On Thursday my better half suffered a puncture on the way to work. She stopped on the A237 (northbound) opposite Mitcham Junction railway station. No-one stopped to see if she was ok. She told me later that a lot of bikes passed by.
Even if you have little or no mechanical knowledge, how do you know that the biker at the side of the road has a mobile to summon help? Being a lady biker I would have thought there was even more reason for someone to stop and check she was ok.
I know from reading these forums that LB’ers do stop and offer what assistance they can. It’s a shame that not all bikers do.
Luckily she had a mobile with just enough charge to get help. The tyre was so badly slashed by glass that it could not be repaired.
I too am not happy about this post, but it is a sad reflection that in this day and age that with anti theft systems being so good on vehicles that the only way to nick a vehicle is to nick the keys, burglaries, muggings and distraction thefts using a break down as bait account for a good percentage of vehicle thefts now.
If I was going passed I would have stopped, above aside, I guess itsa the shining knight part of me
Don’t know the road so can’t say for sure but where you stop will have a bearing on other people stopping. If it is outside a station it could look as if she was parked up, not broken down. As Charlie said you do need to make it obvious. Could have just appeared normal to passing bikers. If it is a busy, fast road it might not be safe to stop. There have been several occasions I have gone past bikes on the M25 because I am in the outside lane doing 80+. It is just not reasonably to expect every bike to throw the anchor out and trot back to see if there is any way to assist.
Another ‘sign’ I heard was helmet resting on tank - run out of petrol. Last time I ran out of petrol had to push my bike about quarter of a mile, so was obviously in need of assistance. No one stopped. But then I was in Scotland with England knee sliders on
Let it be a lesson learned and stop expecting others to help you out (when they do its a bonus, but just dont rely on 'em). If YOU really care for your ‘better half’ then YOU SHOULD:
Sign her up with a breakdown/recovery co.
Make sure her mobile phones always got charge.
Get Ultraseal squirted in her tyres.
Apart from No.3, all common sense stuff really. Use to always stop and help out stranded bikers years ago, but now only stop to help if someones had an off.
after riding in yorkshire as a pillion for many years and then getting my own bike after moving to london, biking is different down here as has been mentioned there are a lot of people just seem to ridingfrom a-b who use bikes for transport.
there is a difference between bike riders and bikers.( everyone in London must have thought i was mental nodding at them everytime i passed them:crazy.
i will always stop for a two wheeler in trouble, on my bike or in my car (as long as its safe to do so)
think 99.9% of ‘bikers’ would do the same, bike riders just want to get where they are going.
hopefully groups like LB will grow and bring some of the bikeriders from their dark side into the light of true biking and turn them in to bikers.
hopefully bikers will then all look after each other and it will be a happy bikers world .
Agree with you on this one Charly.
I’ve always wanted to work out a good signal for
"I’ve just passed a copper, just itching to bust someone parked up about half a mile back and you on the Gsx-r Thou blasting towards me need to know he’s about 2 corners in front of you…
Flashing lights is a bit ambiguous… any one.
Or how about “Oi Tw@t on the scooter/cab/Saab/Porsche Boxster, turn your S00ding indicator OFF if you’re not going to trun, its bl00dy dangerous and stupid!”
Then there’s my eternal fave,. but I’ve never worked out the right signal. WIthout resorting to white-van man tactics, how do I communicate with the fit babe waiting at the lights, that I really think we should get together some time and can I have her phone number…
Hahaha steady there Tobe, or you’ll be on the receiving end of another type of hand signal if someone else reads that thread hehehe.
Yeah, odd post but I guess we should take it as a little reminder to stop and try to help when ever we can eh?
I don’t think it was meant to be a slight on us personally. Unless she remembers a blue Honda racing past with the rider side saddle and a thin trail of gloop oozing from the back tyre…
Not meant as a slate. As I said from reading this forum it is obvious that members here stop and help. I was expressing disappointment that many others do not.
Hadn’t heard about the seat against the back wheel, duly noted. However helmet was on tank. No hazards so couldn’t use that signal.
Your idea re a mag printing a signals guide, top idea.
TonUp, she is with a breakdown co, did have a mobile with charge, and nothing would have plugged the tear in her tyre or stopped it deflating quickly. I see your “if I cared for her” remark as a slate. An uncalled for one at that.
"I see your “if I cared for her” remark as a slate. An uncalled for one at that. "
I’m more than happy to confirm t’wasn’t a slate and I’m sure you care for her very very much (I try my bestest not to be so subtle when slating )
Her phone worked, she called her breakdown co. I dont see a problem in this instance. Obviously you do, s’pose we’ve just got different views/expectations on this.
Anyway, theres already an internationally recognised sign that lady bikers can use when stranded and need male assistance… the goodlooking ones simply remove their helmets and flash a smile (and anything else thats readily available!)… the old boilers usually leave them on!.. D’oh! Sorry lads, did I give away our not-so secret code???
I can’t say I’ve heard of the seat move either to be honest, but that said I will always go out of my way to help a biker who looks confused at the road-side. Stopping for a second to ask isn’t a big deal. Luckily we’re all a bit different, eh!
Oi, less of the old boiler business you lot. I always get help if I stop at the side of the road whether I take my helmet off or not in the country side or on motorways etc but in town I’m afraid bikers don’t even say hello at the traffic lights half the time. You all know it’s true. My neck gets sore from nodding to bikers/bike riders in town and getting snubbed. When I pass a biker/bike rider in the sticks they always nod back or wave a leg/hand. It’s these people who have just bought a bike/scooter for commuting, and there are more of them in town than of us, that don’t play. I have noticed this getting worse and worse over the years. So lets show them non-players how it’s done and talk to them all and nod at them all, it may work eventually.
Having had my moan, I can see that someone stopped outside a station wouldn’t necessarily look as if they needed help, so bad luck on that score.
I’ve stopped a couple of times when I;ve see a fellow biker at the side of the road. I’ve stopped 3 times in total and each person has had breakdown cover, so to be honest there wasn’t a lot really I could do. It’s not as if I am a budding mechanic either!
Now, when I had a puncture on the Hornet 2 years ago, 6 blokes stopped, yes 6!!!
Not to try and piss anyone off, but why assume it’s only ever girls that need help? Me and Dan stopped last week to help out our mate after he lowsided it on some gravel, he was pleased to see us, if only as a friendly face, even though he had everything under control.
it’s not just us girls, hamster! I have stopped for blokes to see if they’re OK. It’s not being old fashioned, but I think most blokes will always be gentlemanly and see if a girlie is OK. I know Chuff would, then he would stop for anyone.
Ive never stopped for another stranded biker (except when they have called me out to scrape them/their bike off the tarmac!), have given the ‘ok?’ sign as ive gone passed a couple and got a thumbs up so didnt bother.
Others i have seen have been when ive been in the outside lane ‘making progress’, Are you disappointed in me for not stopping?
I have to say if i can i would try and make sure that a biker by the side of the road is ok. On my bike or in my car. Caurse if i break down i would like to think someone would do the same for me
well i have nearly come a cropper a couple of times myself going to help people who it turned out didnt need and wernt that grateful.
i had a couple of breakdowns last year, including one in lower thames street with a broken chain, during the rush hour. i counted 100 bikes that didnt even make eye contact, then stopped counting, in the hour it took my breakdown van to turn up.
my personal opinion - have breakdown cover, make sure your phone is charged ,with credit on (or have the phone number for breakdown company in your wallet) and dont stop for anyone that dont look like they are in the ****.
i know it aint that friendly (and believe me i am a friendly guy) but ive have grief, and nearly been knocked off myself trying to get to people who i thought needed help and didnt eben say thanks.
if im riding with a group, thats a different kettle of fish.
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