Bikers’ cry

SOME of the bikers, a spectacular sight, travelling along Ashford, St Thomas on their way to the memorial site at Welchman Hall.

By CARLOS ATWELL | Mon, November 05, 2012 - 12:10 AM

Barbados Motorcycle Club president Raymond Belgrave thinks more respect is due to bikers on the road.

“Most drivers have no respect for bikers, and this is something I see all the time,” he said.

Belgrave, speaking yesterday after a memorial for deceased fellow biker Patrick Thompson, did however admit some motorcyclists behaved recklessly on the road.

Stating it was imperative for motorcyclists to give their full attention to the road, Belgrave explained: “Everybody likes to criticize bikers, but the truth is people see them and underestimate the speed a bike moves at.

Share your thoughts

Please sign in or register to post your comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

Posted by daneale o'neale 6 months, 2 weeks ago: bikers need to have respect too,remember you are always wrong when you fall

I Like
I Dislike

Comment Link

Posted by Claxton Joseph 6 months, 2 weeks ago: My sympathy goes out to all bikers, both powered and peddled. There is so much to contend with when maintaining balance on two wheels. The procession would have looked more spectacular if though was given to single file ride or in doubles.

I Like
I Dislike

Comment Link

Posted by Carl Harper 6 months, 2 weeks ago: My condolences go out to the family of cyclist Patrick Thompson. One life loss in an accident is one too many.

I do not know what kind of biker Thompson was on the roadways and I am not here to speculate. What I do know is that many motorcyclists display reckless behavior on our roads and it must stop before there are more fatalities in senseless accidents.

“Most drivers have no respect for bikers, and this is something I see all the time,” Raymond Belgrave said. What I see all the time, Mr Belgrave, is big engine cyclists racing on the roads at speeds in excess of 100 mph; young men bobbing and weaving between traffic, sometimes scratching cars and breaking off side mirrors without stopping; motorcycle owners loudly revving their engines in residential areas to the annoyance of their neighbors; groups of cyclists deliberately blocking the lanes and preventing motorists from passing; cyclists cursing and threatening other road users for simply honking their horns; and scambler men riding the highways on rear wheels, only.

Two months ago a group of men on scramblers overtook me on both sides of my vehicle, heading south after the Warrens roundabout. They proceeded to wheelie in front of my car until one fell off in the lane ahead of me. Luckily I was not driving fast and was able to take evasive action to avoid hitting him.

So Mr Belgrave, when you speak about "no respect," maybe it is time you have an educational program and guidelines that teach your Club members better conduct on the roads and in the neighborhoods they live.

I Like
I Dislike

Comment Link

Posted by Cheese On 6 months, 2 weeks ago: I understand what you are saying, However it is a different thing on the road when you are driving and you see motorcyles roaring past on either on 1 wheel or bobbing and weaving through traffic dangerously.

Honestly the only motorcyles I see driving safely are Mailmen, Mailwomen and people who appear to be mature in age.

I Like
I Dislike

Comment Link

Posted by Leonard B 6 months, 2 weeks ago: The loss of a loved one at any age is a bitter pill to swallow. The loss of a young family member or friend is especially hard. I offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Patrick. I am hard pressed to issue my next comments immediately following the kind words I just offered. However I pray that they will be received in the way that they were intended, with all goodness. I know that there are some solid law-abiding motorcyclists and I hope that Patrick was one of them. Unfortunately, there are several who abuse the privilege with gross abandon and disrepect for the roads, laws, life and other road users. Wheelies, racing, riding three or four abreast, riding while drinking a beer etc do not belong on our roads. I see this behaviour very often. Why do cyclists think that they should not wait in line like car drivers? They are constantly squeezing their way through between cars when traffic slows or comes to a halt. It is time to smarten up and share the road responsibly. LB.

I Like
I Dislike

Comment Link

Posted by Owen Proverbs 6 months, 1 week ago: As a biker myself who ride both a scooter on a daily basis and a 'big engine' bike according to Mr Carl Harper. You speak about what you know very little about. When was the last time you heard a biker killed someone in a car ?. You have no idea what it's like out there on the road as a biker. I personally have had numerous drivers just pull out in front of me at junctions, cut across me on the highway, reverse into my path just because i was riding a bike. I have have had some people so blatant with it that they would actually tell you to your face bikes have no right on the road or they don't care that they nearly hit you cause they in a car and you on a bike. Of course they are lawless bikers just like the numerous lawless and heartless drivers we have to put up with on the road but you don't see us writing nonsense when a driver dies on the streets. We riders are at a disadvantage however you look at it and drivers need to be more aware of riders motor/bicycles on the streets just like some riders need to stop the lawless riding. Maybe Mr. Harper you need to get a bike and hit the streets to see how you would be treated by your own. Look Twice It Could Save A Bikers Life. R.I.P Pat

I Like
I Dislike

Comment Link

Posted by Carl Harper 6 months, 1 week ago: @ Owen Proverbs
You wrote of your experiences on the roads; I wrote about mine.

Just note what happened on the wharf road yesterday with the very motorcyclists you sought to defend.