
Originally Posted by
mbt
just a few clarifications...
no doubt that this thread has been rather impassioned, but surely it has been an effective way of education for us. we believe that tsikot.com members are mature and responsible enough to look beyond the provocations and take the lessons and insights to be learned to heart. it is in this good faith that this thread will remain open with only a minimum of moderation.
a few points that must be clarified, however, fellow tsikot members:
FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, the point is that we share the road with others, whether we like it or not. perhaps you don't like motorcycle riders, or trucks and buses, or whatever, the point is not to like them if you don't want to, but simply to respect them and give them their space on the road that they are also entitled to as much as you are. note that "motorists" is not limited to car drivers only, the noun also includes motorcycle riders and users of other motorized vehicles that are authorized to run on our roads.
SECOND, it is a rule of the road and a part of proper driving protocol and good road etiquette to give motorcycles a full lane on the road. they are entitled to the full width of a lane just as cars are. it is improper to force a motorcycle to a narrow fraction of a lane on the mistaken notion that "they are small vehicles".
THIRD, to be sure, tsikot.com members have also made objectionable posts on this thread. on behalf of the tsikot.com membership and leadership, apologies are in order for not clearing up misunderstandings and misleading statements (including the original thread title) sooner. but let it be clear that this is not about how many wheels are superior; for every rider without a helmet, there's a driver without a seatbelt, for every overloaded motorcycle, there's an overloaded car or truck, for every motorcycle that cuts and weaves recklessly, there's a car that counterflows, yadda yadda, ad infinitum, point-counterpoint-point-counterpoint.
FOURTH, to the motorcycle riders, please spare the original thread starter of this discussion. i do not think the thread starter meant to dangle flame bait before you, i do not think the thread starter meant for this discussion to become this inflamed, i think the thread starter is willing to retract the statements made here and offer an apology for any misunderstandings that may have arisen because of them. at this point in this discussion, it is no longer important to know who the thread starter is, as far as this thread in this forum is concerned. this thread was split at the plea of the original thread starter.
FIFTH, we are grateful that motorcycle riders, like wolver888 and others, took the time to participate in our discussion here and to attempt to clear up misunderstandings in a mature and gentlemanly fashion. surely, valid points have been raised by both cager and rider alike, and definitely, the cagers, the majority of which probably have not ridden a motorcycle, have learned a lot from this lively discussion.
peace out, happy trails, happy driving, happy riding, whatever it is, remember that while the roads may not have been made for him or her, they were also not made for you.