Riding bikes in the far east...

[Polarbear]

I've just arrived in Singapore, staying for a month

I was watching all the bikers while coming into the city from the airport and not one was wearing any protective gear other than a crash helmet. Pretty girls in short skirts and not much else on bikes.

Now I've been to India and the like and no one does there either but India is a third world country where HSE hasn't reared it's ugly head yet. Singapore certainly isn't third world but there isn't any evidence of safety nazism to do with bikes here.

When I was in Japan bikers there wore all the gear which is why I was thinking it was a first/third world thing.

Is it a cultural thing or what that we wear protective gear, and if we don't we are almost doing something bordering on the illegal or have we gone too far with the HSE pressure.
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[P.addy]

Your wife cooks a mean bacon sarnie





I just recall seeing the Top Gear bikes in Vietnam one and cannot see how anyone feels safe without a lid and gear, same as on youtube, some crazy sod on some 4 stroke CG look alike laying back with nothing on texting on his phone.

Rather them than me, but I'd put it down to the fact they have bigger worries than helmets.

[MarJay]

[DrSnoosnoo]

Is it a case of:

Motorbikes are everywhere, almost everybody rides or has ridden so every vehicle operator knows to look out for bikes?

I'd feel safer on the roads if I knew a car wasn't gonna pull out on me and such?

Let's be honest, we've all been out with just a jacket, some normal jeans and trainers. But I don't feel prepared for no jacket, or at least armour up top before I know full well people understand that the mirrors are for looking in and their shoulders are there for looking over.
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[P.addy]

America is also not a 3rd world poverty stricken hole, but still, they happily pootle lid free. I think its just a matter of time before most major cities/countries etc enforce rules regarding helmets, they have just got more important things on their plates.

[Benjums]

It's the same in America I believe to a certain extent, ie a helmet if your lucky. Mind you in England I think it's only a helmet by law but I think most of us would rather gear up in as much protection as we can afford and actually wear for our own peace of mind and to try and keep some parts intact if the unthinkable happens. Don't know if textiles or leathers for bikers are available or affordable in places like that or they just don't give a toss. Scary though when you see them hooning about with just a helmet, shorts and t shirt on though.

[MarJay]

[P.addy]

Well, its not exactly a poverty stricken, waterless mud shack centre like downtown Uganda

[Walloper]

Coz they are un-informed.

No real drama to get on a bike in the Unfinished world.

No one will pay out if you get hurt so no one pushing for safety Yet.

It is difficult for drilling companies to operate out there because of the non-safety culture. Everything safety we try to pass on to them is alien.

We don't write them up for it though, we just ask them what they will do for a job to support the family is they were to lose finger/s, eye, toes etc.
If they can be helped to appreciate the 'latent' dangers then they do as good thinking folks do in the West.

It should be so. Good example works in this behaviour area too
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[anthony_r6]

I don't know about any other Country, but I enjoy riding around in just a helmet. I can't imagine not wearing a helmet even if it was legal, just because of the wind. I think it'll be down to culture, where bikes are far more common, people feel safer and less inclined to gear-up.
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[stinkwheel]

In India it is mandatory to fit a Saree guard so your wife/daughter/concubine/tranny doesn't get dragged into the back wheel while sat on the pillion.
https://www.motorbeam.com/wp-content/uploads/GT650-Saree-Guard.jpg
Women do not have to wear a helmet. Men do.
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[P.addy]

[Walloper]

[P.addy]

[Bendy]

I think Brits fundamentally like dressing up.

[stinkwheel]

[Walloper]

[gixerladsw]

oh, thought this was going to be about Newcastle.. Thats as far east as I get. wye aye mnn

[-Matt-]

Its a cultural thing generally I think.

Same in China, people are just all used to not needing to wear them and having more to worry about in terms of not getting crushed between cars in ridiculous traffic to be concerned about having helmets.

We live in a place were everything needs a helmet, high viz, armour, warning stickers etc. Thats only all really just started becoming applicable in most areas in Asia so even the more developed areas like Singapore will struggle to implement it anytime soon I think.

Plus theres little point even considering motorcycle police to enfroce it, as its near impossible to catch people in half the crowded citys for such offences as its just too congested and manic.

[map]

I recall when Italy brought in helmet laws the pretty young things would 'wear' them over their arm on the elbow. Would not do to have helmet hair.

I think they've tightened up on that now though, been a while since I was in Italy. Rome is great for people watching.

IMHO it's a cultural and city thing. On a moped zipping around a city it's unlikely you'll be putting your knee down at excessive speed (, now waits for posts of "I do that all the time"). Also as said the cultural thing everyone knows what the pack of riders do.

For zipping in and around traffic on a bike with only a helmet for protection then Athens was the scariest place I've seen.
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[thepuma]

Does Great Yarmouth count?
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765 RS

[Seigi]

India isn't a third world country, lel.
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2008 Honda CBR125 (sold) / Suzuki DL 650 V Strom (Current bike)
Mod 2 Passed: 03/09/2013

[Khanivore]

Barcelona was the same when i went there. Blokes in business suits riding around on R1's. Hot birds with short short skirts on scooters. Most of the time there were not even gloves let alone protective clothing on legs, bodies and arms.
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[thepuma]

[Lupo]

I am from Spain, several reasons people don't bother with the full gear is that you use your motorcycle a lot and very short distances. You go to work with it, then pop in the supermarket, then go for a coffee with friends, pick the other half, go and visit your mum. Basically you will be in your gear all day long and that is not very practical. Then for us a 125cc/Scooter doesn't really qualify as big motorbikes, people will look at you a bit funny if you go around dressed in something that costs as much as you motorcycle. People with bigger cc bikes tend to wear a bit more gear, but mostly is reserved for when you go on long trips or the truly enthusiast.

Of course motorcycling is very very popular, car drivers are fully aware of them, specially in cities, where they constantly zip past you, or filter to the front of the traffic lights.
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