A Message From Motorcyclists
September 9, 2014
Dear Motorists,
The riding season is waning, and fewer motorcyclists are out on the road these days. Extreme August heat will soon give way to freezing winter temperatures. But, don’t let our dwindling numbers fool you. WE ARE STILL OUT THERE.
Fall weather makes for prime riding time in many parts of the country. Meanwhile, some bikers in harsher environments will brave the elements no matter what the seasonal weather brings. So remember to stay alert and keep these motorcycle awareness tips in mind, even as the riding season comes to a close:
- Allow the motorcycle the full width of a lane at all times.
- Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.
- Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections.
- Always allow more following distance – three to four seconds – when behind a motorcycle. This gives us more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.
- Motorcycle signals are often non-canceling and could have been forgotten. Always ensure that the motorcycle is turning before proceeding.
- Put the cell phone away, and never drive distracted!
We will do our best to ride safely, but you can make our lives easier (and longer) by keeping an eye out for motorcyclists all year long.
Sincerely,
Your friendly neighborhood motorcycle rider.
Dreaming About Your Next Road Trip?
September 4, 2014
Meet the Bacon-Powered Motorcycle
September 2, 2014
A motorcycle that runs on bacon? Yes, BACON! And this bacon-powered motorcycle stars in a movie about a man, his motorcycle, and pork products.
Hormel foods recently partnered with a biodiesel company to refine bacon grease into fuel. The fuel was used in a converted diesel motorcycle (the 2011 Track T-800 CDI) to run the bacon-powered motorcycle all the way to the San Diego BaconFest and Film Festival.
The journey was recorded for the film, Driven By Bacon, “a web documentary about a man, his motorcycle, and pork products”.
This highly creative publicity stunt drew attention from bacon-lovers, motorcycle-lovers and alternative energy supporters across America. See the full story here:
Motorcycle Fueled by Bacon Grease Crosses America, Star in Movie
5 Tips For Smooth Labor Day Travel
August 29, 2014
School is back in session, and the weather is starting to turn, but this glorious Labor Day weekend allows many to get in one last road trip before the season’s end.
While one last road trip may sound like a great idea, your travel plans can quickly turn sour if you get caught in gridlock. With an improving economy and gorgeous weather, the traffic forecast isn’t looking pretty. In fact, AAA is predicting 35 million people will trek more than 50 miles from home during the Labor Day holiday, mostly on our nation’s roads.
So before you hit the road, read up on these fool-proof travel tips for smooth Labor Day travels:
1. Take the scenic route.
Look for scenic country routes and local roads that run parallel to highways and interstates. Although it may look like a longer drive on the map, you’ll save plenty of time by avoiding heavy traffic. Plus, you’ll have a much more scenic, easy-going and enjoyable trip away from all the frantic insanity of risky highway drivers.
2. Know your route BEFORE you leave.
Holiday travel is much easier when you know where you are going. Rather than relying on GPS and mobile phone apps to tell you the way, look at a good old-fashioned map and plan your journey. When driving through new territory, it’s common for electronic devices to fail, especially when cell phone service is spotty. Avoid the frustration and distraction all together by planning the drive carefully and paying attention to where you are.
3. Get your music ready.
Fill up your MP3 player, organize your CD’s, and program your radio stations before you leave. Fiddling with the radio can become a major distraction, so have your music ready to go before you hit the road.
4. Do a safety check.
When is the last time your changed your oil? If it’s been around 6 months, then it may be time for a change. Also, be sure to check your lights and turn signals, making sure that all the bulbs are in good working order. And, last but not least, make sure your tires are in good condition. Check for tread ware and use a tire gauge to ensure they are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires will save you money at the gas tank, and improperly inflated tires can drain your gas mileage, or worse, cause tire damage or a blowout.
5. Pack the snacks.
Bring drinks and snacks for the road to avoid unnecessary stops. Save your time and money for the destination, or at least for a meal at a good local restaurant, rather than wasting cash on gas station junk and fast food.
And remember, as always, to #DriveSafe!
Back-To-School Traffic Tips
August 27, 2014
It’s that time of year again. It’s time for students to say goodbye to summer fun and head back to school. That means drivers should be on high alert to avoid collisions and fatalities related the back-to-school season.
These back-to-school traffic tips will prepare you for another school year behind the wheel:
1. Watch for increased pedestrian traffic.
This is especially true in the early hours before school starts, as well as in the afternoon when school lets out. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more school-age pedestrians have been killed between the hours of 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. than any other time of day. So, drive slowly around school zones and bus stops. Also, keep a look out for kids walking to and from school, as well as neighborhood kids hanging out in the after-school hours.
2. Mind school zone speed limits.
Speeding in a school zone will get you a traffic ticket real fast. However, it could also result in something much, much worse: a fatal accident. So be sure to slow down in school zones and drive carefully. Also, avoid distractions such as cell phones and mobile devices.
3. Know the school bus signals.
Flashing yellow lights mean that the school bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. That means that you should slow down and prepare to stop as well.
Flashing red lights and an extended stop sign at the front of the bus mean that you should bring your car to a stop, no matter which direction in traffic you are driving. As you approach the school bus, come to a complete stop. Do not attempt to continue driving until the stop sign retracts and the red lights stop flashing.
4. Beware of after-school activities.
Football practice, band practice, cheerleader practice and other after-school activities are already underway, meaning that drivers should be cautious well after school hours are over. There will also be games and scrimmages that attract large crowds this fall season, so be prepared for some school-spirited traffic.
Whether you live in the big city or a small cow town, these back-to-school driving tips will help you become a better driver and keep the streets safe for the school season.
Summer Safety Tips
August 26, 2014
Motorcyclists are out on the road in full-force. They’re enjoying the freedom of summer while it lasts, before the first fall frost sends their beloved bikes back into storage for the winter.
It’s been a great riding season so far, but let’s not forget these summer safety tips as this motorcycle-friendly weather comes to an end:
Summer Safety Tips for Motorcycle Riders and Other Motorists
Tips from the Motorman
August 25, 2014
Here’s a quick video tip for all you newbs out there:
Study Tips: Buzzfeed’s 16 Simple Studying Hacks
August 24, 2014
Not a good test taker? You can be with Buzzfeed’s 16 Simple Studying Hacks.
These innovative tips are designed to make the painful task of studying much smoother and easier. They include such gems as chewing gum, listening to video game music, using distraction-blocking apps, and even spending a little time on YouTube. Learn all the studying hacks to prepare for your next driving test:
Motorcycle Crash Video: About Those “Ninja Skills”
August 21, 2014
Have you seen this motorcycle crash video circulating around social media lately? It shows how a motorcyclist can have impressive ninja skills while simultaneously showing incompetent riding skills:
That’s one amazing act of stupidity. We’re all happy to see that the rider survived this completely-avoidable motorcycle crash… and that he survived it in spectacular style. However, on most days, the motorcyclist ends up on the asphalt instead of perched on the roof of a car like Spiderman.
So enjoy the show folks, but while you watch make sure that you learn from this biker’s mistakes. Take it easy and ride at the speed of traffic. Don’t tailgate. Don’t lane-split. Be extremely cautious when changing lanes and always ride as if other vehicles can’t see you.
To sum it up, #ridesmart and #ridesafe!
Ethics and Artificial Intelligence in Future Cars
August 19, 2014
Here’s a tough question: Would you sacrifice your own life to save someone else’s? For instance, if there was a child in the road and the only way to avoid them was to swerve off a cliff, would you?
How about this one: On a narrow, winding mountain road you suddenly approach a group of bicyclists. With no time to brake, you could swerve onto the left side of the road… if there weren’t a motorcyclist approaching from the other direction. Do you swerve off the cliff to the right, into the motorcyclist on the left, or try to brake while mowing down a few cyclists?
Here’s one more doozy for you: Could you make this type of decision for yourself? Or, would you prefer your smart car to make the choice for you?
Since many new cars come with crash-avoidance features, and autonomous cars are in our near-future, programmers are considering these ethical dilemmas and how they will be applied in future cars. But, there’s even more to it than that. Manufacturers must also consider how they will deal with ethics, ethics settings, and liability.
The fine folks over at Wired wrote a thorough and interesting piece on ethics settings in future cars. See the full story here:
Here’s A Terrible Idea: Robot Cars With Adjustable Ethics Settings