Just a Biker

[In_The_Wind]

I saw you, hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But
you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last
Sunday.
I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the
sidewalk. But you didn't see me playing Santa at the local mall. I saw
you change your mind about going into the restaurant when you saw my
bike parked out front. But you didn't see me attending a meeting to
raise more money for the hurricane relief. I saw you roll up your window
and shake your head when I rode by. But you didn't see me riding behind
you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window. I saw you
frown at me when I smiled at your children. But you didn't see me, when
I took time off from work to run toys to the h omeless.
I saw you stare at my long hair. But you didn't see me and my friends
cut ten inches off for Locks of Love. I saw you roll your eyes at our
leather jackets and gloves. But you didn't see me and my brothers donate
our old ones to those that had none.
I saw you look in fright at my tattoos. But you didn't see me cry as my
children where born or have their name written over and in my heart. I
saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But you didn't
see me going home to be with my family. I saw you, complain about how
loud and noisy our bikes can be. But you didn't see me when you were
changing the CD and drifted into my lane.
I saw you yelling at your kids in the car. But you didn't see me pat my
child's hands knowing she was safe behind me. I saw you reading the
newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But you didn't see me
squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to ta ke the next turn. I saw you
race down the road in the rain. But you didn't see me get soaked to the
skin so my son could have the car to go on his date. I saw you run the
yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But you didn't see me
trying to turn right. I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in
the lane I was in. But you didn't see me leave the road. I saw you,
waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But you didn't see me. I
wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family. But you didn't see me. Because I died
that day you cut me off. I was just a biker. A person with friends and a
family. But you didn't see me.

[old mark]

1. Joan, I took a MC safety course about 20 years ago,

taught by a guy who had been riding since 1947.
He was teaching a class on avoiding accidents, and at the end of the class, he told us that he had been in only one accident, the classic, the car turning across your lane and you can't stop.

He said" I had time to think "Oh, Shit!"" and then hit the car and broke his leg.
The driver of the car is ar fault 99% of the time, but on many of those times the biker is dead or scrambled for life.

Car drivers just DO NOT LOOK FOR BIKES!!!


Recommended this post - thanks.


mark

[In_The_Wind]

2. Thanks for the recommendation, Brother.

My life as a biker started when I was 17. I moved out on my own but I couldn't afford a car to get to work. Atlanta was a small town back then. I bought a scooter (and later on a Montesa) which I rode 365 days a year for 3 years. The local bikers adopted me as their little sister. I was offered a job as a motorcycle mechanic ~ which I turned down because I didn't mind getting my hands dirty on my bike but it ended there.

I've been riding with ABATE all summer and finally rode to my first Bike Rally two weekends ago. It was awesome partying with 1%ers! I have reservations for the Spring and Fall Rallies next year.

On a recent cancer survivors benefit ride ~ 120 of us started only 118 returned. Two were medivacced out to the Albany Hospital. Proving once again a biker who wants to keep the rubber side down must also be aware of what is coming up his/her back tire not just what's on the road ahead.



Ride safe ~ stay well, Mark. :hug:

[old mark]

3. You are welcome, but I don't want to mislead you...

I stopped riding MC's about 20 years ago after 2 near misses by cars in about 2 1/2 hours - early on a Sunday morning.

It just stopped being fun.

Good luck , all the best to you.

mark

[guitar man]

4. Thanks for posting this, sister

Many people in cages need to be reminded that we share the road with them and we have every right to be there. Please look out for us. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[guitar man]

5. kickstart

;)

[In_The_Wind]

10. Joanikick ! I rode 225 miles each way this weekend.

My trike was buried under duffel bags from my first rally weekend on three wheels.

[guitar man]

11. sounds like fun

I'm still on two wheels, ride 100 miles each way every week commuting. :hi:

[In_The_Wind]

12. I wish you safe commuting, GTRMAN!

Since I'm semiretired I want to travel and party with my new friends.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. It needs to be much more difficult to earn a drivers license.

Drivers are getting less and less competent. In this day and age of technology it would be plenty easy and affordable to set up computer simulations to test drivers' judgment and reaction times. But instead the drivers test is about the same in method and frequency as it has been for 30 years.

Gidney
Driver, Motorcyclist, Bicylist, Pedestrian.

[IndianaJones]

7. I got cut off in an intersection once. hit the front of a Buick at about 40.

the driver says she never saw me.

she was making an illegal turn.

[old mark]

8. This is the "classic" - THE most common

"motorcycle accident", actually a stupid driver accident involving a motorcycle.

I'd be happy to settle for "competent" drivers - they are not only terrible, thay know nothing about driving, don't look or think about what they are really doing and then talk on their fucking cell phones on top of everything else.

It's not the bike that scares me - it's the cars.


mark

[IndianaJones]

9. its why I stopped commuting on one. If you ride in traffic long enough, it will happen. nt.

[In_The_Wind]

13. I'm glad you are still here to tell the story!

It doesn't matter what a biker hits (my story about 120 bikers out and 118 returned was about a 2 motorcycle accident at 25 mph) the human body usually gets the worst of it.


:hi: