![\"texting\"](\"https:\/\/stevebriscoe.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/texting.png\")
<\/p>\nBefore I start I will say I am an avid rider and have been for years so it\u2019s possible this collection of thoughts are biased. I\u2019ll answer the question up front.\u00a0 Is riding a motorcycle dangerous?\u00a0 The answer is yes, but, if you ride you already knew that.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 An occurrence that will not blip on the radar screen of a cager will get the full attention of a rider.\u00a0 For the benefit of all, a \u201ccager\u201d is any person in a car or truck; pretty much anything that is not a motorcycle\u2014the car is your cage.<\/p>\n
From a rider\u2019s 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.\u00a0 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 \u201cthe kill zone.\u201d\u00a0 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, \u201cBut officer, I didn\u2019t see\u2019em!\u201d<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen it time and time again.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had cagers look right at me, or at least in my direction, and pull right out in front of me.\u00a0 They looked, but they did not see.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 They looked but they did not see.\u00a0 I cannot count the number of times a cager in opposing traffic has turned left in front me.\u00a0 They looked but they did not see.\u00a0 You will drive and not notice other cagers talking\/texting on the phone.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 It\u2019s not your fault, you\u2019re cagers and you can\u2019t help it.\u00a0 Well, actually you can.\u00a0 You all know someone who rides whether it be a family member, friend or co-worker.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 We are often our worst enemy.\u00a0 But, it does not have to be that way.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a little game that will help us all.<\/p>\n
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\u2014like one of your favorite cookies.\u00a0 When you reach 100 points then buy yourself that new thing you have been eyeing for weeks\u2014or eat a whole box of cookies.\u00a0 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, \u201cBut Officer, I didn\u2019t see\u2019em!\u201d \u00a0The one you \u201cdon\u2019t see\u201d just before you hit them may be a family member, a friend or a co-worker.\u00a0 The alternative is not something you will want to live with.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Before I start I will say I am an avid rider and have been for years so it\u2019s possible this collection of thoughts are biased. I\u2019ll answer the question up front.\u00a0 Is riding a motorcycle dangerous?\u00a0 The answer is yes, but, if you ride you already knew that. To prepare for this little narrative I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,11,12,14],"tags":[15,37,42,46,48,56,57,59,62,66],"class_list":["post-253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hoka-hey-motorcycle-challenge","category-just-thoughts","category-solitary-without-the-confinement","category-zen-and-the-art-of-group-riding","tag-hokahey","tag-hoka-hey","tag-iron-horse","tag-motorcycle-accident","tag-motorcycles","tag-riding","tag-road-guardians","tag-safe-riding","tag-solitude","tag-wisdom"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t