They are dropping like crazy..

[pdxfj]

I made a comment at the WCR that I have drastically reduced the amount of riding I do since it's becoming more and more dangerous to ride in Oregon.

Since the rally, I have seen at least 3 fatalities involving motorcycle riders and cagers.  Two of which were just within the last week.  One of those, a coworker's mother was driving the car that collided with the motorcycle rider, killing them.

I don't know if other similar sized cities have the same rate of deaths for riders, but it seems to be growing at an exponential rate here.  I've lost track of how many have been killed by drivers this year and the summer is not even half over yet.

Be safe everyone.

[Mike Ramos]

I made a comment at the WCR that I have drastically reduced the amount of riding I do since it's becoming more and more dangerous to ride in Oregon.

Since the rally, I have seen at least 3 fatalities involving motorcycle riders and cagers.  Two of which were just within the last week.  One of those, a coworker's mother was driving the car that collided with the motorcycle rider, killing them.

I don't know if other similar sized cities have the same rate of deaths for riders, but it seems to be growing at an exponential rate here.  I've lost track of how many have been killed by drivers this year and the summer is not even half over yet.

Be safe everyone.

Hey Garth,

Excellent observation & comment as well.

Although I travel regularly between far Northern California and the Bay Area, I commute on the motorcycle during the commute hours, when traffic is heaviest, as seldom as possible.

In the greater San Francisco Bay Area, almost every day during these hours there are traffic reports of "rider down" somewhere on the freeways.

Ride safe,

Midget

[Capn Ron]

I always want to "be like Mike" and avoid commuter traffic hours in about any city when I'm traveling around.  PORTLAND holds a special place for me in this regard and Alan and I are going hours out of our way to AVOID that place on our August ride.  I've never found a good time to ride through Portland and still enjoy the ride.

[fjbiker84]

It's not just in Oregon.  While visiting my little (by comparison) hometown in Alabama some time ago over a three day weekend two motorcyclist were killed within blocks of each other.  Both accidents were in the middle of the day, clear weather conditions, and pretty much identical in every way. Both involved a Harley rider having a big SUV turn left at an intersection in front of the bike and the bike broadside the SUV.  Distracted or just careless driver and the motorcyclist approached the intersection at or maybe above the 45mph speed limit assuming the SUV saw him. 

[ZOA NOM]

I commute 50 miles one-way through Bay Area traffic daily, and I can tell you that a motorcyclist must be on offense and assume that every cage is trying to kill you. I lane split continuously, and while there is a general respect given, there is a significant number of those that are just in a foggy dream state or are just assholes that don't give a damn. I have noticed that most people naturally drive to the left half of the fast lane on the freeways, which gives a good amount of room to the lane-splitters. This is nice. Where things have gotten dicey lately is where all the construction has cropped up, and the K-walls are tightening the lanes down. Be careful out there.

[ribbert]

I have a strange fascination for youtube motorcycle crash compilations, I've watched hundreds of them. In accidents involving cars and bikes I would say that 99.9% of the time the car is technically in the wrong, no surprise there, but in my opinion the bike is nearly always at fault.

Every rider should know that cars don't see us, it's a widely known and much researched phenomenon and yet they will ride straight into the potential path of a car on the assumption the driver has seen them. When it proves not to be the case it often too late.

A car driver that hasn't seen you isn't exercising poor judgement or driving skills, he doesn't know you're there, but a motorcyclist who sees the car and rides on regardless, is.

I live in the middle of a city of 5 million so traffic is unavoidable for me. I have cars pull out on me, turn in front of me, change lanes into me, do u turns in front of me and so on, I don't get angry, nor do I have close calls, I expect it!
I ride much more defensively than I drive.

If you have been living under a rock and are not aware that cars not seeing bikes is a recognised fact, much research has been done on it and I'm sure there is plenty of info on the net about it. Or, you can just accept the fact they don't and ride accordingly.

Noel

[Sparky84]

I ride much more defensively than I drive.
Noel

Yeh, when on a bike in traffic you just don't have that same Intimidating effect as when you're driving around in the "white van" (I do drive one) 

Absolutely in total agreement with all you said Noel 

Cheers
Alan

[JMR]

 I have 2 adult sons and neither ride despite being surrounded by bike culture (previously owning a bike shop, having a bike collection, doing engine work for guys all over the world). To be perfectly frank I'm OK with it. The number of distracted drivers, straight up Aholes and limited skill drivers really stacks the deck against a young rider.

[TexasDave]

I have 2 adult sons and neither ride despite being surrounded by bike culture (previously owning a bike shop, having a bike collection, doing engine work for guys all over the world). To be perfectly frank I'm OK with it. The number of distracted drivers, straight up Aholes and limited skill drivers really stacks the deck against a young rider.

Totally agree with you. Riding has changed since I started. With tinted windows you can't tell whether the driver is looking your way or not. Then there are the idiots texting while driving.

Dave

[PaulG]

The Toronto area is like Russian Roullette. There are several M/C accidents per week, and about 1 death on average per week during riding season.

I no longer ride in the metro region for any reason, except to get out of it. I live in the NE quadrant so going E or NE I can avoid a lot of crap. Going W or NW or SW is hell, and requires some advance planning for alternate routes. It's effing reedickyooluss.

Then there are Assholes like this a couple of days ago.    Another reason not to go downtown.  I heard on the radio the rider was not seriously hurt.  When I googled it I saw how this BS is not that uncommon.

Stay safe and keep your eyes & head moving. Don't let your brain get lazy. 

[Troyskie]

The main reason for my extended time between FJ's (about 96 to 2015) was living in a big city. My FJ was written off by a cage running a red light.

I decided to leave it at that.

Now I live in the country it is mostly roos or my own incompetence that will put me at risk.

BUT, despite the local roads department doing some pretty good work at rider awareness, cages will cut off bikes, each other, and most dangerously trucks.

It seems to me that average common sense is on the decrease, especially now we have such excellent engineering in an average car. As has been mentioned above, mucking around with mobiles, navi's, and all the other distractions we have in vehicles now is making for more moments of terror.

Finally, I believe it is also a numbers game. The more people on the road the more knuckleheads there are by ratio.

In summary we have complacency due to excellent engineering, distraction due to gadgets, and a general increase in stupidity from the numbers.

The only way to ride (as has been said already) is to ride like they're out to get you.

Troyskie

[wainot-Phil]

Yes ..spot on Troy..A car pulled out in front of me yesterday after it had sat at the T intersection waiting for the 4x4 to go past..which was  just in front of me ..WTF

[Mike m]

when I'm coming to a intersection my horns blowing and I alternate from low beam to high beam till I'm threw it.I've been very fortunate so far

[racerrad8]

I read this a couple of weeks ago is some motorcycle literature.

Motorcycle riding is not, in of itself, inherently dangerous.

It is however, extremely unforgiving of inattention, ignorance, incompetence and stupidity.

ATGATT

Randy - RPM