witty response required

[izzi81]

There was a letter in my daily newspaper this morning (The Scotsman) from one of those irritating anti-biker country types. I really want to reply but I'm not too good with setting out my argument! Anyone else care to compose a (sensible) reply giving the biker point of view?

The letter:

Your report "A85 amongst the UK's most deadly road for bikers' quoted John Dawson, of the AA, as saying that road engineers had a duty to protect bikers with better junction design, road surfaces and crash barriers. Last weekend over 400 bikers passed our property on the A85, some clocking speeds well in excess of 100mph and creating noise that is extremely intrusive in the peaceful countryside.
While road improvements are, of course, desirable for the safety of all road users, there should also be focus on the lunatic fringe that creates it's own danger by exccessive speed and noise which disturb the enjoyment of the countryside for others.
Surely with the figures given recently that speed cameras save lives, the introduction of these on the A85 should be considered in an attempt to curb this ridiculous misuse of a main trunk road.
Equally, attention should be paid to the increasing problem of noise pollution from bikers throughout the country.


I'm vaguely composing a reply in my head but if anyone has any witty intelligent ideas I'd love to hear them - so often all you hear is the 'anti-biker' stance, I'd like to put across the biker point of view!
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[Mr.Everready]

Personally I don't see anything wrong with his letter.
He didn't say that he was against bikes, just the "lunatic fringe"

I was out on a ride yesterday and only half a mile from our destination a group of bikes appeared behind me, because we were so close to our stop I saw no point in overtaking the few cars ahead of us. This was on very twisty roads by the way.
The first guy on a supermoto decided to overtake two bikes and three cars on a blind uphill left hand bend.
I thought he was an asshole, I'd hate to think what the car drivers thought.

[M1ke]

I tend to agree with his letter, and can see where he is coming from

I'm not denying that I don't fit into that catagory though, and if my bike disturbs the countryside folk, thats tough luck to them They should move somewhere in the city where bikers don't do 100mph past their house.

[Nighteyes]

I'm afraid I agree with the others, there is nothing really wrong with the letter and I have seen far worse when it comes to tarring all bikers with the same brush. But in this case, I see no need for concern, since there are those whose do give us a bad name by acting truly irresponsibly, it's unfortunate , but it does happen.
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[tgabber]

One thing that strikes me about the letter is that the bikes are actually providing him with a form of weekend entertainment.

Given his statistics re 400 bikes and 100mph, I can imagine some old Herbert-Gussett-like figure sitting in his front room with a clipboard, an amateur speed gun and a decibel monitor, meticulously recording everything that passes his door.

Possibly his train-set has broken down.

I'm still not a supporter of the lunatic fringe though...
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[Frost]

Agreed. The is allways the stupid few who ride with a megaphone can at 100mph+ these twats run the risk of being banned and would deserve to be banned if caught.

Just say that not all bikers are like that. 95+% of bikers are perfectly legal road users who ride within the law and have bikes which conform to legal noise regulations.

Some pedestrians cross the road in stupid places, does that mean no pedestrian crossings should be built? no it doesnt, the stupidity of the few should not be sited to jeapordize the safety of the sensible masses. Improved junction design will save lives, something far more important than noise pollution.

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Hmmmm, yeah. Anything you say will get brushed off really quickly. I dont you can say anything to try and swing peoples views.opinions, especialy after reading that piece...

Hell, if i weren't a biker, i'd probably feel the same way... I dont think bikers are generally "liked" , but hey its their problem not ours...

I wonder if its as bad as these people make out? I mean for it to be annoying, there must be quite a few bikes taking the same route quite regularly...

[MarsBar]

[Flip]

[Frost]

[EuropeanNC30R...]

There's plenty of 60 limits where 100mph is safe. Why should you expect a ban, if there's no point?

[Clanger]

I'd be inclined to say at least the noise is gone as quickly as it arrives, at least he doesnt live next to a busy motorway that drones traffic noise constantly, or a busy rail link, or under the flight path.
Or the constant buzzing of the electrics/pylons, or the noise of kids kicking a footie around on concrete or against the side of his house, or the noise of cockerels crowing at 4am....
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[tgabber]

[M1ke]

[Flip]

Loud and fast = good imho

[headlamp]

You're reply should be a long these lines: -

Mr. <add name wrote in last week's newspaper about the mtotrcyclists that use the A85. He implied that most motorcyclists are lunatics. Equally his dismissal of the AA's recommendations for this road suggests that he regards motorcyclists as second class citizens, undeserved of the road engineering that is afforded to other vehicles.

As a motorcyclist, with many years riding experience I take offence of being classified as part of the lunatic fringe. Equally for years, road engineers have ignored the simple safety measures that would undoubtedly prevent accidents involving motorcyclists, such as placing manhole covers on bends as well as generally poor road surfaces.

Motorcycles remain an economical, less pollution causing form of transport. If Mr. add name is disturbed by noise pollution on the A85 he should consider moving somewhere quieter.

Hope this helps!
H
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[M1ke]

That is very good mr headlamp, couldn't have put it better my self.

Just today one of my neighbors yelled at me out her window 'turn that bloody bike off'.

Some people have no common curtesy, if they can't stand noise maybe they should turn down their hearing aid.

[WILDECELT]

FREEDOM TO RIDE

[Inkognito]

I remember back in my ped days you could get a thing to put on your ped, that sparkled when you turned your ped on.
So i bought one (of course) and put it on. I didn't really like it after all but I kept it on only because my neighbours complained that it interfered with their TV.
I mean for the 3 seconds, once or twice a day their tele had snow on it. Pfft maybe buy a better TV dude.
Maybe it was just the teenage rebel in me, but people do seem to complain over the least of things. If you cant stand noise then why do you live next to an airport? *sigh*

[Kickstart]

Hi

You could also add that lasty weeks report on speed cameras was far from independent (2 of the authors also happened to write the report recommending allowing camera units to keep the profits), and the figures used are selectively supplied by the camera partnerships.

All the best

Keith
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