Topic: Scooter magnet

[TallGuy]

As thouse that have ridden with me over the last few years will know I'm fairly visible when riding! So why do I keep getting hit up the rear by scooters?  

Saturday, I'm filtering down the outside of slow moving traffic when two scooters start coming up behind me. Ahead is a zebra crossing with a central island so I move left of the white line and anticipate stopping for pedestrians. This made scooter 1 brake and swerve as I may have clipped his front wheel he was that close. Pedestrian steps out onto crossing so I stop, not suddenly and only using rear brake. Scooter 1 plows into the back of me and headbutts the single seat hump which knocks his unfastened 3 sizes too big helmet off and smacks his ungloved hands between his bars and my bike.  Scooter 2 swerves right, clips the island end over end, bike lands on other side of crossing as it flashes past the pedestrian.

Off duty so call for backup, while I close off road as Scooter 2 rider is flat on his back in middle of opposing carrigeway and scooter 1 rider is bleeding all over the back of my bike.

Plenty of witnesses, totally avoidable accident, but why do I have to keep dealing with this cr*p. And to top it all.
Both scooters were declared unroadworthy.
Both riders were uninsured.
1 rider was unlicenced.
1 scooter was untaxed.
1 scooter was not displaying L plates.
Scooter 1 rider now has 2 broken teeth, lacerated tounge and a broken rib.
Scooter 2 rider has broken ankle, arm and concussion.

Muppets.  '>

[Burger]

Agree, Muppets indead. Im sick of people kocking me for being scooterist but I feckin ate the scum bags.

I know with anything there is a minority/majority but all I ever see is young muppets on scooters, or old muppets going to work with no protective clothing on. I dont see these two minorities/majoritys as motorcyclists. They are people with death wishes in my opinion and I dont see why I should pay for their treatment when they hit the back of you Colin.

Sorry to hear that mate, I hope you dont have too much damage to the Pan! '>

[trouty]

Quote (TallGuy @ Nov. 06 2006,13:32)

...so I move left of the white line and anticipate stopping for pedestrians. This made scooter 1 brake and swerve as I may have clipped his front wheel he was that close.

dude - you made a manouvre that forced another vehicle to try to take avoiding action, not sure how you can blame the other rider, scooter or otherwise. Would you have done the same if it was a car sitting there?

[Weaver]

Did they even own the scooters?

Can't say I have much sympathy  with anyone daft enough to ride, uninsured, improperly dressed, unlicenced etc etc.  These sort of scooter idiots give a bad name to sensible peeps who ride them well.  I know a couple of people who use them to commute in London whilst they have bikes for playing out - they are good riders but they get lots of hassle just because they are on a scoot!  '>

[TallGuy]

Quote (troutslayer @ Nov. 06 2006,14:06)

Quote (TallGuy @ Nov. 06 2006,13:32) ...so I move left of the white line and anticipate stopping for pedestrians. This made scooter 1 brake and swerve as I may have clipped his front wheel he was that close. dude - you made a manouvre that forced another vehicle to try to take avoiding action, not sure how you can blame the other rider, scooter or otherwise. Would you have done the same if it was a car sitting there?

To clarify, there was a queue of cars on my left as I moved left so I was just getting closer to those cars as the road island came up. The scooter was not in the general flow of traffic he was behind me. So how can it be my fault when he was so close behind his front wheel was virtually touching my rear wheel?  I'm in the right, he is driving without due care and attention.

[pieman]

I'm guessing he's trying to wind you up. '>
The problem with scooters is they have no road sense, sense full stop. They seem to be unaware of the danger of falling off, and they don't 'do' braking distances or planning ahead. It's a bit of a shit if they're behind you and you can't keep well clear of them, I always avoid any other 2 wheelers, just in case.

[Wildcat]

It's not just scooters, there's some atrocious riding going on out there

[trouty]

I'm not sure on the laws here, but isn't filtering to the front of stationary traffic waiting at a pedestrian crossing against the law?

'>

Quote (pieman @ Nov. 07 2006,09:06)

I'm guessing he's trying to wind you up. '> The problem with scooters is they have no road sense, sense full stop. They seem to be unaware of the danger of falling off, and they don't 'do' braking distances or planning ahead. It's a bit of a shit if they're behind you and you can't keep well clear of them, I always avoid any other 2 wheelers, just in case.

I hope you're just trying to wind me up there, mate.  I take great pride in my scootering.  I always wear protective gear, have done BikeSafe on both bikes and am doing my IAM training at the moment on my big bike.

I know a lot of people with big bikes who use their scoots for commuting or for winter riding, so the scoot you see infront could actually be ridden by somebody much better than you.

So, please stop generalising, or can we all join in and start bashing those with big bikes?  Talk about discourteous and inconsiderate riding!

[Weaver]

BTW Darren - when I mentioned that I have a couple of good scooter rider friends, I forgot to mention that one of them had just joined the forum!!!!   '>  '>  '>

[simon78]

Quote (Scarlet Lady @ Nov. 07 2006,10:39)

and am doing my IAM training at the moment on my big bike.

I did the test last year. Significantly improved my riding. Also reduced my insurance.

Would certainly recommend the IAM to anyone and I'm currently doing the 'Observer' training with the London Advanced Motorcycle org.

[Mr Rizla]

tart..

[TallGuy]

Quote (troutslayer @ Nov. 07 2006,09:46)

I'm not sure on the laws here, but isn't filtering to the front of stationary traffic waiting at a pedestrian crossing against the law? '>

Filtering up to but not passing the front of the vehicle closest to the crossing is legal. If the main flow of traffic is unable to continue through the crossing due to stationary vehicles on the other side then a motorcycle is permitted to pass the lead vehicle only when that rider has assessed that it is safe to do so. This requires looking both ways to ensue that the crossing is clear and there are no pedestrians waiting to cross. If the view is obscured then the rider must stop and check. Only then can the rider move off at a slow pace and remain at a slow pace until the end of the zig zags on the exit of the crossing.

[trouty]

what is considered a slow pace? 60?

'>

[MATTP]

Quote (Scarlet Lady @ Nov. 07 2006,10:39)

I hope you're just trying to wind me up there, mate.

For me I can't stand the sound of the Ducking things! If you ride one then thats all good and your choice. But I don't have to like it, put up with it and sit behind you in traffic '> .

Its a fun world out there so get up a gear and have a look '>

[MATTP]

Quote (troutslayer @ Nov. 07 2006,12:55)

what is considered a slow pace? 60? '>

Only if your outside Slim's police station on the GSXF

[TallGuy]

I don't have a problem with scooterists in general, it's the idiot element like most things which gets me. The ones that ride in a huddle of 3 or four, talking to each other through their unfastened helmets with no visors, looking at each other and wobbling all over the road. Following far to close to other vehicles, using the pavement to get past cars turning right. Riding up the inside of cars turning left. There are bad bikers and car drivers too.

I just don't understand why when I'm so highly vivsble I keep getting hit up the chuff. '>

[MATTP]

Quote (TallGuy @ Nov. 07 2006,13:05)

I just don't understand why when I'm so highly vivsble I keep getting hit up the chuff. '>

Can the person behind tell you are a cop? Maybe they are trying to be a smartar$e?

Maybe a sticker on the rear of your bike saying " You hit me and I'll hit you" will sort it out?  '>

Quote (MATTP @ Nov. 07 2006,12:56)

Quote (Scarlet Lady @ Nov. 07 2006,10:39) I hope you're just trying to wind me up there, mate. For me I can't stand the sound of the Ducking things! If you ride one then thats all good and your choice. But I don't have to like it, put up with it and sit behind you in traffic '> . Its a fun world out there so get up a gear and have a look '>

Tbh, very rarely does anybody sit behind me in traffic, whereas I'm regularly held back by somebody on a big bike who just doesn't have the balance or size to squeeze through.

Get up a gear and have a look at the fun world out there?  I've got six gears in my other bike and regularly have a look at the fun world out there (as I use my bike for European touring), but I prefer to use my automatic scoot in Central London as it's quicker than my other bike.  Besides, there are many different types of scooters, as that name refers to the design: they range from 50ccs to 800ccs, and the four-stroke ones have a decidedly different sound to the two-stroke ones, which I'm assuming you're referring to.

I thought it was only the other London bikers site that was scooter intolerant but I now notice this site is no different.

[MATTP]

Quote (Scarlet Lady @ Nov. 07 2006,13:15)

I thought it was only the other London bikers site that was scooter intolerant but I now notice this site is no different.

You may want to wait until you have a good 50% plus people from the site respond before thinking that we all think a like. Take it from me that there are many different views on a lot of different points of life from people on this site. Take your time and have a look around before giving the rest the lable that I wear '>

But as for me I will put my hand up and confirm that I don't like the site or sound of scooters. No matter what size. Just like how I don't like automatic cars. No matter what make they are.

Its a free site to defend your bikes make, size, shape, etc. But don't think that just because I say that I don't like scooters it means that I don't have friends that ride them  '>

[Matt zx9]

Quote (MATTP @ Nov. 07 2006,13:35)

Take your time and have a look around before giving the rest the lable that I wear '>

While thats a noble and valid point.... feel free to label me the same as MattP   '>

The majority - not all, but still the majority - are either idiot kids, or have jumped on a scooter having done the minimal amount of training and havent worked out how much it hurts to crash at 30mph. Most of them will though....  



Everyone else is lovely but all the matt's go on scooter-shooting weekend breaks  

[slim]

Have to say, that whilst on duty, I've never seen a gang of "real" bikers riding simultaneously as twats, the same way I soooo often do with the scooter guys.

It's simnply too easy to blag your way through a CBT (for those that bother) and to then jump on a scooter and cause havoc.

A

[Wildcat]

Quote (TallGuy @ Nov. 07 2006,13:05)

I just don't understand why when I'm so highly vivsble I keep getting hit up the chuff. '>

Yer obviously riding too slowly

[Wildcat]

Quote (slim @ Nov. 07 2006,14:32)

I've never seen a gang of "real" bikers riding simultaneously as twats, the same way I soooo often do with the scooter guys.

I have

[slim]

Quote (Wildcat @ Nov. 07 2006,15:03)

I have

Obviously, I'm not including TLB ridouts.... '>

A