Originally Posted by vash (Post 10443384)

a coworker just texted me. she signed up for a local motorcycle safety course. here in CA, you take and pass that course it substitutes the riding test you have to take. (the test is tough!! you have to do this keyshaped slow speed maneuver best left to scooters). she said all the classes near her were booked for a long time.

we have one at the fairgrounds near my home. it is packed. lots of 250cc cruiser type bikes used for the class.

i think the thread title should be.."the decline of motorcycling for me/us - and i want to tell you about it" :D

Originally Posted by legion (Post 10443335)

I got my motorcycle license in 2008 and got a bike the same year. I put a few hundred miles on it that year around town. I was scared to death the whole time. Yes, drivers on their cell phones (talking or texting) scared me. What was even worse, is that I quickly figured out that someone could look right at me and still not see me. I came to believe that most drivers saw and human-sized thing (person on a motorcycle) and subconsciously put me in the category of "pedestrian". I had numerous occasions where someone looked right at me, and pulled in front of me out of a parking lot such that I had to panic stop or swerve to avoid hitting them. By 2012, I'd found that I was putting less than 50 miles on the bike a year. I sold it.

Maybe if I'd learned to ride earlier I may have enjoyed it, but I feel like most motorists are morons and shouldn't be licensed to operate such deadly machinery.

Originally Posted by Jrboulder (Post 10443126)

1955-1965: 237 car accidents per 100,000 population
2005-2015: 129 car accidents per 100,000 population

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 10443399)

I taught these classes up here many years ago. Yours is a false perception. The full classes and difficulty getting into them is a function of the lack of instructors, not a function of increasing ridership. Most areas just cannot find enough people to teach these classes. It's a big commitment, with the only real "pay" being the satisfaction of having helped out. That runs out pretty quickly for a lot of people.

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak (Post 10443435)

Nowadays people are looking at Facebook, texts, tweets, Instagram, YouTube even watching damn movies on their phone

Originally Posted by speeder (Post 10443128)

It seems like we've had this conversation a few times before here but the bottom line is that everyone has to follow their own comfort level in terms of riding motorcycles and every other risky activity in life.

I've had a MC endorsement since 1975 and have ridden countless hours and miles in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and highways all over the country. I personally don't find it any different than it's ever been--you've always had to watch your ass on a bike. I think that it would be unsafe to have only a bike for transportation because of the principle of only riding when you feel like it, not because you have to. There are times I really don't feel like riding, rather take the car and listen to music w A/C or heat blowing, etc...

I woud feel unsafe riding somewhere other than CA. because of lane-splitting or filtering here...if I had to sit in lines of cars waiting for some distracted driver to rear-end me, I would feel unsafe and vulnerable. The ability to ride between and go around the 4-wheeled traffic adds another dimension to street riding and it's a lot safer, especially on the freeway but everywhere. Riding a MC in big city traffic requires skill and absolute attention at all times but I enjoy it and slice through traffic like a hot knife through butter and it's all legal.

Ironically, I don't ride in the dirt because while I consider it massive fun, I know 100% that I'd crash and break a bone or three, maybe my neck. I can't ride like an old lady in dirt, it's too much fun to hoon and I don't have the chops to back it up plus I'm fairly old. :)

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum (Post 10443482)

Agree - Proven fact that distracted driving is more dangerous than DUI. I'm not sure why the enforcement and penalties aren't ramped up to be on Par? Love to see some chick on her phone getting her car towed and booked into jail.

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum (Post 10443482)

Jeff and Vash: Right about lack of instructors. I did this also along time ago. Most classes on the weekends, so not many instructors want to give up all their weekends.

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum (Post 10443482)

The reason for the 250cc bikes: They are usually donated by the dealers. Ideal size to learn on and cheaper also...

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 10443639)

Amen. One of my very worst pet peeves. Unfortunately, that has kind of come out on this very forum a time or two, as I've made an ass of myself on more than one occasion with my over the top expression of such. So, trying not to beat this dead horse once again, just one quick observation.

Washington has passed "tough on distracted driving" legislation. I think most Washington drivers, particularly motorcyclists, would agree it has had absolutely no affect. I think because it is not tough enough. It needs to be treated just like a DUI. Arrested, car impounded, and perhaps most importantly as a deterrent value - the device gets confiscated and held for evidence until the trial date. If found guilty, it is not returned. Do we give the bottle back to the drunk? Do we give the gun back to they guy that robbed the liquor store when he gets out? Hammer these people and hammer them hard. The prospect of merely being fined has done nothing to curb this behavior.



Yeah... once you are in, due to the lack of instructors, you find yourself continually being asked to take more classes in addition to the ones you have scheduled. It's a tough deal. I felt I should "give back", so I took my turn in the barrel, but there just are not enough who are willing to do so.



A lot easier for students to push in their first day or two of the class as well.

Originally Posted by Chocaholic (Post 10443663)

The riders that are most worrisome are the 50+ year olds that go out and buy their first motorcycle. Usually one that is way too big (and expensive) for a new rider.. Inexperience combined with bravado and money is a dangerous combo. Have seen it too many times. A key reason why I stopped riding in groups 30+ years ago.

The key to survival is common sense. Rule 1: Avoid traffic.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 10443399)

I taught these classes up here many years ago. Yours is a false perception. The full classes and difficulty getting into them is a function of the lack of instructors, not a function of increasing ridership. Most areas just cannot find enough people to teach these classes. It's a big commitment, with the only real "pay" being the satisfaction of having helped out. That runs out pretty quickly for a lot of people.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 10443399)

I taught these classes up here many years ago. Yours is a false perception. The full classes and difficulty getting into them is a function of the lack of instructors, not a function of increasing ridership. Most areas just cannot find enough people to teach these classes. It's a big commitment, with the only real "pay" being the satisfaction of having helped out. That runs out pretty quickly for a lot of people.

Originally Posted by vash (Post 10443859)

hmmm. i guess the instructor here i asked in CA could have been lying to me about the high student numbers.

your information about another State completely seems more plausible. i stand corrected.

Originally Posted by gtc (Post 10443895)

Jeff,
I have a friend who took the class a year or two ago (down at Sand Point as I recall). There are apparently some subsidized spots in every course that fill up months in advance, but there is little to no wait if you pay the normal course fee.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins (Post 10443912)

Everything is relative. "High student numbers" is likely in relation to available instructors.

.