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Biker Safety in Florida Bart 08-09-2008
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Posted by Bart on August 9, 2008, 2:30 pm


I see that the Florida Highway Patrol has a new program for biker safety:
"Ride Proud. Dress Loud." One flier publicizing the program features a guy
wearing shades, a black leather jacket and neon green(!) chaps. The
campaign, which runs through September, "encourages riders to avoid black,
gray, beige and other neutral colors." Supposedly, it is a response to the
spiking number of motorcycle fatalities as more bikers have taken to the
road because of rising fuel costs.

Interestingly, the FHP won't be following its own advice. Patrol officers
will still wear taupe uniforms and ride tan and black bikes.

One of my buddies rides a bright yellow Goldwing, and wears bright yellow
helmet and riding suit -- but even he says the line is drawn short of neon
green.

Bart





Posted by Russell Watson on August 9, 2008, 4:03 pm



>I see that the Florida Highway Patrol has a new program for biker safety:
>"Ride Proud. Dress Loud." One flier publicizing the program features a guy
>wearing shades, a black leather jacket and neon green(!) chaps. The
>campaign, which runs through September, "encourages riders to avoid black,
>gray, beige and other neutral colors." Supposedly, it is a response to the
>spiking number of motorcycle fatalities as more bikers have taken to the
>road because of rising fuel costs.
>
>Interestingly, the FHP won't be following its own advice. Patrol officers
>will still wear taupe uniforms and ride tan and black bikes.
>
>One of my buddies rides a bright yellow Goldwing, and wears bright yellow
>helmet and riding suit -- but even he says the line is drawn short of neon
>green.
>
>Bart
>
>
>
I see some dude in flourescent chartreuse chaps the first thing I'm
going to think to check is to make sure he's actually got jeans on
under them! But I'll instinctively be expecting to see a thong, or
"banana hammock" as my brother likes to call it...<G>

My bike has lights and reflectors and my jacket has a reflective
piping on it. None of which will do me any good if some idiot cager
isn't paying attention in the first place. I met a small SUV (like an
Isuzu or Suzuki or some such) yesterday afternoon on a 2-lane about a
mile from my house. It was a fairly straight stretch of road and as I
closed with them I could see that the driver was having a very serious
conversation with his passenger that required him to look them
intently in the face while speaking to them. He never once turned his
head to the front from the time I got to where I could see through the
windshield until we passed each other, but at least he stayed in his
own lane.

Posted by Twibil on August 9, 2008, 8:40 pm



> My bike has lights and reflectors and my jacket has a reflective
> piping on it. None of which will do me any good if some idiot cager
> isn't paying attention in the first place.

That's pretty much how I figure it.

If an inattentive cage driver doesn't notice my (A) bright red Honda
VFR, (B) bright yellow helmet, and (C) flashing headlight modulator,
wearing a safety green vest isn't going to suddenly make me visible.

Posted by saddlebag on August 9, 2008, 8:56 pm


>
> > My bike has lights and reflectors and my jacket has a reflective
> > piping on it. None of which will do me any good if some idiot cager
> > isn't paying attention in the first place.
>
> That's pretty much how I figure it.
>
> If an inattentive cage driver doesn't notice my (A) bright red Honda
> VFR, (B) bright yellow helmet, and (C) flashing headlight modulator,
> wearing a safety green vest isn't going to suddenly make me visible.

+1

I see black bikes as easily as I see bright yellow ones (then again I
enjoy looking at them so my experience may not be typical). From my
cage I saw a FatBob followed by an old Honda with a Vetter fairing
just today. The Harley guy (wearing no protection) seemed to
intentionally ride in my blind spot while traveling down a four lane
road. I finally slowed to allow him to get up beside me (like I said,
I like to gawk). The Honda rider lagged considerably far behind in my
lane until I allowed the Harley guy to pass. As I signaled to move
into the left lane behind the Harley guy, suddenly the Honda rider
floors and flys past me in the left lane.

Fortunately for both of the dumb clucks *I* happen to notice
motorcycles. Neither had the good sense to place themselves in the
traffic pattern where they might be seen by less attentive drivers or
consider that it might not be a good idea to try to rush past a cage
with an urge to change lanes. I wish them both luck, they'll need
it...even if both decide to ride more colorful bikes.

Posted by Uncle Vic on August 10, 2008, 3:30 am



>>
>> > My bike has lights and reflectors and my jacket has a reflective
>> > piping on it. None of which will do me any good if some idiot cager
>> > isn't paying attention in the first place.
>>
>> That's pretty much how I figure it.
>>
>> If an inattentive cage driver doesn't notice my (A) bright red Honda
>> VFR, (B) bright yellow helmet, and (C) flashing headlight modulator,
>> wearing a safety green vest isn't going to suddenly make me visible.
>
> +1
>
> I see black bikes as easily as I see bright yellow ones (then again I
> enjoy looking at them so my experience may not be typical). From my
> cage I saw a FatBob followed by an old Honda with a Vetter fairing
> just today. The Harley guy (wearing no protection) seemed to
> intentionally ride in my blind spot while traveling down a four lane
> road. I finally slowed to allow him to get up beside me (like I said,
> I like to gawk). The Honda rider lagged considerably far behind in my
> lane until I allowed the Harley guy to pass. As I signaled to move
> into the left lane behind the Harley guy, suddenly the Honda rider
> floors and flys past me in the left lane.
>
> Fortunately for both of the dumb clucks *I* happen to notice
> motorcycles. Neither had the good sense to place themselves in the
> traffic pattern where they might be seen by less attentive drivers or
> consider that it might not be a good idea to try to rush past a cage
> with an urge to change lanes. I wish them both luck, they'll need
> it...even if both decide to ride more colorful bikes.
>

We have to pay attention to *them* as if they are blind, drunk, stupid,
or all three. We have to be their eyes, and anticipate their stupid
moves. I had a guy behind me honk at me for hitting the brakes for no
apparent reason once. I'm betting five seconds later he was shaking his
head wondering how I knew the Volvo two lanes to the left was going to
try to exit the freeway from the fast lane...

--
Uncle Vic
04 Kawasaki Nomad 1500
92 CB750 Screamin' Red Dead Head



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