Wire/Cable Barriers

[Cyborg]

In the US, several states are putting them up and apparently there is little concern for rider safety and instances where it's actively ignored. I've posted link and the collumn below. I think you're find Mr FULLER's statement interesting...

story link

Do Median Cables Threaten Motorcyclists

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Some motorcycle drivers said cable barriers stretched across the medians of Oklahoma highways are making conditions unsafe for them.

VIDEO: Motorcyclists Share Cable Barrier Concerns

The barriers are in place over 230 miles of Oklahoma highway in order to keep drivers from crossing into oncoming traffic. State highway officials said that in 500 crashes involving cable barriers, there has only been one fatality.

But motorcyclist Kerry Lowery worries that things could be much different in a motorcycle crash.

“If you hit anything, the chances of you getting up from it are not good,” he said.

He said he would rather hit a concrete barrier than run the risk of colliding with a metal cable.

“I think it would be worse to hit a wire because it would be more like a blade cutting you than if you hit a solid wall where you could just skip off of it,” Lowery said.

Oklahoma Department of Transportation chief engineer John Fuller said he agrees with Lowery. But the state uses safety measures designed with cars and trucks in mind.

“Motorcycle operators choose to operate a vehicle that offers no protection,” he said. “Other than the helmet that the drivers are wearing, they have no protection if they run off the road and hit anything.”

Fuller said he and his sons have ridden motorcycles before and he understands the appeal. He said they just need to be extra careful on the road.

Even with the cables, motorcyclists may still see a benefit from the median guards, Fuller said.

“The cable may have prevented a car from crossing the median and hitting them over on the other side of the road,” he said.

In the three years before the first cable barriers were installed, six people died in crossover crashes.http://www.koco.com/news/17186101/detail.html

[goinphaster]

Interestingly enough my buddy (non-rider) was nailed head on by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, crossing over the median, in OK. My buddy is ok now but it was a wake up call for sure. The slab is no different than the twisty roads we seek every chance we get; no run off, and everything can hurt you bad. if it ain't one thing it is another, so I won't dwell on it much (not to poop on your parade- I just choose to ride in areas with the same inherent risk and can't justify standing up for safety just to get their).

[KC-10 FE]

It is not uncommom at all for cagers to not care in the slightest about the safety of riders. In NJ, I swear cagers are out to kill riders. On more than one occasion, I've had car drivers make direct eye contact with me & then run the yield to a traffic circle. There is one circle that is so bad, I will ride 7 miles out of my way to avoid it.

KC-10 FE out...

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by goinphaster

Interestingly enough my buddy (non-rider) was nailed head on by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel, crossing over the median, in OK. My buddy is ok now but it was a wake up call for sure. The slab is no different than the twisty roads we seek every chance we get; no run off, and everything can hurt you bad. if it ain't one thing it is another, so I won't dwell on it much (not to poop on your parade- I just choose to ride in areas with the same inherent risk and can't justify standing up for safety just to get their).

Translation: You don't give a damn and will do nothing.
Prediction: If you even hit one of these things you'll scream like a banshee, if you are able to do anything at all.

There's a guy I know of in OK who's minus one leg thanks to the cable barrier you can't be bothered into "standing up" against.

[goinphaster]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Translation: You don't give a damn and will do nothing.
Prediction: If you even hit one of these things you'll scream like a banshee, if you are able to do anything at all.

There's a guy I know of in OK who's minus one leg thanks to the cable barrier you can't be bothered into "standing up" against.

Damned right I'll scream. I just completed a ride down a windy narrow road, ones that offer no solace should I (or anyone else) crash. I like riding on those roads. Why demand better protection for myself when I'm just using the highway to get to a road that's more dangerous than the highway? I would rather more effort be spent on laws/penalties aimed at drivers who "didn't see" motorcyclists before they darn near killed them, or maybe a little more road cleaning/maintenance, driver education towards sharing the road like Nevada, and even MSF funding. I could be doing everything right and safe, the Govt could be doing everything right and safe, and I can still be hurt by someone else or by events that nobody can control. If I spent all my time ranting over all the little things that aren't motorcyclist friendly- I would never get to ride. I would rather ride. Apparently since only two people have replied to your post, so does everyone else on this forum.

I am glad you think so highly of me to chastise me in such a fashion, but I don't think our personalities mesh so maybe we shouldn't talk anymore, especially when I said I meant to not poop on your thread earlier. Your blocked from PMing me, and I have unsubscribed to this thread. Good day.

[crustyrider]

ok, I'll post here, I hate the cables, do they work? yes, they are designed to keep cars from crossing over, now at this present date cars are the majority vehicle on the roadways. now the year that M/C 's take that away from cars. safety standards and barricades will become friendlier.. I personally like the concrete and water barrels even though the water is really nasty.

BTW I have seen some drivers get really messed up by the cables after thier vehicle split through the upper and middle one dude lost his arm and half his skull......... he didn't make it.

[Cyborg]

Originally Posted by goinphaster

Damned right I'll scream. I just completed a ride down a windy narrow road, ones that offer no solace should I (or anyone else) crash. I like riding on those roads. Why demand better protection for myself when I'm just using the highway to get to a road that's more dangerous than the highway? I would rather more effort be spent on laws/penalties aimed at drivers who "didn't see" motorcyclists before they darn near killed them, or maybe a little more road cleaning/maintenance, driver education towards sharing the road like Nevada, and even MSF funding. I could be doing everything right and safe, the Govt could be doing everything right and safe, and I can still be hurt by someone else or by events that nobody can control. If I spent all my time ranting over all the little things that aren't motorcyclist friendly- I would never get to ride. I would rather ride. Apparently since only two people have replied to your post, so does everyone else on this forum.

I am glad you think so highly of me to chastise me in such a fashion, but I don't think our personalities mesh so maybe we shouldn't talk anymore, especially when I said I meant to not poop on your thread earlier. Your blocked from PMing me, and I have unsubscribed to this thread. Good day.

Translation to first paragraph: BS to cover don't give a damn position
Translation to second paragraph: You talked mean to me! Waah!
Observation: No reply to the part about the OK guy's lost leg.

I'm open to any position, conversation must be a two way street, I will not ignore anyone or block anyone's PMs (though in goinphaster's case I am tempted). I will reply in public to public posts, in PM to PM. That said, I will pull no punches, not about this. I feel very strongly that the longer cable barriers are put up, the greater the chances of riders hitting them, the greater the difficulty of fixing or removing them, especially in political terms.