No, I am not out on some vendetta against Steve! 
It just seems like the two of us sometimes see things in a different light, and I will provide a different viewpoint of the same news. Steve’s blog entry caught my attention, since I live in North Carolina, and the headlines of his blog and his commentary sounded like it could be discrimination against bikers. The actual news story can be read here.
What the article refers to is statements from N.C. Highway Patrol 1st Sgt. Keith Stone, after three bikers were killed in two days and another biker was involved in a high speed chase, with speeds up to 140 mph. Steve says:
Here we go again with another case of government claiming to be so concerned for our safety, that they have to give chase to us and apprehend us. If state and local governments could put so much effort into pursuing violent crimes as they do in pusuing traffic violations, we’d have an even safer country.
If someone wants to kill themselves on a bike, let them. If someone wants to molest a little girl, go get them!
Now let’s look at the story behind this. Three bikers lost their lives. Two of these motorcycle riders did not have the required motorcycle endorsement on their drivers license. Motorcycle endorsements are the states way to try to assure that at least a minimum amount of skill and knowledge is possessed by those who choose to ride. This skill and knowledge could well have prevented the senseless loss of life in these two bikers’ situation! And to top it off, the statistics compiled on biker accidents and deaths do not care if the rider was totally new to motorcycles or even if they had the minimum skills. So, for laws to be passed based on these statistics means that people who break the law about having proper endorsements will eventually put unnecessary burden on the majority of us bikers who do have the skill and credentials to ride.
The other part of the story tells of a high speed chase at 140 mph. Do I need to say that at 140 mph, even a lighter motorcycle is a deadly bullet if the rider hits someone? So it is not a matter of “If someone wants to kill themselves on a bike, let them”. Someone riding like that is threatening everyone on the road!
I have seen my share of discrimination against the biker, and more than my share of police harassment just because I choose to ride motorcycle. But this story does not give rise to either thought.
March 30th, 2007
With the cancellation of the Heritage Motorcycle rally, I wrote that the Low Country bikers and businesses were planning a somewhat smaller biker event. This event is not meant to be a replacement for the Heritage rally, but as a celebration of “the freedom, excitement and beauty of spring time riding in the lowcountry”. Instead of one main location, like the Ladson Fairgrounds, the Charleston Lowcountry Bike Bash will have events all around the Low Country area.
When I first wrote about the Biker Bash, details were sketchy. While there are still more events in the planning stages, some of the area events and locations are now being announced. Events announced so far are occurring in Ladson, North Charleston, and Summerville, and include the following:
- A bike show, held the Pickled Parrot
- A bikini contest and a Sexy Leathers contest held at Rockafella’s
- Sexy bull riding at the Plex
- Live music at several of the area bars
- Vendors at several locations
I will try to keep you up to date as additional events are announced, but for now, those who already planned a week at the Heritage rally should instead plan on helping the Lowcountry bash as successful as possible. The dates are April 19th through April 21st, 2007.
March 29th, 2007
Today the Eden Daily News in Eden, NC reported on the deaths of two bikers, both from the local area, due to separate motorcycle wrecks.
On Sunday, 3/25, Samuel Benton Fulcher, 41, of Mayodan, wrecked on Va. Route 8 about four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway. He had been riding with a small group when a large bird flew out in front of him. As he tried to evade the bird, he lost control, swirved, hit a road sign, and his Harley Davidson motorcycle fell 70 feet to the bottom of the ridge.
On Monday, 3/26, Herman Junior McClary, 62, of Stoneville died Monday when a car pulled in front of him on N.C. 770. The driver of the car was a 72 year old lady, Dorothy Caudill Hand. When she failed to yield for a stop sign, Mr. McClary attempted to miss her, but was thrown from his Harley Davidson into the path of Ms. Hand, and the Hand Buick struck Mr. McClary.
The freedom we as bikers feel (the wind in our faces, open to the elements, just the general pleasure we get from riding) has a price. We are not surrounded with the protective metal frame provided by automobiles. Truly, that is one of the biggest pleasures I get from riding motorcycle. But the protection provided by your motorcycle is sadly lacking. A bird flying out in front of you can be quite painful if it hits you (Trust me, I have had it happen several times), but evading the blow, such as Mr. Fulcher tried to do, can have even worse consequences. I can only recommend that proper attire, such as a leather jacket, be worn to help spare some of the pain if you are Kamikazied by some forlorn bird. Any evasive maneuvers should remain under your control. Keeping both wheels on the ground, even at the cost of a bruise on your chest, will help ensure you can enjoy the freedom in the days to come.
Discussion of Mr. McClary’s tragic wreck is a little more personal. I already posted on my Brother-in-law’s motorcycle wreck for other reasons. But it is a hard fact that cagers do not typically pay attention to, nor yield right of way to bikers. I always treat each oncoming cager, each cager that is at a stop sign, each cager that is in the lane next to me, as someone who will try their darndest to run me over or off the road, and as such I always try to envision escape routes. Then, if the worst does start to happen, hopefully my instincts will take over and use one of the preconceived escape routes, thereby at least minimizing my potential injuries. And escape route may not mean completely avoid the wreck. It may mean a ‘controlled’ laydown of my motorcycle, so I can use the motorcycle to somewhat cushion the impact, and also to avoid being tossed over or under the oncoming cager.
My heart goes out to the two bikers who just lost their lives doing what they loved to do, as well as their families. My thoughts continue to be with you, my readers, and I hope you continue to ride safely! Keep the rubber side to the pavement, and watch out for those who cannot see…
March 27th, 2007
