Originally posted by d.u.g.
I hope you had good health insurance,
I will say this. Anyone who rides/races without health insurance is taking a big chance and is bordering on the line of idiocy (and I have a good friend who raced without insurance but he was lucky and he knows how I feel about it).
and didn't miss too much work.
I make sure I have good insurance, short term disability and long term disability. I highly recommend that to all participants of the sport... no matter if you ride woods or only fireroads.
I was just saying supercross obstacles for amateur tracks hurts the sport.
I really think that the design of many tracks are stupid. There are a lot out there that are too extreme and targeted more for the A/Expert/Pro crowd.
However, it is up to the rider to judge whether they really can ride that track.
I prefer the less extreme tracks. The one I ride at is doing a really good job of providing challenging and safe obstacles. The doubles are rounded and there are more table tops than many other tracks. Still the obstacles can be intimidating and dangerous but the design I think is more appropriate for the amateur level rider.
I've ridden on tracks that were above my skill level. I just decide not to go back. It is
MY responsibility to make that decision. It is the track builders decision to design a track towards the customers they want to attract.
In short... I think the attitude that it is the track owners responsiblity to make this sport safer is hurting our sport! If we don't like it, we don't go there. Eventually the track owner will head to the financials of the situation depending on how his turnout is.
If your injury was due to wrecking on a supercross obstacle,your accident affects everyone who pays insurance for motorcycles,track operator coverage,etc.
No more than if you wrecked hitting a tree in an OHV park trail system and no more than a claim on your homeowners policy affects those that pay house insurance or a claim on your auto policy affects those that pay car insurance.
If you work it hurts your employer.
Yes. But that is why they have sick time, vacation, disability insurance, etc. More people miss work with sick days to go to the beach than they do b/c of dirtbike accidents.
There are a lot more reasons for loss of productivity than dirtbike accidents.
Your starting to generalize too much.
If you don't work your accident affects everyone,period.
I think you mean to say if you don't have insurance? There are a lot of kids in this sport still on their parents policies who ride who don't work. But, I'm probably just being picky with the symantics :)
I simply think tracks could be a lot safer.and offer big fun for jumping without the risk of hitting steep faces and causing major injuries. Doug
I agree 100%
However, I think the main point is that it is up to the
RIDER or the
PARENT OF THE RIDER to judge the risk. Holding a track owner liable for designing something to target a particular group is misguided. The responsibility has to be placed on the correct person.
This sport is a business and I personally have seen many tracks (and racing series) who target the true amateurs by building their tracks specifically for that skill level. That is the market they are targeting. They have been blamed for having too easy of tracks but they keep getting lots of happy returning customers.
There are others that target a different market. They too have happy returning customers.
We as the consumer must pay attention and be responsible enough to know which market we fall into.
Ivan