Here’s a video that all riders and drivers should view. Sobering to say the least. YouTube

One way to make sure drivers are aware of you.

Another excellent PSA video from the UK THINK! motorcycle road safety organization.

The MFS hasn’t had any luck getting the road bike Basic Riders Course (BRC) approved for DMV certification but Lady Luck has showered the MSF with success when it comes to dirt bike safety training. They own it (training rights) lock, stock and barrel. The USFS, BLM and ORPD recognize only the MSF dirt bike training curriculum. And it seems they aren’t doing a very good job of providing courses.

Ever tried signing up for a course? Good luck finding one (especially for adults). While such training is not currently required for adults (though it may be in the future) it is required for children under 12. Violations result in a citation. The Oregon Parks & Recreation Dept website states the fine is $180. In practice the fines have been $250. Think about that before hitting the trails with your children next season.

My interest in dirt bike training was sparked a couple of weeks ago when I received a report from a person (who doesn’t want his name spread all over the web, so let’s call him Anon) that outlines the troubles he encountered trying to (1) simply take a dirt bike course and (2) obtain certification from the MSF to conduct dirt bike safety training courses. Anon owns a logging business in Oregon and has used dirt bikes and other off highway Vehicles (OHV) in his business for many years. So he is no newcomer to off-road riding. His motivation: to better ensure the safety of his employees he wanted to be able to train them in the proper use of OHV’s. He has now published the report of his trials and tribulations on the web. Read it here.

From what he writes it seems the MSF is not doing a very good job of serving the Oregon dirt bike and ATV community.

Glossary of terms in the report:

• ATV – All Terrain Vehicle
• COHVOPS – USFS Combined Off-Highway Vehicle Operations Bend, OR
• DBS – Dirt Bike School
• LE – Law Enforcement
• MIC – Motorcycle Industry Council Irvine, CA
• MSF – Motorcycle Safety Foundation Irvine, CA
• OHV – Off Highway Vehicle
• ORPD – Oregon Parks & Recreation Dept: ATV’s
• PSS – Puget Sound Safety Tacoma, WA
• ROC – Retailer Operated Course
• SVIA – Specialty Vehicle Institute of America Irvine, CA
• USFS – US Forest Service

The Power of One works. Valerie Ryan, an unaffiliated motorcycle rider in Texas spent some time to get motorcycle public service announcements on radio stations in Dallas. Below is a reply she received from one of her contacts.

From: Wadsworth, Vicki
To: xxxxx@airmail.net
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006
Subject: FW: Public Service Announcement

Victoria Wadsworth
Programming & Marketing Assistant/PSA Coordinator
KDMX~KDGE~KZPS~KHKS~KEGL

Congratulations Valerie on the success of your efforts. Hopefully this will inspire others to pitch in. Making a diffeence really isn’t all that difficult or time consuming.

Information from Suds and Butterfly newsletter.

Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine has an article about 12 motorcycle safety myths and misconceptions. The myths are:

1. Other Drivers Don’t Care About Motorcyclists
2. Loud Pipes Save Lives
3. Motorcycle Helmets Break Necks
4. Helmets Block Your Ability to See or Hear Dange
5. A Helmet Won’t Help in Most Crashes
6. A Helmet Will Leave You Brain Damaged in an Crash When You Would Have Simply Died
7. A Skilled Rider Should Be Able to Handle Almost Any Situation
8. If You Are Going to Crash, Lay It Down
9. One Beer Won’t Hurt
10. It’s Better to Stay in Your Lane than Split Lanes
11. I’m Safer on the Street than on an Interstate
12. A Skilled Rider Can Stop Better with Conventional Brakes than with Anti-Lock Brakes

Read what they have to say about these myths. MCM

The AMA has produced three new 15 second PSA’s for play by radio stations. The topics are: driver awareness, drinking and riding, and loud pipes. To hear them: Watch for bikes - Ride straight - Sound advice

Wash a windshield and save a life? It might just happen. The 2006 annual MN “Washout” gets underway in May in conjunction with Motorcycle Awareness Month. In MN car drivers go six months without seeing motorcycles on the road, and then suddenly—riders are out there again. So this unique program was created to help raise driver awareness.

Motorcycle riders offer free windshield washes to help road users “Start Seeing Motorcyclists.” Motorcycle clubs, chapters, and organizations team up at roadside rest areas across the state, vigorously scrubbing windshields clean and giving out motorcycle safety information and bumper stickers. Known as the “Washout,” this event happens every year at the onset of motorcycle season—weekends during the month of May. From the MN motorcycle safety center.

Our northwest winters are not as severe but there there is still an appreciable period of time when there is nary a rider on the roads. Then comes sunny skies and we are back in droves. So this is a program that could serve us well in the northwest.

If you are a member of a club or MRO why not bring this idea up to the membership. Contact other organizations and try to get a cooperative effort going. And don’t forget us unaffiliated riders. I for one would be happy to participate.

These are some ideas for helping to raise driver awareness that Wendy Moon tossed on the table.

• Write a letter to the editor of the local paper—small papers have readers, too.
• Write an article for the local paper or a newsletter you receive.
• Contact the news at your local channel and present the issues you feel are important.
• Write a post on a list or on-line forum you belong to that has nothing to do with motorcycling (of course, following their posting rules).
• If you have a blog, a web page, etc. that has nothing to do with motorcycling, add a box or banner asking them to watch out for the motorcyclist.
• Conversely, if you have a website or blog that has to do with motorcycling, ask your readers to participate in The Power of One.
• Find the opportunity to bring up motorcycling issues to co-workers or family or friends.
• Make up and hand out business-cards or flyers with a short message on them.

Check out my entire Power of One section while you are here.

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month and it is fast approaching. Have you thought about what you can do to help raise driver awareness of motorcyclists? Sure, you are only one person and it may seem there is nothing you can do on your own to make a difference. But each of us can in fact do some things that will have a positive affect. We do have power as individuals if we choose to exercise it and put out a little bit of work.

The Power of One (coined by Wendy Moon) is a personal program you can tailor to fit your time and skills. No big group effort, nothing to join—just each of us spending some of our time on our own to raise driver awareness.

Take a little time now and read what Wendy has to say about it (link above) and the information I have assembled in The Power of One section. If you think about it you’ll realize there is quite a bit you can do with just a little effort. Remember, the life you save may just be your own.

Also see: The Power of One – Some Ideas