Motorcycle Awareness on Amber Alert Signs
The pacific northwest and Oregon in particular has an abundance of great motorcycling roads.
If you are like me you have a lot of pent up desire to get out there and hit the open highway. The riding season is always too long in coming due to wet and cold weather, but this past weekend was outstanding for mid-February and brought out the motorcycles. Light winds, sunny blue sky and a temperature brushing up against 60 degrees. Wow! Incredible spring weather two months early so I jumped on the opportunity to get out and enjoy the riding experience.
Financial crises, public debt exploding, taxes rise and unemployment lingers…all a distant memory when you’ve got the wind in your face.
Having said that I noticed a couple of items that I wanted to share my experiences. There is no substitute for personal experience and this is that time of year I typically wear a full face helmet. Why? Not because it’s colder, which it is, but because just a short 5 weeks ago the ambitious ODOT road crews were “sanding” roads for the possibility of icy conditions and those ‘rocks’ are prevalent everywhere. Nothing worse than gravel pebbles in your face. Even with a windshield they manage to pepper your body. Second, is the fact that “cagers” are not aware of or are they use to seeing motorcycles. And they were out in force this weekend. As a result, the less observant auto-drivers make me twitchy when I’m out driving busy freeways this time of year to get to the lone two-lane blacktop.
As I cruised around I remember looking up at the freeway congestion and “Amber Alert” electronic sign on I-5 and thought about how it could be used for motorcycle safety and education efforts. For example it could display the words: “LOOK TWICE. SHARE THE ROAD WITH MOTORCYCLES.”
The flashing signs across Oregon state would at least put a message out there in the minds of drivers to be aware. This could be done in the spring when those warming days and sunshine bring everyone out on their motorcycles. Or at minimum during May, which is Motorcycle Awareness Month. In the interest of being thorough I did a web search to see if the electronic display tactic had been used previously. It turns out California Highway Patrol uses this technique as part of their campaign to reduce motorcycle-related collisions.
What do you think. Waste of time or good suggestion? Either way I’ve sent recommendation email to both ODOT and OSP on using the electronic signs for motorcycle safety in May. I’ll provide updates on any feedback or responses I receive.
Photo courtesy of Union-Tribune.
Northwest Harley Blog 
I have had someone forward this to Sam Adams. Maybe he can get this going. I think it is a terrific idea. They should use those signs for all types of things.
Sounds good to me, but I’m out there on two wheels most every day, less the ice on the road days. I have yet to let any cager forget that I’m on the road!! I am loud, I am proud and no cager is going to dominate my right to the lane that I command! I cower to no cage, I have a right to be out there too! I forward nothing to Sam-mie, I’m a biker and I’m a man, fear me… I knell to no one… Get out of my way!
Yuppie biker scum, the pussification of the American Biker! You don’t ask for the rights that we already have as an American biker! Only a puss whines about the rights that they have given away! Stop giving up your manhood without a fight! We are American, we are Men, WE ARE BIKER…. Aren’t we, dear?
the signs are on here in the Bay Area. good work mac. they’ve been lit with a message like this for several weeks now. its very cool, in my opinion. people are so stressed and on overdrive here that any reminder to watch for motorcycles is welcome.
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