I pedal bike to work and have close calls weekly with cars. Couple months ago I was in the bike path and a car came next to me and matched my speed and then came into the bike lane and drove me into the grass. I thought they were doing it on purpose but they were just confused following their GPS and drifted… Similar stories on my motorcycle. Lane splitting is legal where I live but people still yell at me saying I can’t “cut in line” and I had one lady drive on the sidewalk and around me onto the crosswalk (at a red light) saying “if you can cut then so can I.” It was kinda terrifying.
Where I live, everyone drives and everyone hates driving and hates other drivers, but they hate bikes and motorcycles more because out grouping or something. Only way to stay alive is to pretend you’re invisible and not piss car drivers off.
Midwest USA if curious
SomeGuy69@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
If everyone is allowed to drive, you also have the incapable ones. The people able to drive properly aren’t important and you don’t notice them, only those that are dangerous. In other countries they are forced to walk or use public transport. This starts with harder to acquire license and ends with infrastructure.
frezik@midwest.social 4 weeks ago
To add, we lack almost any kind of graduated licensing, both for two and four wheeled vehicles. You can get a motorcycle license (even a learners permit) and go out and buy a literbike built from the factory to go directly on the track. Likewise, you can buy a gigantic truck on a basic license and have no clue how to park it. These facts are both insane.
“Motorcycle” licensing needs to start with a basic set that covers class III e-bikes and scooters/motorcylces up to 300cc or so (appox 40hp, or 3kW), and then you can work your way up.
Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I ride the motorcycle daily and I am always trying to encourage new riders. It stupid how may want their dream bike first. Sometimes it is real work to get them to go to a smaller bike first.
On the plus side it is pretty easy to find really nice low mileage bikes because some squid scared the shit out themselves and never got back on it.
dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I got my FZ6R that way. I bought it for $3000 with 299 miles on it. Not a typo. Two-nine-nine. Homeboy told me he rode it once. His dad put the remaining miles on it, but apparently much preferred his Harley.
Whatever. Mine now.
SeekPie@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
Where I live, there are different licences for different powered bikes. Up to 250w and max 25 km/h are classified as e-bikes and don’t need any license, anything over that but under 50cc is a moped and needs a license (that people 14+ can get), then there’s up to 125cc and 11kw (which is 16+), then theres up to 35 kw (18+) and anything over it requires that you have had a driver’s license for at least 2 years and are 24 years old.
umbrella@lemmy.ml 4 weeks ago
i don’t think this will solve anything. where i live licenses are stupid hard and expensive to acquire. i’m talking 6mo long process and 3k bucks.
still plenty of idiots on the roads, and a lot of people driving without a license, especially motorcycles.