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MAY IS
MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH
Not
Motorcycle Safety Monthby quig
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On May 4, 2006, I opened the local newspaper and found an article by the California Highway Patrol declaring May to be "motorcycle safety month," and notifying motorcyclists it was about time we started taking responsibility for our own safety . . . the CHP's way.
The article read:
M o t o r c y c l e s a f e t y m o n t h b e g i n s
M a y i s m o t o r c y c l e s a f e t y m o n t h a n d t h e C a l i f o r n i a H i g h w a y P a t r o l w a n t s t o r e m i n d m o t o r c y c l i s t s t o u s e s a f e , d e f e n s i v e d r i v i n g t e c h n i q u e s .
I n S a n t a C r u z C o u n t y , t h e C a l i f o r n i a H i g h w a y P a t r o l i n v e s t i g a t e d m o r e t h a n 7 0 0 m o t o r c y c l e c o l l i s i o n s s i n c e 1 9 9 9 .
" S a n t a C r u z C o u n t y h a s u n i q u e r o a d s w h i c h a t t r a c t r i d e r s f r o m a l l o v e r t h e s t a t e " , s a i d C a p t . C h r i s t i n a M a n r i q u e z , c o m m a n d e r o f t h e S a n t a C r u z a r e a o f f i c e .
L a s t y e a r , t h e r e w e r e m o r e t h a n 9 0 m o t o r c y c l e a c c i d e n t s .
" M a n y o f t h e a c c i d e n t s w e r e f r o m r i d e r s p u s h i n g t h e l i m i t a n d d r i v i n g b e y o n d t h e i r r i d i n g s k i l l s , " s a i d M a n r i q u e z .
T h e C H P r e m i n d s m o t o r c y c l i s t s :
* T o w e a r a n a p p r o v e d h e l m e t a n d a p p r o p r i a t e s a f e t y e q u i p m e n t .
* A l w a y s a n t i c i p a t e o t h e r m o t o r i s t ' s a c t i o n s .
* B e a w a r e t h a t a m o t o r i s t m a y n o t s e e y o u e v e n t h o u g h y o u s e e t h e m .
O f f i c e r G r a n t B o l e s s a i d t h e C H P r e c o m m e n d s m o t o r c y c l i s t s c o m p l e t e t h e C a l i f o r n i a m o t o r c y c l i s t s a f e t y p r o g r a m t o r e c e i v e t r a i n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e .
T h e p r o g r a m c a n a s s i s t d r i v e r s i n r e c e i v i n g t h e i r m o t o r c y c l e e n d o r s e m e n t . I t o f f e r s i n s t r u c t i o n t o n e w a n d e x p e r i e n c e d r i d e r s . C o u r s e s a r e h e l d a t C a b r i l l o C o l l e g e a n d r e g i s t r a t i o n i s o p e n f o r J u l y c o u r s e s . F o r i n f o r m a t i o n c a l l 4 7 9 - 6 1 3 4 f o r i n f o r m a t i o n o r t h e C H P a t 6 6 2 - 0 5 1 1
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I quickly got on the telephone to find out why the CHP had changed not only the name, but the gist of Motorcycle Awareness Month, only to find out it was just some more of the same old bigoted bullshit from the California Highway Patrol . . . and that there was apparently NOTHING that could be done about it.
Well, "nothing" doesn't always mean nothing. I contacted the local 10,000-watt radio station — KSCO, 1080 AM in Santa Cruz, CA — and told them I could use some air time to promote Motorcycle Awareness Month, as described and proclaimed by the California Legislature in SCR-101, enacted March 7, 2006, by California Senator Battin.
The legislative proclamation reads:
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 101, as introduced, March 7, 2006 by Senator Battin
Motorcycle Awareness Month.
This measure would proclaim the month of May 2006 as Motorcycle Awareness Month.
WHEREAS, Motorcycle riding is a popular form of efficient transportation and recreation for more than 1,000,000 people in California; and
WHEREAS, Motorcycles provide a means of transportation that uses fewer resources, causes less wear and tear on public roadways, and increases available parking areas; and
WHEREAS, It is important that drivers of all vehicles be aware of one another and learn to share the road and practice courtesy; and
WHEREAS, It is especially important that the citizens of California be aware of motorcycles on the streets and highways and recognize the importance of motorcycle safety; and
WHEREAS, The safety hazards created by automobile operators who have not been educated to watch for motorcyclists on the streets and highways of California are of prime concern to motorcyclists; and
WHEREAS, The American Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) of California is an organization that is actively promoting the safe operation, increased rider training, and increased motorist awareness of motorcycles; and
WHEREAS, It is important to recognize the need for awareness on the part of all drivers, especially with regard to sharing the road with motorcycles, and to honor motorcyclists' many contributions to the communities in which they live and ride; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, that the month of May 2006, is hereby officially designated Motorcycle Awareness Month.
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The radio station agreed that as a public service, they would allow me to host a show and discuss the event. I contacted Tony "Pan" Sanfelipo (an accident investigator with Hupy and Associates, and LONG-TIME bikers' rights activist) and Mike Osborn (a long time leader in the ABATE of California organization) and asked them to join me for an hour on the radio. I also contacted the CHP to see if they would provide someone to help explain the reason for Motorcycle Awareness Month, but they declined — stating their concern that I might ridicule them, or otherwise embarass them — even after I explained that I am a talk show host, not a shock jock, that I support most of what the CHP does, and assured them that I was not laying in wait to pull the covers off their bigotry.
On Tuesday, May 9, 2006, we broadcast the show, recorded it and made it available for listening by clicking here.
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