Atlanta (Georgia) woes and gripes

[406upser]

Not rubbing it in. Just saying, sometimes there are greener pastures between wildlife and drink drivers, our hands are definitely full!!

[indytiger1050]

Track days, no cagers, police and the need of speed gets satisfied. 

[ZuluTiger]

We just had the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta which is not far from me. It created a traffic jam for miles. So, even getting to the track is a trial if you get it wrong. And I'm a sporadic rider, just need to be able to get out and decompress when needed. Track riding has never tickled my fancy, unfortunately. I'm somewhat about the destination - a meal, a beer, some company. 

[gvy]

Flanders, In Belgium, is densly populated  and we have the typical ribbon development. One village comes after another without much open space in between. The B roads , often concrete lanes, aren't always in perfect condition either, but not unsafe. Highways are fine though.  The other side of Belgium , the ardennes, are way nicer to ride. More open space, curving roads, nature etc... 
BUT,
I don't complane. I think we have OK laws regarding motorcycling.
We can legally filter between lanes in case of traffic jams. Max speed to do it = 50km/h and with a max difference of 20km/h between the jammed vehicles and the motorcycle. What is more, On the typical 3 lane highways, the motorcycle is only allowed to filter between the two fastest lanes ( mid and left lane of the highway ) but the cars in the mid lane are obligated to drive as right as possible and in the left lane to drive as left as possible, creating enough space to allow firetrucks, police, ambulance but also motorcycles to pass in a safe manner between those lanes again in case of a traffic jam. Not all cars do understand the law, but it works well most of the time. I do it a lot while commuting, but it is always a bit stressy. You only need one fool, not looking in his mirror while changing a lane in a traffic jam, to ruin your day. On the other hand, sometimes it's nice to see the cars move open like the red sea for Moses to let you pass through .

Also in the city or on other roads, I can almost always filter towards the traffic lights instead of queuing behind the cars.

France is the same , but I think there it is not legally regulated . Holland idem. Germany not. They don't allow lane splitting .

Another nice feature on the highways is the fact that the "automatic traject control systems" ( speed control of vehicles over a longer distance ) mostly check from the front of the vehicle.....and licenseplates of motorcycles are only in the back .....so.... Well 120km/h is the speed limit here, but....

[seangee]

Lets be honest, busy cities and crowed motorways are no fun whatever the rules, or how good the drivers are. Being allowed to filter in London is no consolation when there is nowhere to go  . From memory I prefer driving in downtown Atlanta to London City - but in fairness it probably has been about 15 years  . Yes it is useful to be able to filter on stationary motorways, but still no fun.

In the UK I much prefer getting away from the cities and motorways. There are plenty of great B roads out there. An added bonus is that when you are out in the country (and not going through a village) the national speed limit is 60 mph, even if you are on an untreated single track. Of course you would be crazy to actually do 60mph, but it means you can go as fast as you like (or dare  ) and its like you have no speed limit. And if it happens to be a sunny spring bank holiday when every power ranger on his supersport bike with race replica leathers (who only rides 150 miles a year) is out on his back wheel I just stay off the roads 

[gvy]

100% right,

That is why ,each year I go with a bunch of friends to france or spain or... , just to have fun in twisties, where we can really ride the bikes and it is also why I said that Flanders is a lot less fun to ride then for example the Ardennes here in Belgium or go to Luxemburg or the Eifel.
But I also ride the whole year, commuting and doing other small travels here in Flanders and it really makes a huge difference being able to legally filter traffic and never get stuck. I admit, I seldom do city travel. My former Street triple was a better , lighter , smaller, even quicker bike to do that.
I am lucky to have a very nice company mercedes with a company fuelcard and still I often choose to go to work with my "private" motorcycle having to fill with fuel myself ( cant use the company card to fill up the bike), just because I never ever get stuck in traffic and feel better arriving at work after a blast on the Tiger. And yes it is a stupid and expensive choise, but hey, we only live once.
Also , when I have to go to Brussels or Antwerp (always a lot of traffic jams) I rather choose the Tiger. I hate to go with the car because I simply don't know when I will arrive and if I will find a parking space nearby

[ZuluTiger]

Having worked in the Netherlands and for their affiliates overseas (which may explain my earlier rude but deserved comments) and having a son in England, as well as friends, family and in-laws dotted about the globe ('bulb' for the young fry who don't know that we used to call a 'light' a globe), I must say that European riding is spectacular but daunting. Narrow roads, an abundance of crazy rules, changes in which side to drive, all sum it up. I never drive when I visit the UK as it is a frenzy for us old coffin dodgers (60-ish) and it is all so SMALL. Gripes I have, for sure, and I hate the insular, stupid, and exclusionist way the US ignores other options. Back to my point: My neighbor wandered over to my house a few days back and was convinced I'd got back from a ride, as it was a perfect day, etc. I told him I have zero inclination to ride through what has become a minefield of cagers out to get me and can't face taking 50 miles to break out of traffic. My Tiger has become a white whale, lurking in the garage, 'willing' but cowed by stupid rules, and now, weather. Nothing major, just cold, so now it takes suiting up (first layer under the TourMaster) to take a quick ride. The point I am making? Ride for hours, days or weeks and nothing changes. The US is uniform from coast to coast in terms of culture (It really is. Locals don't know this, but travel and compare and see if I am wrong) so the incentive is absent. You chaps in the Eurozone have access to very diverse riding, destinations, options and experiences. We just get more of the same, state after state, county after county, McD after McD. Even Daytona Bike Week (and others) are just really a repeat: New tattoos, more silicone implants, more potato twins (not the implants, the V-Twin battlers) and pneumatic girls with a shark-like aim at a dollar. Horrible. Maybe this rant is just a way to sum up my plan: Effect / affect a quantum change in 2023. Go where Nancy Pelosi and Donald Trump do not rule. Where crowds are absent. I'm going south brothers, and east as well. Come visit!

[dave_a]

My son lives in Marietta. I feel your ATL pain Zulu. It's where motorcycle riders go to die... literally and figuratively.
40 some odd years ago, I met some guys at Americade in upstate NY. We still ride together early every May. One of our best twisty trips centered just north of you. We stayed at Copperhead lodge (mcy oriented) in Blairsville, GA. Lots of great roads in the Nantahala park area. Double lane sweepers and single lane Twisties. Dragon's within reach for comic relief.
More than a day trip tho' - ya gotta get far away from ATL! Damn Yankees (I am one) ruined where I am too, btw.

[Paul2bikes]

Easy solution, get away from the city, & keep away, from all cities. Awful places. I haven't been to a city since I retired in 2009. And Motorways & A roads, keep away from them also. Mind, we do have mud & cow poo to contend with, worse in winter but a DP winter bike with knobbly tyres suits the colder climes better.

[ZuluTiger]

Agree Paul, and that's my plan. Winding down to retirement and relocation in about a year, hopefully...