This was no accident and nor is any collision on our roadways. It’s time people start calling things what they really are. This was a ‘crash’ or a ‘collision’. Not an accident. What’s the difference you ask? An ‘Accident’ is something that is unavoidable and unforeseen. Collisions or crashes ARE predictable and therefore avoidable

When we go out on our roads, there is always a chance of being involved in a crash. Lets face it…it happens several times a day. Although…if they happen everyday, they are predictable. So how do you avoid them? Well for starters pay attention to your surroundings and road conditions. By keeping a careful watch on the vehicles around you, you are more able to spot certain behaviours that may lead to trouble. It only takes one person to not pay attention to create the conditions for a collision. However, it only takes one person who is paying attention to recognise those developing conditions and avoid them entirely. It’s a simple thing called ‘Situational Awareness’ but it’s something that is sorely lacking on our roads – especially among car drivers. The most attentive road users are motorcyclists and professional truck drivers. Both know full well that they must be well aware of everything going on around them and plan well ahead while navigating our dangerous roadways…

Click here to read more…

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www.learningcurves.ca

Published in 2Ride Magazine

Each Spring, more and more people take up motorcycling and they do so for a wide range of reasons. As such, motorcycle training schools across the country quickly fill up with students who are new to riding or those who are returning after taking many years off. Whether you are new to riding or someone who is taking up riding again, the question that is often asked is “Why take a course? Isn’t it just like riding a bike?” The short answer is no…it’s not.

Riding a motorcycle comes with risk, just like driving a car does. However, making a mistake on a motorbike can have far greater consequences. The point to taking a safety course is to mitigate and reduce those risks. Instructors start you with the basics of where the controls are and how to use them and rapidly move you up to required skills like emergency braking, obstacle avoidance and proper vision techniques. Even for those who have ridden before and are returning to riding much has changed in the past decade and so have the bikes that are available today. For those who have many years experience riding dirt bikes, riding on public roads is a very different experience since trees don’t tend to simply jump out in front of you (only those who drive/ride drunk would disagree with that statement). In general, people take up riding for many reasons ranging from a childhood fantasy to a mid-life crisis, encouragement from their friends or family, to wanting to save on gas, or simply wanting to indulge in the pure joy and sensations that riding provides and that they’ve heard about. Many of the joys of riding are foreign to new riders until they actually get out on their own bike and discover the thrills, adventures and excitement on their own. I recently spent some time at “Learning Curves” a motorcycle safety school in Toronto and talked to some of the students and their instructors. The students shared the opinion that they wanted to learn the basics of motorcycle riding and some students went far as to say that they are taking the course to learn to “stay alive”. Although a relatively new school, Learning Curves bring to the table decades of combined motorcycling experience. The owners and head instructors have a long history in the riding community teaching others how to ride and most of their junior instructors come from other schools. What makes Learning Curves different is their personal touch and hands-on teaching style. Let’s face it, we all learn differently and while we may excel with some concepts, we may lack in other areas. These instructors teach differently and adapt to your needs as a student, even spending more time with individual riders to help them in areas where they are weak. The instructors fully understand what’s involved in riding on public roads and are there to pass down their knowledge much like native cultures pass down knowledge from one generation to the next by showing them first hand. We all start out the same as newbies, without a clue what we are doing and it’s the instructor’s passion for riding and willingness to “pay it forward” that makes taking a course enjoyable. Just observing the instructors running along side the students and taking extra time talking to those who required some extra tutelage, showed how much they cared about arming new riders with the basic knowledge and skills that they would need to head out on the open roads. It helps also that the instructors remember what it’s like to be new at riding and teach without the “I know more than you so you better listen” attitude found at some other schools. It also helps that they all have a great sense of humour and friendliness that makes students feel at ease from the moment you arrive. As with other Ministry approved riding schools, Learning Curves offers both M1 and M2 exit courses and administers the Ministry skills test at the end of the program. Most schools focus on teaching you what you need to pass the Ministry tests at the end of the course but Learning Curves takes it to another level with additional tips, techniques and advice to add another level of safety for their students to take to the road. With that in mind though, if a student doesn’t “get it” they won’t pass the test. Another thing that really makes Learning Curves stand apart from the rest is their “Street Proofing” program. Once a student passes the M1 course, they will take you out on the streets at a later date (using your own bike once you get it) and show you how to ride in the real world (which is vastly different from puttering around in a safe, controlled parking lot) offering up tips and advice along the way. This is an invaluable service to help new riders navigate the roads safely. Whatever your reasons are for taking up riding, please take the time to do it safely and take a safety course. It’s worth far more than it costs and should be considered a personal investment in you. Most riding schools offer not only a basic course for those who are new to riding but also advanced courses too. Some regions have graduated licensing and local schools, which are certified by their local governing body, offer weekend courses that focus on the skills required and actually administer the ministry tests that are required to graduate to the next level.

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Enough!
Courtesy of Sharon DeVellis of the Yummy Mummy Club
July 05, 2010

I’m so beyond pissed off right now I can’t stand it. While putting on make up this morning while watching Breakfast Television, I listened as Kevin Frankish reported about how a father died in front of his two kids, ages 7 and 11, last night.

Was it a long weekend freak accident? Did he have a heart attack?

No. He was killed from a head-on collision by a driver who was going the wrong way on a major highway. The car is virtually unrecognizable with the front passenger seat pretty much obliterated.

The dad, the one sitting in the now gone front passenger seat, was killed instantly. The mom who was driving was airlifted to a hospital and is in critical condition.

The two kids are unhurt.

But not really. They aren’t fucking unhurt. They lost their father. Their mother is in a hospital and will hopefully recuperate but will have who knows how many months or years to get back to where she was.

The family? That’ll never get back to where it was, will it? Because I can tell you from experience, this crash will be the turning point in their lives. From this point forward, life for them will be known as before the crash and after the crash.

“Alcohol is being investigated as a factor in the collision.”

And this is where I say What The Fuck? And yes, I’m using f-bomb. If you’re offended, then walk away from the computer. But I earned the right to use What the fuck when two years ago a drunk driver smashed head-on into our family on a Sunday afternoon as we driving to my in-laws house to celebrate Mother’s Day. I earned it when I had to calm my screaming, bleeding child sitting by the side of the road waiting for police and paramedics to arrive. I earned it when I had to hold both my kids beside me on the ambulance ride to the hospital and when I had to see the drunk driver being admitted AHEAD OF US and he was so drunk he couldn’t even tell the nurse his name.

I earned it when I chose to stay sitting with my son in my lap and didn’t get up to beat the shit out of him at that very moment.

I earned it when I had to give my child drunk driving magic every single night before bed in order for him to be able to sleep and when I went to court to read our impact statement in front of a full courtroom, only to have the man who changed our family forever not look me in the eye once, not even when I held up pictures of my sons so he could see who he hurt.

I earned it when I listened as the judge revoked his license for 15 months and gave him a fine to pay and he walked away with his wife to go home to his young child. The one who didn’t need therapy from being in a head-on collision.

So I say What The Fuck.

Because I earned it.

And now this family has earned it and they don’t deserve it.

How many people have to die or be injured in drunk driving collisions before we smarten the hell up and get stricter laws?

Editor’s Notes:
Sharon’s rant touches close to home for me as a dear friend of mine sits in hospital beside her sisters bed as she lays there clinically brain dead. The plug is being pulled tomorrow. At the same time her mum lays in another hospital bed clinging to life. It’s still unsure what the outcome will be for her. It was a drunk driver who caused this tragic crash a few weeks ago.

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Ride for Dad
Creating Awareness for Prostate Cancer
June 19, 2010

Prostate? No it’s not a political position; it’s a small organ up a man’s whazzoo and one that is prone to developing cancer, especially once they reach their middle ages and beyond. Ok guys…I get that we hate going to doctors unless something is falling off and needs medical attention beyond what can be done with some gauze and Duct Tape but Prostate Cancer isn’t something we can diagnose (never mind tend too) on our own. Time to get checked out. Early detection is key in this case, despite what it means to our egos.

Yup…time for an intimate encounter from “Dr. Glove”. It may not be pretty or comfortable but it won’t last long. “Hey Doc…let me know if you find my dignity”.

All joking aside, this is a serious issue that affects a large percentage of men around the world. The Ride for Dad is going on a cross Canada tour in 2010 to further awareness about Prostate Cancer and what can be done to detect and survive it. Like I said…early detection is important. Go see your doctor and leave your ego at the door for 5min…it could just save your life.

This year I attended the Ride for Dad ride held for the Greater Toronto Area as one of the support vehicles. Once again though, I was able to just enjoy the day driving around in my MotoLimo truck as the riders plugged along in the sticky humid temperatures.

The start and end point of the ride was at Durham Powerhouse and they proved to be great hosts for the hundreds of riders who attended. Lots of food, water and soft drinks and a live band playing all the while Q107 covered the event. There were also lots of prizes being raffled off that had been donated by local businesses. All the proceeds raised – over $17,000 – went to Cancer research centres including our own Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre located in Toronto, which is one of the leading worldwide facilities for cancer research. This was the 10th year running and has raised over $5 Million this year alone.

Guys…it only takes 5min and I’m sure you’ve had BM’s that were more uncomfortable than having your Prostate checked.



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WROAR Ride 2010
June, 13 2010

There are some things that nobody really likes to talk about and rape is high on that list, especially for those who have been raped or sexually assaulted. The trauma that they endure can affect them for the rest of their lives. The feeling of being violated in such a way can damage ones self-esteem and confidence and can leave a victim feeling guilty (like they were somehow to blame). It can also leave them with some serious trust and intimacy issues in their relationships going forward.

Some can heal on their own, others need assistance and that’s where the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape comes into play by offering free and confidential counseling services to those who have been raped or sexually assaulted. They are 100% volunteer based and draw their funding from local sponsorship and donations and that’s where WROAR comes in.

WROAR (Women Ride Out Against Rape) is a motorcycle event held each year to raise funding to help support the TRCC/MWAR. This was the 6th year of the WROAR Ride and raised over $6000 from the riders who attended, who came from all walks of life. Approximately 60 Men and Women alike raised sponsorship for the ride and participated in a Treasure Hunt style event to win various prizes that were donated by local businesses.

This was my first year participating in the event and I did so in a supporting role with MotoLimo.com. If a rider got into trouble along the route, I would be on hand to pick them up and take them wherever they needed to go. Fortunately, nobody needed any assistance and we all just had a great day enjoying the sunny weather.

See you next year!

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BAD Ride 13 had in attendance about 1300 riders and huge praises need to go out to the organizers and all the volunteers for managing that many bikes and riders in one day at two main venues as well as corralling us at the lunch stop.

The Big Banana!

My day started off pretty early at 7am as I headed off to my bosses place. My truck wasn’t up to the task of driving around all day so we made arrangements to borrow a truck from Kahuna Powersports to tow our trailer, which allowed me to handle two bikes should the need arise. This truck was a monster and although I felt a bit dwarfed standing beside it, driving it with the trailer was easy. Luckily I had a lot of experience from when I used to tow race cars, so by comparison this was a cinch.

We arrived at the AMC theatre in Woodbridge with hundreds of bike already present, although hundreds more would steadily trickle in. I was pretty thankful for the free coffee and breakfast available to everyone and there were several vendors there selling various ‘BAD Ride’ clothing with 100% of the proceeds going to the Distress Centres.

Bikes packed everywhere!

Bikes were everywhere crammed into every nook and cranny of the complex. Although mostly cruisers and touring bikes, there were also many custom bikes and some rather eclectic ones…not to mention some very eclectic riders too and their choice in clothing left me scratching my head. Then again, I still scratch my head when I see riders wearing virtually nothing at all, especially the young lady passengers who wear shorts, a tank top and high-heel shoes. Ya…that’s practical.

After several announcements by the organizers and local radio personalities (including a last minute route change), the riders started departing around 10am. The temperature was starting to climb so riders were eager to get on the road and get some wind blowing against them. It was quite an amazing site watching all the bikes ripping out of the parking lot as they took to the well laid out route. Taking up the rear of the pack rode several volunteer paramedics and a couple organizer trucks and finally us with our MotoLimo.com trucks ready to pick up whatever riders that needed assistance.

I had programmed the route into my GPS but it turns out that I really didn’t need too. The route was very well marked with large signs at all the turning points (including the last minute changes due to a road closure).

As for the route itself, it was well thought out and kept us away from major roads so that we would neither affect traffic much or be effected by it. There were only a couple of intersections that caused us problems. There were also a couple of sections that were nice and twisty but some spots left me surprised that nobody had crashed with the loose gravel (even in some tight corners).

Arriving in Pefferlaw for lunch was a sight to behold. Once again all the riders had been well corralled by the organizers leaving the streets and sidewalks lined with bikes stretching the entire length of the small town. We also filled every available parking lot. Locals of the town stood slack-jawed staring at all the bikes rolling around their streets. I’m sure thoughts of an invasion crossed their minds. Not one person seemed upset (they were pre-warned that we were coming) and once they realized that it was a charity ride, they smiled and told us to enjoy our day (although I did see a few ladies clutching their purses rather tightly). Bikers are a very misunderstood breed and can sometimes look a little scary covered in leather and tattoos but not a single rider needed to be feared. Motorcyclists are the salt of the earth and will give a stranger the shirt (or leather vest) off their back if needed. It’s a shame that we are so misunderstood but perhaps that’s a topic for another post.

Most riders just stopped to cool down and rehydrate before continuing along the route but others hung around for lunch. We took the time to grab a quick bite so that we could allow the riders to all get back on the road ahead of us. I had already stopped several times to check on riders that had pulled off the road to make sure they were ok. Most just needed a break to rest their sore bums or grab a drink but as the day wore on, I expected that I would find more and I did. Although not one rider actually needed assistance to make it to the final end point at Markham Fairgrounds. No rider wants to get picked up from the side of the road but especially on a ride like this.

So many bikes!

Arriving at the fairgrounds, we once again saw over a thousand motorcycles all shoe-horned side by side as the riders started lining up for lunch and refreshments. Water was being handed out to those waiting in a rather long line to get their meals. Once again…hats off to the volunteers!

Getting your MotoLimo Mojo going!

We set up our main truck in a nice visible spot with the sun gleaming off it (and beating down on us) and talked to riders who passed by about our services. By late afternoon, I was pretty tired and despite all the water I was drinking, I was still feeling dehydrated.

But alas, my day wasn’t over. I had to go pick up two bikes and finally get the truck and trailer back to my bosses place. It was a long day but a very enjoyable one.

For more information, see my pre-ride post (click here)

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In the last couple days, we have rescued bikes for flat tires, broken chains and many bikes with mystery electrical problems. We’ve also had to pickup a few wrecks including a Goldwing that burst into flames. The rider was cut off by someone and when the rider swerved hard to avoid the vehicle, he hit a nasty pothole resulting in him dumping his bike and rupturing a fuel line..WHOOSH! The rider was ok but the bike was burnt to a crisp and is a bloody mess.

Last week I had to, not so gently, man-handle a bike that was soon to be declared a write-off. A car turned left in front of the rider and a head-on collision occurred. Luckily the rider bounced well and fared far better than the bike did and she only suffered a few cuts and bruises and a messed up wrist.

Please ride safe out there.

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This time I had to go get him but when I arrived…the Police were there. They drove by randomly and started asking questions but something seemed fishy so they stayed to find out more about the rider and the bike. When I got there I saw the look on the cops faces and I know that look. It’s a look that only police or military people have when they think something isn’t right. As a former military person…I knew that look…something wasn’t right. I leaned into the window of the police car and told the officers that we had just picked him up a couple hours earlier on the highway and brought him to a repair shop but the rider refused to leave the bike to be properly looked at. That intrigued them and they asked for more details, which I provided. Bells are ringing for me and the cops…this bike may be stolen. When confronted with the truth, the kid quickly changed his story. Before I knew it…the kid was being frisked, his pockets emptied and he was thrown in the back of the police car. I thought he was done for and that I would be taking the bike to the impound instead of back to the repair shop that he had just left.

Well, his story about having  just bought the bike that afternoon checked out so they let him go. Neither the cops or I could figure out why the kid felt the need to lie about everything that happened that afternoon (where he got the bike, how he got there, etc). The more experienced officer of the two, drilled him hard about lying to police though. They always know and once they suspect that you are lying…they dig deeper to find out just how much so.

Lying to a cop is a big no-no! In Canada it’s called “Obstruction of a Peace Officer” and if the lie continues…”Obstruction of Justice”. Yes…charges could have been laid.

This kid was lucky that he didn’t spend more time in that police car on his way to get finger-printed and that his newly purchased bike could have ended up in an impound lot. In the end…a lesson was learned – I hope anyway – that you never BS a cop. They are more experienced at recognizing it than you are at dishing it out and when a repair shop says you should leave you bike to be looked at properly…you don’t take off on it!

Dumbass

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May 30th 2010, is the 13th annual BAD Ride (Bikers Against Distress) in Southern Ontario. This will be my first year taking part in this event but I will be helping out as a bike handler for MotoLimo.com. I will be following the riders in my truck, ready to pick up any riders who may find themselves…in distress (sorry…I had to say that).

The ride will begin at the AMC Theatres near HWY 400 & HWY 7 and will end at the Markham Fairgrounds. Come on out for a great day of riding followed by a Live band, great food and a stunt show! For more information about the BAD Ride and to register, please check out this link: www.thebadride.com

The vision of the BAD Ride is to ensure every individual in need receives life-sustaining emotional support. 100% of the money raised by riders on all of the B.A.D. Rides to date has gone directly to the Distress Centres, supporting ongoing pro­gramming and many new initiatives that have enhanced access and addressed identified gaps in community services.

Through the generosity of riders, their supporters and corporate sponsors meant that almost $210,000 was raised last year to support the services of Distress Centres. On behalf of those in need, please accept our sincere gratitude. You rock! We are proud to remind – 100% of the monies raised by riders goes directly to support the work of Distress Centres.

Since 1967, Distress Centres has been providing an around-the-clock emotional safety net for com­munity members who are socially marginalized, distressed, in crisis, victims of violence or suicidal. Last year, more than 120,000 calls were answered on our help lines. Through our Survivor Support Program, hundreds of other individuals received face-to-face grief counseling in the tragic aftermath of a death by suicide or homicide. Distress Centres was also able to provide service to countless pro­fessionals, organizations and concerned citizens through the training and consultation provided by our Community Outreach Program. Each and every service is provided free of charge to partici­pants.

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As a team, we are still far from our goal and I implore you to reach deep for this great cause. As a direct result of the funds that we have raised, medical break-throughs have been made and sight is being restored to those who have fought with degenerative eye disease.

In 2008, our team raised over $37,000, in 2009 we raised just under $40,000. This year our goal is $45,000!

By sponsoring me in the Ride for Sight, you will be contributing to finding a cure for blindness. One hundred percent of funds raised by riders go directly to The Friends for Fighting Blindness, which continues to fund significant research breakthroughs. You can help support me by making a secure online donation using your credit card.

Click on the following link for a secure donation page:

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2527456

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