To all those who drive a car, truck, or SUV:

On any given day of the past school year, you may have seen my blue 1981 Suzuki GS450 L parked in the parking lot of Main Campus or in the motorcycle parking at the RTD Littleton Downtown Station. You’ve probably seen me with my helmet and black leather jacket with the words “BACK OFF” spray painted on the back sitting in the library, or grabbing a coffee at the café. You may have seen me walking on main campus or in the Art & Design Center.

But it’s when you don’t see me that frightens me the most.

It’s when I’m riding up Bowles, down Santa Fe, or across any public street or highway that I’m worried you won’t see me. Regardless of the protective gear I wear on any given day––reflective white helmet, black leather jacket/armored jacket, backpack covered with light reflective spray paint, or a day-glow construction worker’s vest––you still neglect to check your surroundings for motorcyclists. And with the weather warming up, it’s not just me you don’t see. It’s every other motorcyclist and Vespa enthusiast you’re ignoring on the streets you drive on.

I’m taking every possible measure to ensure my visibility to other drivers. I’ve replaced my halogen headlight with a 7” LED headlight, I wear high visibility gear, and have made my pipes as loud as possible without making them illegal. But no matter how visible I am people still pull out in front of me, merge into my lane with me driving right beside their passenger window, tailgate me to the point where if I were to use any amount of brake pressure I’d be ground into the asphalt like a flesh and metal abstract painting. It’s because of the people that tailgate me that I spray painted the words “BACK OFF” onto my jacket – not because I’m antisocial or want to come across as some bad ass motorcyclist with an attitude to match – no, it’s so that people consciously think about how close they’re driving behind me.

I’ve done the research and found a number or reports published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reporting that in 2014, “387,000 car vs. motorcycle crashes were a result of distracted driving on the car driver’s fault” and that of those 387,000 reported crashes, 8,699 crashes resulted in serious injury or death. That means that 3,331 motorcyclists were killed and that 5,863 motorcyclists had injuries ranging from minor scrapes to being in critical condition. This represents 10% of ALL fatal crashes and 17% of ALL non-fatal crashes.

Distracted driving is a bogus excuse to kill somebody. “Oh, I was texting Becky because as her BFF I have to know everything there is to know about the fight she’s in with her BF because her parents can’t know she’s seeing Drew.” SHUT UP! Becky can wait while you navigate your 4,000-pound radio on wheels along side every other two-ton rolling weapon on the road, so that you don’t kill a bystander on their 400-pound, two wheeled, chair. Becky will live, the guy on the 400-pound chair most likely won’t survive if you hit him.

“But what if the radio is playing a song that’s, like, sssooooo over played?” I promise you, if you give it three minutes, the song will change on its own. “Okay, but what if Becky is in the front seat texting Drew and she needs my help breaking down his argument to use his words against him, and she shows me every little text that he sends her? What am I to do then?” You have her read them to you while you maintain control of that two-ton radio. In fact, put her to use and have her change the radio station so you can drive.

The 2015 NHTSA report claims that of all distraction-affected crashes involving motorcycles, 2,674 motorcyclists were killed. Of these motorcyclists, 1,898 (60%) were motorcycle drivers and 776 (40%) were motorcycle passengers. In total, 85% of all distraction-affected crashes involving motorcyclists were fatal.

Another report by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Research Review states that, “in 2015, 5% of all car VS. motorcycle crashes were a result of road rage on the car driver’s fault” that car drivers were in too big of a hurry to get to their destination; that the automotive drivers were driving with “extreme aggression – disregarding posted speed limits, not checking their mirrors, and not using their turn signals.” Simply put, automotive drivers don’t time manage well enough to factor in traffic, they’re in too big of a hurry to observe their surroundings to ensure that they aren’t going to hit any oncoming traffic, and they lack the common courtesy to use their turn signals.

So you woke up late and have to be at that major conference call with the CEO of the company in ten minutes; your shirt’s wrinkled, you didn’t shower, and you’re ticked off because the dog chewed up your favorite pair of shoes. Calm down, take a breath, and take your time. You’re already going to be late to the call, anyway. There isn’t anything you can do about the traffic and honking your horn only makes the person in front of you drive slower, out of spite. So calm down and don’t be a jerk. Use your side view mirrors, check your rear view mirror, and look over your shoulder before merging into the next lane or making – likewise, look left then right, then left and then right again before making any turn in an intersection.

Did You Know Fact #42987: All cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, scooters, and other vehicles are equipped with this nifty lever behind the right side of the stirring wheel that, if you push it up or down, it activates lights on the outsides of your vehicles that indicate to other drivers that you desire to turn/merge left or right. You push it up to indicate you want to go to the right and you push it down to indicate that you want to go the left. People are calling it the greatest invention in the history of man.

There’s absolutely no reason for you to pull out and hit anybody, especially a motorcyclist. Just like you made the choice to drive your car/truck/SUV, they make the choice to ride their motorcycle. So the next time you find yourself driving your 4,000-pound, radio 55-MPH down Santa Fe, remember to turn your phone to silent and toss it in your pocket. Becky can wait. Pick a radio station and leave it there or have Becky change the station between texts from her jerk BF, Drew. Check your mirrors. Look over your shoulder. Use your turn signals. Take your time to get to your destination, calm down, and enjoy the fact that technology has evolved to the point where you don’t have to walk everywhere you go.

Don’t be the reason somebody has to attend a funeral.

Sincerely,

Feeling safer now that you’re going to be more consciously aware of your surroundings.

To those thinking about purchasing a motorcycle,

Before you make the purchase, sign up for the motorcycle endorsement classes. One of the best classes for your money is provided by ABATE of Colorado. Their instructors are down-to-earth, personable and easy to get along with while still effectively teaching you everything you need to know about safe riding. They provide classes all over Colorado, almost every week during spring and summer. They even hold classes in the ACC Main Campus parking lot. Their classes are starting up this week so sign up now while there are still spaces left for you to reserve.

Sincerely,

Concerned for your best interest.