Look Twice Motorcycles Are Everywhere...

Living in the Sunshine State I would expect to see a higher than average amount of motorcycles year round. 

Check out the following stats from http://www.ridesmartflorida.com/dataandstatistics.htm

Residence

• Florida is a popular tourist destination and host to a number of motorcycle enthusiast events.
• 94 percent of motorcyclists fatally injured in Florida were also Florida residents (2009).

Location

• Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Orange, Pinellas, Broward, Volusia, Palm Beach, Duval, Lee and Brevard counties accounted for the largest number of motorcycle fatalities respectively in 2009.
• Factors such as population and proximity to motorcycle rallies play a role in determining the number of motorcycle crashes and fatalities.

Registrations and Endorsements

• In 2008, registered motorcycles accounted for just over 4% of Florida's motoring public.
• In 2009, licensed motorcyclists accounted for just over 6% of Florida’s motoring public. Yet in 2009, motorcyclists and their passengers represented 15.7% of all fatalities on Florida’s roadways.

What do you surmise from this data?  Honestly, I thought the registered motorcycle percentage would be higher.  Or maybe I'm more aware because I live in one of the locations listed as having a large number of motorcycle fatalities.  I have many friends and family who ride motorcycles and respect the laws of the road.  I often am reminded from them and from the multitude of bumper stickers to "Look twice!  Save a life!  Motorcycles are Everywhere!"

Here's the thing... I have a hard time respecting the motorcycling community when there are so many jerk-wad riders out there!  Just the other day, I'm doing my thing, maintaining my speed, keeping with the flow of traffic, blah blah blah... there isn't much time to gain when we're in the part of town where there are stop lights at every intersection, ya know?  Anyway, here sits dude weaving through traffic, wedging himself between cars who are already in the process of braking for the next light, causing the guy in the back of the motorcycle sandwich to slam on his brakes causing a chain reaction to everyone behind him!

I know what you're thinking... it was some stupid young guy, zooming on his rice rocket, right? 


photo courtesy: break.com

WRONG!  It was overweight, Grateful Dead looking dude with the waist long ponytail, riding either his Harley Electra Glide or Honda Goldwing equivalent.  Aye!


photo courtesy: explow.com

It's so frustrating to be petitioned on a regular basis to look out for motorcycles when I don't feel like they are looking out for cars and trucks!

So, I'm pleading with all the motorcycles riders out there to watch out for the cars out there too!  I am under the impression that a motorcycle is more maneuverable when in motion than a car.  I understand if you're sitting on your bike stopped somewhere and someone decides to back up all of a sudden and doesn't see you, you're screwed.  But isn't it your responsibility as a motorcycle rider to make sure you don't sit in a driver's blind spot?  Doesn't the tractor-trailer adage "if you can't see my mirrors, I can't see you" apply?

In a nutshell, I would like to ask all the motorcycle riders out there to not absolve themselves of their personal responsibility for proper driving protocol and I will continue to look twice to save a life!