like a champ, even dropping her bike and scraping her knee,
but still finishing successfully! She completed her test and
received her “M” endorsement. She only rode solo on the
street for a short time, but she gained an appreciation for
motorcycle safety and more importantly it made her a more
aware driver in a car. I believe the motorcycle safety course
should be the prerequisite for anyone wishing to obtain a
driver’s license, even if they never intend on riding motorcycle
on the street. Perhaps, if everyone felt that vulnerability, even
briefly they could have a more visceral awareness when
they see motorcycles around them. Maybe then they would
keep their eyes on the road an d their phones down. And one
last thing, on that topic, I have actually heard people say, “ I
wasn’t texting I was checking my email.” Newsflash, emailing
is the same as texting! Ok, down off my soapbox for a minute.
As I write this article, I am riding through the Southwest. I
was headed west, but had to detour south from Colorado due
to snowstorms. Something that folks in cars rarely have to
consider, except in very extreme situations. As motorcyclists
we need to consider weather conditions constantly. In a car,
they are often taken or granted and settled with no more
than a flick of the windshield wipers. To add to the difficulty of
travel on this particular trip, I am writing from an unexpected
extended stay at the Inn of Governors in Santa Fe as a
result of a recent breakdown. One of the cells in my battery
collapsed and my bike simply stopped running. Fortunately, I
was able to recover quickly and safely, but that is not always
the case when the unexpected happens.
driver. With this in mind, being on the road can be dangerous.
It is filled with unexpected happenings. At the risk of sounding
like a lawyer, preparation is truly the best defense. Reports
show that on average 384 riders die in the U.S. every month.
That is an ominous 13 unlucky riders a day. It is a sobering
reminder, that we must all be careful out there.
I am passionate about motorcycle safety. I fully support the
“Check-Twice” campaign, but I am also, as I am sure many
readers are as well, painfully aware of the realistic dangers of
riding. In 2012, my father, rode with me from Colorado to Vegas.
He then flew home to Connecticut. Weeks later, he was riding
home from his local grocery store, from picking up a chicken, of
all things, when a neglectful driver pulled a “left hand Louie;” hit
and killed him. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about that.
Mere hours before leaving for my most recent trip, which has me
here in Santa Fe, a friend died while riding home. The details of
whether a car was involved or not, have yet to be released, but it
hurts nonetheless. It only reinforces how aware we all must be,
whether we are riding or driving.
As riders, we know, motorcycles are everywhere, but getting
motorists to recognize this requires more than slogans. Yes,
it is a start, but we must always be vigilant when we ride, not
aggressive, simply hyper-aware. Yes, it takes away some of
the freedom feeling that we all seek on two wheels, but if we
want to live to ride another day, it is a must. In the end, aren’t
we are all Somebody’s Baby?
In Memory of Brian Sanders of Colorado and my dad, Chris
Motorcycle awareness, is much more than drivers being more Trey of Bolton, CT and to everyone who has lost a loved one
aware and riders watching out for cars. Proper maintenance, pursuing their passion of two wheels . . .
basic pre-ride safety checks, and having proper insurance
and endorsements on our person when riding are all very Joe Trey
important. As a rider, we often check out tires, fluids, mirror
Adventure Hermit
positions, cables, etc. prior to riding; perhaps not as often as
Don’t go anywhere . . . Go Somewhere!
we should, but far more often than the average automobile
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
May 2015
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 7