Hey r/Belgium,

Normally I would post this a few weeks later, but with Dag van de motorrijder and Ghent Motor Event behind us, where loads of motorcyclists get a small refresher course and marks the start of the season for the recreational rider it seemed like a good idea to post this already.

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We just ask to be extra aware for motorcycles in the coming days/weeks(/months). Be patient with some of us. Most of us are awakening from our winter slumber, our muscles and reaction time aren’t that smooth, skills are rusty, experience declined, and a lot of us are feeling uneasy after the winter months, or it’s even the first time riding EVER after getting that hard earned license.

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We at r/motobe are happy to answer all your questions about motorcycles, driving style, license, maintenance, locations, travel, camping, how-to’s,buy-sell advice, …

Feel free to join us on the subreddit and discord, and don’t be afraid to ask us anything!

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We are aware that both motorcycle riders and car drivers should be extra aware for each other due to all the reasons listed above. But, as a motorcyclist, we feel INVISIBLE, and most of the time this is just the case. We blend in with the background, sun in your eyes and for some of you even eyes on your phone.

The main goal of this post is to get your attention that in the coming days, a lot more motorcycles are on the road again. You, a car driver, are not used to it anymore. I have right of way the same as you if I’m on a roundabout, coming from the right, nearing a road narrowing, … I ride defensive as I have already had my fair share of close encounters, it has saved my life a couple of times. I know I can’t win against a car with my motorcycle. But all I can ask is to pay extra attention and acknowledge our presence on the road.

And we would like to distantiate ourselves from all the “bad apples” out there. These are the ones you remember, because you notice asshole behavior, same as we mostly remember all the asshole drivers that almost killed us! But you don’t remember the dozens of other riders you encountered on the same road, that were sticking to the rules, like I said, we are invisible and ride with that in mind.

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[https://www.vsv.be/pers/vsv-lanceert-nieuwe-campagne-voor-veilige-start-motorseizoen/](https://www.vsv.be/pers/vsv-lanceert-nieuwe-campagne-voor-veilige-start-motorseizoen/)

[https://www.veiligverkeer.be/weggebruikers/motors/kwetsbaarheid-motorrijders-onderschat](https://www.veiligverkeer.be/weggebruikers/motors/kwetsbaarheid-motorrijders-onderschat)

12 comments

  1. It’s always a joy to see this post in r/Belgium every year. Spring is coming!

    I wonder how a similar post about cyclists would be welcomed though. 😀

  2. Bij deze nog een reminder dat [een reddingsstrook vormen bij filevorming niet alleen verplicht is](https://wegenenverkeer.be/veilig-op-weg/reddingsstrook), maar dat mottorrijders ook effectief mogen gebruik maken van deze ruimte.

    > Art. 16.2bis
    Motorfietsers die tussen de rijstroken rijden. Voor de motorfietsers, het sneller rijden tussen twee rijstroken of files dan de
    voertuigen die stoppen of traag rijden in
    die rijstroken of files, wordt niet als inhalen beschouwd, behalve voor de toepassing van art. 17.2, 5°.
    In dat geval mag de motorfietser evenwel
    niet sneller rijden dan 50 km per uur en
    mag het snelheidsverschil tussen de motorfietser en de voertuigen die zich in die
    rijstroken of files bevinden niet meer dan
    20 km per uur bedragen.
    Op autosnelwegen en autowegen moet
    hij daarenboven tussen de twee meest
    links gelegen rijstroken rijden.

  4. This morning had a motorcycle on the E314 splitting lanes at normal highway speeds (90 – 120). Was trying to be a human pancake on Monday, it seems. But at least all blinkers were on: safety first!

  5. I wholeheartedly applaud this initiative. But the amount of bad apples vs. good apples on the road is mostly 50/50. So, together with this initiative, a similar one could be launched for very vehicle driver / road participant who’s not on foot. To pay attention. To be aware of your surroundings. To not automatically assume you have the right of way. We all need to pay more attention. This morning, they said on the radio that 5% of belgians in flanders admitted to having watched a video *on their phone, while driving a car* the last year. And that amount was even 15% in Brussels. i mean, wtf?

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    Also, bring back the voetje. I used to get loads of those for letting biker bros pass me. Seems to happen less and less here in WVL and E40->BXL.

  6. Always so nice when cars do their best to move over as soon as they see a biker (even though I wasn´t originally planning on overtaking) and make room for a safe overtake xd

  11. I always wanted to ride a motorcycle. Is the theory and practical exam hard? And where to get good info online to study for the theory?

  12. Jep my last month my cousin who lives with me but his motor in for a full check. And he’s been riding around again the last 2 weeks

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