February 26th, 2006
in Videos
This is so dumb but I can’t stop playing it and laughing. Help!
[50 seconds]
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Showing archives for: February, 2006
[50 seconds]
February 25th, 2006
in Safety, Videos
Another well done PSA from the UK Dept of Transport 2005 Think! Road Safety Campaign. This video is aimed at riders and is a visual treat. To download and save it, use this URL
[18.8mb, 2 min]
1 Comment
February 25th, 2006
in News bits
Mike Werner of Bikes in the Fast Lane reported Friday that the French government is finally coming around after years of being decidely motorcycle unfriendly. Included in his brief article is a list of initiatives the Ministry of Transport will undertake. Take a look…it reads like a letter to Santa that has been stamped “Approved.” I bet there’s a lot of happy riders that were celebrating last night. Next time I stop by McMenamins I’ll lift a glass to their good fortune.
February 24th, 2006
in News bits
VANCOUVER, Wash. — A motorist was waiting at a stop sign on Northeast Rosewood Road and State Route 503, trying to turn left onto northbound S.R. 503. Southbound traffic backed up in the right lane, and a driver motioned for the motorist to cross in front and turn left. The motorist pulled out, but Trooper Dave Bourland was traveling in the left southbound lane. Bourland laid down the motorcycle, hitting the sedan. He was ejected into the center turn lane. The other driver wasn’t injured and received a ticket for failing to yield. WSP reminded drivers to never trust another driver’s judgment when clearance is obstructed. Source: KOIN.com
February 24th, 2006
in Images
Pork chopper? Moto life in Vietnam, article & photos » OhmyNews
February 24th, 2006
in Ramblings
Is it open season on motorcyclists in Texas? Do they also have bag limits? Wish I was in the courtroom so I would have the facts. I have to wonder, in what would seem to be a straightforward traffic case where the DA and a grand jury felt there was sufficient evidence, what went wrong in the court room and/or what’s with the jurors?
02/24/2006 HEREFORD, TEXAS — A jury found Thomas Persechino not guilty Friday for a deadly accident outside of Hereford. He was accused of running over an Amarillo man and failing to stop and render aid. The accident happened in September of 2004.
02/22/2006 HEREFORD, Texas — Thomas Paul Persechino, 40, of Amarillo indicted in connection with the hit-and-run death of an Amarillo pastor pleaded not guilty during the beginning of his trial Tuesday. He faces a charge of failure to stop and render aid for his alleged involvement in the Sept. 26, 2004, wreck that killed the Rev. James Cobb, 55.
Cobb, a senior pastor at First Christian Church in Amarillo, died after a vehicle cut him off and he was forced to lay down his motorcycle on U.S. Highway 60, about 1 miles east of Hereford. Two vehicles subsequently hit him. Persechino allegedly was driving a Ford Explorer that struck Cobb and left the scene.
The grand jury, which took up the charge as an original matter, returned an indictment against him Feb. 9, 2005. Sources: amarillo.com, KAMR.com
February 24th, 2006
in Images
What to do with hurricane Katrina debris? This is Travis Linde’s contribution to the cleanup effort. I like it! Daily Comet
February 23rd, 2006
in Safety
From the department of outrage: ILLINOIS — The ISU student newspaper The Daily Vidette is reporting that the Illinois legislature is diverting funds from the state motorcycle safety account to other uses.
Robert Ritter, director of Northern Illinois University’s Motorcycle Safety Program said, “The Illinois Cycle Rider Safety Training Program Act is a user paid program, it is not a tax-payer program.”
The funds are generated from fees for motorcycle operator licenses and motorcycle registration fees. That money is then deposited into a special account that is not supposed to be used for any other purpose than motorcycle safety projects, primarily motorcycle rider education courses.
Vernon Hanks, director of ISU’s Motorcycle Safety Program, said the funds are not being appropriated. “We have been led to believe from our contacts at IDOT that money will be swept from the accounts. It’s not like we’re asking for funding that isn’t there, we just need it appropriated.”
The end result will likely be fewer rider training classes and thus <shudder> more newbies on the road without training.
If I was an Illinois resident I’d be all over the state legislators on this issue. Let’s hope this is not flying under the ABATE of Illinois radar.
February 23rd, 2006
in News bits
LYNWOOD, WA — A rider suffered broken bones when a motorist knocked him off his motorcycle on Wednesday. The rider was in the carpool lane on I-5 when the car pulled in front of him and struck his motorcycle. The state police are investigating the incident as a felony hit and run. Source: HeraldNet
February 21st, 2006
in Safety, Videos
During February the BBC’s The Magazine is featuring classic public information films from the past 60 years. They are also running a competition for readers to submit their own 60 second films. Yesterday they featured the below 1975 film.
1975 UK TV spot Think Bike
[45 sec]
[45 sec]
It’s message, motorists should look for motorcyclists, is the same as this current UK THINK! road safety TV spot (below).
2006 UK TV spot Take Longer to Look For Bikes
[1.8mb, 30 seconds]
[1.8mb, 30 seconds]
It is rather disheartening that a 31 year old UK public service announcement is better than recent US efforts I have seen. It also highlights the fact that increasing motorist awareness is a never ending job. Safety education is not something you can do one time then forget about.
