BE the Change and Think Motorcycle!

I had a nice happy little article all written up for this month, laced with my usual sarcastic banter. But as of the writing, I had to partake in yet another memorial for a young man who senselessly lost his life to a cage driver who was too busy with whatever it was he or she was doing to not pay attention to their surroundings. I can’t imagine anything being more important while behind the wheel than paying attention to the task of driving.

Whatever activity it was that motorist was doing instead of watching the road, watching their fellow motorists or just flat-out looking around or texting, cost a young man his life. Dakota Grimes was only 24 years old. He hadn’t even lived a full life yet and it was senselessly taken by a fellow motorist on the road.
This was someone’s loved one and someone who was loved and respected by many. Now gone off of this earth because of an absolutely avoidable incident.

 

Over and over we preach about watching out for motorcycles, watch for bikers, etc. and it never seems to do any good. The majority of everything we see on billboards and advertisements pertaining to motorcycles are people’s willingness to represent them after something happens. What about trying to put things out there to help prevent them from happening in the first place. Not as profitable, I know, but it would definitely be the right thing to do.

 

We have organizations out there that say they want to represent bikers rights, watch out for motorcycles and share the road and all of that, but what are they really doing to make a difference? Things need to be stepped up to help prevent these unnecessary tragedies. Before anyone says anything, I realize many of us have lost a loved one; a brother or a sister to these meaningless acts. I don’t know what the statistics say, but it seems to me that these incidents are on the rise.

 

So I put this challenge out there to anyone that cares enough about their fellow human being to promote motorcycle awareness and awareness to other motorists in general. If you’re a company owner that owns a fleet of vehicles, put a ‘watch out’ sticker on your cars and trucks. If you’re a law firm that’s in the accident-related business, put up billboards that inform people to be aware that motorcycles are also allowed to use the road. Dealerships and storefronts and mail order that deal with a customer base that rides should put the word out. This is a serious thing people.

 

They’re killing us out there and it appears no one cares. Well, I care. I’m tired of losing my friends and loved ones. I’m saddened every time I hear about how another person has been senselessly taken from us for no other reason than someone else’s careless and uncaring behavior. I’m sorry, but the, “I didn’t see him” excuse isn’t good enough anymore. Something needs to be done and soon.

 

I know a lot of people feel that what they say will fall on deaf ears and it’s not important to speak up. But everybody’s voice can make a difference. Everybody’s actions can be felt by others. After all, it’s somebody else’s actions that kill us every day.

 

Now it’s time. Be the voice, be the person who speaks up, be the person who puts the sign in their yard or the sticker on their car. Help make this change. Even if as a collective we save one life, it will be well worth it. I’m fed up with organizations that say they promote motorcycle safety and motorcycle awareness and do nothing to make a change. They mouth the words, they take your donations and what do you get in return?

 

Bikers are probably the most caring and giving group on the face of this earth. There are more charity rides and fundraisers attended by bikers that you could ever imagine. But who stands for them? Well, I can tell you this. I do. And so do others but we need more. Give this some thought and think, ‘how can I help other people from suffering the loss that many families have?’ After all, the next person subjected to the carelessness of another motorist could be you.

Ride in a manner that will allow you to ride another day. Hope to see you out there and take care.

—Nefarious James

 

Hey James, challenge accepted! Born To Ride has teamed up with the might of Rubenstein Law to create a new awareness and education campaign called “Think Motorcycle.” It’s about everything you just mentioned. It trains people in cages to Think Motorcycles when they are on the road. It reminds bikers to Think Motorcycle while we are out there exposed and rollin’ down the roads of America. We are vulnerable and need to always have our guard up and look out for Number One. Plus, it is a platform to get new riders into the biker family by showing them why we do what we do. Think Motorcycle covers all the bases and we’ll be releasing more information on this new awareness campaign in the weeks and months to come. Look for it right here in Born To Ride and remember to “Think Motorcycle!”

                   —The Editors