Oh, and you also left out every other situation (e.g, cars often pull out in front of bikes) where loud pipes can be of benefit.
I do agree that most drivers (and motorcyclists too, I'd bet, though slightly less of those as they tend to weed out quicker) are morons without any semblance of situational awareness or knowledge of car control or the responsibility thereof. T > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Ervine > Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 8:30 AM > To: Mercedes Discussion List > Subject: Re: [MBZ] Bike rider, loud pipes > > > Tim C wrote: > > Actually, loud pipes let cars (mostly driven by blithering > idiots who > > fail to see anything smaller than a Suburban) know you're there. > > That "Loud Pipes Saves Lives" mentality is based in junk > science. The only time > you can hear them at highway speeds is when the bike is in > front of you, because > the pipes point to the rear of the bike! All it is is > pointless noise pollution > thrust upon the general public in the name of saving lives by > people who have no > concept of the nature of sound waves or the Doppler Effect. > > The real problem is that drivers in cars are never taught > driver responsibility > or instructed in the proper operation of their vehicles - > much less to be aware > of pedestrians and motorcycles on or near the roadways. > Until such education is > required for obtaining a license, all the straight pipes in > the world won't save > the average RUB on his Harley from Sally Soccermom's suburban > assault vehicle.
