Smiles per mile

I suppose it is human nature - fear of the unknown. I mean, why do so many people that have never ridden a motorbike hold such strong views against them, on them being dangerous, a wishing them to be banned? After all, most people at some time in their life, usually as children and as part of growing up rode a bicycle at some time. Riding a motorcycle is just part of a natural progression, taking things to the next level. Yet so few of us in the 'developed world' do it. In the developing world you will see whole families riding on a basic 'step-thru' of some kind, from 50cc - 110cc these things are the backbone of commerce and basic trading in developing countries. But here in the UK (and across Europe) the politicians are doing everything they can to legislate Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) off the road. They don't see PTWs as part of the solution, oh no, they see them as part of the problem.

The reason for that is because THEY don't understand the versatility of the motorcycle. It is a way of avoiding traffic jams and congestion. A way of economically transporting one or two people and small packages. It can simply take you from A to B as a commuting tool or it can take you around the country, around the world - on holiday or on an adventure. Yes you are open to the elements so you can get hot, cold, wet, dusty - sometimes all in the same day, but your senses experience so much more. Pass a garden with flowerbeds and you will smell the scent of those flowers. Pass a field full of animals and you will smell those animals. Pass an engineering works and you will smell the machines working within. But in being there, without the barrier that is the all protecting cage of a car, you will also get involved with the people you see as you pass briefly through their lives. A smile, a cheery wave. And when you stop complete strangers will engage you in conversation.

So where's the problem? It is IN the cars. It isn't the cars themselves, no, the problem is the humanoid bit that mostly sits behind the wheel. The person that got into the car was most likely a reasonable, rational, thinking person - a mother, a father, son, daughter. But when they got into that car, fastened the seat belt and turned the key they became something else and it is that 'something else' that is so dangerous to the motorcyclist and motorcycling. It doesn't matter what they got into that vehicle to do, whether it be the school run, the commute, a delivery, a taxi (free or paying) service, to make a delivery or to go on vacation. Whatever the reason they will have a mental timescale in their heads for that journey and no matter what that is their adrenalin and anxiety levels will have gone up accordingly. More so when they realise that they haven't allowed enough time for the journey, even though they have they will still be convinced that they have not. Few of them will be relaxed behind the wheel of their vehicle, many because they actually do not enjoy driving. They want to be or have to be somewhere else, doing something much more interesting. They have their distractions. First it was radio, then taped music and CDs. Now it is MP3/4 music and video, DVD players and mobile phones with text/SMS/MMS/video phone calls - all so much more interesting than having to drive a car.

And they are probably right because stuck in jams on under-maintained roads in gridlocked towns and cities is not fun, and blasting up and down motorways is just 'getting the job done'. They are trying to stimulate their senses, wanting to experience 'more' - whatever 'more' is. Yet they still won't get out on a motorbike and ride. I get more smiles per mile when out riding, be it commuting or just riding around than they will ever get stuck away so ever so safe and secure in their motorised tin cans and I beat those traffic jams that so frustrate drivers. Using my car my commute takes 40 - 50 minutes to cover 12 miles, but on the bike it is 22 - 25 minutes to do exactly the same trip - same speed limits, traffic calming and traffic volumes. By making safe overtakes and filtering I may sit for one change of the lights instead of three or four or more, use the centre road to maintain the speed limit instead of nose to tail queuing between roundabouts and traffic lights. OK, I wear protective clothing which I wouldn't in a car, but then when I arrive I can park in a spot that no car can get into, often intended for use by cyclists who are over provisioned in most towns and cities (outside of Amsterdam).

So do yourself a favour. If you want more smiles per mile then get out and get on a motorbike, any size, any format, whatever shakes your stick. Then ride!