Stunters a nuisance on road: Part-2
It looks like my previous article “Stunters a nuisance on road” has created quite a stir and sadly it has been labeled by some as my attempt to get back on a few people that were a part of life a year or so back. While that was never the intent of that article and I had never thought it would be interpreted by some in such a manner. I will not be editing it as few have suggested, since I still hold those views and believe in what I wrote. You might or might not agree with me, but that is the beauty of democracy and freedom of speech, we agree to not agree with each other all the time.
So here in the second part of Stunters a nuisance on road, I will attempt to highlight points that I believe are doable and if followed can reduce chance of injuries to bystanders and stunters.
Find an isolated road: Sounds simple enough? Yes it is and not only it will keep you and others out of harms way, it can also keep you away from the eyes of authorities (after all it is illegal to do stunting) and people who don’t like stunting. For your own safety please try to find a road that is suitable for stunting i.e. devoid of potholes, loose stones and gravel. Try to take a broom with you, so you could clean the road surface prior to stunts which in turn will reward you with ample traction.
Wear safety gear: Wearing safety gear will ensure if there is a slight miscalculation while stunting, you have the chance to try and correct it then and there. Rather than waiting for your bones to get attached! At the very least, wear a good quality helmet and if you are a part of a stunting group (which most are) then all of you can pool in to buy knee and elbow guard which can be used by the person performing stunts. In the long run you will save money on doctor’s bill!
Stunt individually: Again this is for stunters own safety, if you are performing stunts then take turns to perform them, rather than all jumping in at once and ending up creating a messy situation. Performing individually also mean that you can devote your concentration toward improving your stunts rather than looking out for your mate coming in the opposite lane.
Park your steed: If some one is performing stunts than it is always better to park your beloved bike as far as possible to give your fellow stunter enough room in case he loses control.
Be on a lookout: While you are performing stunts ask your friends to keep an eye on both ends of the road to see if there is any vehicle or pedestrian traffic heading your way.
First aid: Carry a first aid box with you while performing stunts and also try to keep information regarding nearest doctor/hospital. In case a rider falls and is unconscious then don’t try to remove his helmet instead call an ambulance.
In the end it is up to you how you choose to live your life and how you choose to ride. However at any point if you put my life and life’s of my near and dear ones at risk while enjoying this freedom, then I and any body else has full right to not only impose sanctions on your freedom, but to teach you a thing or two about social responsibility and social justice!
Ride safe and keep the rubber side down!
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As long as you dont hurt anyone, it doesn’t matter if you sleep with crocodiles.
*bow chiki bow bow* — another article on stunting eh! How about an article on the beauty of motorcycle touring Ed ?
Cheers,
Shamik
Manas rightly said
Shamik I was waiting for you to do the honor
Rightly said. I missed out on a few of those points in my last post on this topic.
I was injured in a bike-stunt related accident myself, a few months back. The best thing I could ask for (apart from not getting injured) is for a hospital close to the stunting place. I was not seriously hurt but I did realize the value of a hospital being there.
Another point that I would like to add is to have some friends around you who can help you in case of an accident. If you are hurt, it helps quite a lot.
You can use my photographs as a proof of a stunt gone bad.
As you can see I was not wearing knee pads and elbow pads.
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8024/307779079vs.jpg
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/8306/snapshot1538wo.jpg
This is off-topic, but I thought I’d share my blog about the accident that I have posted on hi5.
Here goes …
*********************************************************************************Kissing Kissing the Tarmac : That’s what they say I was trying to do … “There are better ways to do that”, I told them. Jumping from a bike at 80kmph while trying to stand still on top of it ain’t no ice cream treat. That’s exactly what I found out many Sundays ago. I had thought to myself, “I have done this before, I might not be too confident but I can manage to get a pic clicked just to prove I can do it”. ‘Uh huh … not happening dude’ that’s what god mustve thought.
So, I get on top of da bike n try to balance. I promptly fall into the illusion that everything’s going all right and the bike will stop wobbling soon. BIG MISTAKE, having controlled wobbling bikes before, I should have remembered that it only gets worse from there. Seconds later, I find the bike deciding to head down to the right because it won’t take much more of my stupidity. I decided to go straight ahead where my friend was waiting for me to take the snap.
Click !!
Crash !! Awwww !!
CRASH !!
That’s the sequence … I saw the pic on my friend’s phone about an hour later in the hospital. It looked like I had decided to quit riding and decided to crawl like a baby while jumping off the beast. Then again, I wasn’t exactly posing while falling. Later, I saw the pics of the bike. Fragged front end, bumps in the tank and a very scratched exhaust are the only differences I could make out. My only thought, “Me n my bike are made for each other”. Apparently, going separate ways didn’t go too well for me or the Pulsar
Bruises, blood loss, bent tooth, swollen lip, bandages on both hands for weeks, torn clothes,destroyed front on the Pulsar,medical expenses,mechanical expenses(costs were 20 times more than medical !!) : all these were no match compared to the pain which I suffered for the duration I was separated from my bike. 3 torturous weeks.
Moral of the story : Don’t do stunts ?? … Um, I’m not gonna follow that, Don’t know about u …
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