HK and others, I think you'll find if anyone is ignorant, it is most bike riders. Most have never seen an ex biker living in a nursing home getting around in a wheel chair steered by a mouthpiece, nor witnessed the personality change of a biker who survived leaving the road at speed, but ended up with brain damage while laying in a gulley out of immediate view for several days, nor seen the family of a biker sobbing uncontrollably as they stand round the bed of their husband/father in a hospital ICU wondering how bad his brain is damaged.
Whether they choose to turn a blind eye to this stuff out of fear of realistically evaluating risk, or self inflated belief in their riding skills is your guess. Personally, I have seen enough carefree testosterone bravado profoundly miscalculate the risk/reward calculus of the real world.
But I do ride a bicycle, and am aware I am taking an incredible risk when on the roads. Much of the risk comes from drivers seeking the same adrenalin rush and sense of freedom some guys on motorbikes seek.
It is just a pity a public road is something on which so many choose to get their rocks off....probably because they are unfulfilled or inhibited in some other facet of life they don't have the courage to deal with intelligently.
But each to their own....
I would definitely agree with that statement.
Whenever I go riding, I am usually overtaken by guys on sports bikes who are riding close to the limit. It may be thrilling but it is putting themselves & others at risk. All it takes is a few leaves on the road & you're gone! Public roads are not a race track, but many young riders ignore that at their perils.
I ride a cruiser. It encourages me to enjoy the scenery rather than go fast.
I am aware that most bike crashes are single riders getting off the road after trying to go too fast. Unfortunately I am also aware of cars who make right turns or change lanes without looking, and bring down a bike.
That is why I posted earlier that you need to increases our skills and your level of awareness when riding a bike.
I wouldn't go a far as discouraging it. I know that when I ride on a country road with little traffic, the risks are mostly coming from my lack of attention or stupidity. Luckily the stupidity has decreased a lot over the years.
By the way I prefer bicycles as well. But I am even more worried when riding a bicycle on a public road because they are so many cars coming past you & it only takes one who doesn't pay attention. I stick to bicycle lanes whenever I can. But that's another topic of discussion anyway...
Thanks for bringing this perspective, it keeps things in balance.
Cheers,