"It's all when, and not if"

In countries where scooters and motorbikes aren't the only affordable option for people to get motorised transport, then this disapproving sentiment is something which every motorcycle rider would have heard several times. And it isn't so much a case of that people in cars drive better, but they are just better protected, and there are certain stability benefits that come from having 4 wheels instead of 2.

Take for example the whole burnout thing; if you do that in a rear-wheel drive car, then you'll annoy everyone in earshot and look like a monkey. If you're foolish or inexperienced, then generally your risk is the possibility of hopping a curb and collecting a power pole. But do that on a motorcycle, then your risks multiply due to the mechanical dynamics and your vulnerability. YouTube is awash with videos of motorcyclists engaged in stunts gone bad, but the injury they risk is more than just their pride.

The one above at least has the good news that she healed up pretty well, but there was alot of pain and tears in the process.

One of the debates that springs up here is about the lane splitting that motorcycles can do in heavy traffic. The vitriol from car drivers is driven primarily from envy, but the law looks down on it as it is dangerous due to drivers not expecting to watch for a bike when changing lanes in congested traffic. When I rode a bike, I pretty much avoided lane splitting due to that risk, and ironically my only accident was due to me sitting behind a SUV, when every other rider was splitting lanes. The SUV pulled an emergency stop and I hadn't allowed enough room for a sluggish morning reaction time. Face meet fender.

I haven't been back to motorcycles since, mainly as other people in my life require me to be more conservative with my transport, but I'd go back in a heartbeat if that wasn't the case.

There's something addictive about riding a motorcycle, and maybe it's being that close to the edge during the trip.