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10-12-2007, 07:40 AM
| #1 |
| Post Whore (In Training) Joined: Jul 2006 From: Portland OR I Ride: v-strom 89 Transalp (selling) 06 DRZ400SM(selling) | Bad idea or Good idea All these tragic fallen rider threads got me thinking about doing something to raise awareness. Given that Halloween is coming, what about something, this year or next, on Halloween where riders dress in one of those black body suits that have a skeleton outlined on them, wearing helmet and gloves, carrying a sign that says DO YOU SEE ME NOW!!! R.I.P <riders name> Killed <date> Quote from police reports " I just didn't see him" etc. Get the info out to the press saying with all the extra awareness on Halloween saying watch out for little kids in dark costumes, we (riders) want to say be extra careful and see the kids tonight, and please see us tomorrow. Every child has parents, friends, siblings and they want to you watch out for them We have parents, children, family, and they want you to watch out for us. I am not the best judge of my own ideas and I can see how some families could find it in bad taste, but it could get a lot of news play and raise awareness. So good idea? bad idea? got a better idea? |
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10-12-2007, 08:39 AM
| #3 |
| MotoGP Champion | I think doing an awareness/memorial ride while wearing some sort of symbol (not sure about a skeleton suit, though) with the names of fallen riders would be very poignant and raise interest/awareness. I'd be for it. Lord knows MSF isn't doing SQUAT to make drivers aware of us. Perhaps it could raise funds, too (an entry fee/donation) that could be seed money for future rides or awareness efforts. |
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10-12-2007, 08:58 AM
| #4 |
| Post Whore (In Training) Joined: Jul 2006 From: Portland OR I Ride: v-strom 89 Transalp (selling) 06 DRZ400SM(selling) | skeleton costume is just for the halloween tie-in, but maybe something more along the lines of a rip off on the 'can you hear me know?' comercials, ie can you see me now?, maker, etc and a ride would also raise awarness. |
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10-12-2007, 09:10 AM
| #5 |
| MotoGP Contender Joined: Mar 2007 From: Portland/Beaverton I Ride: 2007 Yamaha R6s | I started working on sign ideas yesterday after my post...here are a few of the ideas, open to other ideas...also I've been emailed by a fellow rider out of washington that did an awareness day rally/ride with huge success...I've asked him to help mentor me along on where to begin. Additionally I contacted a few the riders friends on myspace to offer condolances and to offer a memorial ride... anyhow here are the signs, the idea would be to pick various locations on certain days each month to stand on the side of the rode in gear with the signs...     |
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10-12-2007, 09:58 AM
| #7 | |
| Pit Crew Joined: Sep 2007 From: Portland, Oregon I Ride: 2006 Yamaha R6s | 
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10-12-2007, 10:12 AM
| #8 |
| MotoGP Champion | I like the signs and the ideas. Two thoughts, though. Standing on the side of the road holding signs tends to indicate sad losers, even if it is for a good cause that I might support. When I see picketers, I most often think of how pathetic they look, how they have to resort to these cheap tactics because they have no other recourse. A stronger way to picket is to actually ride our bikes, which signals strength and reinforces our position on the road. I also kind of like the message "Look twice for bikes." Not that "Our lives depend on it" isn't good. Perhaps both can be used, or use them both in conjunction. Look twice for bikes" has some internal alliteration. And, for me, that is often what reminds me to be aware. When I start to make a right-hander across a bicycle lane, I'll pause and look again behind me, to make sure no bike is coming up the lane. |
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10-12-2007, 11:18 AM
| #12 |
| Pit Crew Joined: Sep 2007 From: Medford, OR I Ride: to make up for a small pecker | on the topic... what's oregon state laws about LED's/neons/HID's etc on motorcycles. I know some kids in cars use them to show off and it's against the law, but could motorcyclists use it for being more noticable? I'd ride a bike with multicolored flashing neons and a ice cream truck music player on it if I was safer in doing so. |
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10-12-2007, 11:33 AM
| #13 |
| Newbie Joined: Aug 2007 From: Beaverton, OR I Ride: Kawasaki Ninja 250 | I think raising awareness is the best we, as motorcyclists can do. However, in order to succeed, we must be diplomatic about it. The first rule of Dale Carnegie is that to be successful at influencing others, you mustn't chastise the party you wish to influence. Thus, signs (while factually accurate) admonishing cagers to look out for us (immediate response -- why should I, not my problem!) is not going to elicit the right response, I'd think. My thought is that we can organize a procession (maybe the along the burial route if the family is amenable) with each rider in the formation bearing a sign so forming a 'banner' that can be read by passing motorists. The message would state the facts of how this rider lost his life because of an unattentive motorist, and then plead/beseech drivers to share the road and be aware of motorcycles. Get the TV stations in on it so that the message get's broadcasted to a wider audience. |
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10-12-2007, 11:39 AM
| #14 |
| Superbiker  Joined: Oct 2006 From: Vanquiver, WA I Ride: RD400F Daytonut | i bet a naked ride with graphics on see through fish-net vests/tank tops would get the media's attention, if not the general public @ large. Everyone loves a spectacle (or in this case a testicle or a pair of pepperonis). |
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10-12-2007, 12:49 PM
| #15 |
| Zone Head Joined: Feb 2006 From: Bend, OR I Ride: 2004 Yamaha R1 | I have white LED's on my bike for night time riding. It's really helped my ability to be seen by other vehicles. I havn't been stopped yet, but who knows.. |
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10-12-2007, 03:18 PM
| #16 | |
| Pit Crew Joined: Jul 2007 From: Rickreall, Or I Ride: Honda CBR 1100xx |
Honestly....what a bunch of crap. Can you remember the last 5 protests or marches on TV? No. Hmmm... I dress in black, wear a black helmet and ride a black motorcycle. I personally chose the colors. I am responsible for not doing the most to be seen. I ride a vehicle that has zero protection and I would guess the lowest crash rating in the auto industry. Want to be seen? Wear bright colors. Wear an orange helmet. Get headlight and taillight modulators. Want to raise awareness? Have motorcycle safety bumper stickers on all of your cars (and your families and friends cars) Support groups that raise awareness with your time and money. Want to do something impactful? Lobby to make headlight/taillight modulators mandatory on new motorcycles. Or, piss off a lot of bikers and lobby to make safety vests mandatory riding equipment. I, however, want to do things that are less safe, such as lane splitting (traffic filtering). If you know of a group that is lobbing for that in Oregon, let me know. -R | |
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10-12-2007, 04:17 PM
| #17 | |
| MotoGP Contender Joined: Mar 2007 From: Portland/Beaverton I Ride: 2007 Yamaha R6s |
Perhaps a bike night is order to talk it over, flesh out ideas? | |
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10-12-2007, 04:52 PM
| #18 |
| Superbiker Joined: Oct 2007 From: SE Portland I Ride: '76 KZ900 | I feel that as a motorcyclist it is my responsibility to look out for myself. I do everything I can to avoid sitting in blind spots, I leave space around me, when coming to a stop (behind a vehicle) I take a side lane position and watch my mirrors so (hopefully) i can avoid a rear-ender. I am annoyed by people who come to a stop, from a side street, and they are through the crosswalk and nosed into my lane. WTF? Also, people who stop 3 inches off my a$$ when at a traffic light. I have had so many close calls when in my cage and on my bike that I don't think a motorcycle awareness rally is going to make an impact. People have their heads too far up their a$$ to look out for others on the road. Perhaps each time a cager tries to take us out we should just remove their side mirror, with our boot, "you were not using it anyway, you won't miss it". That may recieve a little attention. Does anyone know the statistics about motorcycle accidents and color of bike/gear?? I don't. I was wondering if the Kawasaki Lime Green attracts enough attention that it increases awareness and safety.. |
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10-12-2007, 05:02 PM
| #19 |
| MotoGP Contender Joined: Mar 2007 From: Portland/Beaverton I Ride: 2007 Yamaha R6s | Regardless of if one thinks a rally will be effective or not, the point is, something is better than nothing. And secondly, doing nothing is easier than doing something...it all comes down to searching yourself. I would rather try and fail, than to not try at all and question "what if". |
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10-12-2007, 05:08 PM
| #20 |
| Newbie Joined: Aug 2007 From: Beaverton, OR I Ride: Kawasaki Ninja 250 | Dear Fallen Rider, Our thoughts are with you and your family. Your tragedy will not be for nought, for it has been a precious reminder to your fellow local riders of the fragility of life, and the need to Be Seen. Out of this, action will be spawned and lives will be saved. Rest well. we will hold you in our thoughts. Last edited by PayItFwdPlayItSafe; 10-14-2007 at 07:42 PM.. |
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10-12-2007, 05:15 PM
| #21 | |
| Newbie Joined: Aug 2007 From: Beaverton, OR I Ride: Kawasaki Ninja 250 |
 That's the only unfortunate thing about using green as a 'safety' color.Flourescent Orange works best. Check out the following article: http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/str...ity/index.html "However, about six months ago I tried something that virtually stopped all those transgressions into my right-of-way during the daytime. I started wearing a fluorescent-orange Shoei RF700 helmet. The effect was magical. In that time only one person has tried to "lane-share" with me and not one car has turned closely in front of me. Even drivers who don't check their mirrors regularly notice this glowing orange orb coming up behind them or at least catch the glow when as they eyes flick over their side mirror as they begin a lane-change. Drivers ready to turn in front of me always see me now, and very rarely to I even have to slow for a car that has turned into my lane. " | |
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10-12-2007, 05:52 PM
| #22 | |
| Endorsed Joined: Apr 2007 From: Aloha, Or |
 The way I see it, there are 2 options. 1) Get political. Join Abate; Run for office; use the initiative process here in Oregon 2) Make as much damn noise as possible. Just look at what the bicyclists are doing now with the rider that was killed the other day. It's all over the news. The awareness may only last a little while, but it may be long enough to keep someone else from getting injured or killed. I do believe the more noise that is made over time, the more it will stick in people's minds. | |
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10-12-2007, 06:40 PM
| #23 | |
| MotoGP Champion |
And, King Ogre, strong statements and good ideas. But, I don't see why one idea has to win out over others. Bumper stickers, lobbying, calling congresspeople, awareness rides, picketing. They are all effective and reinforce each other. As Recr8ton said, just do SOMETHING! | |
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10-12-2007, 06:57 PM
| #24 | |
| Superbiker Joined: Aug 2007 From: Washington |
But, I think you might need the permission of the fallen rider's family to put an actual name up. I would totally sport a sweatshirt, and buy some to hand out to family and friends. | |
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10-12-2007, 08:20 PM
| #26 | |
| MotoGP Contender Joined: Mar 2007 From: Portland/Beaverton I Ride: 2007 Yamaha R6s |
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10-13-2007, 11:06 PM
| #27 | ||||
| Pit Crew Joined: Jul 2007 From: Rickreall, Or I Ride: Honda CBR 1100xx |
Which is exactly what I suggested and listed multiple examples.
Though you are not chastising, you are implying that anyone who intentionally chooses dark colors is an idiot. Careful, that's a lot of motorcyclists. I would bet one (1) case of beer (or its value since you don't drink beer) that your helmet is not orange, nor do you wear a safety vest. Welcome to the club.  -R p.s. I'm not really picky, but please no "light" beer. | ||||
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10-13-2007, 11:22 PM
| #28 | |
| Training Wheels Joined: Aug 2007 From: Happy Valley, OR I Ride: 07 R6 |
And to the guy who quoted Carnegie: bravo! You're absolutely correct. | |
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10-14-2007, 04:08 AM
| #29 |
| Pit Crew Joined: Oct 2007 From: Portland, OR I Ride: Motorbikes | I was trying to find the number of registered cars/MC and do some stats for accidents. Still looking but found this, from the NHTSA, interesting. I, for one, don't think all the sign waving demonstrating awareness riding in the world is going to make people drive any better. People just suck at it. (So it follows they probably suck as riders, too?) "I didn't see him"....so what. They didn't see that car they hit either. People are crashing all day every day so get used to it. You're on a bike and a crash is gonna' FYU. And really, most people think MC riding is stupid so they don't care much for you to begin with. Heck, killing a few of you can only help the gene pool, right? Want to be safer? Drive a car, don't ride like you drive or maybe make a mental note of the stats below and do less of those. (yeah, i'm a little grumpy this morning.) FWIW - The 3,244 motorcyclist fatalities in 2002 accounted for 8 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year. An additional 65,000 motorcycle occupants were injured. Per vehicle mile traveled in 2001, motorcyclists were 26 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 5 times as likely to be injured. What else would you expect from such a vehicle? In 2002, 38 percent of all motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding. The percentage of speeding involvement in fatal crashes was approximately twice as high for motorcyclists as for drivers of passenger cars or light trucks, and the percentage of alcohol involvement was 45 percent higher for motorcycles. Speed and alcohol……who knew? In 2002, 47 percent of fatally injured motorcycle operators and 59 percent of fatally injured passengers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Duh. One out of four motorcycle operators (25 percent) involved in fatal crashes in 2002 was operating the vehicle with an invalid license at the time of the collision. Maybe noteworthy. Motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes in 2002 had higher intoxication rates (BAC of 0.08 g/dl or greater) than any other type of motor vehicle driver. The intoxication rate for motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes was 31 percent. WHOA! Big number. NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 692 motorcyclists in 2002. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 449 lives could have been saved. There’s that helmet argument again. Last edited by Deerhunter; 10-14-2007 at 04:40 AM.. |
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10-14-2007, 08:47 AM
| #30 | |
| Pit Crew Joined: Sep 2007 From: Hillsboro |
on this stuff | |
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