If you are a motorcyclist, you understand. We know why we ride.
As a goodwill ambassador for motorcycling and the powesports industry, consider the brothers and sisters that we represent, and remember what our goal is when we engage with non-riders. I don’t need to be right about motorcycling. More importantly I don’t need to prove anything to motorists that don’t have an appreciation for two wheels on the open road.
I find my happy place on two wheels. For me, riding is a form of meditation. There’s a lot to keep up with when I’m on my motorcycle, but it takes a singular focus on existing in the moment and of being aware of what is going on around you. It requires your attention to the point that you don’t have time to let your mind wander. Being able to escape the pressures of work and life responsibilities is valuable on its own.
When I put my kickstand up, I recognize that I’m taking a measured risk. I hope I can trust the other drivers to be responsible on the road but I also respect that I have a personal responsibility to keep myself safe by being aware of what’s going on around me. If I’m not watching out for me, it’s hard to trust others will.
When I talk to motorcyclists, I try to ask about rider training classes. Even if you’re a veteran rider with decades of experience,there’s still a class out there for you.
I was surprised by how many long term riders there were in our class when my wife and did the Basic Rider Course several years ago.
My riding instructors stressed the importance of personal responsibility when I’m riding. I am my best first defense when I’m on the road. Taking the BRC improved my driving as well. I drive like I’m riding. I spent several years working as a chauffeur. Maybe that time makes it easier for me to respect the techniques motorcyclists use on the road.
When you’re driving passengers they have placed their trust in you to watch out & keep them safe; even in unexpected and at times unpredictable situations.
I look forward to retaking the BRC as a refresher. I plan on following it up with the Advanced Rider Course.
I’ve talked to riders that have hung their helmets up. Not that they don’t have faith in their riding skills but that they don’t enjoy riding when they feel like they got to keep up with every car on the road.
Instead of taking pleasure in being out on two wheels enjoying nature they find it stressful.
Motorcyclists are killed and seriously injured every day. Each day there are a new crop of accident stories in my news feed. I could pick a new injured rider to talk about every day of the year. But I can’t. I simply don’t want to process all the lives affected by these accidents. Motorcycle accidents are tragic, and quite often avoidable. Sometimes it’s rider error and part of the time it’s someone else’s careless oversight that leads to it. Any rider that’s been injured in an accident deserves a helping hand. I have to focus my efforts on proactive messages. I don’t agree with the shock style messages with gory accident scene photos. If you want them, they’re out there. Just ask google.
I recently connected with a young man that was injured in motorcycle versus car accident. He posted in a powersports group looking for advice from fellow riders on whether he should share photos from his wreck & recovery.
By far the people that responded encouraged him to share the pics. Some included that they felt the graphic accident photos would cause people to pause & recognize the responsibility they accept when they drive.
They have the same goal that I do. We all recognize the roads would be safer if non-riders were at least equally as aware of motorcyclists as they are any other passenger vehicle.
I have a goal of helping riders to stay safe while they are out.
I work towards that goal in a variety of ways. The most obvious being my riding gear shop in Oregon Ohio.
I use my social media connections to share links to rider safety info, anti texting while driving campaigns, basically any public service announcements that can make the roads safer for everyone regardless of how many wheels they’re on.
So many say the key to motorcycle safety is to park it. It’s a first-world perspective, where a car is a practical form of transportation and a motorcycle is a luxury for
I’m planning to mark off a proper S-box in my parking lot and having events where riders can pay a fee to ride the box. We’ll donate what we collect to a good cause.
When you’ve been in an motorcycle accident, and you talk to people about it, the first thing they usually ask is:
Were you wearing a helmet?
Whose fault was it?
Will you ride again?
Did you have a motorcycle license?
The big industry groups like the one about the license endorsement. As soon as you say you didn’t have a license, they are done with you. You are relegated to being another notch on the bedpost of irresponsibility and ignorance… because if you don’t have a license, you aren’t a motorcyclist.
I think that bikers should get the endorsement. I don’t know how it goes down where you ride, but if you get pulled over riding a motorcycle without a license in Ohio, you will watch your bike hauled off to the impound lot laying on it’s side on a flatbed.
I have seen some very nice bikes left to rot in the soft gravel impound lots too often. The wrecker driver unloads it, maybe it ends up on a kickstand, maybe he leaves it on its side so it doesn’t end up falling over when the tires go low. Either way, there’s your baby laying in the wet pea gravel; slowly corroding.
You aren’t getting it out of the lot until you show at least that you have insurance on it, and I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to get motorcycle insurance without an endorsement, but you might as well be a high school kid on a crotch rocket when the bill comes.
I don’t appreciate when others are judgmental & offer criticism to no good end.
The non-rider general population lacks perspective that we as motorcyclists sometimes take for granted.