I have an interesting and TRUE story I want to share with everyone, and it is the basis on which I came up with the title for this article.

On Sunday morning, September 6^th, 2009, I was working a Sheriff’s detail at the Romeo Airport. It was basically a “PR” thing and nothing strenuous or even remotely dangerous. That is unless you consider small aircraft buzzing around or a swarm of wide-eyed kids and hungry grandparents dangerous (yeah, I know – they can be).

Motorcycle riding is all about choice, but there is much more to it. I have identified several key elements that play hand in hand with riding a motorcycle as a private citizen, whether you ride solo or are involved with a group or organization.

§        SAFETY:

I have yet to have one single person who rides a motorcycle or is a passenger on one look me straight in the eye and tell me honestly that they don’t care about safety, or that the message is “BS,” or that they never give it a thought. If they do, they are flat-out liars or they are living a false bravado – take your pick. We ALL want to be safe…how much simpler can it be said? And safety is all of our responsibilities, not only to ourselves, but to those around us.

§        CHOICE:

Every day life has risks. By the grace of the almighty, we have the ability to make choices, which can be a real challenge in itself. We are the ones who get to choose exactly what risks we want to take, and just how far we want to push our luck. The yardstick by which we individually measure these risks lies within our own mind, and deep down we know our limitations. So we must be honest with ourselves, and be aware of the consequences these risks hold. Always strive to make the right choices that will give you the best chance to come home from every ride safe and unharmed.

§        PEER PRESSURE:

Nowhere in our culture is peer pressure more prevalent or more powerful than within the motorcycling community. Think it isn’t? Just take a look around you and see for yourself. Ever heard the phrase; “you have to go along to get along?” That’s a good example of peer pressure. Don’t get me wrong, some peer pressure is good, so long as it is positive, constructive and not dangerous. It’s the peer pressure that takes you out of your own comfort zone that can be the most dangerous and even life-threatening, but you keep it deep inside. You have to be willing to be completely honest with yourself to see where the dividing line is between fun and dangerous, and be willing to make a CHOICE to accept it and go along, or do the smart thing and walk away from it…the choice is yours.  

§        IMAGE:

There is a persona, a look, a style, that all bikers have, but it doesn’t stop at the black leather clad crowd, it encompasses a variety of groups and styles. I don’t need to go into the various examples of “images” we have in the motorcycling community. Let’s just agree that there are many diversified ones, and let it go at that. All are unique, have a certain flair, meaning and even culture, especially to the individual who is involved in it whatever group he or she wants to embrace. Please remember one thing – never, ever compromise your safety or that of others around you for the sake of image “IF” that image is more about a certain “look” than it is about protection or riding right.

§        GROUPTHINK:

I read an interesting article a few years ago about “Groupthink.” Loosely translated, it is a phenomenon that occurs in a cohesive group when members let their need to agree with each other interfere with their ability to think about a decision critically and rationally.

There are three conditions that may lead to “groupthink:”

#1) - is the overestimation of the group’s ability and power, whereby members tend to ignore specific “warning signals.” This may cause a feeling of complacency which could result from an overreaction to low self-esteem, resulting from recent failures or having been faced with a difficult task.

#2) - is the “we vs. they” attitude, which leads to stereotyping of outsiders and encourages rationalization of decisions.

#3) - is the pressure toward conformity, which results from direct pressure being applied by the group to various members who try to disagree, thus resulting in members censoring themselves in order to maintain their membership in the group. All of this can be detrimental to an organization…that is unless you’re aware of it, identify it and work together instead of in a “groupthink” mindset.

However you choose to ride, dress or act while you ride is up to you as an individual. With all due respect, I also must caution each of you to be aware of the pitfalls out there…they can turn out to be an abyss you don’t want to fall into. If the choices you make are based on conformity, and following along rather than leading the way, then I suggest you please reconsider the risks you are taking, know consequences, and be willing to deal with them.

Try not to allow yourselves to fall into a “groupthink” mentality. As individuals, let’s be aware that peer pressures exist and recognize how powerful and dangerous it can be. Let’s also make sure we do not allow it to control us as individuals, especially if that control places us in an unsafe environment or puts us in a situation whereby the risks associated with it are more than we are willing to accept.

I sincerely believe that if we all work together on making choices we can live with, and leading by example, then we’ll assure ourselves of the best chance possible to enjoy riding and each other’s company for years to come – and being in step and hand to hand with having fun is safety…and that should be every rider’s #1 priority!

Ride as if your life depends on it – because it does.

Gary 

 This past May, I was in our Nation’s Capitol as part of a contingency representing the Macomb County Sheriff’s Motor Division attending the Police Week ceremonies. This was not my first time in “DC,” but it was the first time I had the opportunity to attend what is known as “National Police Week.”

I was honored to be part of a police motorcycle escort team, consisting of trained motor officers from all over the United States, working directly with the Washington DC "Capitol" Police Motor Division. Our job was to escort the busses carrying the survivors of fallen law enforcement officers from Reagan International Airport to their various hotels throughout the city. This was a lot of work and some very long hours…but it was “game on” riding, and also in a word – inspiring.    

So what (you may ask) does that have to do with me, I’m not a police motor officer? Well, nothing to be honest…but that’s not the point, this is…

While I was riding with these fellow motor officers from different states, I was impressed at how well everyone rode together as a group. It didn’t matter who you were next to or where they were from because each rider / officer knew and trusted the other. Why? Because of a pride, understanding and respect each had for the other. We all knew that the other guy had been trained and could ride well, with confidence, and was safety oriented. We also knew that we all had 2 objectives in mind…to complete the detail and to see that everyone made it home safe…period.

The manner in which they all rode, the image they presented and the mutual respect for each other was something you had to experience or at the very least, see for yourself…and that brings us to the connection I want to make with you – the individual, and you the motorcycle rider.

It is the training that allowed these motor officers from all over the country to pull off some of the details they did, and it is training and practice, practice and more practice that allowed them to reduce the risk factors making it a safe event for everyone. Every ride escort had a mix of different riders, each formally trained, and they all had a great time, looked sharp, did the job proud and more than anything, they all went home at night – safe…myself included.

After experiencing working and riding with these officers, I came to the conclusion that there is not one single reason why ALL riders cannot or should not adapt these riding strategies from the police…because they prove time and again the benefits that can be realized from getting proper training, practicing and just doing it the right way.

Most Road Crews of various riding organizations do a fantastic job making sure that their respective rides, and more importantly, YOU are safe. They work hard (or should be) to set an example for everyone by leading by example, proving that proper training, working to improve your riding skills and not compromising safety for image is the right way to ride. Like the cops in DC and elsewhere throughout our country – each detail (ride) has (2) main objectives…#1) to complete the detail (or simply your group ride), and #2) to see that everyone goes home safe when it’s over…it’s that simple.

Each rider is responsible for their own ride, just as each rider is responsible for just how much they want to improve themselves. You can choose to be either a sterling example of what riding right & riding safe is all about…or you can choose be a sterling example of someone who is most likely to get schmucked next. These folks (the latter) seem to forget that stupid hurts, crashin’ sucks and dead is dead until it reaches up and bites them in the ass, but by then it’s too late.

So it’s up to YOU to decide which example YOU want to be...and along with me, your friends and your family, we all hope you make the right choice, and you know deep down what that is. 

Parting shot – riding a motorcycle doesn’t require your attention, it demands it...so never compromise safety for image, and remember to ride every ride as if your ass, and your life depends on it – because it does!

Gary

I recall sitting there one recent Saturday morning…in Michigan…in February…looking out the window. Yeah, it was snowing again (damn)…and like most who live in Michigan, I was counting the days before we get that first real break in the weather…you know, the one that allows us to roll out the bikes and take that first ride of the season…and that really is something to look forward too. I would think that by now, most of you have already done that this year….but it’s still early in the riding season.

Back on that cold morning in February, I was also pondering the upcoming “motorcycle season,” with all the rides I hope to take, the various details that I will work, the classes I will teach (and take) and especially to seeing so many old (and new) friends again – friends who share that one common bond we all have, and that is the motorcycle.

But something else struck me as I sat there thinking about the sun (that would be that strange hot round fiery ball in the sky that sometimes shows up around here), the fun and the many rides. I thought again about those dreaded “calls” some of us will get, or the stories we’ll see on TV or read in the newspapers…you know the ones I’m talking about, right?? The ones we hope and pray we never hear again…the ones that tell us someone we know has just been involved in a motorcycle crash…and that can be a real “buzz-killer.” Trouble is we all know that is going to happen again and as always it seems that there is nothing we can do about it…or is there?

Winter gives motorcyclists here in Michigan a chance to think & dream and something to look forward too. So as I sat there staring at the &%$# snow and doing just that, something else occurred to me…as a Motorcycle Safety Instructor, I teach and preach the Gospel of “Motorcycle Safety,” but given that term as it’s written, isn’t "Motorcycle Safety” really an oxymoron? Like the term “Jumbo Shrimp” or “Political Correctness.” One just doesn’t seem to go well with the other or make any sense when you think about it…so doesn’t the term “Motorcycle Safety” fit into that category?

How in the world can riding a motorcycle be even remotely related to anything we normally consider “safe?” By most accounts, its right up there with skydiving, bungee jumping or alligator wrestling – am I right? Well…maybe some of you reading this may not think so, but that’s the problem and that’s exactly the point I’m trying to make; motorcycle riding carries some severe consequences if one decides to take to many unnecessary risks…and you all know what I’m talking about.

I won’t fill this article with bullet-points about what you should or shouldn’t do when you ride, or preach the Gospel of Motorcycle Safety in chapter & verse…but because this is spring, and we’re at the early stage of our riding season, what I will do is suggest that you try something a bit less painful…

Next time you are together with your buds, your riding group, chapter, club, gang or whomever you ride with and you happen to be looking for a motorcycle related topic to discuss, why not try this…have an open-minded discussion about why Gary said “Motorcycle Safety is an oxymoron,” and see where the discussion goes. My guess is that you will bring out a lot of good comments, suggestions, and concerns and perhaps even some fears…and that can be good constructive conspiracy. The discussion may also help to heighten everyone’s awareness a touch, especially now as we’re in the early days of the riding season. Let’s re-remind each other and ourselves that motorcycle riding really is a risky business, and let’s ALL strive to make sure we do everything we can to ride smart and to try to reduce as many of those “risks” as possible. Making an effort to assure that we all return from every ride we take is an effort that should start NOW - before you head out and enjoy the ride!

Remember to ride safe, and ride sober.

Gary

Oxymoron: “A combination of contradictory words.”