I have just been asked if a bike is safe in a thunderstorm the way a car is??

Answer = NO!!

A car when struck by lightning acts as a Faraday cage .. the charge travelling around the outside of the vehicle and not touching the occupants .. in fact if you are out camping the car is the safest place to be during a storm and NOT the tent!!


Here is the blurb on bike safety ...

Jules



Motorcyclist/Bicyclist:

So has anyone been hit riding a bike? Here are just a few real examples from the last few years.

* Virginia Beach, VA: Motorcyclist killed traveling on Route 58.

* Altoona, PA: One motorcycle rider killed and three riders injured when they took shelter in a woods from a thunderstorm.

* Wyoming: Motorcyclist injured driving home on I-90 from Sturgis.

* Taylor Park, CO: Dirt biker injured heading down mountain pass.


Protect Yourself when on a bicycle, motorcycle or dirt bik e.

* Carry a portable Weather Radio or listen to commercial radio.

* If you see threatening skies in the distance and you are passing a safe location, pull over and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder crack.

* If you can turn around and get away from the storm, do so!

* DO NOT ride into a lightning storm!

If you absolutely cannot get to a safe building or vehicle, here are some last resort choices:


* Wait out the storm below an overpass. DONT touch steel girders. Move away from your bike. Remain on dry surfaces if possible. Overpasses are engineered structures and are lik e ly to be properly grounded. Although an overpass is lik ely to be higher than the surrounding landscape, if it is struck by lightning, the electrical current will lik ely be channeled safely into the ground.

* Look for a bridge. Stay away from water. Stay away from any metal surfaces. Be alert for rapidly rising water if under a bridge.

* High tension wires: If high voltage electrical tension wires cross the road, you may want to seek shelter directly underneath these wires. Do not get too close to the large metal towers which hold up these wires. Stay at least 50 feet away. Electric companies design these high tension wires for lightning strikes. If lighting should strike the wires or towers, the current is designed to safely go deep into the ground.

* If you are caught in the open and lightning is occurring within 5 miles, ST OP riding, get off of your motorcycle/bicycle, find a ditch or other low spot and sit down.

* Motorcyclists should move at least 50 feet away from their bike. Bicyclist should lay their bikes on the ground.


IMPORTANT: These recommendations are a last resort. You are NOT safe in these places just marginally safer than in the open.



A story of a biker killed riding in lightning

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/ltg/ltg_...iker_fatal.php

 

Oops , guess what I was driving in on Wednesday. I had my enduro out and traveled about an hour to get to a doc appointment. Made it there just in time to miss the huge down poor of a storm. After the appt was over I just thru on my rain gear and made my way home. Roads were full of pooling water and my boots were/still are drenched.

It was pretty warm out so I didn't mind, there was lots of lightning also. Eh, when it's my time, fate will run it's course however needed.

 

Yes there is nothing quite lik.e giving fate a helping hand though!! ..lol

Jules




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I dunno...I remember this story awhile back

http://www.kcra.com/news/14465267/detail.html#

 

I guess there will always be that one bolt determined to wipe you out of existence but it is generally accepted that the car acts as a faraday cage and the charge travels around the outside of the vehicle leaving the occupants alone provided they don't touch any metal work ... Top Gear once tested this and I think they put Richard Hammond in a car that they then zapped with bolt after bolt of electricity ..he was fine!! :-)

Jules

 

screw it im riding through it...allready soaking wet..just want to get home and dry off

 

Goodbye Justin ..it was nice knowing you!! :-)

 

I have rode through about two weeks ago....sometimes you just get caught out in one

 

oh..that lil guy? Yea, that just tickles!

 

Well it should dry you off a bit at least ..lol


Jules