Personal Safety vs Safety Enforcement (Part 3 of 5)

Talking safety is the best way to put a target on your riding or opinion. People will line up and start throwing stones almost immediately, in fact they'll go out of their way to call you a hypocrite and try to cite everything you've ever done. If they can't find something you've actually done they will put you on trial by association and if that doesn't work they'll finally move to criticism based upon things you haven't done to help stem the tide of unsafe acts. The bottom line is that they are very good at tearing things down, so they don't have to feel judged. When in reality they are self-judging and simply trying to feel better about that judgement.

Now, here is the most misunderstood part of having an opinion. Even though you have one you can let others to have their own. I'll use knee-dragging on the street as an example. (It could be wheelies, stoppies and a bunch of other horseplay items.)

I don't think it is responsible to drag a knee on the street and I don't think it is safe to drag a knee in front of others on a group ride. (Note, I did not say the act was unsafe alone on the street.)

I say this because I don't believe it is a skill that should be used on the street unless you are put in a situation where that much lean angle is needed to avoid a hazard. If a rider is paying attention as they should, that situation is one in a billion.

It isn't safe on a group in front of others because it is a skill that requires understanding of proper body positioning and done wrong can lead to a crash fairly easy. A crash on a group ride is disrespectful of other people's time and that's the real reason I don't like it. I feel if you are going to ask others to accommodate you during the day, you should be respectful of them and not do something that would encourage them to crash or risk a crash yourself.

I'll take respectful riding over safe riding every day, as ultimately the mere act of riding a motorcycle is less safe than the accepted norm, so trying to define the one true "safe" way becomes ludicrous. (I did not just say I am OK with riding with unsafe riders.)

For me, being responsible means that I'll return home to my wife in the same basic physical condition that I left. Doing something that places me in a hospital with tons of bills would beyond that commitment I've made to her. Others might not have the same level of responsibility and as long as they don't threaten my physical or more importantly mental condition (keep in mind that riding is more a mental activity than a physical one) at risk, I have no issue with the risks they take.

In the past I've tried to explain this to others and I know they simply hear that I personally don't want them doing wheelies or stoppies on a ride and not what I'm actually saying, which was that it made others uncomfortable and there is nothing worse than a mentally stressed rider for everyone concerned. I've recently decided to abandon this approach as it puts me in an odd position and gives people and inaccurate assessment of my views and why I have them. Quite simply I'll avoid riding with the folks I don't like and if they make me feel uncomfortable on a ride I'll simply distance myself from them. If they continue to try to ride directly near me I'll say something.

If they ride near someone else inappropriately I'll leave it to that person to move away or speak up. In the past I've had people complain to me and I then approached folks, but no longer. In the future if people are upset I'll assist them in approaching the person, but they'll have to express the issue themselves as once again I'm done have my time affected in such a way.

The bottom line is that if someone wants to drag a knee on the street (or any other of those items) I don't care, as long as they are not placing me in danger or being disrespectful of my time.