Instant Public Servant - just add motorcycle
By: Steven Peltier I keep having an experience that I'm sure you'll all relate to. Yesterday, I was being introduced to a new acquaintance and I just happened to be wearing my trusty Ducati visor. To make small talk, this person asked me "What's Ducati?" "Oh it's an Italian motorcycle maker," another person in the room answered, and before I could elaborate something all too familiar happened. This person literally changed right before my eyes. He morphed from the shy person I was meeting for the first time into my all too familiar and emboldened "friend" - the Instant Public Servant. "Motorcycles?! You don't ride those things do you? Bikes are so dangerous! I used to know a Harley guy who was hit by a cement truck on the freeway. Dude NEVER had a chance. His poor family was devastated. Wouldn't catch me dead on anything without four wheels. Every day, all you hear about is more and more people going down on bikes. We just can't see you out there. You come up on us so fast, scare us and all." Not an unusual rant by any means, but he finished with THE question that I never seem to get used to. "So, you trying to kill yourself or what?" Well, since this comes up way too frequently, let me answer a ridiculous question with a semi-ridiculous answer, "Mmmm... No. Nope. Not so much. Contrary to popular belief, I'm NOT in any way trying kill myself. I'm not even willing to be too uncomfortable. Believe it or not, I'm actually trying to TRULY LIVE. Seriously." You know, the debate over motorcycle safety is an old one, and I think the debate will persist for as long as we have the pleasure of sharing the road with our caged brothers and sisters. Hooliganism aside, I ride acknowledging that motorcycling still has inherent risk. With proper decision-making, preparation, gear and training, I do believe we all have some power to actively mitigate some of that risk. At the end of the day, however, I ride simply because it's fun, risk and all. Do you have a good answer for the Instant Public Servants of the world? In the spirit of riding safe, here's a couple links to resources devoted to good motorcycle practice. Published: Dec 15, 2008 Leave Comments |
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