A British survey has found that riding a motorcycle makes you safer on a bicycle and vice versa, while other surveys show riders are the safest motorists.
The latest survey, commissioned by British motorbike insurance company Carole Nash found that 58% said being a motorcyclist helped them to be safer on a bicycle.
It also found 47% said being a motorcyclist helps them to be safer as a cyclist.
At 94%, the vast majority of Carole Nash motorcycle customers who use their bicycles have not been involved in a road traffic accident.
The survey which comes during UK Bike Week reveals that 92% of their motorcycle customers also own a bicycle, 57% own more than one and 27% own three or more.
While there is some animosity between motorcyclists and cyclists, there is also a skills synergy, shared experiences and similar vulnerability.
We have often promoted cycling, especially for children, as a way to educate future motorists. We also believe there is much motorcyclists can learn from the active cycling lobby.
The latest survey follows many others which show that the most vulnerable road users are safety conscious and among the safest road users.
In 2016, a survey commissioned by UK motor insurance specialists Staveley Head declared motorcycle riders the safest while van drivers were the least safe.
In 2015, another British survey found riders would perform better if they had to retake their road test theory exam than car drivers.
And the 2014 British Association of Chief Police Officers report to the UK government confirms that motorcyclists are better motorists than drivers. The report even suggests more people should learn to ride so they are safer motorists. And a 2013 Belgian road safety report says the more motorbikes on the road, the safer our roads would be.
We agree that riders are the safest road users. We have to be. The consequences of not paying full attention, riding sober and being properly trained are dire.
We’ve seen how distracted drivers endanger us so we wouldn’t do the same to other motorists. We ride to enjoy ourselves, not to get from A to B, so we are concentrating on riding, not on distractions to pass the time.
Ok, some of us may speed occasionally, but we seem to do it when we assess the risks are low. We prefer to concentrate on the road and the conditions, rather than our speedos and some officially nominated speed limit.
That doesn’t make us reckless, but focussed.