Motorcycle Grandma Linda’s Ride

I found this on one of my bike groups and thought I would share it here (with some editing of course).

A BIKERS PLEA…

1. I’m just like you. I have friends, family, loved ones and a
responsible job. If I’m not on my bike and not in my gear, you could
not pick me out from anybody else. I am well read and have interesting
hobbies, and …. sometimes I ride my motorcycle. When I ride my
motorcycle, I am not running meth for some outlaw motorcycle gang and
I am not going to/coming from a drinking establishment. Nor am I part
of a stunt group.

2. Bikers ride the way they do for a reason. I’m not talking about
mile long wheelies… but when I whizz by you fast, it is because I do
not ride in anybody’s blind spot. The more time I spend in close
proximity to another vehicle, the higher the probability that
something bad will happen to me. Don’t take it personally that I go by
you with a 20mph differential and then slow down. You drive your
pace… I’ll drive mine and let the tickets fall where they may. And
I’m not passing that 18 wheeler until I can get all the way by him in
one blast… His tires exploding could kill me as opposed to
scratching the paint on my car.

3. Please understand that I do not want to pop a wheelie for your kid
and I don’t want to race you; and please stay off my rear. I
bought this bike because the performance of all production cars were
becoming a little underwhelming. Just because you put a fantastic
exhaust on your car does not mean that I will covet your car, or want
to race.

( well, maybe sometimes, if your GF is along, just to embarass you)
(or your boyfriend;/)

4. I’m looking at obstacles through a soda straw called a helmet and
relying on mirrors that are vibrating pretty good. I’m looking at the
big picture… don’t expect me to interpret hand signals to the rear.
Please give me a little room… please. Oh… and about that helmet…
I’m not hearing anything you want to say to me. Nothing personal.

5. I am simply a guy or gal trying to master a very simple machine
with very complex dynamics. Please don’t assume that the guy or girl
on a sport bike is actually flattered by the extra attention you try
and throw at us while we’re just trying to get to where we’re going.
Trust me… you people have embarrassed yourselves more than once in
this regard, oh and male drivers, stop the hate….seriously.

6. I am more scared of you. Statistics show that if I die on a
motorcycle, more than likely it will be from a driver that did not see
me until it was too late. Why in the world are you scared of me? Just
leave me alone… and give me some room.

7. Oh, and another thing. There is a lever on the left side of YOUR
steering wheel. You can use it to signal your intention to go left or
go right.

USE THE THING!!

8. Riding a motorcycle is so different from driving a car that it can
not be explained. Accept that. Give me some points for riding a
vehicle to work that is three times more efficient than my car and
eases the congestion on the road. Most of all, just give me some
space.

I hope this gives you a few things to think on as it did me and thanks again for reading today. Ride safe.