Falling for a Hells Angel

My cousin died on a track; I don't know what the data is for rates in that regard.

I used to ride, but it just doesn't seem worth it to me anymore. (I was also injured in a crash; in fact, every person in my family that rides has been. The brain trauma victim was the 'highlight' until my cousin's death).

I'm not saying someone shouldn't ride, but recognize the risks.

This is not a useful statistic.

I ride almost every day (weather permitting), and with all the riders out there in my area, there is a wide spectrum of safety consciousness and skill on the road.

I guess I fall closer to the 'Hyperreflective self-disciplinary' camp, but I do realize that there inherent risks to riding motorcycles, and I accept them.

Not only do I wear protective equipment from head to toe, but I pay a lot of attention to what's going on ahead and around me. Who's trying to turn left up ahead? What's going on with this intersection, even though I still have the green light? And so on.

So I don't think it is fair to lump me into a statistic with these punks riding bikes with too much power and not enough common sense... all while wearing t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops.

Motorcycles on the other hand are generally not commuter vehicles, and riders tend to be self-selected for high risk. From people obsessed with speed, to motorcycle gangs who were no gear, to the weekend rider who has very little experience... It even applies to route selection, the trip to the store is well understood, but if you want to have a nice ride on the weekend, you will probably go far off your normal path. Different vehicle type, less miles logged, unfamiliar territory and often inappropriate gear do lead a high risk of injury.

Riding on a motorcycle is risky business, but so is riding a pedal bike in a city. It can be done practically and reasonably, I even used it as my primary form of travel for a little over a year... but it requires proper gear, a full understanding of the bike (and your place on the road), how avoiding an accident differs on a bike from a car.

It will never be as safe as a car, but in the hands of a conscientious intelligent rider, it isn't the death trap it is often saddled with... it is a calculated risk, like many others people take...

No, it doesn't give me a 4.2% risk of dying. That 4.2% (assuming your math is correct) is a figure for the entire population which doesn't say much about an individuals level of risk.

It is possible to ride in a low risk fashion that will put an individuals risk at a significantly lower rate. There is a reason my insurance rates are drastically lower than a 16 year old on a super sport.