I LOVE motorycles. But I also know many people see them as death traps. Including my mother. My father owns a motorcycle. Heck he's been riding since before I was born. But that doesn't change her view of them lol
Either way, I was wondering since a lot of you work in hospitals, if it has changed your view of motorcycles. In a more negative way.
Which is funny because I was going down the road once and I saw this male nurse on a sports bike, and not only was he not wearing boots, but he was wearing crocs! Those things will fly right off if you crash. And how did I know he was a nurse? He was wearing scrubs! lol at least he had a helmet.
I loved my motorcycle, but got rid of it when I started working in a hospital. I saw too much, and I didn't want my kids to look up to it as they grew older.
Back in 77 a woman stopped in the passing lane on the interstate, I was on a bike behind her. Spent the next 2 years getting my legs fixed. Haven't ridden since. BUT! I still have my bike license and dream of owning a Harley Davidson. 23 years of ER/trauma, several as a medic before that, and yes I know bikes are dangerous. I also know that greater than 90% of bike accidents are caused by people with 4 or more wheels. I got my private pilots license in 1974, made 4 parachute jumps in 1976. Am I nuts? My children will attest to it. Why do I do these things? Because I intend to live all my life. Said another way, if I avoid all risks, watch my weight, go to church religiously (pun intended), exercise, don't drink or smoke, avoid red meat, eat a high fiber diet, and so on and so on, some day I'm going to feel like a flaming idiot sitting in some ER dying of nothing!
I am 52 yrs old and just started riding last year. Never thought I would ever ride, always thought it was too dangerous. I work in Hospice, maybe that is why I feel we need to live life as much as possible. I will admit I am very careful of where and when I ride and always wear my gear.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
we call them "donorcycles".
that said, my cousin took me for a 500 mile ride one day -- i loved it! it was great fun! i would have gone again in a heartbeat. but i suspect that my bad back and bad knees wouldn't make them much fun for me these days.
Had a H.D. superglide for many years. I had to give it up because I fractured my arm and shoulder in a fall and just didn't feel comfortable with my Range of Motion in that arm.
For me, loving riding depended on one thing mostly.
population
When I lived in rural America, I loved my motorcycle. In the big city. I flippin hated it. To many fools out there who just do NOT WATCH.
I also didn't use a helmet for the longest time. However, after getting a real close look at the carnage and destruction, even a low speed head injury can cause I changed my mind about that. I never got comfortable with wearing one though and I hated it.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I used to be totally against them. My dad got in a wreck, broke both legs and had to somehow get back on and ride himself to the hospital because it was in middle of no where. Board flew off a truck and hit him. Anyway, I don't know if I am going through some mini life crisis or something but I have been having the urge to learn to ride and get one LOL
Would I have wanted it to be my only vehicle- no way. I rode for years during low traffic daylight hours when I was young and had the vision , hearing and reflexes to accomodate the ride. If I could I still would but I'm older, half blind and deaf in one ear- You couldn't catch me on a bike on a closed track all by myself. All I want the bikers to remember- "It's almost always the 4 wheeled drivers fault" dosen't really do much to restore your quality of life with a C2 fracture. Knowing you had the right-of-way isn't much of a comfort while the ECF staff turn you Q2 and wipe your butt. A biker is so much more difficult to see, and avoid- if you ride you have to take responsibility for your own safety: be aware, be prepared and assume no one else is paying attention. You have no right of way if they don't see you. Assume they don't!
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jzkfel
55 Posts
I loved my motorcycle, but got rid of it when I started working in a hospital. I saw too much, and I didn't want my kids to look up to it as they grew older.
I still agree with the last poster, though.