MISUNDERSTOOD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18917, 4 February 1927, Page 5

MISUNDERSTOOD.

ATTACKS ON MOTOR-CYCLES. The R.A.C. views with concern certain attacks which have been made upon the motor-cycle as a means of locomotion and the motor-cyclist as a driver. As in the early days of the motor-car itself, the niotor-cyclo accidents which occur are given a disproportionate publicity, and in the attempt to give a human or emotional interest to the news, the suggestion ia conveyed that motor-cyclists are reckless, or that their vehicle is dangerous in use. Every form of locomotion 'has its accidents. Thus tho railways of Britain are responsible year in and year out for deaths at tho rate of threo per day without any sane person ascribing to them a terrible or hazardous character.

Tho enormous boon that this cheap, speeds - , and health and joy-giving means of transit alfords to less affluent classes of the country should gain for it tho sympathy it deserves rather than the hostility it appears to hare provoked in certain quarters. Tho industry happens to bo one of tho few mechanical trades in which British prodnction is absolutely supreme in every sphere, including hotli quality and quantity of production, and nnv other country, proud of such achievements, would rather let the world know of its success than belittle tbc root v,ilu<? of the thing achieve*!. The non-motor-cycling public frequently* misunderstands file motor-cyclists' movements, and, being human, misinterprets them, and so from mere technical ignorance a good deal of harsh judging springs. For instance, motor-cyclist-, are compelled by their method of stabilisation to break, momentarily. th» jrreat marine and road rule of "show your helm" to other vehicles. This is no place to explain the balancing of the niotnr-cvcle. but two le.sons arise from it—to the motor-eyclM : [lf most pnnctilion* rbmit your hand signals; to the motorist and (be nonmotoring public.- Do not impute selfish recklessness where vou do not understand the technical position. Driver's Exposed Position. There is also the unsprung character of the motor-cvele and the exposed position of the driver which render him peculiarlv and legitimately sensitive to the character of the road surface, dust and mud—all of which are lempta-. tions to him to select sue!) part of th» road n-s is most kindlr to Mm. A more generous unnorsfnr.diii'.' oT >h n motor-cycle atid its vends wvi'rj 'b°refore lead to the tota' abandonment of what appears to Ke an unwarrantable crusade against it. There arc, of course, motor-cyclist tagitraarc. tad there will always be

mure ;;s the motor-cyclo is more and more perfected, "such beginners will make mistakes—as do car drivers, and for the matter of that horse drivers—but the motor-cyclist is perhaps par excellence the road user who mo*;t studies, best understands, and most affectionately cares for his machine, and has the- finest mastership of its control. The H.A.C. considers that '.hero is no justification even if there Is the excuse of misunderstaiidilig, for attacks made upon motor-cycling, or motor-cyclists as a body. and 't is aware of reports so worded as to convey an unjust inference, not only in the particular case, but against the general cause. The enormous growth of all traffic naturally exposes all sec tions, and notably the frailest section, to a certain toll of accidents. From the safety point of view, tho nimbleiics>\ power of acceleration, and small dimensions of tho motor-cyclo give it advantages which outweigh its comparatively low weight in a place rf hazard. while its lack of sturdiness against a blow operates, and always has and will operate, to impose care and develop skill in the motor-cycle rider. What is iirced now and here is that through misunderstanding of these qualities, recklessness he not, imputed bv tho-p who may not understand their subject.