Do you stop for stranded or downed riders?

[MysterYvil]

The recent fundraising kerfluffle got me thinking. Mrs. and I stop whenever we see a moto at the side of the road if it is safe to do so.

Doesn't matter what the moto is or what the rider is or isn't wearing; it's a reflex.

Sometimes it was someone being dumb, either in their riding or their maintenance or their foresight or whatever. Regardless, we stop, check, and help if we can.

Comparatively speaking there are not all that many riders out there, and everyone on two wheels knows that riding can have its own special challenges.

Have we met unappreciative or exploitative people? Yes, but overall very very VERY few.

Will we stop offering help? No. HELL no.

Thoughts?

 

[mean dad]

Every. Single. Time.

I pulled over for a CHP moto one time, thought he was broken down. :laughing
Might've gotten me out of a ticket since I was rolling at a decent clip before I saw him. :ride

 

[Kim]

Always, heck doesnt even have to be stranded moto riders. If at all possible we help stranded drivers. I would like to think that if my car or moto broke down someone would stop to help.

Helped a scared young girl get her car off to the shoulder after the toll plaza on the richmond bridge. Stopped traffic pushed it over and got her outta the way. So many people just blew by her honking. People can suck.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Yes. They always have stopped for me.

 

[mean dad]

Always, heck doesnt even have to be stranded moto riders. If at all possible we help stranded drivers. I would like to think that if my car or moto broke down someone would stop to help.

Helped a scared young girl get her car off to the shoulder after the toll plaza on the richmond bridge. Stopped traffic pushed it over and got her outta the way. So many people just blew by her honking. People can suck.

Good point. I pull over for every female I see stranded. Hate to think of them being stuck, or having some piece of shit creep on them while stranded.
Most of the time a dude's gotta man up and fix shit on his own. :laughing

Wonder if this makes me sexist? Meh, I'm cool with that.

 

[Yakoo752]

as often as I can and more so after my last rescue

Several years ago, I was on my way to work and the moto ran out of gas at 280/edgewood. As luck would have it my phone was also dead. I managed to make it to the park and ride and started the long walk to get gas. Old man driving by stopped, offered me the gas he had in a can and helped me out. I offered him $20 but he turned it down.

cool story, breh

 

[asdfghwy]

I always stop whether I'm riding or driving. I've been that guy on the side of the road, and theres no better feeling of seeing a rider pulling up to check up on you (even if everything is taken care of!)

Gotta give back to the moto community

 

[Yakoo752]

PS: when you are on the side of the road and a rider rolls by with a thumbup

it's a question, asking if you are OK

the amount of times I have turned around to "rescue" someone that didn't respond is just silly.

 

[rsrider]

Almost every bike I've seen at the side of a road lately, the rider has a cell phone in their hand. I honestly don't know WTF I would do if I did stop. I do have a tire kit with me at all times, but that's about as far as could go. Now back in the day I would stop, because you'd usually end up giving the person a ride to the nearest phone. I do slow down and give them a thumb up or thumb down, and so far everyone has waved me off. It's a different world.

 

[doc4216]

If I can safely stop I will.

 

[1sicv8]

Almost every bike I've seen at the side of a road lately, the rider has a cell phone in their hand. I honestly don't know WTF I would do if I did stop. I do have a tire kit with me at all times, but that's about as far as could go. Now back in the day I would stop, because you'd usually end up giving the person a ride to the nearest phone. I do slow down and give them a thumb up or thumb down, and so far everyone has waved me off. It's a different world.

This is about where I am at with it. 9 times out of 10 the best I can do is a phone call or go grab gas for someone. I try and stop if it is safe to do so.

 

[MysterYvil]

PS: when you are on the side of the road and a rider rolls by with a thumbup

it's a question, asking if you are OK

the amount of times I have turned around to "rescue" someone that didn't respond is just silly.

Good point, and worth repeating! :thumbup

 

[Blankpage]

Depends on the area and the scene/vibe I'm getting. There have been traps set preying on good Samaritans stopping to help.

I once saw a girl pushing a motorcycle up Fish Ranch Rd with the intent of coasting down Claremont and she still had a long way to go. I wasn't going to push that thing that far and I didn't have a phone with me so I offered to give her a ride on my bike to wherever she needed to go to get help. She declined and I don't blame her. I wouldn't advise any girl I know to hop on a bike with a stranger. There wasn't much else I could do so I continued on my way.

I was on my way to the Hollister rally and the closer I got the more Harleys I saw broken down on the highway. It was like have a first aid kit in a war zone, it was overwhelming it felt hopeless.

 

[tuxumino]

If it's safe to do so I will

 

[afm199]

Usually. Depends on the circumstances. Old GF and I stopped for a Harley on highway one once and the couple were arguing with each other so loudly and angrily that we just turned around and left.

 

[Kim]

I ran outta gas as a noob in Niles Canyon at night. Not knowing I simply ran outta gas I kept trying to start it. The headlights kept going on and off. That road doesnt have a lot of cars on it at night. I had a shitty phone with shitty reception. A guy saw me in the opposite direction. Turned around somewhere and stopped and pulled up behind me. I was freaking the fuck out. In the middle of no where basically not sure wtf to do. Its dark, its quiet, no one around. No one to hear me. Seriously every possible scenario was playing in my head as i was obviously a girl rider.

He asked if i wanted a ride. Solo driver in his mid 20's is my guess. Tall and intimidating. didnt have any option other than to take his offer. We drove quite a ways back out and into Fremont and he dropped me off at the 711. Offered to wait with me while i waited to get picked up. Told him no jumped outta his car said thanks and ran inside. I was so scared that i left my moto there over night and when i got home i cried :laughing

I wish i could of thanked that stranger more and I HATE that i was so scared. Didnt tell anyone in my family as they would of been pissed but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[MysterYvil]

I ran outta gas as a noob in Niles Canyon at night. Not knowing I simply ran outta gas I kept trying to start it. The headlights kept going on and off. That road doesnt have a lot of cars on it at night. I had a shitty phone with shitty reception. A guy saw me in the opposite direction. Turned around somewhere and stopped and pulled up behind me. I was freaking the fuck out. In the middle of no where basically not sure wtf to do. Its dark, its quiet, no one around. No one to hear me. Seriously every possible scenario was playing in my head as i was obviously a girl rider.

He asked if i wanted a ride. Solo driver in his mid 20's is my guess. Tall and intimidating. didnt have any option other than to take his offer. We drove quite a ways back out and into Fremont and he dropped me off at the 711. Offered to wait with me while i waited to get picked up. Told him no jumped outta his car said thanks and ran inside. I was so scared that i left my moto there over night and when i got home i cried :laughing

I wish i could of thanked that stranger more and I HATE that i was so scared. Didnt tell anyone in my family as they would of been pissed but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

I once pulled over for a stranded driver (two flats) on 280 after dark. Turned out to be a very frightened young woman.

I offered to let her hold my license hoping to reassure her. She countered with "Why? So you can take it off my dead body?"

I had not taken in account how different the world is for others.

(Ended up passing her my cellphone through her barely open window. Let her hold onto it until the tow truck arrived. Smart woman, she erased my entire call history. I can't even imagine how it is to have to live that way.)

 

[Sharky]

Good point. I pull over for every female I see stranded. Hate to think of them being stuck, or having some piece of shit creep on them while stranded.
Most of the time a dude's gotta man up and fix shit on his own. :laughing

Wonder if this makes me sexist? Meh, I'm cool with that.

Why let some strange creep pull over when you can be that creep?


I will stop when it's safe to do so.

 

[NorCalAthlete]

Have stopped / gotten the attention of someone to ask if they're good many times.

Have also driven behind someone riding at night with their lights out flashing my lights till they pulled over to let them know that I almost ran them over, and by the way I have my ramps with me so since we're going in the same direction how about I just give you a ride.

That being said, I don't usually donate cash to random people either. :dunno

I carry tow straps, jumper cables, water, flares, and a first aid kit. Also have multiple ways of contacting emergency services if their phone is dead / no reception.

 

[BeksNY]

I used to stop for everyone, thinking that I'm tough and would put up a nasty fight if needed. Now, I'll only stop if I'm with someone else so there are two of us. I've felt awful every time I've passed by someone when I'm out by myself, but the very last time I stopped, it was on 80 at night and the dude I stopped to help out was so pissed about his bike's having issues that he started to get really aggressive. Determined to be helpful, I stayed calm and offered to call the tow guy / mechanic I'd used a few weeks earlier. Once I got through to the tow guy, he said, "You need to get yourself out of there. It's not safe. Give the guy my number and leave."