| | JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)Page 1 of 5 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | Here is a poem i came across the author is unknown but it really makes you think.
I saw you, hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.
But, you didn't see me, put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last sundy
I saw you, pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
But, you didn't see me,playing santa at the local mall.
I saw you, change your mind about going into the restaurant when you saw our bikes parked outside.
But, you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.
I saw you, roll up your window and shake your head when i drove by.
But, you didn't see me riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette but out the car window.
I saw you, frown at me when i smiled at your children.
But, you didn't see me, when i took time off work to run toys to the homeless.
I saw you, stare at my long hair.
But, you didn't see me, and my friends cut ten inches off for locks of love.
I saw you, roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves.
But, you didn't see me, and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none.
I saw you, look in fright at my tattoos.
But, you didn't see me, cry as my children were born and have there name written over and in my heart.
I saw you, change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But, you didn't see me, going home to be with my family.
I saw you, complain about how load and noisy our bike can be.
But, you didn't see me, when you were changing the cd and drifted into my lane.
I saw you, yelling at your kids in the car.
But you didn't see me, pat my childs hand knowing he was safe behind me.
I saw you, reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
But you didn't see me, squeeze my wifes leg when she told me to take the next turn.
I saw you, race down the road in the rain.
But you didn't see me, get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.
I saw you, run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
But you didn't see me, trying to turn right.
I saw you, cut me off because you needed to be in the lane i was in.
But you didn't see me, leave the road.
I saw you, waiting impationtly for my friends to pass.
But you didnt see me. I wasn't there.
I saw you, go home to your family.
But you didn't see me. Because, i died that day you cut me off.
I was just a biker,
A person with friends and a family.
please look out for bikes we have families that we love to go home to as well. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 7:01:55 AM | Good poem and point.
I remember being sent from WA to NSW on a work training retreat. I and fellow business collegues were put on an Island with little tools to find our way to a particular beach and then back to the resort.
A man that was there to watch over us and make sure we didnt get into any trouble or danger was bearded with long hair, pale and skinny looking. He was a mass of information and taught us many tricks and alot about nature. It was exhausting and sometimes scary. When we found the beach many hours later and could smell a bbq sizzling we all gave our protector a huge hug.
If I had seen that same man in the city I would have thought "druggie" watch your bag, ignore him and he might not bother me.
It's a terrible thing how we judge people but it is what we do. Sadly. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 7:03:54 AM | This poem is all over this site. Do a search--seen it on a few people's profiles also...
My opinion of it??
I have pity for a lot of people in different situations....and bikers ain't one of them.
There is a verse missing in your poem....
A 4 year old boy ran across the street yesterday but you didn't see him because you were too busy aiming at one of your drug rivals resulting in you hitting the little boy with the bullet.
And don't bother halting wreaking havoc on the world for a day to play Santa--my child won't be sitting on your lap. | |
|
| |
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 12:02:27 PM | | And the person who ran over the biker was driving one of those Collins St. tractors.You know one of those big 4wd things that have never left the bitumen and the drivers think thay own the road. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 2:23:51 PM | yep and i didn't see you because instead of riding so that you are in my line of vision (eg in my mirrors) and you are wearing dark clothing and ride faster than is legal - it is my fault you come out of nowhere?  | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 3:34:31 PM | Myselfandus, don't confuse "biker" with "bikie".
I'm not big on poems myself, although after coming into this thread 2 or 3 times I did finally read it.
Yeah it does actually hit the nail on the head I guess, but the main thing to do is ride everyday like every car on the road is out to kill you.
My father taught me a long time ago that you always drive/ride with purpose. Never become lazy, never sit in the blindspot, always accelerate as you change lanes in case someone is in your blind spot, let the crazy driver in front of you so you know what he's up to, etc etc etc
I've been riding bikes in one form or another(mini-bikes, dirtbikes, road bikes, drag bikes) for almost 40 years, and I think my dad had it pretty well spot on. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 4:05:12 PM | A friend of mine was killed while riding his bike.
I drive with kids in my car and the amount of times.. countless bikes undertake on the curb side of the highway rushing to work or what ever whilst I do the right thing. Countless that overtake me or swerve in between traffic lanes riding the white line.
Countless that while I am doing the speedlimit they zoom past me on sunday bike rides. Countless who wear dark clothes when a choice could be made for high vis. Countless who cut me and others off while riding their way home to thier kids and family. none of these example are bikies. They are just like you and me.
Apples and apples. oranges and oranges. credit where its due.. but | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 4:19:13 PM | True bestill, I was more referring to the comment regarding drugs and guns etc.
I have been guilty in the past of overtaking on a Sunday bike ride.
I do go up the left hand side when the traffic is banked up on the Motorway.
I do go between the lines of traffic when the traffic is stopped at the trafic lights and move to the front.
It's actually legal. I had a guy once who saw me coming between the lines of cars at a set of traffic lights and he moved his van across to try and block me off. I stopped and asked him what he was doing and he said he didn't like that bikes could do that. Then he spat at me as he drove off. I'll let you imagine what happened at the next set of traffic lights.
I realised it was legal when for years I had never done it as I thought it was illegal, and then saw a couple of police bikes doing it. I went home, rang the traffic branch and asked them. Yep, it was legal. So I've done it ever since.
Why would I sit in traffic banked up for hours when I can just continue on to my destination.
In fact, if more people rode bikes, firstly they would have a better understanding of the dangers from others, and secondly, our traffic problems would be less with less congestion and peak hour traffic, and in the city, our parking problems would be greatly reduced.
I say everyone should have to learn on a bike before being able to hold a car license. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 4:30:53 PM |
I say everyone should have to learn on a bike before being able to hold a car license.
Love ya mate but thats truly the most tool thing you have ever come out with(and it has had some stiff competition believe me!!)
As far as I can see if you wouldn't do it in a car then don't do it on a bike. Road rules are for bikes too.
Correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure the speed limit applies to bikes too....though it would often seem not to.
Personally I treat bikes with the same respect as I do cars, no more,no less. If someone on a bike wants to overtake me on a blind bend, im not going to risk my safety trying to avoid the oncoming traffic so the bike rider can live to do it again.
If riders showed more respect for the road rules and drivers then just perhaps they might receive it back. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 5:12:06 PM | I've see this poem before, and it touches on the fact that many bikers are eccentric types, which makes them inclined to wear their heart on their sleeve. Okay, some are specifically drawn to the aggressive outlaw image, but they're really the minority.
Look, there's risk associated with riding, but we humans are risk takers and we balance that risk with the love of the activity.
For a student lady friend of mine it's a very cheap and low emissions alternative to owning and running a car. For others it's a convenient 'second' vehicle in the family.
I seldom ride with others but when I do it's always a low stress event. 2 weeks ago I rode my Jap bike with a died-in-the-wool Harley riding couple. They really do look the part but their personality is in contrast with the stereotype. The guy is an absolute comedian, and the lady is possibly the sweetest, most polite lady I know (but is fearless on the road.. impressive).
I went to school with this guy for 10 years and 2 years ago his younger brother Charlie got cut off about 400m from my place and is in all sorts of trouble with repetitive surgery to try to get him mobile. On a bright sunny morning a car wandered across the dividing line and hit him front on. The lady was planning to turn right into her driveway (80kph zone) but had some other cars behind her so she decided to move into the oncoming lane early before slowing down, to let them pass by. What a stupid friggin' habit some people have!
The guy was doing about 80kph and didn't get the chance to brake before they hit. Yes his headlight was switched on. Had it been an oncoming car it may have been 2 or more people in hospital and two or more families left pretty messed up.
Some car drivers drive in zombie mode, oblivious to the world around them, just ask your neighbourhood truck driver. ..
For me, I trust none of them when I ride. When I was younger my mate had a loud air horn on his Z500 and it really woke the punters up when they tried to cut me off in traffic, on the few occasions I rode it.
Stay visible, be heard and don't go out of your way to frighten the poor daydreaming car drivers. As long as it's within reason, the T shirt slogan "Loud Pipes Save Lives" kinda makes a bit of sense. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 5:34:00 PM | Hilly called me a tool...She does love me after all....!!!!
I agree that road rules are for everyone. Don't even get me started on pushbike riders!!!
LAL raises a good point too. I have a reaonably expensive bike. Not over the top, and not a $500 special either.
Yet, if I ride my bike all week, the money I save in fuel from driving my car actually pays the repayments on the bike, so in essence, other than rego the bike is free!!!
Imagine how many resources would be saved if bike riding was encouraged.
Remember, the bike I have is a Hayabusa which is the worlds most powerful production bike. Imagine the savings and environmental benefits if it was a smaller bike.
In this day and age of enviroment friendly and green solutions, I laugh at the hypocrytes who "mouth" their support, then hop into their oil spewing clapped out piece of junk and pollute many times more than I do....Now THEY are tools(thanks for the use of the word Hilly). If they were truly green people and not hypocryts, they would all be pushing the case for more bikes on the roads, freeing up our cities from congestion and pollution....Think about it, I can save the repayments on my bike by just not driving my car during the week unless I really have to. I'm not saying we all have to ride bikes rain hail or shine, but we should be using them more. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/18/2008 8:46:07 PM |
Imagine how many resources would be saved if bike riding was encouraged.
I know people who pay more for gas than I do in rent. I don't need to drive much but if I did would definately get a bike again.
I wonder how stock prices of bike corporations have reacted to the oil crunch ? | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 12:07:09 AM | | My point of this post was not to start arguments but it seems that people really are narrow minded. Yes i agree rules are there for everyone but even car drivers can't say they never break the law(how many people blow there horn when they leave a friends place yes thats against the law).All i was hoping for was to get across to people that bikes are on the road and next time you change lanes or pull out have a second check for bikes.Yes there are bike riders that take some silly risks but the same can be said for the high powered imports that the young people are buying today tearing up and down streets putting peoples lives at risks,So there is bad apples in every bunch just dont paint us all with the same brush. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 12:11:45 AM | Well said Briz. Even an arvo on a Vespa might open some folks eyes...
This poem, does two things I reckon.. it reminds people to look for bikes, and it reminds people that there are human beings with lives, families and consciences sitting on them.
The look left, look right, look bike campaign began because accident reports recorded a huge number of "Oh, I didn't see him/her"...
Well, look.
If you're driving down a street, and you notice a pedestrian on the footpath... Do you keep your eyes on the potential hazard, until your safely passed? Or do you just think, 'Time will stop and they won't move.'???
Bikes don't come from nowhere. We are there, among you, travelling to and from work, to visit kids, do shopping, whatever, living our lives. We don't have the protection of air bags and a cage, and the arrogant can suggest we are all less worthy of living, and tar us all with the same brush, if they want... but you could also be ripping yourself off.
I hope one day you meet someone you remember, who rides a bike. Maybe that might make you look and understand. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 12:56:18 AM | Ever heard of Ten Ten Eighty?
It was coined originally in reference to police, but is equally applicable to any section of society, including bikers, bikies, cyclists and motorists. It means:
Ten percent will always do the right thing;
Ten percent will always do the wrong thing;
Eighty percent will do the right thing most of the time.
I've had a biker go past me so fast on the freeway I almost got out to see if I was standing still. But then years ago when I rode for a living, I had a motorist stare blankly at me as she drifted into my lane.
There are cowboys on two wheels and on four. One is more likely to kill themselves in an accident, whilst the other predominantly takes others out with them.
There are some drivers who do not believe two wheel vehicles, powered or not, belong on the road. They go out of the way to hinder. There are others who are blind to two wheels - they don't see them, and they don't check between the lanes when making lane changes in case a bike (could be even be police) are legally passing through the traffic.
Those of us that have ridden for a significant amount of time, or who started out on the road on two wheels, soon learn to grow eyes in the back of the head. We are more vulnerable by virtue of not having a steel cage around us. We HAVE to watch our environment more diligently.
That is why the comment was made about learning to ride a bike before driving a car. You become more aware of your road environment and hopefully a better driver. I don't believe it should be mandatory though - not everyone wants to ride a bike or is suited to it. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 1:27:29 AM | | IMO, people who feel another person is their lesser, merely reflects how they feel about themselves and seek a 'higher ground' ... I've done road racing (push bike) and been run off the road by cars and trucks even stuff thrown at me; had people close the gap to stop me getting through on my (motor) bike .... of course there are those that ride / drive erratically ... the disciplines we exercise on ourselves are dependant on how close we are to people, anonomity (inside the car / the helmet) frees people up ... caring or careless ... is their state of mind at that time ... | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 1:37:58 AM | memyselfandus...........
I couldn't help but see your post ...It seems to me you don't like people that ride bikes......Your choice !!
Don't Tar all riders with the rebel gangs ...........Most of us are just like you children , grandchildren and we don't carry guns............Shame motorists don't look out for us though!!....... A person very close to me was a victim of a driver that didn't think...eye contact was made .........this could of been a fatality...........We have feelings and awareness possibly more than most so sweety shove your self rightious pathetic opinion where it fits best!
I am a mother and grandmother and have a heart ...and feelings ......Don't put us down for doing something we enjoy!! ....My suggestion to you...........Go get a life!!!!!!!! | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 3:04:30 AM | memyselfandus
NEVER ASSUME that one example of motorcyclists represents all. Just like people might assume that muslims are terrorists most of the rash generalisations that people come to are quite often wrong. There's good and bad in all works of life.
The criminal element in riders is a very very small minority. Wake up to reality.
One day it might be a motorcyclist that saves your life. Some are doctors, surgeons and paramedics.
Your comments show genuine ignorance and arrogance on your part | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 3:12:54 AM | I ride a bike.....and i drive a car......end of story
A bloke posts a poem for people to read and everyone turns it into a rant and an argument about car Vs motorcycles......amazing....funny i thought poetry was for reading.
cheers all be safe and be well | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 3:39:47 AM | I'm a part-time road biker (the energy efficient inertia turbo boost kind) and I can relate to the good and the bad. The good, I carry a mobile phone in case I spot an accident, a quick call no worries. The bad, I envisaged being a drug dealer/runner but doing a drug run on a pushie is hardly Miami Vice material (plus a helmet do not sit well with a white blazer jacket matching white shoes - no socks). I just tone down the fantasy and get some pasta and cheesecake expended instead. So far so good....
Today I nearly fell off my bike and nearly crashed into a damn tree cos I got tooted by some anonymous prankster on a fuschia coloured daiha-acchoo. Bad taste and no respect on the road, I tell ya....
PS. Nice poem...sounds so Thomas Dylanesque...a bit of Percy Shelley, or even a Lord Byron there. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 4:28:08 AM | I used to ride a motorbike and drive a truck and I am not generalising when I say that I have found that car drivers are by far the most arrogant drivers on the road.
When driving trucks it was interesting to say the least to try and pull the truck up in the space that had been reduced by some car driver who decided that they wanted to get into my lane and stop and I saw that there were kids in the car.
I had visions that my fully loaded 8 tonne truck was going to crush the back of this car complete with young kids in the back but I was lucky in that there were no cars coming the other way and I just skidded to the opposite side of the road.
I was also fortunate in that the police who were conducting a speed trap saw what had happened and pulled the driver of the car over, whether they booked her or not I don't know but this could have been a very bad accident with loss of life.
Yes there are good drivers and there are bad drivers just as there are good riders and bad riders.
The poem to me points out that we as drivers need to be more observant as road users overall, nothing more nothing less. | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 4:46:05 AM |
....the author is unknown but it really makes you think.
I followed your instructions but it didn't work. (tries to think) Nah, it's not workin' for me... | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 5:06:00 AM | oh! how many times do we see this one pop up?
i've been riding bikes for years, about 33 years so far,
and yep, some bike riders are real wankers! even myself at times.
but then again, theres always that d1ckhead in a beat up old commodore that feels the need to tailgate just because he's got a V8 under the bonnet and a bit of testosterone to boot! or the coffee drinking/mobile phone talking niegbourhood reckless driver.
it goes both ways and always will.
up here in QLD {i've noticed more than other places i've ridden} bike riders seem to give each other the good old "bikie nod". y'know, you see another rider in the oncoming lane and you just nod to each other cause we're fellow bike riders.
but the harley boys don't always nod?
i just put it down to them feeling they're on inferior quality machinery.
the thought never entered my mind they were tuff guys... | |
|
| JUST A BIKER (but you didn't see me)
Posted: 10/19/2008 5:14:19 AM | Its true there are tossers in cars as well as tossers on bikes. I guess the difference maybe is that tossers in cars dont generally feel the need to blame tossers on bikes when their being a tosser causes them to prang it.
Oh and car tossers dont often have their very own moll.
Maybe thats the sign of a true tosser ............. | |
|
Home
login 
