What is the public’s general perception
of motorcyclists now?
1. Motorcyclists
are:
Ø
Risk takers
§
Stunting
in traffic
§
Wheelies/ stoppies
§
Splitting lanes
§
Speeding thru traffic
Ø
Exhibit obnoxious behavior
§
With excessively loud exhausts in town or
§
Howling loud exhausts while speeding
§
Blocking
traffic on group rides: Instead of breaking rides into smaller groups to
accommodate other traffic users
Ø
Image
§
Riding in shorts, sandals, no shirt, helmet-less,
etc
§
On the news reports, mc killed in traffic for
whatever reason alcohol, other driver caused crashes, single vehicle crashes (supporting
risk perception)
§
Stereotypical "1%ers" (by virtue of movies, TV,etc)
§
Image that some of us want to portray
Ø
Road rage: goes both ways, trying to get even
§
Kicking cars
§
Single digit salute
§
Profanity
Ø
Possible "Solutions":
o
Self awareness: what image do you want to
project?
§
Goodwill also makes the news such as the
·
MDA runs,
·
Toys of Tots runs etc.
·
Children’s Hospital activities
§
Have your clubs or groups
·
Adopt needy families at Christmas
·
Food banks etc
§
Goodwill
o
Actions:
§
Waving at the kids
§
Participation / helping promote the MAC at
schools, festivals or wherever the opportunity presents itself.
§
Acting responsibly / professionally
Ø
Self awareness as a rider? Responsibility for one’s self
o
Dress to be seen: don’t blend in with the background
o
Active and passive visibility
§
Electronic
means, driving lights, modulators
§
Signals/
brake lights
§
Lights
§
Lane
position
§
Awareness
of blind spots
§
Understanding
when and where your ability to be seen might be reduced
Ø
Weather
Ø
Traffic
conditions
Ø
Road
conditions
§
Understanding
the other driver conditions
Ø
Traffic
tie ups
Ø
Impatient
drivers
Ø
Distracted
drivers
o
Cell
phones
o
Kids
o
Conversations/arguments
with other passengers
o
Impared drivers
o
Can you
see others/hazards well in advance
§
Night
time visibility
§
Scanning
the road 4 sec, 12 sec
§
Lane
position
Ø
Individual riders
Ø
Group
riding