Motorcycles

We are small, but we are not bugs! is a video produced by the Norwegian Motorcycle Union. It highlights the fact that 8 out of 10 collisions occur when the driver of the other vehicle involved failed to see the motorcycle.

Even at the best of times, motorcycles may be hard to see in traffic. This video is an excellent example of a driver who looks but fails to see a motorcycle approaching an intersection.

The British Highways Agency has produced a 14 minute video titled "Great Roads, Great Rides 2." It is designed to put you on the bike, inside the helmet and close to the road, in order to teach you to identify hazards and 'read the road'. The rider in the video is Glenn Julian, a professional motorcyclist.

This year has not been a good year for motorcycle collisions on Vancouver Island. Of nine fatalities, police report that seven of them have been the fault of the rider. Speed and inexperience are the cited contributing factors.

One of my old supervisors used to shake his head and say "$5.00 head, $5.00 helmet!" He was referring to Harley riders who wore "beanie" helmets that didn't do much more than hold the other ends of the chin straps.

Does the price at the pump have you thinking economy? If so, you are not alone. One reader has asked about limited speed motorcycles. They have heard that you can ride one with a regular driver's licence and don't have to get a class six.