From: jfh@rpp386.lonestar.org (John F. Haugh II)
Newsgroups: austin.general
Subject: Re: accepting risk (was speed traps on 2222)
Date: 16 Nov 92 02:40:44 GMT
Reply-To: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org (John F. Haugh II)
Distribution: austin
Organization: Los Tejanos SCUBA Club and Beer Joint, Austin, Tejas

In article <1992Nov14.223749.24745@cactus.org> rdd@cactus.org (Robert Dorsett) writes:
>Not if the motorcyclist is using his superior situational awareness to 
>close margins.  Close following in urban traffic is a fact of life.  I was
>speaking of relative degrees of comfort.  I don't feel an urge to brake
>to establish a separation between another car and myself; I'll coast to estab-
>lish it.  I do feel the urge to brake with a motorcyclist in front of me,
>to establish the separation more quickly.

You should also give motorcycles the proper 2 second following distance.
Not only because YOU need it to avoid hitting the bike, but because the
bike needs it.  Motorcyclists are able to stop in shorter distances for
a number of reasons.  First, the bikes weigh less and consequently have
less inertia.  Secondly, motorcycles have split braking systems - the
front and rear brakes operate independently making it possible to adjust
front wheel braking to take advantage of the weigh transfer that occurs
during hard braking.  Finally, because you don't cover the brakes (that
is, your foot isn't on the brake pedal), YOU need the extra reaction
time just to get your foot from the gas to the brakes.  My right foot
is always on the rear brake, and my right hand is almost always on the
front brake.  I will out stop you every time.

Most motorcyclists are killed by automobile driver stupidity, not their
own.

>There's a difference between "individualism" and "immaturity."  I've been
>following this insipid thread since it started.  The motorcyclists (except 
>you!) have been uniformly hysterical at the mere SUGGESTION that they might
>have a higher accident rate.  Rather than counter absurd generalizations with 
>fact, they offer more absurd generalizations, paranoid rambling about car 
>drivers and insurance companies being "jealous" of their "freedom" and wanting
>to "take it away."  Weird shit.

I think you are misinterpreting what Joe is saying.  He isn't saying that
he should get to drive wrecklessly on 2222 and that everyone else better
just watch out for themselves.  At least he BETTER not be saying that.
Rather, he is saying that 2222 isn't the problem - the problem is bad
drivers.  Leave the road alone so those of us that are good drivers can
enjoy the scenic road and enjoy the curves and hills.  Just take the bad
drivers off the road and leave the rest of us be.

And as for conspiracy theories about insurance companies and car drivers,
most of what he said is dead on.  I switched from State Farm to Dairyland
and cut my insurance costs by 75%.  Dairyland actually pays attention to
how many years you've been riding and what kind of bike you own.  State
Farm just views motorcyclists as people they'd rather not insure.  When I
called my agent and said "I know you really didn't want to write motorcycle
insurance, so I've switched", boy was he pissed!  And yes, the majority of
motorcyclist fatalities are the fault of car drivers.
-- 
John F. Haugh II                  [  TSAKC  ] !'s: ...!cs.utexas.edu!rpp386!jfh
Ma Bell: (512) 251-2151           [ DoF #17 ]        @'s: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org