Table of Contents
Columns
- Close to 300 Bikers Ride for Safety (4)
November 5, 2011, 20:41
Somewhere between 275 and 300 motorcyclists showed up today to ride for safety. This is a general call to the BC Government to wake up, smell the coffee, and put some concrete barriers in the center lane along the Malaht. Following is a clip from CHEK TV. This issue has been alive in the media for…
- Motorcyclists call for improved road safety in Victoria BC (3)
October 31, 2011, 08:00
Infinite sadness. We lost another motorcyclist this weekend to a head-on collision on the Malahat. The Malahat is the mountainous stretch of the Transcanada Highway that connects Victoria to Duncan. It's a stretch of road that has a good share of accidents. From a three-year old government document (l…
- Blah blah blah (1)
September 28, 2011, 20:45
This post has absolutely nothing to do with motorcycle safety, motorcycle riding, motorcycle ethics or anything like that. Mostly, it's just a rant. From a microscopic point-of-view, it's about the biking community; from a macroscopic point-of-view, it's about any self-righteous jerk who's just interested in positionin…
- Shifting gears, shifting perspective
September 15, 2011, 07:56
The stuff in the column typically addresses one of two things: safety and zen. It's rare that I get philosophical, and even rarer that I post laugh out loud funny. But here's a shift. In this small clip you will see a rider shift gears, and shift the perspective of the events as they unfold. Just a cute…
- Preparing for the first rain of the riding season (2)
September 12, 2011, 09:24
Here in Victoria, British Columbia, we've had a rather late summer. Which is to say it didn't arrive before September. Now, in the midst of a glorious heat-wave, I am here to screeeeetch that needle across your favourite LP and bring you back down to earth. (And if you get the LP reference, you and I share a timeline!)…
- Simple rules for staying alive
August 16, 2011, 08:50
There's been a rash of motorcycle accidents here in BC. Recently here on Vancouver Island, a head-on collision heading up towards the Malahat shook me (and many others) up. It had me reviewing the rules I ride by. While I expect to die one day, I want to live doing the things I love, not die by them. Here's a fist…
- Vroom Vroom goes KABOOM: Police tackling noise bylaws in Nanaimo
May 13, 2011, 19:46
Belt Drive Betty posted the /A\ News television newsclip on loud pipes . Yep, it's that time of year again where this ugly issue reasserts itself. Last year, I too asserted my opinion on loud pipes . I have an opinion. That opinion is that loud pipes don't save lives. Others have other opinions. Live and let live,…
- Dressing for success saves your skin
May 6, 2011, 03:00
May is motorcycle awareness month, so the next few columns are dedicated to passing along some core safety riding tips for motorcyclists. Motorcycle safety matters. Today, we'll dress the rider, and next week we'll address the road. Let's take a long hard look at how fashion (literally) impacts your safety. When…
- Getting your motorcycle ready to ride
April 29, 2011, 07:00
Now’s the time for us fair-weather riders to stop waving at the hardy year-round bikers from inside our cars (and yes, I do that) and haul our own machines out from their winter hibernation. But before we can hop on the backs of our lovely beasts of burden, there are certain rituals that must first be tended…
- Motorcycle safety column created to save lives (1)
November 19, 2010, 12:54
Well, it's time for me to ride off into the sunset and bid you all a grand fare-thee-well. Actually, more appropriately, it's time for me to hunker down against the pelting rain, lean into the wind, and ride into my garage where I'll winterize the bike. And to do this, I'll have to put the pen down. Yes, my…
- Teaching is the best way to give back (1)
November 12, 2010, 12:59
Bear with me as I meander once again down memory lane. I'll start with me, but I'll end with the most important person in our relationship: You. I want to tell you the story of how I became a motorcycle safety instructor. When I first arrived in Victoria, I wanted to find meaningful work. You see, I had this…
- Plug in and extend the riding season
November 5, 2010, 13:01
If you're going to ride year-round, there are a few things that you can do to augment your pleasure. (Or, if you know a year-round or extended-season rider and don't know what to get them for Christmas this year, here are a few shopping suggestions.) The first body parts affected by the cold are your extremities:…
- Stupidity is deadly (1)
October 29, 2010, 13:04
I should probably be saving my top 10 for the year's end, but I think it's far more appropriate to talk about scary at this time of year. Here, in reverse order of asininity, are my two top-10 lists. Scary list of things I've seen from vehicle drivers that endanger the lives of motorcyclists: 10. Putting the car…
- Back to basics lane change (2)
October 22, 2010, 13:07
This week's column is a simple back-to-the-basics strategy for safe riding. Of course, I've been told that I have an uncanny ability to complicate the basics. Yes, it's true. Watch me complicate the lane-change procedure. When asked in theory class what's involved in a lane change, the most knowledgeable of the…
- Women too can ride alone. No, really.
October 15, 2010, 13:09
Ah, the days of yore. Do you remember 1995? The excitement of Parliament being televised for the first time. Chapters is officially incorporated and sets up shop in Burlington, Ont., and Burnaby. The trial of Paul Bernardo begins, and ends with a guilty verdict. Mike Harris begins his PC reign in Ontario. C…
- Rules apply to equally to two-wheeled scooters (5)
October 8, 2010, 13:25
The residents of Canada's west coast have a bit of a reputation for being, shall we say, overly relaxed. There's even an unofficial time-zone ("West-Coast time") that explains why stores close at 4:00pm on Thursday nights in December, and why urgent phone calls are returned three days later. But like everything,…
- Motorcycles and the sacred art of winter storage (2)
October 1, 2010, 13:28
The world can always be nicely divided into two. You are either with us or you're against us. You're either state-of-the-art or you're a laggard. You're either female or male. Let me try. You are either the die-hard rider (as I used to be) and ride all year long, or you are seasonal (as I am in my sweet middle…
- The elegance of group riding
September 24, 2010, 13:29
When I ride, my preference is to ride alone. No, I'm not the strong silent type who was such a quiet neighbour and then turns out to be a psycho killer; I just prefer my own company. Really. Having said that, I have also gone on group rides. Some I liked (with other educated riders); others I didn't (with…
- Mandatory training a smart option (2)
September 17, 2010, 13:33
Back when I got my licence to ride, it was one fee, one test, and one licence. And, not to brag but ... I signed up to take a course anyway. While I had it easy, I'm all for a more complicated system. I, for one, celebrated the proactive ICBC changes here in BC. I enthusiastically welcomed graduated licensing,…
- What's your road savvy like? (3)
September 10, 2010, 13:17
This week, we're going to go back to the basics and review some basic road skills. When I first became a motorcycle safety instructor, I was shocked to find my knowledge was lacking. If it's been a decade or more since you've been tested, perhaps you too can use a short refresher. Rider's Rules of the Road…
- Three strategies of the unstoppable biker
September 3, 2010, 13:14
As you may or may not know, I have recently written a book. It's called The Three Strategies of the Unstoppable Woman. For this week's column, I'll write about the Three Strategies of the Unstoppable Biker, be you a she or a he. The three strategies are accountability, collaboration and initiative. If you master…
- Wave. Dammit. (4)
August 27, 2010, 13:35
When I first took my motorcycle safety course in Ottawa, I learned a few biker-exclusive signals. One was that if you needed help, it's as easy as placing your helmet on the curb or roadside: Other bikers would recognize the call and come to your assistance. Little did I realize dying near the roadside didn't…
- Roadkill: dinner or disaster? (3)
August 20, 2010, 13:37
If you have committed to whipping down the windy country roads without the protective encasing of a metal cage (e.g. a car), then you really owe it to yourself to understand the nature of any beasts that may cross your path of travel. No one really plans to hit them. And inevitably someone does. You need to know…
- If you value your brain, wear a helmet (3)
August 13, 2010, 13:38
Somebody once suggested that riders really concerned about safety should invest more than in the famous novelty helmet. In today's column, I'd like to set the record straight: The famous novelty helmet actually costs closer to . Helmets have been legally required in Canada since the 1960s. Once upon a time,…
- Smart passengers select caring riders
August 6, 2010, 13:40
Can you really judge a book by its cover? As an author, I'm inclined to say yes. (My book has a great cover.) Can you really judge a rider by his passenger? As a rider, I'm inclined to say yes. Let's look at the typical pairing, where the man is the rider and the woman is the passenger. (Sure, there are…
- The myth of loud pipes (15)
July 30, 2010, 13:11
Today I will bravely expose my view in answer to the question: Do loud pipes really save lives? In a word: No. (Fear not, I'll say more.) But before I launch headfirst into this one, know that my very own stepmother rode a bike with screaming pipes. I loved her then and I love her now. And I'm pretty sure she…
- Mastering those beautiful curves (3)
July 23, 2010, 13:22
No, today's column is not about cheap biker tricks to get the ladies to hang on tighter as you ride. It's reading those other curves I'm talking about here. Reading the curve. Now that's a phrase I've heard many times but never really paid much attention to. Probably because it didn't hold any meaning for me. Funny…
- The zen of the zoom (1)
July 16, 2010, 13:42
It's a beautiful, calm clear, sunny day. The air is crisp and clean. Your bike is purring like a kitten or roaring like a lion but either way, you're happy about the sound it makes. Added bonus: Last year's riding gear still fits. You hit the road. It's dry and smooth. Definitely a good day. Perhaps you are off to…
- Motorcycle accident patterns are changing (4)
July 9, 2010, 13:45
The 2010 motorcycle accident of Daniel Lanois, Grammy-winning Canadian music producer and artist, highlighted some important facts: The average age of motorcycle operators is steadily increasing (Lanois is 59), and the number of accidents among older riders is also steadily increasing. (Lanois veered to avoid a…
Hello Britt,
I read with interest your column on motorcycle safety in today’s Times Colonist. I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle (not brave enough), but think bikes are a great method of transportation in cities (e.g., take up less space on the road, easy to get around in, easier to find parking, energy efficient, etc.) plus I’m sure they’re fun to ride.
I do have a major concern with some cyclists and their bikes, though, and I’m wondering if you could address it in a future column.
Although many bikes purr quietly, I am greatly concerned about bikes that are extremely loud and contribute to noise pollution.
I live on Cook St. in Fairfield and although I don’t mind the steady hum of car traffic, loud motorcycles on the street are extremely annoying and irritating. Sometimes I hear them coming from several blocks away. They drown out stereos, TV, and conversation. Noisy cyclists disturb the peace at night and wake people from their sleep. One night a few weeks ago I heard a deafening roar about 11:45 PM. I got up and looked out to see what the commotion was. Twenty (!) cyclists were riding in pairs and made their way south on Cook St. before turning right onto Fairfield Road. The noise was incredibly loud.
Noise from motorcycles is a frequent topic of conversation among my neighbors and others who live, work, and shop in Cook St. Village. It’s actually having a negative impact on quality of life, especially in the summer, because it erodes peace and quiet in communities.
I’ve contacted both the police and my city representative and although they agree it’s a real problem, they both said by-laws are difficult to enforce.
It seems to me it now must be up to the motorcyclists to regulate themselves and apply peer pressure on those who’ve made their bikes extra loud by actually spending money and paying someone to put on a louder muffler.
I realize this is not a direct safety issue, but I do wonder if riders aren’t susceptible to hearing loss when they choose to ride such loud bikes.
Thanks for listening!
Sincerely,
Ann H
Dear Ann,
Thanks for your suggestion! In an upcoming article, I do make the point that 80% of all input is visual (and not auditory), but you do raise an excellent point. There are in fact noise bylaws, and there are bikes out there that are in violation of those laws. Unfortunately, they are often not enforced, although in Vancouver they have started to ticket the odd rider.
I’ll keep it in mind for future articles, and look for ways to weave it in. Some argue that the noise helps to keep them safe as it increases their conspicuity (their presence) in traffic. I’ve observed, though, that we tend to hear noises ahead of us more so than those behind us, which reduces that argument somewhat. But I’ll need to look into that further.
Thanks, Ann, for reading the column and taking the time to share your thoughts!
All the best to you,
Britt Santowski
Hi Britt,
Thank you for your very prompt reply!
Re: the notion noise increases their conspicuity/presence – yes, I’ve thought about that and can see their point. If I were a rider I’d want to make sure that cars were aware of me, too!!
But, as a driver, I think the key issue is for cyclists to drive sensibly! As a driver I’m concerned when cyclists zip up and in and out in traffic, driving much faster than the flow of the other cars! To me, it’s unpredictable and I don’t know what they’re going to do. So what if I hear a roar? It’s gone in a flash.
As a pedestrian, I watch cyclists race up toward yellow lights, trying to beat the light. Sure, they make a loud roar, but will the cars waiting to move ahead on their green light hear it and know where it’s coming from?
I’m not sure if I’m making myself clear, here, but let’s just say I have some concerns about how some cyclists ride/drive so I’m so happy to see your column in the paper!!
Every time I see a cyclist with good, safe driving skills on a quietly humming bike I bless them!! LOL I wish they were all like that!!
On another note, I thought it interesting you began the column mentioning Daniel Lanois. I’m an admirer of his work and the initial news story in the paper caught my eye. Riding on a bike looks like so much fun, but at the same time cyclists are so vulnerable. We all (drivers, riders, and pedestrians) need to do our part to keep roads safe.
Thanks for considering my request about noise. I really appreciate it.
Have a great weekend,
Ann
Hi Britt,
I read your article from 9-July regarding “How to lower risk of riding accidents” and quite liked it. Especailly ” My rule of thumb is that my safety depends entirely on me” seems to be the only thorough accident avoidence strategy. In this regard, it would be interesting to write about the phenomena that large numbers of riders ride in jeans and T-Shirts (with friends or oven their children on their back seat in the same “fashion”).
It does not matter what type of bike you ride or how fast, hitting a vehicle with 35Km/h followed by unforgivable ashphalt puts medical personal to work.
Only thing I didn’t like was your comparison in regards to birth control in comparison : “But that’s like depending on the man to take responsibility for a woman’s birth control: A great idea in a perfect world, but not very smart in the practical one”. Times have certainly changed today. There are enough responsible man and women in todays modern world that regard birth control for each party as important as responsible motorycle riders carry propper gear. But you are right in terms of your message: acquiring and practising safety skills as well as beeing one step ahead in the traffic is important . I hope that my daughter is never ever sitting on the back seat of some irresponsible person but get her own bike, gear and depend on her own skills.
Anyway, thanks for picking up on motorcycle issues in the TC.
Regards,
Harry