Look Twice - Save a Life
I read several motorcycle blogs and recently read this on Cyril Huze’s blog. I have to reiterate his comments as there is little worse than losing a fellow biker. Each year at major events for motorcyclists there are deaths. The larger the event, the more casualties we seem to have. Last year Bike Week saw 20 riders go down permanently.
Riding safety can be tough at large events, especially with so many opportunities to over indulge. If you can’t ride, take a cab. If you think you can ride, but you’ve had a lot to drink, take a cab. Don’t ride on the back with a buddy. You could take both to the hospital.
When you’re riding at an event, keep an extra close eye on cages. Cars and trucks often don’t see bikes and cause 60% of all motorcycle fatalities through their careless drivers. At large events, with hundreds and thousands of bikes the four-wheelers can lose track of you. Look twice before you turn. Look twice before changing lanes. Look twice when you see a vehicle approaching you and keep alternatives in mind.
Technology has made it possible to do a lot of things on a motorcycle that you would have previously only done in a car. Listening to tunes while you ride is nice, but you may want to turn it off when you’re out in traffic. Save it for the open highway. Even cell phones can be used with the right gear. Leave it off. You can check it when you dismount and call them back.
The Bike Week safety campaign is a great start. We have a lot of motorcycle events in Florida and as the weather warms across the country, the events grow to the point that there isn’t a week without several happening. Ride safe. If you breakdown, get as far off the road as you can. If you can’t get the bike far off, get yourself away from traffic. They’ll make more bikes.