Share The Road

As a long-time motorcyclist, I have become accustomed to invisibility. That is, I've grown to expect I am essentially invisible to every other road-going vehicle. (Except Cops, but that's another story.)

No matter how brightly colored are my jacket and helmet; no matter how intense are my headlights (permanently on); no matter how unmistakably beautiful and distinctive is my ride, people always try to park on me as if all 600 plus pounds of man and machine simply weren't there.

Like I said, I've become accustomed to this. I've made the assumption of invisibility the cornerstone of my riding discipline. Most riders who live to be older riders, kneecaps and collarbones (relatively) intact, have made this adjustment.

Surprising then, but hugely pleasant to see, was one of those 'Amber Alert' signs with the message 'Share the Road; Be Aware of Motorcycles' right here in Los Angeles. In fact, I saw multiple such signs.

Maybe this denotes a sea change in local policy, sort of "if we can't beat 'em, protect 'em?" Maybe it's part of an investigation - reportedly taking place right here in LA - of the causes of motorcycle accidents and injuries; an investigation designed to update the famous and incredibly aptly named 'Hurt Report', which was done way back in the 1980s, long before cell phones, GPS light shows, and texting were added to being drunk, stoned, or stupid as reasons for distracted driving.

Maybe, but whatever the reason, it's a good thing to see. Especially on the freeways here in SoCal where it is legal (or at least not illegal) to split traffic on your bike, or 'share lanes' as it is more nicely called. Irritated and distracted car drivers stuck in traffic (thus fully earning the tag 'cagers' given them by bikers), do sometimes act like caged animals, striking out at two-wheelers in fits of road rage as the bikes glide past their slowly creeping cars.

Any program that appears to give official approval to motorcycles sharing the road will help with this. So Thank You, CalTrans, CHP, NHTSA, or whomever is behind those signs. Some of us will owe you our lives (or at least our shins).