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News › Motorcyclists Play a Vital Role in Our Cities
Michael Morris of The Facts in Clute, Texas attempts to debunk myths.
They whir past in a blur on the highways, the high-pitched whine of the foreign engine startling to our ears. They weave through the sea of SUVs, pickups and cars with recklessness, barely seeming to notice or care about the tons of metal with which they’re sharing the road.
When it comes to motorcycle riders, those are pieces of the stereotypical picture we paint. But while true for a handful of riders, the image is not typical for most of them. Look no further than events coming up in the next week to see how false the portrayal can be.
Today, hundreds of motorcycle riders will be pitching in for an afternoon jaunt from Angleton to Freeport to raise money for the Brazoria County chapter of the American Red Cross, one of a series of rides motorcyclists take part in year after year to support their community.
Also on the highways are members of the Brazoria County Cavalry, who support our soldiers by providing patriotic escorts, whether the serviceman or woman is coming home from war or preparing to depart to it. Army Pvt. Keith Miller will be the beneficiary of an escort Saturday, and members will be riding next Sunday to support a fundraiser for Spc. Brad Thomas, who was wounded in Iraq in January.
Most of the people who choose to travel the roads on half the number of wheels as the rest of us are our neighbors, safety-conscious, considerate of other drivers and just as determined to make it home in one piece as the rest of us.
Of late, however, it seems that is something that’s become harder for motorcycle riders to do.
The scanner traffic we have picked up in our newsroom and the reports coming into area police departments in the last two weeks have been filled with reports of collisions involving motorcycles and full-sized vehicles.
Fortunately, many have resulted in non-life threatening injuries, though not all of them.
The high incidence of motorcycle-vehicle collisions needs to remind all of us of the need to share the road as well as the responsibility to respect and be aware of all those around us, regardless whether their mode of transportation comes with two or four wheels.
This is especially true at intersections, where about 70 percent of motorcycle-vehicle collisions occur, according to information compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The federal agency’s Web site contains a pamphlet geared toward motorcycle riders that offers guidance on how they can travel safely on the highway and avoid accidents. Among the bits of advice is an offering from experienced riders, who say “Assume that you are invisible to motorists” and operate your motorcycle accordingly.
But putting all the onus on the two-wheelers doesn’t seem right either. The vehicle owner many times is the one to blame for an accident with a motorcycle, and with more riders on the road with the onset of consistently warmer weather, they must be as conscious of their presence as ever.
This editorial was written by Michael Morris, assistant managing editor of The Facts.
Posted by editor on Sunday, April 13, 2008 (19:58:57) (188 reads)
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