Hi everyone, my name is Ricardo Nunes aka funride and I ride a Honda Civic Hybrid right now.
My first car was a WW Polo van 1.4 diesel (I sell it with 400.000 kmīs after 6 years) then I had a Opel Astra 1.7 Tdi (I made about 150.000 kmīs with it during 2 years) which I had to sell due to start having oil on the cooling liquid , at that point I decided to buy my first hybrid car: a Honda Civic IMA (I sell it a couple weeks ago with almost 200.000 kmīs after 4 years). Two years ago I also buy a pick-up Mazda 2500 to transport my bicycles but after an accident (no, it wasnīt a bike accident or even a car accident. I fall from a second floor ) I had to buy a automatic car, so I sell my both cars and get my new ride. And I am loving it!
And I forgot to tell you about the kmīs made during almost 5 years of motorcycling . But itīs also true that altho I had no major accident in all this years (I fell asleep once while driving but without any physical consequences) I only start behaving "save" after being 28 or 29 years old . Right now because of my right hand limitations I really have to make a totally safe driving and much slowly than I use to .
Joined: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 705
Location: McLean, VA, USA
Posted:
Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:57 pm
LOL I count 6 or 7 years of bike riding, too
You know, I have one interesting observation - people who drove a motorcycle for several years and survived the experience, tend to become safe drivers. Any idea why?
I suppose itīs because riding bikes requires much more attention and precaution . I remember how I used to watch for any movement from every carīs front wheels .
Joined: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 705
Location: McLean, VA, USA
Posted:
Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:32 am
Yeah, my thoughts on that are pretty close, too. I think bike taught me to rely only on myself for my survival, and that greatly helped me both in further driving and in life in general I think...
Should we make bike riding obligatory for all youngsters?
They will all enjoy the idea for sure , maybe we also could implement that for some women too . Well, maybe not, the roads will became even more dangerous like that .
Joined: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 705
Location: McLean, VA, USA
Posted:
Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:30 pm
LOL my first thought was pretty much the same. But after a second thought I realized - wait a minute, this will definitely give an increase both in accident rate and fatality rate among teens at first. May be several times increase even. But what happens after that? After the first several years?
Those who survived their bike experience become safe drivers - all of them. After some time *all* drivers with at least several years of experience will be safe - as opposed to the current situation when quite a few drivers keep being unsafe well into their driving carrier. This will give a significant decrease in both accident and mortality rate for all drivers but teens.
Now, what happens to teens? When their parents themselves are safe and responsible drivers, they naturally take care of teaching their kids how to drive safely! As opposed to the current situation, when many parents just don't care and leave this teaching to school, and many of those who care just plain don't know how to drive safely themselves!
The outcome? Serious drop in accident and mortality rates for teens, too! Probably bringing them back to the current level or even lower. And for older ages accidents are almost non-existent already, let alone accident related deaths...
Now, try to think for a moment about a population every single member of which realizes that only he/she himself is responsible for his/her own survival and well-being? How does this sound?
I know it is an Utopia of course, and nobody ever be able to force all teens to ride bikes, but does it make any sense to you as a theory?
As a theory, and watching my own experience, I have to agree with it. But I also know/knew people who had bike riding experience and are/were really dangerous drivers . I believe that your theory would only work with people who really loves riding bikes and to feel the freedom and the power of being in control . Most of "bad" drivers simply donīt enjoy driving and usually donīt even have control over their own lives . I see life, as well as driving, as a game and beside hating to loose I always try to be in control of situations. But I think it would be good if people have to get bike`s driving license before be able to get the auto`s one, at least they would have to ride during lessons .
Joined: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 705
Location: McLean, VA, USA
Posted:
Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:48 am
You got so philosophical, Ricardo
Interesting, I tend to see life as a game, too - but rather the kind of game that does not involve scoring and winning/losing. The older I become, the more I lean towards removing competition from my life and just enjoying the experience
And yeah, your observation about those who don't enjoy it being bad drivers absolutely matches what I see.
Joined: Oct 05, 2008
Posts: 79
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posted:
Fri Dec 25, 2009 6:04 pm
Those were some good thoughts on car driving and motorcycle riding.
Even before I learned to ride a motorcycle, I had learned the importance of defensive driving. Of course, to survive on a motorcycle, one has to be EXTRA defensive, and that often seems to result in driving a car more defensively too.
When I returned to the U.S. in October 2004, I bought a Mazda 3; I now have about 14,700 miles on it. In 2005, I learned to ride a motorcycle and have now ridden motorcycle more than 20,000 miles, so I do more motorcycle riding than car driving. Driving a car seems so decadent.
For trips, I use my 2006 Honda VFR 800, but around town, I prefer my 2007 Suzuki SV 650 because it's smaller and lighter.
Joined: Aug 02, 2006
Posts: 705
Location: McLean, VA, USA
Posted:
Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:46 am
I sort of envy you, FRE LOL. I did not have a bike since 1980s. Family life on more or less tight budget does not allow for such expensive toys, and transportation issues are solved with a car...
Only lately I am starting to earn more than just adequate family expenses, so I might start looking into what bike to buy.
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, at that point I decided to buy my first hybrid car: a Honda Civic IMA (I sell it a couple weeks ago with almost 200.000 kmīs after 4 years). Two years ago I also buy a pick-up Mazda 2500 to transport my bicycles but after an accident (no, it wasnīt a bike accident or even a car accident. I fall from a second floor ) 
I had to buy a automatic car, so I sell my both cars and get my new ride. And I am loving it! 
. But itīs also true that altho I had no major accident in all this years (I fell asleep once while driving but without any physical consequences) I only start behaving "save" after being 28 or 29 years old 
.
.
, maybe we also could implement that for some women too 
. Well, maybe not, the roads will became even more dangerous like that 
.
. Most of "bad" drivers simply donīt enjoy driving and usually donīt even have control over their own lives 
.
