I just saw a motorcyclist take a spill...

[CanuckAmok]

I was driving to the vid store, following a motorcycle at about 30mph. Some nitwit in an orange Volvo pulled out of a side-street to do a u-turn in the intersection and he was so close to the cyclist he had to dump his bike, which landed on his leg.

I and some other drivers stopped and helped the guy lift the bike off himself. Luckily he was wearing long pants, so he only had a couple of scratches and a 1st degree burn from the tailpipe. He was kinda shaken, but alright.

The driver of the car also stopped to help, and was very apologietic. The motorcyclist said "didn't you see me?" and the guy replied "uh, yeah, I saw you, but I didn't think I was close enough to hit you."

:wtf:

The guy in the Volvo was just on his way home from working his shift as a cab driver!

I have this theory that gets reinforced nearly daily:

People who know they are poor drivers tend to buy Volvos, to protect themselves from their own stupidity.

That's not to say that all Volvo owners are bad drivers, but let me say at this point that I've been rear-ended three times in BC in 12 years, and each time it was by a Volvo.

Just sayin'.

Incidentally, this is the number one reason I don't emigrate to Sweden.

[Floogeldy]

1. Flamebait!

Volvo drivers and the Swedish are going to rip your balls off!

:smoke:

[CanuckAmok]

2. nonsense. Red herring.

[conflictgirl]

3. But the real question is:

Was the motorcyclist wearing a helmet?

We don't want another libertarian debate about the nanny state requiring helmet use. :P

[CanuckAmok]

8. Helmets are mandatory in BC

He was fully kitted-up. Full-face helmet, balistic jacket, gloves, long jeans, leather (hiking) boots.

He was an older guy, not some crazy kid.

[Bassic]

26. And in all of Canada no?

Except maybe Alberta, but I really don't know.

[jobycom]

4. I have a more expansive maxum on cars and bad drivers

The more expensive the car, the more chance they are a bad driver.

[CanuckAmok]

6. Hmm... this was one of those shitty old Volvos

a 244DL, I think. Not one of the new YuppYachts.

[jobycom]

14. No, that falls outside my maxum, then. You're on your own.

[Ptah]

5. As an ex-rider, I'd like to thank you for helping him. n/t

[jobycom]

15. Yeah. Drivers like the other guy are why I'm an ex-rider. nt

[Ptah]

16. For me it was my behavior as much as the other idiots.

I did some stupid stuff.

:scared:

I'm glad to have survived.

:thumbsup:

[jobycom]

18. I can relate to that, but I was still pretty cautious

I felt I could control myself, but too many people just don't see or don't notice motorcycles. As you know. I got tired of having to decide whether to slide or try to squeeze between some car and the curb at 50 mph.

[Ptah]

19. I learned that I couldn't control myself.

whatever the other guy was doing,
I could jeopardize my survival.

Edit:

:scared:

[LeftyMom]

7. Cab drivers are the scariest drivers I know.

:scared: Chances are he works overlong hours and was tired on top of it.

[CanuckAmok]

10. That's what I was thinking.

I know they work a 12 hour shift here, and it's tourist season, so he was probably go-go-go all day.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Volvo: Sure, they're boxy -- but they're safe!

Very nice of you to help the gentleman up!

I'm not a motorcyclist, but I am a cyclist, and while I see a ridiculous number of motorcycles on the road doing totally asshole things that deserve them to wipe out and spread their brains thinly over an acre that's a mere 4" wide, but I am mostly and far more pissed off by the insufferable criminal asshole shitbags who refuse to look for motorcycles or bicycles when they're driving.

And I especially hate and reserve a special place in hell for the asshole shitbags who find it funny to make bicyclists swerve and/or dump themselves.

:grr:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

11. I had to do that once

Only in my case it was a young mother in a minivan with her child.

Lucky I had my full leathers and helmet on. I got off with just some bent bike parts and some road rash on one knee.

[deucemagnet]

12. While I was living outside of Pennsylvania, the repealed the helmet law.

Now I'm living in PA again, and I can't believe the number of riders who chose not to wear a helmet. I just hope they're all organ donors.

[GirlinContempt]

13. We drive a volvo

but have never had an accident.

[CanuckAmok]

22. That's because there's nothing to hit in Winnipeg.

Flat like borscht plate.

[Monk06]

17. My rule is; if you ride on two wheels pretend you're invisible because you

are to 90% of drivers on the road.

[XemaSab]

20. That's unacceptable

This morning I was driving to work and I was slightly behind a dude on a motorcycle and the way other drivers were cutting in and out in front of him and people were tailgating him was FREAKING ME OUT BIGTIME.

That shit's just not cool.

[Stardust]

21. My son loves his bike (that I helped him buy). I live in dread every day.

[yorgatron]

23. "I have this theory that gets reinforced nearly daily:

People who know they are poor drivers tend to buy Volvos, to protect themselves from their own stupidity."
i've been saying that for YEARS!!!

[wildhorses]

24. motorcycles scare the shit outta me....

I stay as far away from them as possible

[pokerfan]

25. The best drivers are riders or former riders

Riding a bike is the ultimate lesson in defensive driving. Assume everyone is trying to kill you you.

[AirmensMom]

27. I hear that from harleydad all the time.

He's taken both of the motorcycle safety courses (beginner and advanced). He has mentioned how riding has improved his driving and accident-avoidance skills. :thumbsup: