On The Road Again
Saturday, April 13, 2013 @ 5:27 AM
Prince George, B.C. – We may still get the odd little tease from Old Man Winter, but roads are becoming bare and motorcycles are appearing on city streets more frequently as the days pass.
And that spurs the annual advisory to drivers of other vehicles to give the attention due the riders of those motorcycles.
Bruce Barry, chairman of the Prince George Motorcycle Awareness Group, says you’ll start to notice motorcycle awareness signs appearing around town. “We have signs that are put up by YRB and they’re rotated around the city during the motorcycle season” to draw motorists’ attention to the bikes using the roads. “And motorcyclists too should be very aware that vehicle drivers don’t necessarily see them. They should almost ride like they’re invisible. If it’s possible wear bright clothing so you’re more visible and riding in small groups, with more bikes, makes you easier to spot.”
Barry says riding on city streets right now “presents challenges with all the potholes and the gravel. You definitely have to watch out for the potholes and drive more slowly in some situations. The gravel, too, can be very dangerous when breaking and accelerating.”
Most bikes have been sitting for about six months, and Barry says “riders need to do a thorough check over of the motorcycle before they ride as well. Make sure their tire pressure is up, the tires are good, brakes are working, the engine is tuned, headlight and blinkers are working, all that sort of stuff to make sure the motorcycle is operating properly on the road.”
Barry says there are many more motorcycles on the road these days and other motorists seem to be aware of them most of the time. “The biggest problem, like 95% of the accidents occur at an intersection when a motorist turns left right in front of a motorcycle, and he has nowhere to go. And that’s in the case of the motorist has not seen the motorcycle coming. So motorists have to be very cautious when turning left at an intersection.”
Barry says there are eight motorcycle groups in the city that meet once a month throughout the winter to talk about motorcycle awareness and to set up the motorcycle Show and Shine. That is going to be held May 3rd and 4th in Pine Centre Mall. “We try to get more people aware that bikes are back on the road again with that event. Four or five groups will be there with a table set up and several motorcycles for the public to view. They can also vote on their favourite bike. May is Motorcycle Awareness Month in British Columbia and that’s one way that we participate to try to get Prince George motorists more aware that we are back on the road again.”
Comments
Many people don’t realize that these bad driving habits (not signalling, speeding, tailgating, not stopping at stop signs…etc) can have very serious monetary consequences for them if they cause an accident. ICBC has very well trained investigators and they usually have little trouble determining who was at fault. Unfortunately these idiots can cause bodily injury or even death to others…then no amount of money can repair the damage.
Signal lights? What the heck are those? When some drivers actually use them it’s when the are turning the wheel to make the turn. No thought of giving notice before they turn. Idiots.
I wonder if murdercycles where invented today if they would even be allowed on the roads? I doubt it.
The way I see most of these riders drive they are just another hazard on the road.
I think two years on a bike should be mandatory before you can get a license for a car. Then maybe people would learn something about defensive driving. It is amazing how most cagers have utter disdain for motorcycles, pedestrians, bicyclists etc…
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