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.
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
I agree with the readers who posted that they will take life by the horns and ride if they want to...everyone dies of something. While this is true, and I admire their spunk, it is the risk involved that I don't accept for myself. As I stated earlier, I loved my bike. My best friend's brother loved my bike too-so much so in fact, that he went out and bought one for himself. He was showing it off in the driveway when he got it, we all talked about how much fun it was to ride, and he made plans to take a riding course (he knew how to ride, but wanted to be extra safe and get a lower insurance premium from taking the safety class). That night when he was driving it home, an old lady was pulling out of a gas station, didn't see him in the turn lane and hit him. He was fully conscious when the medics arrived, remembers everything about the accident, and now has one less leg. It is true that most accidents occur because of other drivers not paying close attention. I only know that I don't want the rest of my life altered because some idiot wasn't looking where they were going. Granted, car accidents happen just as much, but you are not protected on a bike. And you know what? ATVs are the WORST! I don't understand why parents let their kids have them. I have seen some really young kids lose limbs, had their faces reconstructed, had a new bladder constructed from pelvic and abd injuries...so not worth it.
My hubby and I were driving to a concert last weekend and saw a couple on a bike-tank tops, brain buckets, flip flops and shorts. The driver was showboating and being a complete a$$. We both looked at each other and said, "Yep, we will see them in the OR!"
Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.
interesting...i thought this was exclusive to the nurses i work with.. being rabidly anti-motorcycle. i have ridden with my husband for years and love it. i just recently passed my written permit test and i am starting to take the basic rider courses plus i'm saving up to get my own bike. i have all the protective gear and wear a helmet. even though i'm being smart about it i still get flak from my coworkers (the whole 'joke' about the donor-cycle).
this poll prompted me to google deaths per year-- i found a web site (to follow is some info from it). i don't think the link takes everything into account, for instance more people drive cars so therefore the death rate would be higher, right? anyway, my point is, there are lots of ways to die. i had a friend die in high school when he was in a bike crash, no helmet, both he and his girlfriend died. they were being reckless. i read and see people that had gear on and died and ones that didn't. that just encourages me to learn all i can and be smart about riding. i don't feel that riding a bike is any more risky than just being alive and out in society some days.
I own a sportkbike and have had one eight years now. I have had two friends killed while riding in 07' and 08' and I have ridden virtually none since than. One highly experienced rider and the other had bike less than 2 weeks and both result of operator error. However, I still have fun riding and am looking to seadoos as a new hobby.
As those of us with a few years in the business can attest, there are in fact fates that are "Worse than Death." A little time in a neuro ICU can cure the motorcycle bug.
I saw a motorcyclist get hit by a truck. The motorcyclist flew over the hood and bounced off the bed off the truck before meeting the asphalt. He was wearing protective gear, but his helmet flew off from the impact right before his face met with the ground. Luckily, he survived but his face definitely paid the price (among other body parts). My dad also rode bikes since before I was born; one of my earliest memories is of me riding on a bike with my dad (soooo not safe now that I look back). I will never buy a motorcycle and will never let my boyfriend, either!
I've been riding for 40 years. One of the things that make a motorcycle viable are (if it has it--not all motorcycles are created equal) superior maneuverability (lots more holes in traffic to escape through), braking, acceleration, and vision (seeing way ahead to anticipate trouble, even over the tops of SUVs in a line of traffic), not to mention rider knowledge and experience (great "live" and DVD courses out there), which are probably the most important.
Good riders are always looking for an edge. I'm a bug about big mirrors that hang way out there, and I have a LED brake light along with a strobe circuit to help keep me from being rear-ended.
Good riders avoid problems. For example, I'd never ride a scooter. I don't care how good the mileage is or how cute they are. The tires are so small in diameter that a pothole that a regular bike would ignore can be a complete disaster.
Good riders plan for the worst. ATGATT: "All the gear, all the time." Full face helmet, boots, gloves, motorcycle (not fashion) leather or armored jacket.
It's worth studying the stats and learning what they mean. Most motorcycle fatalities are single vehicle. Know what that means? Going off the road and hitting a tree. Know what that means? Drinking. Now, is that issue motorcycles or ETOH impairment?
I'm astounded by the generalizations I see here, sometimes generalizations made from one story, as if no one has ever encountered non-motorcycle MVA victims. The flip side of this is assuming cars are inherently safe, which they are not.
I've been riding motorcycles since 1973. I'll grant that I'm at more risk in an accident than if I'm in a car. I'm also at more risk in a compact car than a full size car. I'm at more risk in a full size car than an Mac truck. That's why I use all my senses and pay constant attention to avoid accidents.
My wife witnessed a fatal head-on car accident. A young man driving a small car hit an SUV. He was guppy breathing in the midst of the twisted mass of metal that used to be a car when she reached his side. He died within minutes. That experience didn't cause us to stop driving cars.
Hmmm, and how dangerous is it to take the bus? Ask the folks killed and critically injured/killed while waiting in a bus stop "building" that got hit by a car just yesterday. Maybe life is too dangerous to leave the house...and then a tornado roars by or a hurricane or a fire.
My husband has a Honda VTX 1800. I LOVE riding on the back with him 'driving'!
One thing for sure....no one gets out of this life alive anyway!
Just think... How many people would have died if it weren't for "donorcycles" being ridden by organ donors!
My most recent bike was a 1973 SOHC CB750 Honda. The previous owner was a mechanic who commuted a 100 miles a day RT from Montgomery MN to Burnsville MN. He was converting the bike into a chopper. He extended the front end and it tracked very well going down the highway.
He died from a brain tumor but not from riding the bike in his mid thirties. . I rode the bike for parts of 4 summers. Never had a close call but quit when I started working in MPLS. I was afraid that I would be tempted to start commuting to work and realized that HWY 13/HWY 77 was just too dangerous to ride. I drive 40-50,000 miles each year. Too many stupid people driving out there. I never rode without a helmet/goggles etc.
I have friends who ride all the time. One is a 65 year-old mechanic. He has ridden over 40 years with 2 accidents that I know about. (Slid out on gravel once and the other a car pulled in front of him.) Still riding but always wears a helmet. The other rides a HD night train. Never wears a helmet. I stopped riding with him both for schedule reasons and because I did not want to see him end up with a TBI or worse. A friend of mine is an ER nurse in Mankato. She still rides but never without helmet etc.....
Another friend of mine was a neuro nurse for years. She will NEVER let her husband or sons ride a motorcycle.
Six weeks ago I was rear ended in St Cloud. If I had been riding my motorcycle I would not be here today to write this post.
Last year I went Kayaking flipped my boat and was unable to swim back on. I was rescued and sold the kayak back to the store. I could have drowned.
Something will get all of us eventually. The lessons I have learned are:
1. Use proper protective equipment. (Helmets, life jackets or whatever)
2. Get training. (Read, read ,read to improve your basic knowledge base.) (Also get a mentor to help you get better and give you tips.)
3. Always be on your best game when doing activities. (Sick, tired, angry are all clues to stay away from those activities that day.)
My hsuband and I were in a motorcycle accident when we were dating. We are lucky to be alive. No more motorcycles for us, and I pray to God that my children will never express an interest.
Yup :)... been riding for about thirty years and never been "down". I have seen patients (in the ER and the Morgue) who have crashed, but that in itself has not deterred me from riding. My current bike is a Gold Wing (aka, Gold Card ), and I use it to commute as well as for fun, with some longer distance rides thrown in.
For anybody who rides (or plans to start riding) a motorcycle, I recommend an approved safety course and the Ride Like a Pro video on DVD. Both are a very inexpensive way to help make a person a much better and safer motorcyclist.
I also recommend adherence to the concept of "ATGATT"... All The Gear All The Time; riding a motorcycle while wearing shorts and a t-shirt are OK until there is a crash of any sort. Wearing a high quality helmet is mandatory - how much is your head worth?
I own one and love riding. I am very safe and the army requires me to be safe. However, all those idiots driving a cage and not paying attention is another story. I pray to God I will never have to face such fate. Knock on wood. Be safe out there.
. I rode the bike for parts of 4 summers. Never had a close call but quit when I started working in MPLS. I was afraid that I would be tempted to start commuting to work and realized that HWY 13/HWY 77 was just too dangerous to ride. I drive 40-50,000 miles each year. Too many stupid people driving out there. I never rode without a helmet/goggles etc.
canesdukegirl, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,543 Posts
I agree with the readers who posted that they will take life by the horns and ride if they want to...everyone dies of something. While this is true, and I admire their spunk, it is the risk involved that I don't accept for myself. As I stated earlier, I loved my bike. My best friend's brother loved my bike too-so much so in fact, that he went out and bought one for himself. He was showing it off in the driveway when he got it, we all talked about how much fun it was to ride, and he made plans to take a riding course (he knew how to ride, but wanted to be extra safe and get a lower insurance premium from taking the safety class). That night when he was driving it home, an old lady was pulling out of a gas station, didn't see him in the turn lane and hit him. He was fully conscious when the medics arrived, remembers everything about the accident, and now has one less leg. It is true that most accidents occur because of other drivers not paying close attention. I only know that I don't want the rest of my life altered because some idiot wasn't looking where they were going. Granted, car accidents happen just as much, but you are not protected on a bike. And you know what? ATVs are the WORST! I don't understand why parents let their kids have them. I have seen some really young kids lose limbs, had their faces reconstructed, had a new bladder constructed from pelvic and abd injuries...so not worth it.
My hubby and I were driving to a concert last weekend and saw a couple on a bike-tank tops, brain buckets, flip flops and shorts. The driver was showboating and being a complete a$$. We both looked at each other and said, "Yep, we will see them in the OR!"