May stands for Motorcycle Mindfulness

Finally, an assignment I can't speak from first-hand experiences and really from the heart. Usually it takes me some time to find an article or blog I feel I can write enough about. This time, I found two! Let me begin with giving some background information to credit my point of view. I have been riding motorcycles on public roads now for a year. I have laid my bike down a few times as well. "Laying a bike down" puts the focus on the vehicle, not the rider. Jackets, gloves and helmets can protect you from road rash and save your life, but there is still the impact with hitting the ground or a vehicle with your body that cannot be ignored. Debris in the road, roadkill, litter, cracks, potholes, etc are potentially fatal to a motorcyclist. When you get a small fender bender in the parking lot and mindlessly, carelessly don't clean up the black plastic that looks like road tar and a motorcyclist drives over it turning out of a Walmart parking lot, the front wheel rides on that plastic like a ski, and the rider goes down. I know from experience. Motorcyclists are watching for so much more than just other cars. Constantly checking for clearances, distracted drivers, potentially dangerous situations, obstacles in the road etc that most automobile drivers don't think twice about because it isn't thought of as, as life threatening.



Geneva wrote a blog "Critiquing:Motorcyclists and safety" commenting on A.Jones' blog "Motorcyclists and Safety". I must say, some of the views in the former blog are a bit skewed. See, I am one of those motorcyclists you think are reckless, but I witness all the reckless driving firsthand more so than yourself. I ride next to drivers and can see into their vehicles. I witness people eating bowls of soup, tacos which basically disassemble themselves while being consumed, hamburgers etc while driving. Eating while driving is distracting. The term "distracted driving" refers to anything that takes your eyes, hands or mind away from driving. Eating while driving is one of the most distracting things you can do, according to several surveys by insurance companies and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Tell me you, have never eaten food while driving? I have. I've witnessed drivers constantly, texting while driving. Which is not only distracting but unlawful in Austin. These drivers I wish to avoid.

Personally, I would rather have motorists behind me, where they can see me. I do speed, and rather frequently, but I'd rather be in front than on the side or behind a motorists where they cannot see me. Turning your head to check lane clearance is just good practice. Cars have blind spots and some are larger than others. It took me one scare to not ride next to a car again. People don't often check their blind spots, and I don't want my fate, my life to be in the hands of someone else's carelessness. It's called defensive driving, and it's understood more so by motorcyclists. As for speeding being reckless, I say it's a lot safer than riding next to the woman eating tacos on her drive back from her shortened lunch break due to traffic or the business man that can't miss another sick day eating a bowl of soup on his way to work. These sound like brash examples, but I've seen it. Lane splitting is against the law, but between stopped vehicles, being between two cars is the safest. These measures are actually taught in the motorcycle driving course. If someone's brakes go out or doesn't judge a distance and ends up rear ending a driver, being between the automobiles where you can potentially escape the accident is much safer. I'd rather not be sandwiched between two heavy pieces of machinery. Again, this is all defensive driving which is taught in the class. Popping wheelies is reckless. I agree with you on that. I think perhaps your perspective on motorcyclists may be a bit influenced by those that are reckless and that ride without protection.



As far as A.Jones' blog goes, there should be more motorcycle safety promotion. A lot of drivers are not aware of the risks that motorcyclists take. There are a lot more things to be aware of. Drunk riding accounts for href="http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Alcohol_Awareness.pdf"46% of fatal motorcycle crashes. Motorcycle safety promotions need to go for both drivers. Many people aren't as mindful for other motorists as they should be and motorcyclists are at the top of the list for accidents involving serious injury. Motorcycle awareness promotion is very important. Dedicating a month to it is not meaningless. There are months dedicated to other things so dedicating a month to promote awareness I think is potentially life saving, potentially saving my life, and therefore I think it is important. The statement, helmets save lives is wrong. Helmets CAN save lives. Personally, I never ride without a helmet, but any knowing adult knows that it's wiser to ride with than without a helmet. There are already laws about helmets and mandating the use of them. Any rider, under 18 is required to have a helmet, and any passenger on the bike is also required. I don't agree with riding without a helmet but everyone knows, fatal accidents are less likely with a helmet. It should remain a choice.





At the end of this video it reads "What do we have to do to get noticed?"