Time to raise a Little Awareness

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Arun_in_TO

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Been reading a lot of recent threads in the 'fallen riders' section and cannot help feeling sad everytime I wore my helmet this week. Its amazing to see the outpouring of support and condolences and I feel very proud to be a part of this community. But, I cannot forget the fact that every rider on this forum is vulnerable and could meet a sad fate due to someone else being careless. And for all I know, tomorrow I could also meet the same fate.

A few ideas came to my mind about what we could do to raise awareness among fellow riders and all other drivers who share the road in the GTA.

* Organize a mass rally on a summer weekend to raise awareness by riding through city streets
* Create an online video campaign or a presentation showing the most common reasons motorcyclists are in danger. Expand the reach of this on facebook and social media
* Create a distributable handbook that we could pass along to all driving schools in the GTA and get them to add extra emphasis on sharing the roads with motorcycles.

I would like to know what out of these would be practical to implement and even hear more inputs on developing this idea. has anyone organized something like this before ?

Plus, riding and getting home safe takes a healthy dose of mutual respect to every other user of our roads. Would it make sense for us to get as many riders to take a pledge that they would avoid risky riding and not speed in the days to come ?


Thoughts please ? Any more ideas are always welcome. Acting together, even if we could save one rider after doing all this, I think we would have achieved what we aimed for. I can contribute the time and more.
 
While I think there are plenty of videos online... a simple search will pull up hundreds... I am game for a rally or something to help raise awareness.
 
From what I see (and it's almost every day) half the accidents are from cars not paying attention to motorcycles, and the other half seems to be new riders who are getting in over their heads.

I'd join in with a rally if someone organized one! For new riders though, I don't know what to say; they just need to be more cautious and not get caught up with being aggressive and "cool" on their bike. Maybe practice straightening up the bike and e-braking and the wonders of looking where you wanna go in an emergency.
 
From what I see (and it's almost every day) half the accidents are from cars not paying attention to motorcycles
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It'd be a neat gig if on the same day everyone wore a bright yellow sticker on their back that reads "I see you."

It'd get non-riders talking .. but raising the standard of **** driving on Ontario/the GTA is a difficult task.
 
Do it.

Something big enough may even make it on the news if they channels are informed.

The rally is a good idea. The video i'm not so sure of.. TV exposure would be best I suppose. As for changing the test drive curriculum, Dunno if i'm wrong, but I think it would have to MTO approved(?).

Either way, I'll be in.
 
Arun_in_TO said:
Been reading a lot of recent threads in the 'fallen riders' section and cannot help feeling sad everytime I wore my helmet this week.

* Organize a mass rally on a summer weekend to raise awareness by riding through city streets
* Create an online video campaign or a presentation showing the most common reasons motorcyclists are in danger. Expand the reach of this on facebook and social media
* Create a distributable handbook that we could pass along to all driving schools in the GTA and get them to add extra emphasis on sharing the roads with motorcycles.
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I feel the same and I would have to agree with you 100%.
I think it's about time that we take matters into our own hands and make our presence known.
Whatever it takes, I'm up for it.
Just send me the invite!
 
+1 for the rally and stickers.

I'm still tempted to get reflective tape and put "HI!" on the back of my jacket.
 
I can help out with some of these ideas, usually got alot of free time and willing to do it for a great cause!

shoot me a PM anytime
 
the optimist in me says: I hope some great plans can come out of this.

the pessimist in me says: people are so self involved these days, they hardly are aware of other cars/trucks/vans let alone bikes. If they cut you off ther onus is for you to not hit them or crash.

At least I have been seeing signs on the highways that tell drivers to give motorcycles room. People don't understand if you crash my car I go to a body shop to get it repaired. If you crash my bike, I may go to a different type of body shop, one that may be refrigerated
 
I'd be on board for something like this. A rally gets my vote as well. Myself being a newbie, I continue to practice the skills that were taught by RTI and encourage all new riders to do so as well... Good stuff Arun :thumbup:
 
if sluts can parade and protest downtown to protest dressing like that; why cant motorcyclists parade and ride through streets raising awarness for safety. This is a good idea Count me in.

One thing I really think should be taught is in driving school. They should teach people to look out for motorcyclists. teaching them where a biker MAY be on the road(tire track). MTO testing should also include some small blurp in at least the G! test about motorcyclists.
From what I've learned is that even the smallest thing you skim over/read can stick in your head for years.
 
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It would be nice if driving schools taught just a few minutes of checking for motorcycles, etc.

Annoying parade = 100 motorcycles riding at 60 on the highway in first gear with high viz gear (packed so no car can go around). Maybe add in some chanting: "We're here! We've gear! We don't want anymore bears!"
 
bboySushi said:
Annoying parade = 100 motorcycles riding at 60 on the highway in first gear with high viz gear (packed so no car can go around). Maybe add in some chanting: "We're here! We've gear! We don't want anymore bears!"
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You had me until the chanting part! LoL...
I think we should actually go ahead and set this up, post in the Rides/Hook-ups section, set a date and get as many bikers as possible for this event!

We have to have a decent amount of bikes show up in order to get any kind of news coverage. The questions is, how many will that be? 50? 80? 120?...
I think if we all come together, it would be a great success!
Also, I think it should be done every year in the beginning of the riding season and not just a one time thing!
I am really interested in making something like this happen!
 
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I completely support this cause.

Facebook/Twitter may be your best medium to get the word out quickly far and wide.

As long as there's a positive spin on it, I don't see why the news/media wouldn't pick it up and support it.

If anyone has any connections to the OPP/regional police motorcycle forces... having their backing would also be beneficial.
 
A mass rally, where we all get together and ride our loud motorcycles through the streets of Toronto? Ironically, I'm sure we'd be more of a danger to ourselves.

What exactly are we trying to accomplish? What firm goal is there? Or is this just like another group ride-along, except now we're riding because the carelessness of other drivers towards motorcycles has increased more so than at any other point in riding history?

There will always be an organ donor on the highway, or on any road, that rides his bike so carelessly, and dangerously, that it agitates the countless other riders on the road so thoroughly that they couldn't care less what happens to him, or any other motorcycle rider.

I wonder if there are any car enthusists who rally against motorcycles, or trucks, for that matter? Or people who want to ride their bicycle safetly without being struck by other vehicles, open doors, or city buses?

I think in any rider training, the emphasis is on not trusting other people on the road. They stress be alert, and always prepared. I don't think there is any other better training than preparing the rider him/herself to deal with other riders on the road. Trying to alter the mindstate of everyone else to be more careful of YOU because you are more vulnerable is going to take a great deal of effort, which I don't see as being successful.

I think I'm going to use that time to put more riding and road experience under my belt. Not that I don't wish any of you the best, this just seems like someone came up with an idea, posted it online in hopes that someone else will pick up on it and share in the work, and in a week this thread will be dead.

Prove me wrong, as I'd like to remain even more safe. In the meantime, I'll count on myself to do that.
 
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