Category: Zen and the Art of Group Riding

Is Riding a Motorcycle Dangerous?

Before I start I will say I am an avid rider and have been for years so it’s possible this collection of thoughts are biased. I’ll answer the question up front. Is riding a motorcycle dangerous? The answer is yes, but, if you ride you already knew that.

To prepare for this little narrative I did a considerable amount of research to determine the number and type of accidents and the cumulative nature of sustained injuries. Oddly enough each report I read contradicted the one before so, lucky for you, this chronicle will contain very few statistical facts, but will contain real data based on my years of riding experience.

There are a number of variables that make riding dangerous. The environment, road conditions, wildlife, other occupants on the highways, rider attitude and the attitude and driving habits of cagers to name a few. An occurrence that will not blip on the radar screen of a cager will get the full attention of a rider. For the benefit of all, a “cager” is any person in a car or truck; pretty much anything that is not a motorcycle—the car is your cage.

From a rider’s perspective the biggest danger is the distracted cager. You can dispute that if you like but the fact remains, from our perspective cagers are the most looming hazard to our riding experience. If a rider wizzes by you on the street it is not because they want to go faster or show off, well, maybe for some, but for most of us it is because we want to get out of your blind spot; what we refer to as “the kill zone.” We want to be as far away from you as possible because we know, right after you hit us, the first words out of your mouth will be, “But officer, I didn’t see’em!”

Most cagers, who is not a rider, will look around as they drive and acknowledge other cagers. Their brain is not geared to register a motorcycle; even if they look straight at it. I’ve seen it time and time again. I’ve had cagers look right at me, or at least in my direction, and pull right out in front of me. They looked, but they did not see. I cannot count the number of times a cager has pulled into my lane when I am right beside their window and surely within their peripheral vision. They looked but they did not see. I cannot count the number of times a cager in opposing traffic has turned left in front me. They looked but they did not see. You will drive and not notice other cagers talking/texting on the phone. When I ride I know who is talking on the phone and they get my attention real fast because I know they have no concept of the danger they are inflicting on those around them. It’s not your fault, you’re cagers and you can’t help it. Well, actually you can. You all know someone who rides whether it be a family member, friend or co-worker. From this fact alone you should be able to surmise that, while in your cage, your family member, friend or co-worker is out there riding the same streets so take an extra second to really look, focus not only on other cagers but on motorcycles too.

Yes, there are reckless riders out there, but there are reckless cagers too. The bad attitude that plagues some riders is the same attitude held by some cagers. We are often our worst enemy. But, it does not have to be that way. Here’s a little game that will help us all.

While driving, count the number of motorcycles you see and give yourself points for each one. For every ten points you get, treat yourself to something you would otherwise deny yourself—like one of your favorite cookies. When you reach 100 points then buy yourself that new thing you have been eyeing for weeks—or eat a whole box of cookies. Do this for a week or two and your brain will be attune to motorcycles and you will never find yourself in a position to say, “But Officer, I didn’t see’em!” The one you “don’t see” just before you hit them may be a family member, a friend or a co-worker. The alternative is not something you will want to live with.

2016-05-25
The Inevitable Crash

As we ride we know calamity is just a matter of time. Murphy’s Law says, “If you ride you will crash.” It is not a matter of if, but a matter of when and how bad. We can take available Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses and we can ride with the right attitude. We can also keep watch for obstacles and hazards and evade as needed, but all that will, at some point, fail us when we meet that distracted driver or the deer that wants to cross the highway.

So, how can we ensure we will never crash? Well… you can’t. But you can prepare for that inevitable day and act accordingly. There is an organization out there called “Road Guardians” and their intent is to prepare riders for that day. Ask yourself, “What will you do if your lifelong friend has an accident?” How will you react? What do you have on hand that could be used to render aid to your friend? Do you know how to render aid?

There is a term used by medical practitioners, “The Golden Hour.” The Golden Hour is the amount of time that it should take to get from the accident to the hospital. Short of a catastrophic event, what happens within the first few minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Ask yourself one more question. How would you feel if your loved one crashed and you stood there and watched them die… not able to prevent it but knowing someone with the proper training and proper equipment could have saved them? The answer is obvious.

There are a few options available to you. One is to plan your rides to always stay within a block of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) station or Hospital. Another is never ride unless there is a fully equipped EMT riding with you. Yet another is to spend thousands of dollars on training and equipment to be an EMT yourself; shouldn’t take more than a year or two depending on your schedule.

But there is another option. This option is well within the grasp of every rider. Contact Road Guardians (www.roadguardians.org) and schedule yourself for Accident Scene Management (or you could say “A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist”). The Basic and Advance courses can be completed in a weekend. This will not make you an EMT, but it WILL prepare you and equip you with the resources needed to render aid for the most prevalent of injuries received in a motorcycle accident. Don’t get me wrong, this is not an advertisement for Road Guardians, but it is a call to action aimed at you to prepare yourself for that day. I’m not going to claim this as solid truth but am confident most deaths from motorcycle related accidents come from a lack of quickly administered aid. More often than not if an injured rider gets into the hands of an EMT they will survive. The key is to treat serious injury until the EMTs arrive. An inability to breathe and excessive bleeding will claim a life in a matter of minutes.

We travel the roads less traveled which means we are often 30 minutes (or more) from an EMT station. If you can control the breathing and bleeding of the victim there is a significant chance the rider will survive until the EMTs arrive. If you make no attempt then there is no chance. Some accidents are catastrophic and there is nothing anyone can do; death is instantaneous. Many accidents result in an injury that, if treated quickly using simple techniques, do not result in death, but if the injury is not treated quickly then death ensues.

Every responsible rider should know 1^st Aid and carry a basic aid bag and also know how to manage a motorcycle accident scene. How would you feel if you could have saved your friend, but did not because you did not take the time to learn some very simple techniques?

The next move is yours; don’t wait. Rather than sit in your house during the winter and dream of riding you can take the time to properly prepare for riding; prepare for that day when your friend will need you the most.

2014-11-21
Zen – Part 3

In part three of “Zen and The Art of Group Riding” we will discuss the cager.

A cager is not your friend, not necessarily by design or intentional, but the fact remains. It’s hard enough to outmaneuver a cager when riding single, but riding in a group only means the cagers will find themselves in a target rich environment. While riding single the cager must take calculated aim and cater the approach to ensure a hazardous interaction. In a group all they need to do is change lanes and they are going to hit someone without even trying. We all know what the first words spoken by the survivor of such encounters are, “But Officer, I DIDN’T SEE THEM!!!” Of course they don’t mention the fact they were texting or taking a picture or looking for their favorite CD just about the time they made contact with the rider.

I’m not privy to the statistic showing the percentage of riders hit by cagers verses rider only accidents but I feel safe in saying the cagers are leading the pack in kill ratio. The driving habits of cagers is probably one of the specific reasons authorities will not allow us to carry a gun. Were it my call not only would we have direct fire capability in the group we would have the ability to call for in-direct fire as well as air cover for tactical support. Sadly, even the occasional direct fire intervention seems to bring about unwanted attention. Not sure why. So, suffice it to say we must keep our eyes on them and maintain situational awareness of all cagers in our vicinity. Take your eyes off of them for one second and they will put you in the ditch.

As far as 18-wheelers are concerned, I will sum that up in a very short sentence. While passing an 18-wheeler consider yourself knocked down a few notches on the food chain. An 18-wheeler transporting livestock carries its own set of hazards; hazards which should be avoided at all costs.

2014-11-04
Zen – Part 2

Regardless, whether you ride solo or with a group there are standard safety practices that must apply. Tire pressure, chain or belt tension, functional lights, mirrors and personal protective gear to name a few all apply. Some riders take these safety issues seriously and others give it them a casual thought.

It all comes down to “situational awareness.” I went to a public school so I don’t recall who said, “…with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction…” but I am smart enough to know with regard to a group ride what happens to one happens to all; either directly or indirectly. Maintaining situational awareness is the key to a safe, enjoyable, Murphy-free ride. We all know who Murphy is; he’s the guy who ensures if your bike breaks down it will break down far from civilization. Situational awareness is knowing (relative to your position) where the closest rider is, to know the proximity of that cage coming up behind or beside you, and to be aware of what the cager in that cage is doing. Are your fellow riders alert? Are they aware of you and what you are doing? Is that cager alert? Or is the cager taking a picture or texting their friends about the long bike procession they are driving by. For those who may not know, a “cager” is the name given by bikers for the driver of an automobile and of course the “cage” is the automobile itself. Another part of situational awareness (perhaps more important) is your ability to know, or at least have a hint, what the rider in front and behind will do with regard to what you may do. Every action has a ripple effect in a group ride. What happens to the 5^th rider will affect the 6^th, 7^th, and every rider following the 7^th.

If you ride based on the 1 second rule is it 1 second behind the rider directly in front of you or 1 second behind the staggered rider, meaning 2 seconds behind the rider directly in front of you. Do you ride side by side? Some States have laws that require staggered riding. Side by side riding makes for a really cool procession, but this style of riding does not leave room for error. A rider’s best friend is an escape route. Riding in close proximity with each other, in a non-staggered configuration, will reduce and sometimes completely eliminate your escape route. No escape route means, if an escape is needed you will not escape. Granted, I just stated the obvious but how many of you reading this didn’t think of the obvious until after you read it? In the grand scheme of things I think a prudent person would agree side by side riding or using the 0.5 second rule is not conducive to a positive outcome were Murphy to enter the mix.

Proper spacing and vigilance is paramount when riding solo; even more so when riding in a group.

2014-10-27
Zen – Part 1

Ideas set forth in this series of articles are personal in nature and do not reflect the opinion of any particular club, any state law (unless specified) nor the opinion of that State Trooper who just wrote you a ticket for some seemingly unnecessary reason.

For a biker the only thing cooler than seeing a long procession of bikes on the road is being part of that procession. Riding as a group has innumerable advantages and disadvantages. Advantages range from development of an “Esprit-De-Corps”, group or club cohesion, personal protection, and a grand show of support for a particular event, cause or rally. The list could go on and on, but I think we would all agree, regardless of the premise, a group run is an awesome sight. The more bikes there are the better the show.

However, I believe disadvantages are more numerous than the advantages. Perhaps “disadvantage” is not the correct word here; let’s refer to them as “obstacles” or possible “hazards.” It can be said the more riders you have the more obstacles come into play. This is a true statement for no other reason than the accumulation of different riding styles and varied levels of experience. The people drawn to riding are a different breed; a little more independent, a bit more self-reliant, and slightly more capable of handling adversity than the average person. Perhaps not a hardened rule 100% of the time, but I choose to believe it is the case more often than not. Take all these self-reliant, independent people and put them together and the mix can be precarious at best. Some riders enjoy the leisurely ride down a winding road with the occasional stop at a scenic view while others enjoy pushing the limits of the envelope; going from point A to point B as quickly as possible.

While riding with a group, all personal riding preferences need to take a back seat for the benefit of the group. A maneuver you do every day and feel comfortable with could create confusion with other riders or create an unsafe environment. Some riders prefer the 2 second rule while others use a 4 second rule, still others live on the edge and use the 0.5 second rule. Some ride side by side, others prefer staggered. Some clubs have set rules and are unwavering with regard to these rules. Some understand defensive riding, but feel offensive riding is more fun.

If you ride because it is an economical mode of transportation then you may not understand the premise of these articles. If you ride because it is your passion, your way of life, your reason for existing then it is possible you will find these articles boring because all this information has rolled through your head already while riding that endless road. I would submit to my fellow riders that thinking while riding is all there is to do; that and look for State Troopers. I’ll not bore you with group hierarchy or hand signals; these are, for the most part, universal across this great nation of riders. What I will try to convey to you is a set of ideas that will not only give you a moment of pause (hopefully), but also try and set the stage for a needed sense of urgency for the safe and organized group ride.

More to follow….

2014-10-25
Zen and the Art of Group Riding

If given a choice of riding with a group or riding solo I would prefer to ride solo. However, there are some caveats to that. If riding in a benefit or a community event then the group dynamic is probably what you are going to engage. If I know all the riders in the group and have ridden with them in the past then I don’t mind… So much.

Family and Friends

It’s that new group of people who set me on edge. I don’t know them, I don’t know their riding styles nor do I know their riding ability. There are a number of dynamics that come into play while in a group ride. Some are good and some are not so good.

Over the next few weeks I am going to submit, through this BLOG, a series of thoughts about the group ride. We’ll call it, “Zen and the Art of Group Riding” for lack of a better title.

I hope you will join me and I sincerely hope you will provide to me your ideas and comments on my thoughts. I take constructive criticism very well… unless of course it comes from a family member, friend, co-worker, associate or a stranger.

2014-10-25