There are 8 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 2,757 times. The latest Post () was by Rice.
Horrible story with a rare happy ending. Not only do many bikers ride without helmets, but even more simply ignore basic safety and traffic laws. While it is unusual to see a car scratch off just before the traffic light turns green, motorbikes do It so often that pedestrians must sprint to complete their crossings -- not when the light changes, but when they hear motos revving. On highways, the vehicles going 150 kph are more often motorcycles than cars. Not to mention the hair brained practice of passing cars on both sides by creating a new lane in the narrow space between lanes.
Drivers in Buenos Aires are among the most skilled and focused in the world. Their job is made more dangerous and difficult by the "Viva yo!" attitude of many bikers (Argentina Expats Forum administrator excluded!).
I would argue with that. I don't find them skilled at all, but damn dangerous actually, especially since I took up motorcycles nearly ten years ago.
Ah, and I would take up that argument! Think of all the obstacles drivers face: many streets without marked lanes, most intersections without traffic lights or stop/yield signs, multiple lanes suddenly merging, aggressive drivers cutting off other drivers -- to name only a few. Add to that mix, the Me First attitude of many people on bikes, motorbikes, motorcycles who use the road shoulders as passing lanes and zoom in between cars as if they were actually IN lanes, and the picture becomes even more chaotic.
Skilled and focused? Absolutely! In other countries, normal city drivers faced with all these obstacles would be in daily crashes, whereas the drivers in BsAs take this Mad Mouse driving in stride and seemingly don't stress out over the wild ride.
In all these years, although we've seen many near-misses, we have witnessed only one accident: a motorbike delivery guy jumped the gun on a traffic light on Libertador and collided with a driver who was minding his own business and driving through the intersection on a green light.
Not to mention the hair brained practice of passing cars on both sides by creating a new lane in the narrow space between lanes.
This is called lane splitting and is quasi-legal or legal in many jurisdictions.
For a sadder case of not wearing a helmet: New York Rider Dies Protesting Motorcycle Helmet Law
This is called lane splitting and is quasi-legal or legal in many jurisdictions.
For a sadder case of not wearing a helmet: New York Rider Dies Protesting Motorcycle Helmet Law
quasi-legal? unbelievable.
Or filtering as it's also known.
It#s very useful in traffic jams and I do it all the time
filtering. Yes, I agree. Also known as natural selection.
