Safe Speed Forums

I'm not sure this is really a challenge with regards to fact, because you do cleary state that it is hypothesis. However, on the

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/pedrisk.html

page you say

- Motorbikes travel faster (unlikely).

This is not my experience of urban traffic. In my experience Motorbikes are able to travel significantly faster than other traffic, because the queues usually only slow us down.

However, I'd like to see official data seperated for learners and qualified motorcyclists. I have a hunch (and there is some data to back this up with age and engine sie distribution) that learners represents at least 50% of casualty data in urban areas.

However, pedestrains failing to anticipate a filtering motorcycle is in effect a kind of SMIDSY. The vast majority of people (drivers and peds) do not expect to find moving traffic in a stationery queue. I think this is likely to be the highest contribution to ped risk.

you may also want to consider the 'tangliness' of a rider/ped interface (and this applies to cycles too. With the exception of scooters bikes are not really ped friendly from a crash point of view.[/url]

At least it proves that this forum works. I'm sure some folk were beginning to wonder seeing as no posts have been made since the forum started in March 2004.



The page does give official data and an official reference to motorbike speeds in free travelling conditions. Like you, I have my doubts that the official figure correctly describe motorbike speeds. I suspect that motorbikes are the fastest moving vehicle class in many 30mph zones. However this is not what official figures tell us.



Yes. That's listed on the page and we rate it as "likely" also.



The page contains: "In accidents, projections cause worse injuries. (likely)" which is a different way of making the same point I think.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I'll have to disagree with you on that point Paul. Admittedly, my only experience of motorbike travel has been as a pillion passenger with various members of my family, but one thing that has always stuck in my mind was how rigidly 30 mph limits were adhered to by all concerned.

I don't know why I've only just spotted this topic, but I thought it was worth a mention.

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If nothing else works, then a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.

Road through town where i live sees a high number of bikers on it during the summer, yet nearly all go along the high street below the 30 limit, certainly a much higher proportion than car drivers.

In the villages when i slow down in my car or on my bike to the 30 limits, i hardly ever have a bike catch up or overtake me until back into NSL whereas often have cars and lorries gaining on me.

But bikes make more noise, so maybe this gives pedestrians the impression that they are travelling faster?

I'm glad it's not just me that's noticed this then. It's very easy for paranoia to start.

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If nothing else works, then a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.

Yes, I think there is a certain ammount of looking with their ears.

Bike engines also rend to be running at higher revs than cars, which gives a false impression of speed.