"Go to refresher courses. I do it every year to update myself and get an idea of my current limits. It really helps."

I'll preface this by saying I love motorcycles but haven't been on one for decades.

As a driver of four-wheeled vehicles, the biggest problem I have with motorcycles is seeing them. Fortunately, I've never had an accident with a motorcycle but have had some near misses. All of those were because (a) I did not see the rider and (b) they were in positions where I did not expect them to be—on my wrong side, quickly switching lanes seemingly appearing out of nowhere, etc.

Whilst hardly in that league, I experienced an incident only three days ago that illustrates the point. At a shopping centre on a busy road I found a parking spot tight enough to require multiple maneuvers to park. When about to leave a motorcyclist pulled in behind me without me being aware of it (I was arranging shopping stuff so it wouldn't go everywhere when vehicle was in motion and there was no noise to indicate his presence).

He wasn't there when I got in the vehicle and I couldn't see his motorcycle both from my rear vision and side mirrors. I reversed slowly and felt a resistance and stopped immediately (I touched so gently there was no noise—and not even a scratch to show). (He wasn't on the motorcycle or I definitely would have seen him.)

What this motorcyclist did was to sneak into an illegal parking space so small that he effectively blocked my exit, I could not leave before he did. Sure, I wasn't really inconvenienced as he was delivering something to one of the businesses so he wasn't long.

Motorcycles offer conviences other vehicles do not, here being able to park in a small space. Motorcyclists get used to such conviences without realizing that other motorists might not be aware of them. For example, motorcycles allow for easy maneuverability which tempts riders to make illegal maneuvers that car drivers wouldn't even consider doing in the same circumstance. If the last thing on a car driver's mind is an unexpected maneuver by a motorcycle then it doesn't bode well for its rider.

From my experience, many motorcyclists drive from their perspective and not that of four-wheeled driver's. It's why I don't own a motorcycle, if I did then before long I'd be in motorcyclist thinking mode, and that'd be damned dangerous for my health.

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snozolli 11 hours ago | parent [-]

on my wrong side

What's a wrong side?

I couldn't see his motorcycle both from my rear vision and side mirrors.

You seem inattentive. The motorcyclist didn't "sneak" into a spot, he simply minded his own business and parked. You didn't even notice a motorcycle park behind you while you were moving things around inside your car? I'm sorry, but you're simply inattentive.

many motorcyclists drive from their perspective and not that of four-wheeled driver's

This statement strikes me as extremely ironic.

	▲	hilbert42 10 hours ago \| parent [-]
		"What's a wrong side?" You are obviously a motorcyclist. And so it's OK for motorcyclists to disobey road rules on a public street and be inconsiderate to others? Why would a car driver expect to find a motorcycle illegally parked between two legally parked cars with only several inches between the car and the motorcycle? If you drive a car, I'll bet London to a brick you don't get out and back into your vehicle just the moment before you drive off. Show me someone who does and I'll retort "by golly you've found the mystical unicorn". BTW, being in a safely parked car with the ignition switched off and doing something doesn't count or constitute as being inattentive as it would after the ignition is switched on and the motor running. Despite what you say I'm particularly attentive at what's at my rear (even after checking it's why I always back up at a snail's pace). The street in question is very noisy and pedestrians regularly flit between parked cars—it's all the more reason. Motorcycles can't be heard above the street noise, and when riders park tightly between two cars they'll wheel them in with motor off (but you'd already know that). It's your comment that's ironic. I'd also maintain that road statistics support the notion that such attitudes have to change before they'll improve for the better.