disaster strikes … “he was a good boy, boo hoo hoo.” Well now he’s a dead boy. Police can’t stop this lunacy, as long as the public is determined to kill themselves, all the cops can do is mop up the big pieces! Personal responsibility in action.

By Jay

June 27, 2007 9:02 AM | Link to this

On NUMEROUS occasions, I’ve been passed on the right and on the left by groups of young men doing about 130mph on the “ninja” style crotch-rockets. they white-lined it between me and the car directly next to me, squeezing thru the space! I always think about the greiving mothers on tv when disaster strikes … “he was a good boy, boo hoo hoo.” Well now he’s a dead boy. Police can’t stop this lunacy, as long as the public is determined to kill themselves, all the cops can do is mop up the big pieces! Personal responsibility in action.

By Pam

June 27, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this

That’s why they call them “donor cycles!!”

By julie

June 27, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

REAL bikers don’t take those kind of chances. They know that in an accident the biker always loses.

By 45yearson2wheels

June 27, 2007 9:49 AM | Link to this

I’ve witnessed the same thing on 285, except instead of one guy, it was three, each with a girl on the back, doing the slalom course between cars at about 90-100mph. These guys are idiots. On the flip side, car drivers need to stop tailgating those of us who ride like adults. We, just like the car driver, are just trying get from point a to point b, but with the added challenge of anticipating every move that every other driver on the road is about to make to keep ourselves in one piece.

By STEVIE D

June 27, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this

You know, at least you notice the bikers. I can’t tell you how many times I almost get run over by people that don’t see me on mine when I am going the speed limit. I even got rearended at a redlight once. Some do go too far but most change lanes and drive around traffic in order to be seen and get around all the careless car drivers.

By Starwood

June 27, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

Steve,

Why didn’t you pull the idiot over and give him a ticket for speeding and reckless endangerment? Oh, you were off duty and didn’t want to bother, is that it?

Don’t complain about somebody breaking the law if you aren’t willing to do something about it! That just helps the perception that police are never around when needed.

By RiderX

June 27, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

Hey Chief Pennington, good job by setting the example. Drinking a few cold ones at ESPN Zone then hopping on your motorcycle!! Glad we had a camera

By Rod

June 27, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

Got some real-defensive bike riders on here - feeling a little guilty?

I’ve got to say that more than half of the motorcycles I see are weaving through traffic illegally, whether on the highway or sidestreet. W8 - you’re a real idiot. Of course there are more bad car drivers than motorcycle riders - sheer numbers. BUT, the percentage of bad motorcycle rides FAR OUTWEIGHS the bad car drivers.

Next time one of those idiots tries to squeeze past me, I think I’ll be changing lanes - he won’t ever do that again!

By STEVIE D

June 27, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

RODso trying to kill a biker is going to get your point across!! You are going to get yourself shot by acting that way.

By Lance

June 27, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

The problem is most people dont know how to handle these bikes.. And most car drivers arent even paying attention to whats goin on anyway, and dont ever see the biker.. but people dont understand what these bikes are capable of either.. A sportbike can go 0-100 and back to 0 before most cars can do zero to sixty. if im doin 100 on my bike,, i can stop shorter than most cars doin 70. So whats safer,, me doin 100 or a big semi doin 70?? i can manuever around most obstacles and stop way way short compared to that semi… and even if i do wreck.. whose gonna get hurt? ME! Bike hits car… biker dies.. Car hits bike,, biker dies… its not the other way around. So which is worse,, a careless biker or a careless car.. THe car will always cause more damage and hurt more people.. but everyone seems to be more worried about the bikes,, when there are many many more wreckless care drivers out there. I like to drive faster than the other cars and dodge traffic, because the less time i stay next to one car,, the less time there is for them to hit me because of their carelessness and not paying attention.. There are some idiots out there on bikes,, but there are alot more idiots in cars who dont pay attention and pull out in front of the bikes or cut them off.. Cops should pay more attention to people like that instead of following every biker you see…. Find something useful to do instead of hassling bikers who arent doin anything!

By STEVIE D

June 27, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

Very well said LANCE!!!!

By Kojak

June 27, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

Starwood, are you REALLY as dumb as you sound?

Since the author was on his way home from work, I’m assuming he was in a “civilian” car. Do you REALLY think that an idiot who “drives” a motorcycle 100 mph in heavy traffic is going to stop for what appears to be a civilian? Would YOU stop for a civilian?

How, exactly, is someone in a “civilian” car supposed to catch a motorcycle going 100 mph in heavy traffic?

Please, Starwood, think before you post. And get yourself spayed or neutered before you contaminate the world with the fruits of your ignorant loins.

Have a nice day!

By jess.me

June 27, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this

Lance, since you can stop so quickly I don’t follow your complaint that idiots in cars who dont pay attention and pull out in front of the bikes or cut them off. Just stop. I’m not a bike rider but am currently searching for one to purchase.

By Lance

June 27, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

I was making a general comparison to the handling capabilities of these bikes compared to cars or trucks at high speed.. Any idiot knows you cant stop when someone just pulls out right in front of you… therefore they are the ones being careless because they arent looking and arent paying attention..

By Lex Luthor

June 27, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this

Lance You are a true idiot. Your well, I’m the only one who will get hurt attitude is exactly the issue. What about the 3 hour investigation and cleanup effort when we have to vacume the remains of your cropse from the road? How about the damage to the car you will crash into? You are a 100 mph projectile. If you run into the back of my stopped car, there is a good chance you will end up in the seat next to me — well parts of you.

Then there’s the fact (like Rose is ponting out) that when I see you, I have to watch behind me to see where your stupid a** is going, and — as you are complaining — I’m not watching the traffic in front of me. Its every driver’s responsibility to know what’s going on around. If a situation occurs in front of me, I need to know which directions I can swerve.

There’s a helicoptor resuce unit in CA that spends over 90% of their time pulling dead bikers out of ravines on the PCH. I’m sure these people would rather not spend their lives fishing dead stupid people out of the hills. When you break your neck and become a invalid, it cost millions a year in tax payer money to keep that colostamy bag attached to your wheel chair clean.

But, I must admit you aren’t most people. You have hours and hours of training on how to handle you bike. Yeah bull. Are you saying you were born knowing how to ride a bike? When did you get so good? Who’s lives were you risking when you became so skilled?

And to answer your question about a truck doing 70 v/s a bike doing 100? The truck is much safer. He’s not pressing the flow of traffic. He’s not wrecklessly changing lanes. He’s not expecting every other driver out there to focus their attention on him.

But car drivers don’t pay attention to bikers you cry. Why should we pay any more attention to you than the 100 other cars around us during rush hour? You’re not that special. Selfish maybe, a total dumba** for sure, but worthy of my undivided attention, yeah right.

Please do us a favor and grow up a little before someone has to see Lance soup splattered all over an overpass column.

By STEVIE D

June 27, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

Doesn’t anybody realize the fact that 90% of motorcycle accidents are caused by car driver error, not from a stupid biker going to fast. You just hear more about the ones going too because of the extreme circumstances.

By River Rat

June 27, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

I was involved in a motorcycle accident many years ago, alady ran the redlight at Ptree & Baker I hit her in the passenger door,it threw me over her car and under an Atlanta Transit system bus. Yes, it was before MARTA. Luckily it didn’t injure me badly,but my arm went between the rear tires and the bus had to back up to get off my leather jacket so that I could get out from under it.I learned a lot about motorcycles that day, and busses.So far, and I’ve ridden 40 years since then, I haven’t had another accident since then but I’m a thousand times more careful on a bike than when I drive an automobile. These few Crotch Rocket riders are morons and do not represent the majority of riders, Forrest Gumps Mama was right when she said “stupid is, as stupid does”.

By Richard

June 27, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

STEVIE D - Lying to try and make a point?!?! Show me the EXACT link where it shows that 90% of motorcycle accidents are caused by Cars. SHOW ME.

It’s a lie. And yeah, I’m sure Rod was serious (by the way, the biker would be dead and couldn’t shoot him anyway!).

By STEVIE D

June 27, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

Richard, I did exagerate, but here is link that says 66% are caused by car driver error. I am looking for more. Oh and a lot of times riders ride in packs and if I saw that happen to one of my riding buddies, even if he was doing something stupid, ROD, wouldn’t have a chance.http://www.magpie.com/nycmoto/hurt.html

By Lance

June 27, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

i never said anything about me being a top rider and knew how to handle the bike at its best.. all i said is most dont know how.. all i was doing was making a general comparison of bikes vs cars.. A wreckless car is 10 times more dangerous than a wreckless bike.. but nobody pays attention to cars.. They make such a huge issue about bikes.. I would never drive 100 mph through traffic in the rain with a girl on back,, that is stupid.. But i do expect other drivers to pay enough attention to know im next to them, thats just being a good driver.. Thats how i ride,, and thats how i drive.. I always know where im at on the road and surrounding traffic.. You learn these things when you drive a 30,000 pound vehicle through traffic for a living.. So dont tell me how to drive. And im sorry but if you stop your car in the middle of the highway then you are the idiot.. But once again,, i pay enough attention to the road to know that you were stopped up ahead,, so therefore i avoid you. But i could have been doin 100 mph less than 100 yards back,, and still have stopped in time.. because these bikes are capable of it.. A car couldnt do that. But if people would just pay the extra attention,, look for bikers.. they wouldnt pull out in front of us,, or wouldnt side swipe us.. People make such a huge issue about bikes, when bikes arent even a quarter of the problem!

By John Doe

June 27, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

Lance says and even if i do wreck.. whose gonna get hurt? ME! Bike hits car… biker dies.. Car hits bike,, biker dies…

Don’t forget the driver who has to live with the fact for the rest of his life that he killed someone. And your survivors suing the driver into the poorhouse even though it wasn’t his/her fault. And the thousands of people who can’t get where they are going because the police have to close the highway to investigate the death.

And the stigma that fellow motorcyclists face because you made the 6 o’clock news by being an idiot. Also the fact that you may cause a driver to swerve and cause a chain reaction crash. But you’re dead so you don’t really care at that point. You selfish b*stard. How dare you assume your foolishness only affects you.

I could go on but I think you get the point by now.

By catlady

June 27, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this

Dead is dead. Doesn’t matter what you were riding.

By rick

June 27, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

wow sounds like alot angry drivers, one guy even said hes going to change lanes in front of a motorcyclist, i hope hes ready to be someones lover cuz thats serious business. But hell probably get shot way before he goes to prison.

Lex is angry bout alotta things …trust me when i say there people in this country wasting alot more of your money on crap than the money being used to get the dead bikers out of ravines and clean colostomy bags…..wake up man

You cagers shouldnt get angry because you are having to add one more thing to already busy drive to work (making sure you dont kill a motorcyclists) awwwww now you’ll have to add that to the list of drive—put on make up-screw with your radio-read the paper-yap on your cell phone-work on your laptop-text your buddies etc etc.

ive been riding for along time and seen some pretty horrific driving, most of the time its the soccer moms in the 80 ton SUV…..idiots.

All we have to do is respect each other, cant we all just get along….. pfffft….right

By harold

June 27, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this

if we had legitimate commuter rail we would not have to worry about the idiots driving recklessly on motorcycles or SUVs or anything else. we could go downtown without incurring the biggest risk of an unnatural death that we incur in our lives. and we wouldnt feel like we HAVE to get our teens cars. they could take the damn train too. and we might actually know some neighbors and gasp maybe even care about them. but no. instead we will remain in our cages spinning our wheels until our cage crushes us to death

By harold

June 27, 2007 1:51 PM | Link to this

ah but then detective steve certainly doesnt want to see ATLiens using commuter rail… traffic stops are the pretext for nearly all arrests. if the police lose our driving as their excuse for invading our privacy and finding our baggies of pot, the police will be out of jobs.

By Lex Luthor

June 27, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this

Lance, Please stop while you’re ahead. GA400 often comes to a dead stop in rush hour. Are you saying that we should just push around stopped traffic?

Per a professional bike riding trainer, it takes 100 yards to bring a bike from 90 to 0. It takes your brain approxmately 1/3 of a second to process a simple input and react. Now you’re down to 85 yards (100mph = ~50 yards/sec). So according to the trainer you overshot your mark by about 30 yards. You’ve shot past me and hit the car two cars ahead of me.

Bike training: http://www.motorvike.com/BrakingDistance.htm

Brain reaction time processing (probably closer to case 3, but I’m willing to go with case 1 plus a little. In reality you’re going to hessiate a little while your brain decides that there is a dangerous situation. Case 1 and 2 are more along the line of you are expecting the input to happen within the next moment. Case 3 is full processing something unexpected and reacting): http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/cgi-bin/react/react.cgi?formname=getstats&usetemplate=1

By STEVIE D

June 27, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this

Getting a little technical aren’t we?

By Lex Luthor

June 27, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this

Yeah, physics are a b** when it comes to reality.

There should be an underscore between from and name but the blog software removed it.

By lance

June 27, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this

Did anyone even read what i said?? I never said i would even dare to drive like an idiot through traffic.. Because i dont! Nor do i lane split.. You are turning what i said into something you WANT me to say… All i ever was tryin to do was compare the cars vs bikes.. Bikes can handle better and stop shorter than cars and trucks.. But everyone makes a big deal about wreckless bikers,, but not about wreckless cars when everyone knows that a wreckless car driver is 10 times more dangerous than a bike.. and there are many many more of then out there. But noone talks about them. And every biker gets a bad name for what one biker does.. So should everyone lash out at every red sports car that speeds just because you saw one fly by you the other day? no! And that driver SHOULD have to live with the fact that he killed a biker by NOT PAYING ATTENTION! and should be sued! I dont care how fast im goin… If someone pulls in front of me,, its their fault cuz they werent payin full attention to their surroundings.. But as i said before,, i dont ride like an idiot in traffic.. I avoid all traffic when possible,, CUZ I DONT WANT TO GET HIT by some idiot like you who has no regard for any of their surroundings. I dont even live wherever this happened.. so i dont know what road you are talkin about or anything.. I dont ride like an idiot in traffic. Just because one biker does it, doesnt mean we all do it.. just as was said before.. Majority of biker accidents are caused by CAR driver error. cuz they DONT PAY ATTENTION! dont lash out at all bikers when we arent even half the problem.. There is much more important dangerous safety issues to worry about than following a biker around and harrassin em because you saw another bike do something wrong.. Done

By dd

June 27, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

Y’all, this should not be a p** contest just a debate. I am a female rider (Harley not a crotch rocket) and I ride with the upmost respect for any vechical, BUT some of these comments are correct in sayting that we as motorcyclist’s are always being confronted, as you are in your vechical’s, only we will more than likely be seriously hurt if an accident happens. I ride everyday and I cant tell you how many times a day a cager turns left in front of me causing me to have to swerve in either direction. When you are in your vechical and someone cuts you off or pulls out in front of you try to imagine yourself on a bike and figure out what you would do in that situation. It just might surpise you !!!

By Smoke

June 27, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this

I have been riding motorcycles for over half my life. I have rode cruisers, choppers and sport bikes. Yes I am the first to admit that I am guilty of traveling at high rates of speed and weaving in and out of traffic. However, I think that it is a responsibility of everyone involved to prevent stupid accidents and things as such. Rod I promise you, that people like you are the reason that I ride my sportbike in the manner that I do. Everytime that I have been hit on my bike; it was doing the speed limit and riding with the flow of traffic. Some jackass either rear ended me or merged into my lane. I was also hit by a drunk driver.

To the person that has the picture of Chief Pennington drinking and then riding; that is definately something that needs to get public. Bikes are already dangerous with the added effects of alcohol. I do honelstly feel safer when I am traveling in a more reckless manner; because when I am doing speeds of 120 or higher; it really is harder for your mistake to cause me to wreck.

Everyones argument is valid (with the exception of a few); and I am pretty sure that most of you haven’t read this far down. But, I have lost a lot of good friends to motorcycle accidents; and seen a lot of people walk away from accidents that shouldn’ve killed them. If everyone spent more time being responsible for themselves; then issues like this wouldn’t be so sensitive and argumentive.

By Smoke

June 27, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

I have been riding motorcycles for over half my life. I have rode cruisers, choppers and sport bikes. Yes I am the first to admit that I am guilty of traveling at high rates of speed and weaving in and out of traffic. However, I think that it is a responsibility of everyone involved to prevent stupid accidents and things as such. Rod I promise you, that people like you are the reason that I ride my sportbike in the manner that I do. Everytime that I have been hit on my bike; it was doing the speed limit and riding with the flow of traffic. Some jackass either rear ended me or merged into my lane. I was also hit by a drunk driver.

To the person that has the picture of Chief Pennington drinking and then riding; that is definately something that needs to get public. Bikes are already dangerous with the added effects of alcohol. I do honelstly feel safer when I am traveling in a more reckless manner; because when I am doing speeds of 120 or higher; it really is harder for your mistake to cause me to wreck.

Everyones argument is valid (with the exception of a few); and I am pretty sure that most of you haven’t read this far down. But, I have lost a lot of good friends to motorcycle accidents; and seen a lot of people walk away from accidents that shouldn’ve killed them. If everyone spent more time being responsible for themselves; then issues like this wouldn’t be so sensitive and argumentive.

By Smoke

June 27, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

I have been riding motorcycles for over half my life. I have rode cruisers, choppers and sport bikes. Yes I am the first to admit that I am guilty of traveling at high rates of speed and weaving in and out of traffic. However, I think that it is a responsibility of everyone involved to prevent stupid accidents and things as such. Rod I promise you, that people like you are the reason that I ride my sportbike in the manner that I do. Everytime that I have been hit on my bike; it was doing the speed limit and riding with the flow of traffic. Some jackass either rear ended me or merged into my lane. I was also hit by a drunk driver.

To the person that has the picture of Chief Pennington drinking and then riding; that is definately something that needs to get public. Bikes are already dangerous with the added effects of alcohol. I do honelstly feel safer when I am traveling in a more reckless manner; because when I am doing speeds of 120 or higher; it really is harder for your mistake to cause me to wreck.

Everyones argument is valid (with the exception of a few); and I am pretty sure that most of you haven’t read this far down. But, I have lost a lot of good friends to motorcycle accidents; and seen a lot of people walk away from accidents that shouldn’ve killed them. If everyone spent more time being responsible for themselves; then issues like this wouldn’t be so sensitive and argumentive.

By Ms. Jones

June 27, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this

I have nothing but respect for riders. If I see one on the road, I pay extra special attention to him, because I don’t want to be the one to hurt him.

I love the sound of a Harley too. Everytime I see them up around Lake Lanier I get so jealous and would love to be on the back of one!!!!! Please come and get me!!!!! I’ll ride anywhere you want to take me!!!!!!

MMMMMMMMMMMMM

By dd

June 27, 2007 3:45 PM | Link to this

Ms. Jones, thanks for the nice comments. If only some people would not catagorize us all in the same insane way some riders handle their bikes. But, instead of wanting to be on the back have you considered learning to ride you own since you like it so much? Really, it is a nice way of seeing the country. I love it and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

By BIKERS FRIEND

June 27, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

TO LOREL D

The person at myrtle beach a couple of years ago with his head busted open happens to be my FRIEND. Thank GOD HE IS ALIVE. what up MONEY

Although I do not ride my self AMERICA is still a somewhat free country last time I checked.

I had a friend die on a bike a couple of years ago (R.I.P. Marcus) after being thrown unto 75/85 from the ramp above. Riding is no joke.

Be more sensitive to the Fact that these are real people out there with real family and friends.

Lets encourage each other to drive better and stop all the hate.

It is not illegal to not wear a helmet in South Carolina.

By @

June 27, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this

We have a friend in common. Yes I was there with Money at the hospital in Myrtle also..we(Ice, Isis ,Getgone and myself) stayed an extra day there for that reason and prayed..while he was in a Coma also while he was in the hospital down here. Thank God he has come out of that. I cant believe some of these blog entries. Give respect..get respect

By Lee

June 27, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this

While we’re on the subject of motorcycle safety, let’s talk about proper clothing.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen a young lady on the back of a motorcycle wearing shorts and a halter top. While I enjoy the view, it scares me to death knowing what can happen when you go sliding down the asphalt at 60 mph.

I know it’s probably too hot for a full set of leathers, but a pair of jeans and a heavier shirt might be the difference between road rash and skin grafts.

By Tony

June 27, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this

I don’t worry about not having a job Harold. There are plenty of idiots like you to go around.

By Gordon

June 27, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this

STOP TAILGATING BIKERS PLEASE!!!!

By Lt. Steve

June 27, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this

I knew someone would demand that I should have stopped the bike. I’m in an unmarked car so I can’t legally do it without “Police” on the car. The other thing is that, and i’ve been in this situation as have other officers, That bike was weaving in and out far quicker than i could have and that would have caused havoc on the traffic (it was evening rush hour and raining) and risking that driver getting spooked and running even faster trying to evade the police car would put that kid in a panic and I don’t want to cause two kids to die over a bad decision. Starwood asks the novice question but if you think about it, it would haven’t been a good move.
This was a rare occasion and most of you writing that the vast majority of motorcyclists are almost overly-cautions, are right. This was a kid who had no idea what that bike would do. He didn’t represent anything but reckless imaturity and certainly not the motorcycle community. (I wish these things had spell-check—imaturity? is that right? Immaturity maybe? Imma-chur-eddy??)

By Richard

June 27, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this

Smoke - you’re a true idiot. You said: “I do honelstly feel safer when I am traveling in a more reckless manner; because when I am doing speeds of 120 or higher; it really is harder for your mistake to cause me to wreck.” - and you said it 3 times.

How stupid can you be? If I do make a mistake, with you going 120, you don’t have a prayer of avoiding me and dying. What, think you’ll just make a 90 degree right turn at that speed? What an a.s.s.

By former atl girl

June 27, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this

I’ve got a few things to say about this blog:

1) My best friend died at the age of 20 b/c he thought he was a better rider than he truly was and took his sportbike out in rush hour traffic just after a rainstorm. I have never forgiven him for being so stupid…

2) I live in TX now and we don’t have a helmet law. I cringe every time I see these fools out riding without a helmet.

3) One of my coworkers survived a nasty motorcycle accident 25 years ago. He and his buddy hit a cow. The only thing that saved him was that he hit the hardest part of his head. Yes, I know hitting a cow is the least of your worries on GA 400, but his point is that he NEVER rides without a helmet and that it’s a miracle he’s alive. Wear that helmet.

And for God’s sake, don’t straddle the middle of the road, especially going around a curve.

By sturgisaugust6

June 28, 2007 12:57 AM | Link to this

For GOD’S sake, it’s reckless, not wreckless. You are being unintentionally ironic or a bad speller, Lance. And judging from your assuming its someone else’s fault to not spot a (much smaller than a car) motorcycle going 30 to 50 miles over the flow of traffic before changing lanes, I’m leaning toward the latter, with a dose of stupidity, ignorance and truculent arrogance thrown in. If you want to be a safe motorcycle rider, use this rule: Assume you are invisible to other drivers, because you won’t be seen by many of them (especially whizzing up in their blind spot between lanes at 120).

By harold

June 28, 2007 7:38 AM | Link to this

Well Tony, since Harold does not drive, Tony’s chances of catching Harold approach zero. You would have to happen to get a call from a busybody citizen who saw something to catch Harold.

What’s the first thing you cop types do when you want to “clean up” an area?

C’mon.. Be honest.. You know it’s roadblocks.

For some reason it’s perfectly ok for cops to a* inspect somebody if they were driving. To just randomly a* inspect someone who was not driving is not (at least not yet) tolerated by society.

Without citizens driving everywhere they go, cops may not be out of jobs, but they’d sure have to work a lot harder. Police departments would probably even have to start requiring an education!

As it is now, your training consists of: look at the cars around you, play which one of these does not belong in your head, stop the car that did not belong, ask if you can search, if they act nervous or say yes or no, call the dog to come “sniff out contraband” (otherwise known as bark a lot when prompted to do so) and give you cause to search everything. You guys are not fooling anybody.

By MsYvone

June 28, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this

The friday before Hurricane Katrina hit, a friend and co-worker of mine was riding his new motorcycle to work. He was not speeding, but looked quickly over his shoulder to check if he could change lanes, and by the time he looked back, an SUV had pulled from a side street out in front of him. He couldn’t stop in time, and flew through the drivers window, out a sun roof, and his helmet flew off his head before he hit the ground, Head first. If a E.R. nurse hadn’t been driving by at that exact moment, he may have died. Miraculously, he had minimum physical damage, but is still recovering from traumatic brain damage. He no longer can work in the same capacity he once did, and he had only been married a year at the time. His wife has been standing strong beside him. It breaks my heart to think of what they are going through.

Seeing first hand what a motorcycle accident can do, when you’re not even being reckless on one, makes me SO furious when I see these idiots on two wheels that have no sense of safety for themselves or others. Unfortunately, it will probably take a serious accident for them to wake up.

By Roadkill

June 28, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this

Some people talk like it is fine and dandy to ride like a fool. I have seen the tragic results of some of these fool’s stunts. I am the one who investigates and reconstructs these crashes. I also see the results of a car that turns in front of a bike. Yes, if the car driver is at fault they will charged with Vehicular Homicide and other charges after the investigation is finished. Plus the lawsuits are started.

I am the one who also goes and tells the family that their “loved one” was killed. Can you do that????

The one crash that really takes the cake is one idiot doing a wheelie at 90-100 MPH, runs into a car that was turning left. The car driver was driving properly, and obeying the traffic laws. Well the idiot’s family hires a lawyer, who says that the car driver should have seen the bike and yield to it. I told the lawyer, how does a driver yield to something that he could’t see (i.e. the bike was doing a wheelie and the underside is black and the headlight is pointing up to the sky, and it was getting dark). This crash was witnessed by several people.

Now if the idiot was riding properly I would buy his arguement. I really feel sorry for the car driver for having to go through this crap.

Bottom line I really enjoy going out and mopping up these driving fools from the roadways. NOT

By matt

June 28, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

As a motorcyclist, I too, hate to see people riding recklessly but statistically speaking, far more accidents are caused by automobiles failing to yield to motocycles’ rights of way than reckless motorcycle driving.

By Lee

June 28, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this

Change in topic:

We’ve often blogged about whether or not traffic enforcement is about revenue or about public safety. I’ve always said that a large part of it is about the revenue. The cops on here swear “Not me. I do it for public safety.”

Well, according to a story in today’s AJC, it seems that the Atlanta City Council has ordered an audit of the traffic citations saying that projected REVENUES are expected to decline from $15.7 million this year to $9.2 million next. They also say that the number of traffic citations have declined.

So, go ahead you boys in blue. Tell me again that it’s not about the revenue. You’re only lying to yourself.

By Lil Sis

June 28, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this

I have three brothers who ride motorcycles. Two have been in accidents. One was bumped from behind by a tractor trailer. There are way, way, way too many distractions. People don’t pay attention. The other one wound up having rotator cuff surgery. The recovery for that is unbelievably long. Helmets, chaps, etc. are not armor. The “boys” no longer ride their “bikes” in rush hour traffic, they prefer to take long rides along lesser used roads, up and down the coast…searching for lost youth.

By Tony

June 28, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this

It’s the politicians that talk about revenue. Individual officers really don’t care about revenue or what happens to the citation after it’s turned in.

By Tony

June 28, 2007 6:58 PM | Link to this

Harold, are you and Lee related? You’re both clueless morons. You watch way too much television or listen to too many of your moronic friends. You’re probably one of these cowards that runs their mouth out of earshot of the officer because you don’t have enough balls to say it to their face. You’re the prime example of why our country is becoming more and more “pussified”. I love stopping “people” like you. You make me smile because I know this is going to be fun and you’re going to drive away and whine to mommy. By the way, I have an advanced education, do you?

By Lee

June 28, 2007 7:34 PM | Link to this

Ok Tony, I’ll type r-e-a-l slow where you can understand.

Yes, the politicians and bureaucrates (city manager, county manager, etc) look at the budgets and revenues. The budget includes a line item detailing the amount of expected revenue generated by traffic citations. When the revenue generated by traffic citations falls short of the budget, they start to question the police chief about the shortfall. The police chief, who knows that a good percentage of the money earmarked for his budget is tied to these traffic citations, begins to put pressure on his subordinates to increase patrols in this area, etc, etc. Many are not so subtle, they tell the patrol officers that they “need to write more tickets.”

After reading your juvenile namecalling, I can see why there are many people who have lost all respect for policemen.

And what does an advanced degree have to do with this discussion?

By John from Jackson

July 4, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this

The only thing that bothers me about bikers is when they ride as a large pack and clog up all the lanes on the expressway so no one can pass them.

By p

July 6, 2007 7:58 AM | Link to this

I must have seen the same guy 7/4/07 running over 100MPG on I-20. He wove between cars that were right next to each other, and was also completely at the mercy of someone switching lanes - and almost got killed when someone did.

I’ve ridden. some of my best friends were pro riders, so i’m pretty sure i can tell risk from stupidity. i thought we’d pass that rider, dead on the road. we didn’t by some miracle.

The ‘real’ reality and point of the article is ride that way and you can make 99 to 1000 great dramatic, scary passes in a row. all you need to do is miss one time - and you WILL miss someday.

By cagerhater

July 9, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

I have been riding Harleys, not crotch rockets, for many, many, many years and I have to say that cars are the single biggest threat to bikers, whether the bikers ride like idiots or not, this is a plain and simple fact. All you cagers out there need to pay attention to your surroundings, not just other cars, but bikes as well. If you pull out in front of us and injure or kill one of us you are at fault and will go to jail. If you sideswipe or cut us off, causing us to crash, you will go to jail. Get it through your idiotic cager heads that biker have just as much right to be on the road as anyone else. I’m not asking for special attention to be paid to me, but the fact is that bikes are smaller than cars, and harder to see, and that just so happens to be a fact. DEAL WITH IT AND STOP WHINING LIKE LITTLE, BITTY BABIES!!! If you ever rode a motorcycle, you would know exactly where I’m coming from, but I’m willing to bet that you haven’t. If you had I know damn good and well you would be more cautious when driving your car or suv around a biker.