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Reply to "Middle aged nature lover"

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Contributed by: Craig Spader on 4/27/2007

I've been riding motorcycles for 20-plus years, and I'll be the first to admit that there is a problem with the use of high-beam headlights by bikers.

However, I don't see the wisdom in flashing your high-beams at a motorcyclist who is on two wheels, on a dark, winding, wildlife rich road such as Happy Canyon at dusk. Now that you've blinded the rider, you've increased his chance of sustaining an accident.

The night vision doesn't come back quickly enough when you're on two wheels. Your statements and actions tell me a lot about you. First, that you don't have a clue about what it takes to ride a motorcycle. Second, that your ignorance about motorcycling is dwarfed only by your "How does this affect ME" attitude.

I'm sorry that a few seconds of a motorcycles' high-beams are too much for your sensitive little eyes. The fact is, high-beams are very important in such locations for revealing the wildlife just waiting to dart across the road, but this is obviously news to you. Many bikers are nature and outdoor lovers as you profess to be.

Personally, I love the smell of the forests as I ride through them, and the feeling of freedom a motorcycle gives likens to that of riding a horse (without the allergens). Motorcycles offer a great means of transportation to and through the wilderness areas we all enjoy.

Now, I don't want to come off like some bitter pill without giving you a constructive alternative. Perhaps you could enroll in a motorcycle safety class to get some idea of what riding is about. This would also lend some credibility to your next blog about motorcycles.

Yet, if all it does is stop you from flashing your high-beams at a biker on a dark road, I would consider it a successful learning experience. You might even find that instead of "flipping you off", we might use all five fingers and wave.

This letter is in response to a blog written by Michael Rule.Click here for the column.

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Showing 1-4 of 4 comments

Submitted By: Michael Rule

posted on 4/30/2007 @ 7:36:13 AM

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One last rebuttal, and then I shall await your reply. My recent research indicates maybe it is a significant number of bikers who don't have a clue about riding; 76% of motorcycle accidents involve driver error, 41% of those involve alcohol on the driver's part. Hmmmm...maybe insytead of asking non-riders to take a safety class, and expecting them to put up with your illegal use of brights in the dark with oncoming traffic, maybe you should wander into The Grill some weekend and suggest the same safety training to the clientele?

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 4/28/2007 @ 8:38:27 AM

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I love a good debate, "good" defined as point oriented sans personal attacks and name calling. I hope you'll keep writing, Craig. You make excellent points.

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Submitted By: Michael Rule

posted on 4/28/2007 @ 6:51:42 AM

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Here's the link http://www.msgroup.org/DISCUSS.asp

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Submitted By: Michael Rule

posted on 4/28/2007 @ 6:46:14 AM

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Craig, Thanks for the reply. Here is what my listening and research is telling me; You are supposed to run with dims during dark hours with oncoming traffic. This guy wasn't. My tender little eyes? Maybe so. Today's motorcycle halogen lights are VERY bright. I run the risk of blinding him with a split second of 2 lights, but I need to get over his 1? Only 8% of motorcycle accidents are of the "Didn't see me" type. Most (over 86%)are from excessive speed (maybe looking for wildlife and in a hurry to see it?), alcohol, and no helmet, in other words, "Driver error". Besides, according to Scott, the wildlife should HEAR YOU coming!! Just ditch the muffler!! Hope you keep writing though, my tender little eyes enjoy the debate. Maybe we could discuss society paying for those helmetless heads and the resulting traumatic injuries??

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