Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/109021
See Me, See You by JAMES JONES This is a picture of my friend Terrell's helmet after a wreck on Owen Drive. With 70-degree weather in January people already have their bikes in the "go" mode. In the last year, I have had five friends involved in accidents, including Terrell. All of them had one thing common, they involved someone cutting them off. Of the five, one died at the scene. One is still in the hospital. A couple was injured as they were riding together and my friend Terrell woke up in the hospital. As a rider, I take responsibility for my ride and my safety. I have always believed that if I get into a wreck that I let the vehicle get too close. So far, my angels have been working overtime and I have not been in a wreck involving a vehicle (knock on wood). A motorcycle helmet after a So what happens, and what can we do as riders to wreck on Owen Drive. keep from being hit? The first thing is look at yourself. Ask yourself what you see when you look at a bike on the road and more importantly what you didn't see and why. Be honest and ask yourself, "how close have I come to hitting a bike?" It may have been a bike in your blind spot. Or was it a bike that ran a light? Did you run a red light and almost hit someone? Did you see that guy (or gal) pulling out of a parking lot onto the road? Yes, boys and girls, 42 percent of two-vehicle fatal motorcycle crashes involved a vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing or overtaking the vehicle. Of my five friends, all but one involved a car turning left. Now ask yourself what helps you notice bikes on the road? Number one should be a bright light. However, since all bikes are required to have their lights on, day or night, I believe that many cars see through the bike (they look past them). I have some of the brightest lights on the market on my BMW. I have Denali D1 Led Lights. These lights will hurt your eyeballs if you look directly at them but people pull out in front of me all of the time. I use to flash my lights at them, but over time I decided that it is more effective to swerve my bike back and forth while flashing my lights with the high beams on. What about bright clothes and helmet colors? Yesterday, I saw a man pulling out of Jim's Pawn Shop and the first thing I noticed was his bright orange shirt, so I slowed down. I do not know if the man realized his shirt may have saved his life, but I saw him way before he saw me. I have a neon-yellow motorcycle jacket that can be seen a mile away, but people still see through me. As for helmets, it is said that a white helmet is noticed most. Of course that is personal discretion and some people say yellow or silver. Either way, the more visible, the better off you are. Crossing intersections is always risky business. I always look left and right before pulling out after a light turns green. I never run a yellow light. Nothing is that important that I can't wait two minutes. The one thing that I often worry about is being seen when I stop at a light or moving in slow traffic. During daylight, I rely on my jacket, white helmet and little taillight. At night I have reflective stickers all over my back luggage that illuminates the back end like a Christmas tree. If there is a topic that you would like to discuss, please send your comments and suggestions to motorJAMES JONES, Contributing cycle4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE! Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 18 UCW FEBRUARY 13-19, 2013 FEBRUARY 23 • BREAST CANCER RUN at Legend's Pub. Event starts at noon. Call 8672364 for more information. MARCH 16 • RUN FOR THE GREEN at Legend's Pub. Just for fun poker run. Prizes and fun. Rain date March 17. Call 8672364 for more information. APRIL 13 • 3RD ANNUAL PONY EXPRESS RIDE at Cape Fear Harley Davidson. Registration 8 a.m., ride 9 a.m. $15/single, $20 double riders. 50/50 raffle. Proceeds benefit Community Schools Scholarship/Turkey Drop/Toy Drive. Call (813)380-1018 or visit ncbuffalosoldiers.com for more information. APRIL 20 • 8TH ANNUAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS TORCH RUN CHARITY RIDE at the Retired Military Association Bldg parkng lot. Registration 8 a.m. Ride at 9:30 a.m. $15 covers ride, breakfast and lunch. Proceeds benefit NC Special Olympics program. Call 677-5595 for more information. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard.org for more information about the group. Breast Cancer Run February 23rd 12 noon Call for more information 4624 BRAGG BLVD. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM