Motorcycle NEWS THREAD:

[Kat_Mac]

Motorcycle top speeds could be capped By Peter Griffiths
Thu Mar 29, 8:39 AM ET



LONDON (Reuters) - Powerful motorcycles could have their top speed capped to try to cut the number of riders killed in accidents, an influential group of MPs said Thursday.

Electronic speed limiters, already fitted on some scooters and high-performance bikes, could be required by law if the government adopts the committee's ideas.

"Motorcycle accident rates are far too high. They have been for 10 years," the House of Commons' Transport Committee said in a report. "It is time to consider radical action to tackle this problem."

Many "superbikes" with large engines have devices that restrict top speeds to 186 mph (300 kph). The committee did not suggest a top speed limit.

A total of 569 motorcyclists were killed and nearly 6,000 seriously injured in accidents on Britain's roads in 2005, according to Department for Transport figures.

Giving evidence to the committee, transport author Stephen Plowden said he could not see why anyone needed a bike with a top speed of more than 65 mph.

However, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said it would be difficult to use the law to limit the power of motorcycles.

"I have a lot of sympathy with having a top limit on the speed and power of motorcycles and cars," said Kevin Clinton, RoSPA's head of road safety.

"Although when the EC ... proposed a 100 brake-horsepower limit on motorcycles, they were not able to get it through because they could not show any real reduction in risk from that."

The committee said the government should commission research on speed limiters to "stimulate a sensible debate" on the issue.

"A case was made to the committee for limiting the speed of the more powerful motorcycles, though some technical issues still need to be resolved," the committee said.

The committee said it appeared to be government policy to encourage greater use of motorcycles, despite concerns over safety and the environmental damage.

"This may be another argument in favor of reducing the maximum power and speed that is available on these vehicles," the committee reported.

The Motor Cycle Industry Association says road safety can be improved by better training, changing attitudes and improving roads rather than just focusing on speed.

Technology that interferes with a rider's control could be dangerous, it says.

The Department for Transport had no immediate comment.

[burns]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b135/burns420/Taiwan-Elite-Army.jpg

Soldiers from Taiwan's elite special forces ride motorcycles from a helicopter during a drill in southern Tainan county March 8, 2007. Taiwan's elite special forces would likely find themselves at the front lines if war were to break out between Taiwan and China, which considers the democratically ruled island a wayward province since its split from the mainland at the end of a civil war in 1949. Training and motivation are essential as Taiwan's army of 130,000 ground troops is outnumbered more than 10-to-one by China's People's Liberation Army. Picture taken on March 8, 2007. To match feature TAIWAN-ARMY/ REUTERS/C.C.Yao (TAIWAN

[JMan]

? :shrug:

[burns]

House OKs Bill To Set Safety Rules For Motorcycle Helmets

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Motorcycle riders in North Carolina would have to wear helmets from among those that comply with federal safety standards under a bill approved Tuesday by the state House.

Some lawmakers objected, saying the standards are unclear and based on voluntary testing, not mandatory safety tests. They also objected to the bill's requirement that all helmets must have a chin strap.

But sponsor Ronnie Sutton, a Robeson County Democrat, said the bill simply removes the responsibility for approving helmets from the state commissioner of motor vehicles and lets someone with more expertise set the standard.


The bill now goes to the Senate.

[burns]

One Killed in I-26 Motorcycle Accident

http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=50032


(Orangeburg County) - One person has died following a motorcycle accident on Interstate 26 in Orangeburg County.

It happened near mile marker 154, at the Highway 301 exit.

According to state troopers, a group of 70 motorcyclists were on their way to Florida to Washington, D.C. The biker at the front of the pack raised his arm to slow the group down. The biker behind him hit the brakes hard, and was ejected from from his bike.

The motorcyclist was transported to Orangeburg where he died.

The biker behind the first two bikes laid down the bike, and collided with the bike in front. That biker was transported to Lexington.

No one else was injured.

[burns]

(Well the wreck was cause by a biker so I'll put it in here)

7-car crash kills 2, injures 15, snarls traffic

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/30/AR2007053002615.html?nav=hcmodule

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s256/burns421/ttyedgwgbikiiiiki.jpg

Thursday, May 31, 2007; Page B01

A police attempt to stop a speeding motorcycle touched off a gruesome series of collisions on both sides of the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County last night, killing two people and injuring 15 others, including two officers.

The seven-vehicle pileup, one of the Beltway's most violent in recent memory, closed down all lanes of the inner loop in the Forestville area for nearly five hours and snarled traffic on both sides of the highway late into the night.

"I've been in law enforcement a long time and have been on a number of tough scenes. And this is a tough scene," said Prince George's Police Chief Melvin C. High. "Your thoughts go to [the injured and dead], and their families and friends."

The accident was set in motion about 7 p.m. when a Prince George's police cruiser chasing the motorcycle on the outer loop near the Ritchie Marlboro Road exit slammed into a vehicle after the motorcycle cut in front of the car, police said.

The force of the impact caused the car to go airborne over the median's guardrail and into oncoming traffic on the inner loop. That caused a chain-reaction crash involving five southbound cars.

The motorcycle sped off, and its driver remained at large, police said.

Details about the two dead were unavailable last night. The 15 injured were taken to hospitals; one of them was said to be in critical condition.

The collisions left vehicles strewn across the inner loop. One vehicle was overturned and bent like an accordion. Police said it was a sport-utility vehicle, but it was no longer identifiable. Rescuers ripped the tops off of at least two cars to free their occupants, said Cpl. Stephen Pacheco.

The officers involved in the crash were traveling in two vehicles, officials said. One was pursuing the motorcycle; the other was off-duty and heading home on the inner loop.

High said both officers were seriously injured, but the off-duty officer was hurt more severely. He was being treated last night at Prince George's Hospital Center. Neither officer's injuries were believed to be life-threatening, Pacheco said.

Traffic on the Beltway was at a standstill for hours. The inner loop was closed near Exit 13, the ramp for Ritchie Marlboro Road.

High said police captured the pursuit and ensuing crash with a video camera in a cruiser. Authorities will use the footage to try to identify the motorcycle and its driver, he said. Police also interviewed several witnesses.

Pacheco said some lanes of the Beltway near the crash scene will be closed after the morning rush today as the investigation continues. The closures were expected to start about 10 a.m.

The officer who pursed the motorcycle has been put on administrative leave, authorities said. Neither officer was immediately identified.

The accident "illustrates the problem we have with speed and what can happen in an instant," High said.

[SUM650]

This is very sad. I have a lot that I could say, but to keep it at a min., I will just say this. This is exactly why a lot of police forces have a no chase policy. Chasing in most cases causes more harm than good.

All of this over a simple speeding ticket. Both parties are at fault here in my opinion. It's unfortunate that the law enforcement side will not except some that responsibility in this case, but after the major law suites that will occur, maybe they will rethink there policy?

[burns]

Lightning injures four motorcyclists

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/NEWS/706170345


Times Herald-Record
June 17, 2007
Forestburgh — Four people heading to a poker run charity event in Greenville yesterday afternoon were injured — two of them seriously — when lightning struck nearby.

Robert Conklin, 40, and his son, Matthew Conklin, 13, both of Huguenot, Edward Duplessis, 32, of Howells, and Owen Garritt, 25, of Spring Glen, were riding their motorcycles along Route 48 in Forestburgh when a heavy rain began, police said.

A little before 1 p.m., all the riders pulled onto the shoulder, and under several trees, to wait out the storm.

Lightning struck nearby, critically injuring both Conklins. Duplessis and Garritt suffered minor injuries, police said.

All four were first taken to Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis. The father and son were later transferred by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla for further treatment. Additional information on their condition was not available.

The storm that caused the injuries was part of a violent band of thunderstorms that criss-crossed the mid-Hudson region yesterday afternoon, downing trees and leaving some residents without power.

[mccutch2u]

As for the guy that caused that accident he should be the one in his grave , we have all done our stupid shit and ran from the man or whatever but you have to know when to say it is not worth it........

[Nash]

Another biker fell off the over-pass on 526 yesterday. I heard he didn't make it. Anyone know more details?

[the_MAC]

As for the guy that caused that accident he should be the one in his grave , we have all done our stupid shit and ran from the man or whatever but you have to know when to say it is not worth it........

looked to me like the cop caused the wreck...sure the guy on the bike was breaking the law, but like barry said: all that just for a speeding ticket??

[burns]

S.C. Women Charged In Motorcycle Death

Anderson SC - Marilyn Thompson, 84, of Clemson has been charged with failure to yield after a wreck that resulted in the death of a motorcyclist.

On May 21, Ms. Thompson turned left out of Upstate Automotive on Pearman Dairy Road in Anderson County, said South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Ms. Thompson pulled in front of the motorcycle, said SCHP Lance Corp. Dan Marsceau at the time of the accident.

Travis Lee Smith, 24, of Central collided with the car, hitting the left front driver's door. A coroner's report said Mr. Smith died of multiple traumas and was declared dead at the scene.

If found guilty, Ms. Thompson will face a fine of $50.

SCHP Lance Corp. Kathy Hiles said Ms. Thompson was not charged in the death of Mr. Smith because there was no wanton or willful disregard for safety on her part.

"If he had lived, it would have been the same charge," she said


independentnews.com

[MrDude_1]

S.C. Women Charged In Motorcycle Death

Anderson SC - Marilyn Thompson, 84, of Clemson has been charged with failure to yield after a wreck that resulted in the death of a motorcyclist.

On May 21, Ms. Thompson turned left out of Upstate Automotive on Pearman Dairy Road in Anderson County, said South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Ms. Thompson pulled in front of the motorcycle, said SCHP Lance Corp. Dan Marsceau at the time of the accident.

Travis Lee Smith, 24, of Central collided with the car, hitting the left front driver's door. A coroner's report said Mr. Smith died of multiple traumas and was declared dead at the scene.

If found guilty, Ms. Thompson will face a fine of $50.

SCHP Lance Corp. Kathy Hiles said Ms. Thompson was not charged in the death of Mr. Smith because there was no wanton or willful disregard for safety on her part.

"If he had lived, it would have been the same charge," she said


independentnews.com

$50?

fuck, im going to start pulling out infront of whoever i feel like.... i got the cash.

[Mike]

...yeah, it's $50 only if she's found guilty :roll:

[crash]

Guess thats why people don't have a problem pulling out in front of bikes. The fact she is 84 I'm sure doesn't help.

[thehammer69]

let's not forget that with her being found guilty of the criminal charge of failure to yield will help open the doors to a civil case by the family of the deceased. Basically, what i am saying, the criminal charge may only cost her $50 and raised insurance rates, but the civil costs will be most likely extremely high in a unlawful death suit if brought on by the family.

Hammer

[burns]

Bikers crash into pole, catapulted off cycle


http://www.sunjournal.com/story/233051-3/LewistonAuburn/Bikers_crash_into_pole_catapulted_off_cycle/

Sunday, October 7, 2007
LEWISTON - Two people were seriously injured Saturday after their motorcycle crashed into a pole and sent them flying into a tree about 100 feet away, police said. They were not wearing helmets.

The accident was still under investigation Saturday night. Lewiston police Detective Sgt. Adam Higgins said he could not release the names of the victims because family members had not been notified. The riders, a male from Lewiston and a female, both in their 30s, remained at Central Maine Medical Center.

The orange, black and white Honda 1000 CBR was traveling north on Old Greene Road by Greenwood Lane in Lewiston at about 6:15 p.m, according to police, when it came over a hill in the center of the road. The driver appeared to lose control, and the cycle crashed into the pole, Higgins said.

The force of the accident split the motorcycle in two, with the front wheel and handlebars separated from the rest of the bike, leaving parts scattered on the road.

Officers had not determined if speed was a factor, but Higgins said a witness reported that from the sound of the cycle, it was going fast.

About 10 people gathered in clusters around the accident scene, but none reported witnessing what happened.

Police blocked off Old Greene Road for two miles to reconstruct the accident, drawing a line along the path of the motorcycle to determine the cause of the crash. It will likely be weeks before a full report is done, Higgins said.

[burns]

Motorcycle club provides food for needy in Myrtle Beach



http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/210635.html


Members find joy in distributing donated supplies, toys in Conway
By Jonathan Tressler - The Sun News
Rico Johnson has been in and out of about 15 different motorcycle clubs, but none of them had what he was looking for.

Seven years after discovering the Star Riding and Touring club on the Internet, the Conway resident realized his dream to help less-fortunate residents of Horry County with the assistance of "the Star family."

On Saturday, about 200 members of the family-oriented bike club converged on the grounds of the Cherry Hill Missionary Baptist Church to distribute enough food to feed 400 area families for a week, said Joyce Williams, president of the Star Riding and Touring Club's 190 Chapter, based in Myrtle Beach. She was the brains and the brawn behind getting Saturday's event going, fellow club members said.

The day began about 8 a.m. when an 18-wheeler pulled in behind the church full of boxes of food and hygiene essentials. Once its doors were flung open, there was help everywhere one looked, said Lennard Prewitt of Davis, Okla.

"There was a lot of help," said Prewitt, who drove through the night from Nashville to get $35,000 to $50,000 in precious cargo to the church on time.

The club had to raise $7,200 to get it there.

"There were just a lot of bikers and stuff and they done a real good job. There were just a lot of real motivated people, and there was quite a bit of excitement about what they were doing."

After the boxes were unloaded, many of the bikers strapped boxes onto the backs of their bikes and formed a parade.

The 2½-mile route went out Fifth Avenue to Smith Street, then to Ninth Avenue to Main Street, and back up Fifth Street to the church.

Not everyone knew what to make of the riders, said Lowell Christopherson of Charleston, who rode his V-Star 1100 in the parade.

"There weren't a lot of people standing on the sidewalk waving, but, heck, I was waving, honking my horn, then came some people. As soon as you start waving and honking, people get the idea that this is a parade," Christopherson said.

Saturday was the first time a biker group in South Carolina has partnered with the international, Oklahoma City-based Feed the Children organization, Williams said.

Saturday's benefit served 58 churches and 12 nonprofit agencies, she said.

Most participants agreed the feeling they got from the event was well worth the time they spent doing it, and some of them rode from as far away as Georgia and North Carolina.

"I mean there were six out of the nine chapters in the state represented here today," said Earl Preston of Charleston who, along with his wife, Phyllis, is a state director for the club.

"It's awesome to us to help out the community like this," he said. "It's a real blessing to be able to this."

Star member Renee Clubb of Goose Creek agreed, "I feel blessed to be able to help the ones in need. It's a real blessing to me to be able to help like this," Clubb said.

She spent part of the event passing out stuffed animals to children as their families drove in to receive their boxes.

"There were big smiles. Their faces just lit up and they were just so excited and it was just a stuffed animal," she said. "That feeling is just indescribable. It's just joy."

Johnson agreed.

"It's just a joy when I see that kid smiling," he said. "I hugged one today and I could just feel the vibes coming through him, the happiness.

"It's like you're up there at the doors, and it's 'What's behind door number three?' and you open it, and it's like a brand new car or something," he said

Christopherson enjoyed the joy, also.

"It's just total exhilaration," he said. "How can you do better than to give food to people who need it?"

He said events like Saturday's also go a long way toward polishing the commonly held tarnished image of bikers.

"We're also changing the image of what bikers are," he said. "We're not a bunch of bad guys."

Contact JONATHAN TRESSLER at 444-1723 or jtressler@thesunnews.com.

[burns]

South Florida 150 bikers gather to protest


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-1016bikerprotest,0,3388791.story

Delray Beach - About 150 bikers showed up at City Hall Tuesday evening to protest a proposed ban on motorcycles from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on five blocks of Atlantic Avenue between Swinton and Fifth avenues.

"It's an uneducated thing they are trying to do," said Dale Graham, a Jupiter resident with the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club. "If you start outlawing bikes, then what will it be next?"

The bikers said that if the ban is approved, they fear other cities might follow with similar measures. And they say what Delray Beach is proposing is illegal. They say are protected by the Florida statute, which says: "Any person operating a motorcycle or moped shall be granted all of the same rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle..."




Officials said they've received numerous complaints from shops and restaurants about the noise.

Mayor Rita Ellis the city's noise control ordinance is unenforceable downtown. Officers on foot patrol downtown on the weekends can't exactly chase after violators, she said. They also need to be equipped with state-approved decibel readers and stand close to the violator to get accurate readings.

But David Riani, who owns a business just off Atlantic Avenue, wonders how he will get to work if the city approves this ban. He said bikers patronized Atlantic Avenue long before the redevelopment effort took off. "We carried this block when there wasn't a block to carry," Riani said.

[MrDude_1]

South Florida 150 bikers gather to protest


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-1016bikerprotest,0,3388791.story

Delray Beach - About 150 bikers showed up at City Hall Tuesday evening to protest a proposed ban on motorcycles from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on five blocks of Atlantic Avenue between Swinton and Fifth avenues.

"It's an uneducated thing they are trying to do," said Dale Graham, a Jupiter resident with the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club. "If you start outlawing bikes, then what will it be next?"

The bikers said that if the ban is approved, they fear other cities might follow with similar measures. And they say what Delray Beach is proposing is illegal. They say are protected by the Florida statute, which says: "Any person operating a motorcycle or moped shall be granted all of the same rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle..."




Officials said they've received numerous complaints from shops and restaurants about the noise.

Mayor Rita Ellis the city's noise control ordinance is unenforceable downtown. Officers on foot patrol downtown on the weekends can't exactly chase after violators, she said. They also need to be equipped with state-approved decibel readers and stand close to the violator to get accurate readings.

But David Riani, who owns a business just off Atlantic Avenue, wonders how he will get to work if the city approves this ban. He said bikers patronized Atlantic Avenue long before the redevelopment effort took off. "We carried this block when there wasn't a block to carry," Riani said.


damn... they need to contact the AMA.. when the AMA gets involved with stuff like this, small towns/citys get flooded with protest.

plus, they'll probably get someone better then this to represent them in the media.
this doesnt even convince me, and i fuggin ride.. lol


"It's an uneducated thing they are trying to do," said Dale Graham, a Jupiter resident with the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club. "If you start outlawing bikes, then what will it be next?"

[burns]

Belleville man sentenced to up to 30 years


http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/UPDATE/710220409

CANTON TOWNSHIP --A Belleville man was sentenced today for a fatal car crash that killed 46-year-old Romulus motorcyclist this summer.

William Floyd Craner, 45, will serve 13 ½ to 30 years in prison on second-degree murder charges for the July 15 crash that killed Anthony Salvatore Quasarano, Wayne County Circuit Judge Diane Hathaway ruled

Quasarano, a beloved motorcycle safety instructor and road captain with the Motor City HOG (Harley Owner's Group) motorcycle club, was killed when Craner ran a red light on Michigan Avenue at Haggerty Road during a high-speed chase, hitting Quasarano from behind

Police said they had attempted to pull Craner over because his 1982 Camaro matched the description of a car involved in an earlier hit-and-run accident. Officers said Craner fled at speeds up to 100 mph.

[MrDude_1]

i call BS.

do you know how long it takes an 82 camaro to reach 100mph???

[Chris]

if you run....deadly force should be authorized.....

[burns]

Marine bikers ride against drug abuse


http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/story/6711970p-5984109c.html

More than 70 Marine motorcycle riders roared down the streets of Beaufort and Lady's Island on Friday morning as part of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort's first Red Ribbon Week anti-drug rally.
Three of the base's seven motorcycle clubs were represented on the 20-mile ride from the air station to Parris Island and back: the Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 Road Hogs; the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Sweat Foxes; and the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 Club. The clubs range in size from five riders to 80.

Each rider wore a fluorescent vest with, "Riding for a drug free military" printed on the back.

More than 100 Marines registered for the rally, but cold, wet weather probably kept some inside, said Gunnery Sgt. William Costello, who's been in the Corps for 15 years and on a bike for eight.

Costello said drug abuse isn't a common problem at the air station, but an anti-drug message is worth reinforcing.

"Anytime you see one problem, that's one too many," he said. "Granted, per capita, you're talking about a fractional percentage. But it gets to be a problem when it's one of your own."

Lt. Jon Peterson is president of the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31 Club and was responsible for rider safety during the rally. He's been a Marine for more than three years and a motorcycle rider for 11.

Peterson said the rally also was an opportunity to display the Corps' motorcycle safety program, which begins with a mandatory course that must be completed before a Marine can register their bike on base.

Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Adam Gray has been teaching the courses at the air station for about five years and brings more than 12 years of riding experience to the classroom.

"The Marine Corps used to have a problem with a lot of young Marines getting in trouble on bikes," he said. "It's like everything else they do - they wanted them to have a lot of training."

Corps leadership made safety training mandatory in the early 1980s, he said. But that wasn't getting results, Gray said.

"A lot of Marines were buying a brand new bike, and, while they were waiting to go to the class, they would go out, do something reckless and get hurt," he said. "After they work 12 hours, they'll get on their bike and ride all night. They don't realize how tired they are."

In fall 2005, three local Marines were killed and two injured in motorcycle accidents in one month, Gray said. That led to the creation of the current club system at the air station.

Marines with motorcycles have to join a club and attend monthly meetings and rides to rub elbows on the road with more experienced riders.

"It's supposed to be a mentor program," Gray said. "The older riders show them how it's supposed to be done. You don't have to go out and be crazy all the time."

[Chris]

cool idea kinda...conscription motorcycle gang

[the_MAC]

if you run....deadly force should be authorized.....


i'm not so sure anyone on this site would agree with you here...

[Chris]

yeah i know....but i have to believe that everyone here, if they were leo's, would be mighty pissed off and ready to beat someone down if they ran from them...

what would you expect if you were in a car or on foot if you ran.....a hardy handshake after they catch ya....

[burns]

Council hopefuls take on bikers Myrtle Beach S.C.


http://www.topix.net/content/kri/2007/10/council-hopefuls-take-on-bikers

The majority of this year's Myrtle Beach City Council candidates would prefer not to hear the sound of Harleys rumbling up and down city streets - ever.

At a northside forum Monday night at Trinity Episcopal Church, incumbents Mike Chestnut, Phil Render and Susan Grissom Means and challengers Mike Lowder, Judy Rodman and John Easterling took questions from about 30 neighbors.

Moderator Randy Wallace read questions from people who couldn't attend, and one of them was about whether any of the candidates would consider reducing the number of bike rallies each year.

Chestnut said talks are already planned with motorcycle groups, and Means was the first to come straight out with her opinion.

'I would prefer we didn't have any bike weeks at all,' she said. The motorcycle noise, she said, is 'not fair to the people who live here.'

Rodman said stronger noise ordinance enforcement would make the bikers feel less welcome - a feeling she didn't seem to want to discourage. And Phil Render said he favors moving events further outside the city.

'Our folks are tired of motorcycles,' he said.

Only Easterling, himself a biker, suggested a compromise, such as having planned events at the fairgrounds in Loris, the old racetrack and the dragstrip, and having vendor booths within the city so at least the city could make money off the rallies.

'They are coming,' Easterling said. 'If you give them something to do besides cruise the streets and drink, they'll do it. Bikers like to ride.'

Lowder said he didn't see how the city could tell one group of people they are not welcome anymore, but he did suggest stricter law enforcement and more officers on the streets.

Neighbors also asked several questions about parking along Ocean Boulevard and in residential areas - a problem that never goes away, they said.

No one wants parking meters in residential areas, the candidates agreed. Rodman and Easterling said that perhaps parking decks could work in some areas. The parking discussion became more like a town hall-style meeting, which Means said the city is planning to have with northside neighbors to discuss parking, anyway. Lowder suggested the city could have a parking garage and a trolley to carry people to the beaches.

The candidates all agreed parking along and around Ocean Boulevard is hazardous, especially in the summer, and that the city needs to come up with some solutions before people are injured.

Residents are also concerned about northside single-family homes being used as vacation rentals. 'We really need help, or it's not going to be a neighborhood anymore,' one woman said.

The candidates reminded residents they have to be willing to speak up when a house that should only hold one family is overloaded with partying vacationers, and each of them said they do not favor that kind of use in a residential area.

Monday night's meeting was likely the last candidate forum for Myrtle Beach City Council before the Nov. 6 election. Candidates urged people to be sure to cast their ballots on Election Day.

[MrDude_1]

solution:
one big hurricane to wipe out the neighborhood... people move, new houses get built and rented.. entire 'neighborhood' becomes rentals, and then noone cares if they party in MB.

problem solved.

[burns]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpmotorcycles1105pnnov05,0,4332647,print.story

South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Youth and speed behind increase in Palm Beach County motorcycle deaths
Motorcycle deaths, especially among young men, are on the rise

West Palm Beach

The 19-year-old was known for his wheelies. On his 2003 Yamaha, he could do them easily for half a mile — standing up or sitting down.

Benny "Crrash"Corcino was so good he jokingly called himself the "Wheelie King." Riding fast motorcycles was his life, but it ultimately led to his death.

Corcino died Sept. 20 after slamming into a pickup truck that pulled into his path. Police said Corcino was speeding. He was the second Ruff Ryder to die within the past four months on Palm Beach County roads.

"I've been riding for a while, and I've never seen this many accidents," said Ralph Naranjo, president of the motorcycle club.

As in rest of the state and nation, the number of motorcycle deaths in Palm Beach County is rising. But while middle-age men make up a significant portion of those dying on motorcycles statewide, young men in Palm Beach County were most likely to lose their life, according to 2006 data. Sixty-four percent of the riders who died last year were under 30.

Speed, inexperience and risky behavior are leading them to early graves, according to law enforcement officials and accident records. They are on fast motorcycles called sport bikes, or "crotch rockets," that which can reach top speeds in a blink of an eye.

"These are not classic motorcycle enthusiasts," said Lt. Tim Frith of the Florida Highway Patrol. "These are young people who are driving these bikes on the weekend on the deadliest nights, Friday and Saturday night, and to and from work."

In Florida, the number of people dying on motorcycles increased 18 percent last year. Over the past five years, the number has more than doubled, from 252 in 2001 to 521 in 2006.

In Palm Beach County, 29 people died in motorcycle crashes in 2006, a 20 percent increase from the previous year.

Those deaths were a small portion of the 212 fatalities on county roads in 2006. But the growing trend worries law enforcement officers, state officials and motorcycle advocates.

"We're trying to get a hold of it, too," said Budd "Strongbow" Aubry, president of ABATE Palm Beach Chapter, a motorcycle group that helped repeal Florida's helmet law. "These young guys are our future.... They are riding motorcycles that are capable of speeds in excess of 150 mph without any formal instruction on handling motorcycles at those speeds. They want to learn stunts before learning how to ride. Safety doesn't even enter the picture."

An analysis of last year's fatal motorcycle crashes in the county showed that many riders died from mistakes they made. Some 42 percent were related to the rider driving too fast. About half weren't wearing helmets.

And almost half of the fatal motorcycle accidents involved no other vehicle. In those cases, crash reports cited careless and reckless driving and speeding.

Few of the crashes involved drugs or alcohol. Some riders, about 35 percent, didn't have motorcycle endorsements on their licenses as required when driving a motorcycle.

"It goes to lack of respect for the vehicle, and a mind-set that, 'It's not going to happen to me,'" said Ray Ochs, director of training systems for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. "They don't respect the risk that is there."

But risk is part of the draw. Bikers say there's a thrill to flying down Interstate 95 at 120 mph, a rush to popping a wheelie with friends urging you on. Speeding is expected when you spend $4,000 to $10,000 on a bike that can go 200 mph.

"I go 196 every night anywhere I feel like doing it," said Mark Lewis, 26, sitting atop his green Kawasaki at Mr. G's Rock-n-Roll Bar & Grill during a weekly sport bike night gathering. "We like I-95. 95 is the best spot. The road is so straight for a long time."

And while the public may think they're reckless, the riders insist otherwise.

"When we're going 100-and-something, we're focused like you can't believe," Lewis said. "If someone dies, ask what they were doing before they crashed. Most likely, they were doing something stupid."

Seasoned motorcycle riders are trying to bring these young guns into the fold, encouraging them to join motorcycle clubs that put limits on their members.

"We're trying to slow them down, trying to push them into these clubs because the clubs govern themselves," said Edward Davila, Jr., president of Wings of Gold MC of Palm Beach, which requires its members to wear helmets, have motorcycle insurance and follow proper road etiquette. "We jump down each others' throats if certain rules aren't followed."

The state is hoping better trained motorcyclists will save lives. Beginning in July, anyone applying for a motorcycle endorsement will have to show they took a motorcycle training course. Previously, only people under 21 were required to take the course.

In addition, safety advocates say Florida needs a universal helmet law that requires anyone on a motorcycle to wear one.

Aubry scoffs at the idea that a helmet will save someone flying 80 mph down a road who slams into a car. He insists that other drivers bear some responsibility.

Motorists often miss the small profile of motorcycles and veer into their paths, according to accident reports.

That's what happened to Alexander Mikasinovic, 19, who began riding motorcycles as a child at his family's Buenos Aires home. Coming home late from a girlfriend's house last year, Mikasinovic was driving below the speed limit when a car making a left turn pulled in front of him.

The driver said he never saw Mikasinovic. To this day, his mother, Marisa Mikasinovic, can see the skid marks her son made trying to stop.

Naranjo said other motorists need to be more aware of motorcycles, but his mission now is to make sure his riders are safe and better trained.

"We need to have our stuff straight first," he said.

[MrDude_1]

"These are not classic motorcycle enthusiasts," said Lt. Tim Frith of the Florida Highway Patrol. "These are young people who are driving these bikes on the weekend on the deadliest nights, Friday and Saturday night, and to and from work."

uhh, so whats not the 'classic' part? the weekend rider, or the commuter? i dont get this quote?






also i think its fucked up they talk about him as the 'wheelie king' and say all that stuff... implying it was his 'wreckless behavior' that killed him... only to end on the truth of 'he was below the speed limit, and someone just pulled out infront of him.' --- they say that AFTER the whole thing implys he died doing wheelies into a truck or something.

[burns]

Bikers for Kids roars to life

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071105/NEWS/711050345

If you happened to be in downtown Visalia Sunday morning, that wasn't thunder you heard, or an earthquake you felt. That was the collective roar of more than 1,600 motorcycles — from choppers to racing bikes and classics hogs to the latest custom jobs — being started all at once to begin the annual Bikers for Kids Toy Run.

With a rumble that just about shook the ground, hundreds of motorcycle riders began their annual 82-mile toy run that would take them from Visalia to the Elderwood area to northwest Tulare County and finally to the Tulare County Fairgrounds in Tulare.
Each rider — numbering about 2,200 in all — paid $30 to go on the bike run, the money going to buy toys for needy children in Tulare County at Christmas time.

"It's the biggest crowd we've ever had," said Mike Gates, general manager of GA Motorsports on Mineral King Avenue near Burke Street, where the bikers gathered to start the toy run.

Rows of bikes filled the shops small parking lot as well as the now vacant former Honda car lot next door.

Gates said about 2,000 people and about 1,300 motorcycles were involved in last year's event, which organizers said raised about $70,000. This year, they expected to raise about $80,000, along with dozens of toys and stuffed animals some of the bikers brought to donate to the cause.

For some, coming out was worth it just to see friends and admire the numerous motorcycles.

"Lots of friends. Lots of friends," said Paty Clyborne, 54, an office manager from Visalia, who along with her husband hugged a good many of their fellow bikers, some of whom they see only at the toy run every year.

"It's like going to a fashion show, really because you get to see all kinds of bikes. Big bikes, little bikes, old farts like me —you see young kids."

One of those kids was Clyborne's 8-year-old granddaughter, Ali Clyborne, who rode in on the back of her grandfather's motorcycle.

"I think it's a good cause — kind of giving back to the community," said Oly Sousa, 56, a retired drug and alcohol counselor from Visalia, as he relaxed on his customized 2006 Harley-Davidson Road King.

This was his fourth year participating in the run.

"It looks a lot bigger than last year. Each year, it seems to grow a little more. I think

this is a large crowd for Visalia," Sousa said.

"Hundreds of people getting together instead of messing around on a Sunday doing something else ... I think it's an unselfish act."

Fred Valdez, 60, of Lindsay, brought his 8-year-old grandson partly to share his love for bikes but also to help instill some important values.

"It's very important he learns people should get together in charity and help other people."

Acting as host was successful character actor and biking enthusiast Mickey Jones.

"This event means a lot to me, and I'm grateful you're here," he told the crowd of bikers shortly before the start of the run. "We're doing something special today, and you'll never know how much we're appreciated."

And Jones, a Simi Valley resident who has headed north to Visalia for years to take part in the bike run here, added that next year will be the 20th run.

"The only reason I won't be there is if I'm dead," Jones said.

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[burns]

More than 400 bikers gather for annual Christmas toy run

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071105/NEWS01/711050304/1002

HEATH -- More than 400 bikers gathered Sunday, bringing $12,000 worth of toys to the Christmas toy run.

This year, six pick-up trucks were needed to transport all of the toys donated to the Newark Salvation Army. "Basically, we are just a bunch of motorcycle riders who enjoy helping kids out for Christmas," said Paul Haas, one of the event organizers.

The riders met at the Toys R Us on Ohio 79 to buy toys to donate. From there, all 400 riders then rode through Newark to the Salvation Army, circling the square once along the way.
The event began 20 years ago and is open to all motorcyclists in the area.

"It seems to get bigger and better every year. We just want as many people to know about it as possible so if they want to get involved they can," Haas said

[burns]

U.S. Secretary of Transportation announces federal motorcycle safety initiative

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/071105-10.htm


November 5, 2007

U.S. Secretary of Transportation announces federal motorcycle safety initiative


Washington, D.C. - Mary E. Peters, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, has announced a comprehensive new U.S. federal initiative to improve motorcycle safety. The initiative includes more rider education and training, tougher standards for helmet certification labelling, law enforcement training, and road designs that consider motorcycle dynamics.

Peters, an avid motorcyclist, also released a television public service announcement (PSA) where she credits her riding gear for saving her life during a motorcycle crash. In 2005, she suffered a broken collarbone after a crash on a two-lane highway in Arizona.

The program will create new national safety and training standards for novice riders, curb counterfeit helmet labelling so that consumers can be certain they are buying DOT-certified helmets, place new focus on motorcycle-specific road improvements, and provide training to law enforcement officers on how to spot unsafe motorcycles. The plan will also include a broad public awareness campaign, including the PSA, on safe riding techniques.

[dumwinnie]

great idea....especially tailoring the roads. guard rails....great for cagers, piss poor concept when you throw bikes into them.

[burns]

Riders deliver 3,500 teddy bears on ‘Hogs’ to CCCA


http://www.courier-gazette.com/articles/2007/11/09/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/onews09.txt

There were more than Hog on the road for the 15th Annual Teddy Bear Ride benefiting the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center (CCCAC) on Sunday. To be exact, there were thousands of stuffed bears along for the 19-mile ride beginning at McKinney High School and ending at the CCCAC in Plano.

More than 700 motorcycles from the Harley Owners Groups and other riders delivered more than 3,500 donated stuffed teddy bears to the CCCAC for children to choose as they receive the center’s services. An unbroken line of paired motorcycles (with police escort) spanned over 14 miles on Central Expressway, as vehicles and passengers honked and waved at the enthusiastic bikers and their stuffed animals.

The bikers ride rain or shine to help in the fight against child abuse, and have done so since 1992, when the newly-opened CCCAC started the event with a handful of staffers, some who rode and some who didn’t. About a dozen riders came to the center (originally on K Avenue and 15th Street in Plano) with toys in exchange for some hot chocolate. Along with the center’s growth, the Teddy Bear Ride has swelled to include thousands of riders from all over North Texas and beyond.

“Bikers are very generous and charitable, especially when it comes to children. We got involved with this event because it deals with the safety of children. [The bears] give them a little comfort in a time when their world is falling apart,” said Tommy Purtle, president of a local motorcycle club who presented a sizeable check to the CCCAC and the Teddy Bear Ride’s 2006 chairman.

Scott Wallack, 2007 chairman, and his wife, Dena Smith, have participated since 1999, donating money and toys, and have ridden in the event since 2003. Scott, who joined the committee in 2004 after that first ride, says that planning the event was a “labor of love that gave me the opportunity to coordinate the efforts of a wonderful group of like-minded people. All the efforts of the committee, the ‘army’ of volunteers, plus the wonderful weather came together to make this year’s Teddy Bear Ride a great success with record-setting attendance.”

[burns]

State Rep. Files Bill Targeting 'Thrill Riders'


http://www.nbc6.net/news/14695421/detail.html

MIAMI -- State Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera recently went on an eye opening ride-along with the Florida Highway Patrol, following speeding motorcyclists.

"This guy did a wheelie," Lopez-Cantera said of one motorcyclist. "It's unbelievable. These motorcycles passed us like we were standing still."

Lopez-Cantera witnessed racers speeding at 120 mph on the Dolphin Expressway.


"They're just blatantly riding in excessive speeds, putting themselves in danger and putting other motorists in danger," Lopez-Cantera said. "It's just too much."

He watched as the racers were arrested for reckless driving, and he came upon another racer who was injured on the side of MacArthur Causeway.

"We saw so much blatant disregard for the laws tonight that it doesn't surprise me to see someone injured," Lopez-Cantera said.

Two years ago, NBC 6 investigated the brazen and dangerous stunts of the thrill riders.

"When you're young you like all the adrenaline stuff," one motorcyclist said.

"It's another form of getting high," another rider said. "Instead of smoking, you take it to the bike."

Law enforcement officers said they are powerless to pursue them and are frustrated as they watch their tactics, like flipping the bike's license plates so they can't be traced.

"That tag needs to be permanently attached to that motorcycle," one FHP trooper said. "The problem has gotten worse. The laws need to be changed. The penalties need to be stiffer."

Lopez-Cantera is trying to do that.

"Something has to be done. They have to actually fear the law because right now they don't," he said.

After the ride-along, Lopez-Cantera filed a bill in Tallahassee that would toughen penalties on speeding, stunt driving and hiding or flipping tags.

"They'll lose their bike," Lopez-Cantera said. "Their motorcycle license will be revoked for 10 years, and it's a mandatory arrest so they will go to jail."

He said he hopes to get a law passed that will keep the racers in line.

"Once the word starts getting out that the courts are starting to throw the book at them, hopefully it'll change their behavior," Lopez-Cantera said.

The bill could be heard in a committee as soon as December and may come up for a vote next year.

[MrDude_1]

After the ride-along, Lopez-Cantera filed a bill in Tallahassee that would toughen penalties on speeding, stunt driving and hiding or flipping tags.

"They'll lose their bike," Lopez-Cantera said. "Their motorcycle license will be revoked for 10 years, and it's a mandatory arrest so they will go to jail."

He said he hopes to get a law passed that will keep the racers in line.

"Once the word starts getting out that the courts are starting to throw the book at them, hopefully it'll change their behavior," Lopez-Cantera said.

The bill could be heard in a committee as soon as December and may come up for a vote next year.


theres two problems with this...
one:
if they wrote it for EVERYONE, not just bikes, thats fine... but for just bikes, i dont think thats even constitutional.

two:
the primary problem is, they cant even enforce the laws they have now... sure having stiffer penalties will deter a few, and be harsh on the ones they do catch, but the guys blatantly and purposefully breaking the law now, will continue to do so, regardless... to them, nothings changed.. they were going to goto jail before, and they're going to go again... only next time... they'll be doing it without a license.

[burns]

Helmet law might change


South Carolina - Inexperienced bikers might have to wear them amid record number of deaths in 2007

Motorcycle safety

A state task force is working on recommendations to strengthen motorcycle safety laws after a record number of people died in accidents in 2007.

The proposed changes will not require helmets for everyone, but could make inexperienced riders wear them until they complete safety courses. The proposals will likely go to the General Assembly for consideration early this year.

In 2007, 120 people died in motorcycle accidents in the state, compared to 106 deaths in 2006 and 94 in 2005.

"It's regrettable," said Department of Public Safety director Jim Schweitzer, who is looking forward to seeing the task force's suggestions.

A major change in the laws governing motorcycles would be the first in more than 20 years.

The group, made up of dealer and biker representatives, law enforcement and other state officials, could even recommend a small change in the helmet law, said Ed Harmon, a DPS safety official on the task force.

"As long as the fatalities keep escalating, the helmet issue will keep coming up," he said.

The task force is looking at a Pennsylvania law that requires riders to wear helmets unless they have either taken a motorcycle riding course or have gotten a permanent (non-beginner's) motorcycle license.

The goal is to make sure less experienced motorcyclists wear helmets because they are the ones who get killed more often, Harmon said.

Once a biker demonstrates a certain level of proficiency, he or she could choose not to wear a helmet, Harmon said.

Current state law allows any biker 21 or older, no matter how experienced, to ride motorcycles without a helmet. All bikers younger than 21 must wear helmets.

In the early 1980s, when the legislature last changed the law, it allowed bikers 21 and older to ride helmetless.

The task force's report will be public. Because its recommendations haven't been finalized, the process of how its findings will be reported to the General Assembly hasn't been determined.

REASONS WHY RATE IS CLIMBING

Of South Carolina's 120 biker deaths in 2007, 94 - 78 percent - weren't wearing helmets, according to DPS statistics.

"If we had a helmet law, it would save lives," said DPS safety chief Max Young. "But there is that old argument about people not wanting Big Brother to tell them what to do."

Besides low helmet use, safety officials cite several factors behind South Carolina's rising biker death toll:

• More inexperienced middle-aged men are riding complicated motorcycles without knowing how to operate them in real-life conditions, including working gears and brakes.

• The state has loopholes in its motorcycle licensing laws that make it easy for people with little or no experience to buy and ride motorcycles.

• Heavier and faster motorcycles are being ridden. Some motorcycles, such as the 160 horsepower Ducati, have as much power as some cars. It takes even more skill than usual to operate these powerful machines on the road.

• Major motorcycle rallies in the Myrtle Beach area attract thousands of bikers each year. The combination of no helmets, inexperience and alcohol can be deadly.

HELMET SECTION

In October, the National Transportation Safety Board issued an urgent plea to states to enact mandatory helmet laws. Twenty states have such laws.

"No better crash protection for a motorcyclist" exists than a standard motorcycle helmet, the NTSB said, adding that head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents.

Currently only bikers younger than 21 must wear helmets in South Carolina. That's not likely to change with the proposed new rules.

"My understanding is that they will not recommend that," Schweitzer said.

Support for the no-helmet law is entrenched in the General Assembly, where many lawmakers regard the ability to ride helmetless as a basic right and proof the American dream of freedom is still alive.

For decades, they have ferociously fought efforts to mandate universal helmet use.

"It ain't going to pass," said Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, who opposes mandatory helmet laws. Knotts, an accomplished biker who rides an 800-pound Harley-Davidson, likes to ride helmetless.

Even politicians known for bravery in safety crusades fear pushing for a helmet law.

Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, helped lead a tough fight two years ago that resulted in the life-saving mandatory seat-belt law. Opponents of this law, like bikers, equated the right not to wear a seat belt with basic American freedom. Since that law passed, road deaths in vehicles with access to seat belts have declined.

But Lourie will not lead a fight for a mandatory helmet law.

"You only have so much capital to spend in the State House, and I doubt there's much support for a helmet law," Lourie said. "But would I vote for it - yes."

Lourie is working this year for teenage driving reforms - a subject he believes has a far better chance of passing.

Even if the legislature did pass a helmet law, Gov. Mark Sanford would likely veto it.

"The function of government is to assure freedom rather than security, and that includes the freedom to make stupid decisions," said Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer. "Not wearing a helmet is not the best decision. But the governor's bias is going to be leaving it up to the individual."

Doctors familiar with head injuries resulting from not using helmets have a different view.

"There are certain safety issues that go beyond personal freedom issues," said Dr. Deborah Greenhouse, a Columbia pediatrician.

Head injuries that a rider survives are "hugely expensive" and can lead to lengthy stays in intensive care and rehabilitation, she said.

"It can easily add into the millions of dollars."

Greenhouse said she wished there had been a nurse or doctor on the motorcycle task force to give the group a medical perspective.

"If we know for a fact that helmets save lives, it's our responsibility to ensure everybody wears them," she said.

By JOHN MONK

[Mike]

120 people died, but they didn't say how many of those weren't wearing helmets, or how many riders are out there on the road. I bet that not all 120 were riding without helmets, and more importantly, that the ratio of deaths to riders on the road actually went down, as more people buy and ride bikes.

I'm still for "the freedom to make stupid decisions". If they take that away, they might as well ban tobacco, alcohol, fast food, cars, etc. until we're all just a bunch of tax-paying coppertops.

[MrDude_1]

120 people died, but they didn't say how many of those weren't wearing helmets, or how many riders are out there on the road. I bet that not all 120 were riding without helmets, and more importantly, that the ratio of deaths to riders on the road actually went down, as more people buy and ride bikes.

I'm still for "the freedom to make stupid decisions". If they take that away, they might as well ban tobacco, alcohol, fast food, cars, etc. until we're all just a bunch of tax-paying coppertops.

120 fatalitys.
94 of them were not wearing helmets.
thats 78.3% of them.

including everyone as a whole, alchohol played a large part in 80-something precent of fatal crashes.... but i cant find the statistic on the site yet.

i did just find this.... dated May 18, 2007
http://www.scdps.org/oea/nr2007/051807.htm
nothing big, but this quote stood out "While South Carolina is down in motorcycle deaths compared to 2006, motorcycle collisions and fatalities have consistently risen in South Carolina and nationwide in recent years. There was a jump in motorcycle deaths in 2006 prompting the SC Department of Public Safety to organize a committee to review motorcycle safety issues." ----


im searching scdps.org right now.... i donno if they have the full 2007 info up yet, but if they do i'll find it.

[Turbo storm]

I love to play devil's advocate...Of these 94 deaths, can they really attribute the cause of death being absence of a helmet? 3 guys I went to high school with were all wearing helmets when they died. The helmet did not help any of them. 2 died instantly, and one died many hours later. All 3 died from internal trauma.
Now the devil comes out again...of the 3 mentioned, 2 were doing stupid shit, and caused their own deaths. One who was killed instantly, was t-boned at an intersection from a person who ran a red light. (should have charged the bastard with vehicular manslaughter, but only got a careless operation ticket)...That is what the political do-gooders need to work on, in my opinion...

[Chris]

emt once told me "past 45 mph helmet only decided open or closed casket".......

asked him how often his harley actually went passed 45mph.....he had no comment......

[MrDude_1]

emt once told me "past 45 mph helmet only decided open or closed casket".......

asked him how often his harley actually went passed 45mph.....he had no comment......

bah! speed has nothing to do with it...


its the stopping-real-fast part that'll kill ya.