| Author | Message | ||
     Fresnobuell |
This weekend Fresno is lucky enough to host a 5,000 bike "celebration" of BLACK biker culture. Seems like every hoodlum from LA to the Bay Area is here in town. How awesome! The only good thing is all the cops are busy watching these animals as opposed to patroling riding areas north of town. Of all the BS I have seen this weekend, the one thing that pisses me off to no end (and I am SURE every other witnessing motorist) are the packs of sportbikes lane splitting. I mean these leather vest sporting douchebags, sometimes 10 bikes at a time, will roll right to the front at a stoplight, then apparently are so god damn stupid they don't know the light sequence so they are all caught by surprise when they get a green light. Take their time clicking into gear and then cause general havoc while they all try to get going. I can't say how much this disgusts me. Every person witnessing this crap hates sportbikes even more. Don't be surprised if lane splitting is taken away here in California and eventually our right to ride period. They already tried to make us smog our bikes not too long ago--all it takes is one a-hole legislator to start the ball rolling. I just don't understand. IMO lane splitting is the most offensive thing to cagers. Right or wrong. So before you and your boys decide to take over an intersection by lane splitting. And do you really have to lane split when there is only a handful of cars in front of you? Use some courtesy and common sense. (Message edited by fresnobuell on May 02, 2010) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Education is what's needed for riders & cagers alike. Here in France lane splitting is normal, cagers generally move one way or the other to allow bikes to lane split, & riders generally say thank you with a nod, or a wave of hand or foot. European motorists in general are pretty "Bike aware" due to some very effective tv safety campaigns. That said, there's always some squid about in the summer. | ||
| Peter |
Go to London. If you don't lane split you'll get a ticket. It's called 'filtering'. Quite legal in the Netherlands as well. | ||
| Ulynut |
Education is what's needed for riders & cagers alike. And for the original poster as well. To emphasize the word BLACK and to refer to these people as ANIMALS is just plain stupid. You suck. | ||
| Piotr12 |
Mr_Grumpy During last years trip to Paris to visit my family I witnessed first hand the attitude displayed by French motorists, car and bike alike. I was impressed to say the least. Everyone is "awake and aware" when driving, especially on the A13. People are courteous, they respectfully switch lanes to get out of the way of a faster vehicle (even at 160 kph  ) A sense of fear came over me when the first motorcyclist zipped past us in heavy traffic, lane splitting in between the lines of cars. After seeing this over and over I began to understand that this was an artfully orchestrated and organized chaos. The best part is that it WORKS. No one is hateful, no one tries to block anyone else or cut them off. It's like a Swiss watch. Lane splitting is not allowed here in MO but I can attest to similar biker groups of squids that plague this area. I wish that European standards for operating a motor vehicle would be enforced around here. Maybe, just maybe this would improve every ones commutes. (Message edited by piotr12 on May 02, 2010) | ||
| Spiderman |
To emphasize the word BLACK and to refer to these people as ANIMALS is just plain stupid. You suck. While his use of the words may be a bit racists, isn't it just as racists of the 'Black Bikers' to have a Black only event? The same thing goes on in South Carolina. http://blackbikeweek.com/ | ||
| Whatever |
That is like saying a women's motorcycle event is sexist... get real people... there are douch bag riders of every kind...  | ||
| Slaughter |
Here in CA we have well-known biker gangs (and largely one-race-to-be-unmentioned) who will send out a couple camera cars and a squad of riders to hold up freeway traffic - in order to enable their "stunnaz" to do their sh!t in front of the held-up traffic. Those videos are SOLD at the motorcycle shows. These clubs have a smiley face - but so many - like Ruff Ryders - have this ugly side. It aint just lane splitting. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The Daytona Black Bike Week was created in response to black riders being barred from Daytona Bike Week. | ||
| Court |
>>>The Daytona Black Bike Week was created in response to black riders being barred from Daytona Bike Week. Man I hope we're past all that . . . . But . . . our company, one of the largest in the United States, still has a "Black Engineers" club. It's a shame that I'm not allowed to share my experience and knowledge with anyone as result of simply my being white. We have some incredibly talented engineers of many races and it bothers me, in a way, to see so many that are non-Black excluded. Times have changed since 1970 . . I hope they change more. | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
Two things... I somewhat perversely enjoyed your attack on the sportbike contingent; reading nothing but Harley-bashing really gets old. Yeah, the BLACK qualifier is racist. I keep hoping that we've passed through this stupidity, but it keeps popping up. Your complaint is valid, but assholes come in all colors. | ||
| Slaughter |
Ruff Ryder article Another article Pic of them blocking I-15 and I-60  And people wonder WHY there are more and more anti-sport-biker movements? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
A$$hole is colorblind. | ||
| Metalrabbit |
My wife is Mexican and her daughter, while at high school noticed that the hispanics were far more racist than the dominate white students. I found that very interesting,, maybe thats why we can't seem to heal this wound, ya think? | ||
| Sifo |
This reminds me of the "Critical Mass" rides that bicyclists put together to promote bicycle awareness. Great plan - Block major roads during rush hour to get motorists on your side! Great plan. That kind of lane splitting is going to piss of the cagers. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
The kind of stupidity pictured above is what gives sportbike riders a bad name. The comments by the idiots... From we weren't stunting to the cops are harassing us when we did nothing wrong, don't help either Of even greater concern is the comments by motorists saying they might not be able to stop in time the next time something like this happens in front of them.... | ||
| Court |
>>>but assholes come in all colors. Time has made few things so vividly clear. I'm an ••••••• and white. That ought to settle that. As I've seen several times the last week stupid riding is it's own cure. Darwin wins in the end. | ||
| Geforce |
Sometimes I really hope Gene Roddenberry's vision of the human culture *at it's best* comes true in the future. At what point does culture remain unique and not segregate itself from humanity? We have a long way to go...*sigh* | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Since the subject of race and bike clubs has been raised. Does anyone have any idea why every sportbike club is either all or predominately black? Also seems that most cruiser clubs are all white. Never really had a strong desire to join any official bike club, but I was curious about it and noticed that there don't seem to be any non-black sportbike clubs. | ||
| Iamike |
We have a sportbike club: http://www.waterloofast.blogspot.com/ I don't believe that we have ever discussed certain 'qualifications' to join. I did notice in that picture a lot of white arms though. | ||
| Sdecp |
What is wrong with lane splitting? I get passed all the time in Manhattan and when I get mad that some bike just passed me, I realize that I am just jealous. I wish I could lane split in my wife's Honda Civic...haha!!!! In Manhattan, Mayor Bloomberg started cracking down on the large amount parking tags that cops/fire deparments/gov't officials could use to park in illegal spots. At first I was excited, I was glad Bloomberg was going to make the city employees park in legal parking spots. Then, competition for legal street parking spots got tougher. When bikes lane split in the city, it usually means that bikes move in and out of the traffic allowing traffic to move faster overall. I would never condone anyone travel at a risk or at high speeds, but lane splitting where I live seems to help me out. Now, if I could just get the taxis to pull all the way over on the left or right lane when they drop a passenger off, I would be completely happy. | ||
| 1125rcya |
Ulynut To emphasize the word BLACK and to refer to these people as ANIMALS is just plain stupid. You suck. Ok so here in Indy they have the Black Expo week and the culture itself has emphasize the work BLACK EXPO so I think you need to quite looking into words rather than the problem at hand. I must say IMO lane splitting for no reason at a light is just stupid. This shows lack of respect for the law and gives us bikers a bad rep. Now lets say a major storm is coming up behind me yes I will lane split at a light and wave to the people for a thanks. | ||
| Sdecp |
Wow! I have to agree with Ulynut and say that Ulynut was looking at the problem at hand. Someone made a racist comment and Ulynut called them out. That seems pretty black and white to me (no pun intended). The logic that there are black only motorcycle events therefore white people can be mad at all black people is flawed. Nor does it give justification for hatred. You have a problem with minority only events, then take it up with your government officials, not with innocent citizens. I am a little confused why anyone would challenge someone for calling someone out on a racist comment. | ||
| Malott442 |
I think what he meant was animal=unpredictable dangerous being and based off existing platform of squid=unpredictable dangerous being Then animal=squid not animal=black black= color description of the pigment of the squid that just happened to be there during a black event, go figure.... The "gotcha" media has become infectious. I am pretty sure fresno didn't mean it that way, chill out people... Hoodlum is a little prejudiced, but based off appearances, the majority of the bikers probably look the part..... squid with mohawk, squid with vest, squid with straight pipe on the liter bike revving it at every chance possible. Yeah, I could see the hoodlum perception. The abuse of the lane splitting makes me mad because I only lane split when my life depends on it, even then it is a misdemeanor... Black engineers is undoubtedly a work in effort to show the young black children today that they can really do something great with their life. This almost glass ceiling has become self-imposed, the young children of all color are lucky enough to see through certain specialty groups that it is possible to rise up out of the government housing and make something happen. Civil rights have improved, but the perpetual low-self image and discrimination continue. Don't get mad or take it personal if you are white and not recognized by your color. Feel lucky that we live in a society compassionate enough to see a problem and do selfless things to try to aid. | ||
| Socoken |
I was riding in FL with a buddy about 8 years ago and we split lanes to try and beat a storm back to the hotel. It was my first, and last, time splitting lanes. So many rude gestures, horns, cages trying to cut us off, truckers running us off onto the shoulder, and we were just idling through stopped traffic. It was a little unnerving. I really dont mind when Im in a car, why do so many cagers hate it so much? Just jealousy and road rage? Loud pipes tick them off? Having said that, I dont know how well I would have acted if I was held up by the idiot parade in the picture above. Something tells me I would have been entertaining the idea of playing bumper bikes if it lasted more than 10 minutes. | ||
| Court |
>>> but lane splitting where I live seems to help me out. Cool. To each their own. Here in Manhattan it just scares me. But . . hey, that's just me. I saw 3 people knocked off bikes last week. But . . I confess 2 were in Brooklyn on the BQE (in Williamsburg) and one was up on the Palisades. I've done some bizarre stuff (I love riding down sidewalks) but I'm afraid my last lane splitting days are behind me. I did have a fun one a couple years ago . . I was doing some (before I figured out NYC roads) California style lane splitting and a buddy on a CBR1100XX was behind me. I got pulled over by a really pissed off NYPD Highway Patrol unit. Soon he started asking about the MANUFACTURER license place from WI and I showed him my HD photo ID. He ended up asking me lots of questions, we talked Buell for a while and he cut me loose. Problem was the Chris, on the Honda, had stopped behind me and they guys partner had written him 3 tickets.  | ||
| Ulynut |
The comment struck a chord with me because of something that happened last night. I was out with my girlfriend last night. I am white, she is black. Some jackass apparently didn't like the fact that we were together. Said jackass starts mouthing off to us. Racist, David Duke type bullshit comments. We try to ignore him since my girlfriend is singing in the band that was playing last night in said respectable establishment. Jackass sees this as a sign of weakness, and decides to put his hands on my girlfriend (BIG mistake). Jackass is knocked out cold next to the dumpster when the police and ambulance show up. Despite testimony from 5 different people who I don't even know, I have a court date coming up. Yes, I am a little touchy about this ridiculous crap. Maybe even have a chip on my shoulder. I apologize to Fresnobuell for reacting so quickly. | ||
| Reg_kittrelle |
In California it's technically called "lane splitting," and is neither legal not illegal. When the latter term is applied it is because the observing officer witnessed the rider lane splitting in an unsafe manner; usually this means too fast. For the most part, it is an accepted practice by all involved; rider, driver, LEO. It can be done safely, and without pissing off the populous. When a vehicle moves over for me (even tho it might not be necessary) I always give 'em a head nod. Interesting comment by Socoken re truckers. In CA truckers are usually the most accommodating. | ||
| Brumbear |
Aint the guy on the right in the above pics white? | ||
| Jaimec |
The most active AMA Chartered Sportbike club here in the NYC area is Irish... http://www.celticmcc.com/ |
