Do you stop?

[Papa Lazarou]

In the old days, we bikers stopped to help out anyone in trouble. I remember stopping for a couple of Hells Angels, who insisted on showing me their weaponry ( ), but still helped out.

It seems those ways and days are going.

I'll stop and help out-sometimes with little effect-anyone at all. Part of the biking brotherhood and it sometimes results in another adventure.

[kevin_stevens]

"It depends".  Quick assessment with a lot of criteria regarding location, risk to stopping, risk to stopped rider, cell phone in evidence, likely response time, my available time/resources, etc.

KeS

[RRdvark]

If I am by myself I usually stop.  If I am transporting the kids or the wife I usually don't stop.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

"It depends".  Quick assessment with a lot of criteria regarding location, risk to stopping, risk to stopped rider, cell phone in evidence, likely response time, my available time/resources, etc.

KeS

I answered "always", but the above criteria is used

[sammyseaman]

"It depends".  Quick assessment with a lot of criteria regarding location, risk to stopping, risk to stopped rider, cell phone in evidence, likely response time, my available time/resources, etc.

KeS

 

[napper]

I'll at least get an idea if they need help and stop if it appears they do.  Even if I don't have any tools or anything, an offer of a cell phone, make a call from the down the road, or whatever may help redeem someone's day.  

I've had countless rider stop to see if need help when I've been stopped on the side of the road resting, stretching or taking pics.  I just try to do my part to keep the karma wheel turning.

[kevin_stevens]

I answered "always", but the above criteria is used

Just shows how much nicer a person you are!  

KeS

[squeezer]

"It depends".  Quick assessment with a lot of criteria regarding location, risk to stopping, risk to stopped rider, cell phone in evidence, likely response time, my available time/resources, etc.

KeS

+1, so I voted for "other."  As a general rule, yes.  Occasionally, no.  Most of the "no" cases are when stopping might be unsafe and it appears the situation is being handled anyway.  Most of the time, I'll just slow down and give them a thumb's up. If they return it, I'm on my way.

Stopped for a lost Gold Wing trike on the way to work this morning. Luckily, he was only a block away from where he needed to go.

[bomber]

I selected "always," but much of the time, slowing down will produce a wave, a thumbs up and a thank you from the rider -- I take this to mean that everything is OK, and keep on down the hall, er, road.

It'd be a real wakeup to find that I'd been disapointing riders for decades by misinterpreting their relief at getting help as a sing that they didn't need any.

;-}

[miles]

I slow and give the "thumbs up" signal.  If they return it. I head on my way.  If they give me the thumbs down or some similar signal, I'll stop and see if I can help.

[MadMax96]

Most of the time I'm on my way to work and just don't have the time - but those folks generally look to have things under control anyway (on the phone, etc..).

I have stopped a couple of times - once I helped someone push start their CBR.  I was in full gear and was melting from the extreme heat.. but it was worth it since I knew I helped out.  Thankfully a truck stopped traffic to give us room for the push and to let me back in when I was ready to leave.  Cars were honking behind him but he didn't budge.  I think he had Fire dept. plates.

I stopped one other time and asked the guy "you ok???"  He gave me a thumbs up and I was on my way.  

[Tony T]

Always.

But never taken up on my offer of help so far. Even from the goldwing that had a flat tire on the shoulder of the interstate in the middle of BFE. I told him I had a plug kit and a compressor. But apparently a goldwing is too heavy for that and towing it to a dealer is a better option. Who knew?

[chornbe]

I'll say "always" but only 'cause that's the closest option. If there's already assistance on-site, or it's a group thing, or of the logistics just don't allow for it, no. They're likely covered.

On the way home from the National, before the bike when on the trailer for the trek up the interstate, I was out enjoying the WV and VA roads and we came across a guy broken down. I pulled over to check and when the wife came along, she pulled over, too. I offered to give him a trailer ride if needed, and he already had someone coming.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

There are three distinct times I've stopped (although there are more, I'm sure)

1 - desert of Utah, a couple were on the side of the interstate in the blazing sun. He was pushing the bike to a nearby overpass. I pulled over to help, but he had things under control (out of gas, someone coming with gas and heading for shade).

2 - rush hour traffic on I-5 in downtown Seattle. Bike on the north bound lane, me in the southbound. I stopped on the near shoulder anyway and called over to see if she needed help. She declined. (I-5 is nasty during rush hour; I'd hate to be stuck there!)

3 - middle o' nowhere, BC. An older bike on the side of the road with a car parked behind it. The car driver (young female) looked rather clueless, so despite my initial thought of "He has help", I turned around to offer my assistance, seeing as I had bike tools, oil and gas in my "trunk". Turned out he had just bought the bike and his girlfriend was following him home. He used the oil and was on his way  

[Corbeau]

[dm_gsxr]

Yea, I'm an "Always" too but with the same caveats. If it looks like the guy's ok, cell phone or waves me off I'll continue on.

Most recently I was heading south on 25 on the 'busa and sitting in the median next to the jersey barrier (like 2' of space between him and the fast lane) was a guy who looked stuck. I headed to the exit, looped around, exit again to loop back south and pulled into a wider spot and walked back. He'd just bought the bike up in Ft Collins and was bringing it home with it died. He pulled off and couldn't get it going again. I gave him a ride to the next accessible exit to get gas and took him back. When that didn't work, I called Rita and she got on the local bike site to see if someone was available with a truck to pick the guy up. Unfortunately no one was around so I took him back to the same gas station where he called a friend to come get him.

That was probably the most involved I've been with helping someone though. Mostly it's just offering tools or a cell phone so the guy can call a friend.

Carl

[Wanderer]

I slow and give the "thumbs up" signal.  If they return it. I head on my way.  If they give me the thumbs down or some similar signal, I'll stop and see if I can help.

I voted 'other- explain'  and do this.  

I almost always get the 'I'm good' wave.
I'll definintely stop if they look to be actually working on the bike, or the bike/rider is down.

[nater]

I've never seen anyone broke down with a bike...so OTHER applies to me.

[HipGnosis]

The poll really needs another option:  I always slow down to evaluate the situation and then act accordingly.

I've turned around when I couldn't tell what one guys hand-wave meant - he was just taking a break.
I've been shoo'd away from a harley / rider.
I had to tell 3 guys how to push start a harley - they wouldn't let me help physically (but I was the smallest person there).  After 2 failed attempts (that I saw) they took my advice of putting it in 2nd.
I've given a ride to the next phone (before cell-phones).
I've been shoo'd away from a guy takin a leak.

The brand, style or size of the bike is never a factor.
I won't stop for someone wearing colors of a known, notorious club simply because I met enough of them in days gone by to know they won't accept outside help.

[bluepoof]

"It depends".  Quick assessment with a lot of criteria regarding location, risk to stopping, risk to stopped rider, cell phone in evidence, likely response time, my available time/resources, etc.

I picked "other", for the exact reasons Kevin mentioned.

If it's a busy interstate and the rider is clearly on his cell phone, I won't stop.  

If it's on a backroad, I'll slow down and wait for the "I'm OK" or "oh, thank god someone stopped by" signal.