Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
Never more so than on a motorcycle.
Bicycles are just as prone to being hit if you are on the road as motorcycle (I had a coupla buds in Edison without cars OR motorcycles - they were both hit multiple times over the years); if you need transportation and are on a shoestring, a motorcycle is the way to go.
That doesn't mean you have to get some kind of ninja death-machine, or some hulking brute of a bike - [link|http://www.imrics.net/publish/Steed/|mine] was soley for transport, not for showing off - it was only a little 250. I was told from early on that you always wear the gear (helmet, jacket, jeans, gloves, boots MINIMUM) to minimize the 'road-rash' effect. The kids you see screaming down the road at 100 miles an hour wearing shorts, sneakers and a tee shirt simply aren't long for this world.
Now, they ARE more suceptible to the weather than cars, it's true - and riding requires more attention than driving a car.. but I don't see you being careless with one.
There are intangible benefits, too. Riding is WAY, WAY more pleasurable than driving - in ways it can be hard to describe to someone that has only driven.
And, of course, many 'chicks' dig motorcycles.
