this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2025
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Unpopular Opinion

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There's no good reason for them to be on the road. Consider the following:

  • They're extremely loud and cause noise pollution

  • They're very dangerous on the road and have high accident rates

  • They're bad for the environment and cause air pollution

  • They're extremely inefficient as they can only carry 1-2 people max

  • They can't carry cargo

  • They're dangerous for pedestrians

  • They're very demanding to operate

  • They're virtually useless in the winter when there's snow, ice, and hail

  • The people who tend to drive them tend to be assholes who don't respect road laws

People complain about cars all the time, and while our car dependency is definitely a big issue that we need to address, cars still have a lot utility. Motorcycles on the other hand? Not really. I think getting rid of them once and for all is good way to immediately make our roads safer, simplify traffic, and open up a pathway to move away from cars.

all 47 comments
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[–] resipsaloquitur@lemmy.world 62 points 3 days ago

Well done. This is a terrible opinion.

[–] Mearuu@kbin.melroy.org 51 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Motorcycles drive the economy in some countries.

They cause less traffic.

They cost less to own and operate.

The pollute less.

Almost every other claim you make is true for cars not motorcycles. Look, I get it, a lot of people hate motorcycles for some reason or another, but at least have your reasons to be based on facts and not opinions.

The people who tend to drive them tend to be assholes who don't respect road laws

Ahh there it is. You generalize people and don’t like bikers specifically. That’s equivalent to me saying I don’t like people who drive cars because they get in the way of me operating my motorcycle. That’s such a selfish way to think.

Congrats on a truly shit opinion. I suppose it belongs here.

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 43 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Downvoting not because it's an unpopular opinion, but because your arguments are largely incorrect.

[–] hazl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 3 days ago

Tell OP why their argument is flawed, and upvote the post so it gains exposure among other people who may hold the same flawed beliefs.

[–] Geobloke@lemm.ee 5 points 3 days ago

Yeah, you gotta vote it up, they're wrong for all the right reasons

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 44 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Factually incorrect is not the same as an unpopular opinion.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago

Yeah this is tough. I want to upvote the OP but im not sure because of the opinion based on just false. Really only the last bullet point is an opinion.

[–] Peasley@lemmy.world 27 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Motorcycles get much better mileage than gas cars. Most cars on the road carry only a single person during Rush Hour. Motorcycles create much less pollution and traffic in those situations. A typical motorcycle tends to get double the fuel economy of a typical gas car. A gas car only comes out ahead if you carpool with more than 2 people, which almost nobody does.

As a pedestrian, getting hit by a motorcycle going 30 km/h is much less lethal than being hit by a car going 30 km/h. the amount of kinetic energy is a fraction of that of a car

At least in my area, motorcyclists are on average safer drivers than BMWs or Teslas, probably even safer than average. At least they bother to signal most of the time.

You have some points but some of your arguments are totally untrue.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Also, OP's point #1 is not true for all motorcycles, many actually have nice mufflers and well balanced engines that keep them rather quiet.

[–] troyunrau@lemmy.ca 18 points 3 days ago

Some are even electric

[–] Green_Mouse@piefed.social 15 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I don't know, most of these points also apply to cars, if not more so to cars, and this “motorcyclists are assholes” is complete nonsense. It's not an unpopular opinion, it's just a terrible, flawed, biased opinion.

[–] thegr8goldfish@startrek.website 26 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Also, they make ladies have impure thoughts.

[–] phanto@lemmy.ca 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I met my wife by driving her around the block on my scooter...

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 11 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Small world! I also met your wife by driving her around the block on my scooter!

[–] 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

get a skate park already, you two

[–] phanto@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So that was your wife I met while watching you drive my wife around the block on your scooter?

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

That sounds like her alright!

[–] megopie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 3 days ago

Motorcycle is a broad category, most e-bikes fit under it. The defining characteristics is a motor vehicle steered by handlebar from a saddle style seat.

They don’t have to be loud, but many drivers intentionally choose to make them loud. This comes down to a cultural issue, more about that later. Arguably most sports cars are much more obnoxious.

The accident rate and danger tends to come down more to cars than to motorcycles them selves. Most deadly motorcycle accidents are collisions with cars, and most of those are deemed the fault of the car driver. They’re also unreasonably fast for the form factor, again, because they have to mingle with cars, particularly on the highway.

Motorcycles are held to the same emission standards as cars, unless it’s not a road legal vehicle like a dirt bike, or not fast/powerful enough to require a license, like a moped. And they’re generally way more fuel efficient than cars due to being physically smaller, most getting between 70 to 90 MPG. Even Harley’s, intentionally outdated and inefficient designs, get 45MPG better than most cars.

Most can fit 2 people, which is more than most cars tend to have in them at any given time, and with pannier bags they can carry more than most cars will carry on a day to day basis, with most people never carrying cargo in their car beyond a few grocery bags.

They’re statistically much less dangerous to pedestrians than cars. I have no idea where you got the idea they’re more dangerous to pedestrians from.

They’re generally actually much easier to maintain than a car being smaller and less mechanically complex. The reason that so many motorcyclists tend to spend a lot of time maintain them is because they’re doing more of it them selves rather than taking it to a dealership or a mechanic.

There is absolutely a cultural issue among motorcyclists, but much of that comes down to how often they’re nearly killed by inattentive drivers. Constantly being put in danger by car drivers not paying attention tends to make people a bit hostile to car drivers. Much of the rest comes down to the fact that such a risky activity tends to attract people who are in to it to seem “cool”, which will attract some shitty people.

[–] jewbacca117@lemmy.world 17 points 3 days ago

This might be one of the worst opinions on here. Well done op!

[–] 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 3 days ago

Yeah, people should have small, quiet, electric motorcycles ridden by educated and defensive drivers with winter tires.

I had a two-stroke motorcycle that I rode to school all year round and yeah, I'd argue for bans on ICEs in motorcycles, harsher noise pollution/road safety laws/monitoring now.

They're extremely loud and cause noise pollution

Combustion engines do that, two-wheeled motor vehicles can be built quiet.

They're very dangerous on the road and have high accident rates

IIRC, most fatal accidents involving motorcycles result in motorcycle driver death, not so much others. Limiting speed or power (especially for young and learning drivers) might reduce fatalities.

They're bad for the environment and cause air pollution

ICE engines. One point for road infrastructure in general (tires, asphalt), although their PM/NOx emissions should be compared to trucks or trains.

They're extremely inefficient as they can only carry 1-2 people max

Inefficient in what way?

They can't carry cargo

I think you know this is a bad argument.

They're dangerous for pedestrians

What motorised vehicle isn't? Which vehicle infrastructure isn't? This one is oddly specific.

They're very demanding to operate

Yes. I always saw that as a good thing, because it meant that I wouldn't drive when I couldn't or shouldn't attention-wise.

They're virtually useless in the winter when there's snow, ice, and hail

Gear, restraint and skill issue. I found autumn rain much more dangerous.

The people who tend to drive them tend to be assholes who don't respect road laws

True that.

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

Electric ones mitigate many of these problems and are hugely more energy-efficient than car transport.

[–] phanto@lemmy.ca 13 points 3 days ago

I love my scooter. It burns 3L/100km. It makes hella less noise than any sports car I can name. If I were to hit a pedestrian going 50kmph on it vs an F150? As far as the asshole comment... Well, shrug I like me!

[–] Oni_eyes@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 days ago

Very easy to electrify, and the accident rate seems to be due to poor driver education and all the dumb fucks rolling around in their cars (equally with shitty driver education)

[–] CatherineLily@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I agree, but I would go further and ban cars as well.

  • They’re very dangerous on the road and have high accident rates
  • They’re bad for the environment and cause air pollution
  • They’re extremely inefficient as they can only carry 5 people max
  • They can only carry smaller items
  • They’re dangerous for pedestrians
  • They’re very demanding to operate
  • They’re virtually useless in the winter when there’s snow, ice, and hail
  • The people who tend to drive them tend to be assholes who don’t respect road laws
[–] iii@mander.xyz 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Yes! Same with trains:

  • Can't even drive on roads: they have to have their private infrastructure no one else is allowed to use.
  • Can't drive around even the smallest of problems.
  • Tremendous noise and environment pollution, blasting entire mountain sides, destroying habitats, just cause a train isn't nimble.
  • Very dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, wildlife. Breaking distance is ridiculously long.
  • Extremely inefficient, as they usually only get goods and people halfway where they need to be.
  • Often are diesel gusslers
[–] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Literally the most efficient transport option out there :p

[–] sprite0@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 2 points 3 days ago

The irony of the iron horse

Could just make a bad book title

[–] Gorilladrums@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago

I unironically agree with this, start with pickup trucks and move your way down.

[–] Weirdfish@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Not sure the rules, do I upvote because this is in fact a terrible opinion?

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

They do make nice quiet motorcycles ya know right? Not every motorcycle rider has loud exhaust, they do make quite a few with good mufflers and well balanced quiet engines.

Not every motorcycle rider is a douchebag.

[–] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 2 points 3 days ago

Yep, and for cars most of the noise comes from the tires. A muffler won't help that

[–] MudMan@fedia.io 9 points 3 days ago

I just had a vision of a European city where all motorcycles are instantly replaced by cars and I think I need a shower.

[–] SEND_BUTTPLUG_PICS@lemmy.zip 6 points 3 days ago

Yeah this is actually a horrible opinion. Well done OP.

[–] remon@ani.social 2 points 3 days ago

No. They are a great source for organ donations.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 1 points 3 days ago

I definitely have to agree with the point of them not respecting the road laws. Lane splitting is illegal and dangerous. I get the temptation, but they shouldn't be doing it (legal in California, not elsewhere).

[–] Linktank@lemmy.today 1 points 3 days ago

You lost me at inefficient. Frankly if it weren't for your last bullet point I think all of the other issues wouldn't matter so much. But you are correct in that nearly 100% of people on motorcycles, at least where I live, are complete assholes who drive like dicks and rev their engines annoyingly loud.

[–] Goretantath@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago

Ikr, electric bikes or gtfo.