Scooters / motobikes on Sydney roads
#1
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Narraweena, narrawhere? Northern beaches Sydney
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Scooters / motobikes on Sydney roads
Hi
My husband is thinking of getting a scooter (had one in London) to get to work on from the Northern beaches to Jones bay wharf. Does anyone have any experience of riding bikes around Sydney. Is it dangerous? I didn't mind in London but I'm more concerned here as there aren't many on the roads and I think because of that the drivers aren't used to them, don't see them etc....What do you guys think? We have to 2 children to think of. I have also told him that he has to sort out life insurance first :scared:
Not that I'm being a pessimist or anything!
My husband is thinking of getting a scooter (had one in London) to get to work on from the Northern beaches to Jones bay wharf. Does anyone have any experience of riding bikes around Sydney. Is it dangerous? I didn't mind in London but I'm more concerned here as there aren't many on the roads and I think because of that the drivers aren't used to them, don't see them etc....What do you guys think? We have to 2 children to think of. I have also told him that he has to sort out life insurance first :scared:
Not that I'm being a pessimist or anything!
#2
Re: Scooters / motobikes on Sydney roads
There are bike riders all over, especially at the weekends and round th hairpins in the mountains.
They drive like idiots and you often see one lying by the side of the road being attended to by mates or paramedics. I have no sympathy whatsoever: do yourself a favour and take up tiddlywinks.
They drive like idiots and you often see one lying by the side of the road being attended to by mates or paramedics. I have no sympathy whatsoever: do yourself a favour and take up tiddlywinks.
#3
Re: Scooters / motobikes on Sydney roads
Originally Posted by Wol
There are bike riders all over, especially at the weekends and round th hairpins in the mountains.
They drive like idiots and you often see one lying by the side of the road being attended to by mates or paramedics. I have no sympathy whatsoever: do yourself a favour and take up tiddlywinks.
They drive like idiots and you often see one lying by the side of the road being attended to by mates or paramedics. I have no sympathy whatsoever: do yourself a favour and take up tiddlywinks.
i have ridden a bike in syd for 2 years now, and find it no better or worse than uk. general standard of driving for all vehicle types is lower i find...
not keen on scooters myself, but each to your own....
#4
Re: Scooters / motobikes on Sydney roads
>>general standard of driving for all vehicle types is lower i find...<<
Sounds like tarring everyone to me <g>.
You are, however, right!
Sounds like tarring everyone to me <g>.
You are, however, right!
#5
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Location: Narraweena, narrawhere? Northern beaches Sydney
Posts: 169
Re: Scooters / motobikes on Sydney roads
Thank you, this is what I am hoping to read.
Originally Posted by jjonboy
nothing like stereotypes is there, talk about tarring everyone with same brush...
i have ridden a bike in syd for 2 years now, and find it no better or worse than uk. general standard of driving for all vehicle types is lower i find...
not keen on scooters myself, but each to your own....
i have ridden a bike in syd for 2 years now, and find it no better or worse than uk. general standard of driving for all vehicle types is lower i find...
not keen on scooters myself, but each to your own....
#6
Re: Scooters / motobikes on Sydney roads
Originally Posted by Swaffy
Hi
My husband is thinking of getting a scooter (had one in London) to get to work on from the Northern beaches to Jones bay wharf. Does anyone have any experience of riding bikes around Sydney. Is it dangerous? I didn't mind in London but I'm more concerned here as there aren't many on the roads and I think because of that the drivers aren't used to them, don't see them etc....What do you guys think? We have to 2 children to think of. I have also told him that he has to sort out life insurance first :scared:
Not that I'm being a pessimist or anything!
My husband is thinking of getting a scooter (had one in London) to get to work on from the Northern beaches to Jones bay wharf. Does anyone have any experience of riding bikes around Sydney. Is it dangerous? I didn't mind in London but I'm more concerned here as there aren't many on the roads and I think because of that the drivers aren't used to them, don't see them etc....What do you guys think? We have to 2 children to think of. I have also told him that he has to sort out life insurance first :scared:
Not that I'm being a pessimist or anything!
The big, big thing to watch out for is that indicators seem to be optional on Australian cars. No-one indicates when they pull away from a parking position at the side of the road, so you really need to be aware of that. Indicators are often not used on turns or lane changing, either. It's much worse here for bad indicating than the UK.
Also, some of the Sydney roads have weird obstacles. Metal strips (wet and slippery when it rains) across the road and these low metal cylinders in the middle of some roads (God knows what they are supposed to be for, but thankfully they are quite rare!).
#7
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Narraweena, narrawhere? Northern beaches Sydney
Posts: 169
Re: Scooters / motobikes on Sydney roads
ah yes but at least they don't have man hole covers here!!
Originally Posted by Budgie
They quote over here that you are 27 times more likely to die on a bike than in a car accident, but I'm sure that's probably the same as the UK anyway
The big, big thing to watch out for is that indicators seem to be optional on Australian cars. No-one indicates when they pull away from a parking position at the side of the road, so you really need to be aware of that. Indicators are often not used on turns or lane changing, either. It's much worse here for bad indicating than the UK.
Also, some of the Sydney roads have weird obstacles. Metal strips (wet and slippery when it rains) across the road and these low metal cylinders in the middle of some roads (God knows what they are supposed to be for, but thankfully they are quite rare!).
The big, big thing to watch out for is that indicators seem to be optional on Australian cars. No-one indicates when they pull away from a parking position at the side of the road, so you really need to be aware of that. Indicators are often not used on turns or lane changing, either. It's much worse here for bad indicating than the UK.
Also, some of the Sydney roads have weird obstacles. Metal strips (wet and slippery when it rains) across the road and these low metal cylinders in the middle of some roads (God knows what they are supposed to be for, but thankfully they are quite rare!).