A Plea To People To Pay Attention

[HotRodZilla]

I received this in my e-mail from one of my friends who rides an HD. I'm not usually one for forwarding or posting stuff like this but after seeing all the recent posts about people getting nearly killed by someone who is just not paying attention; I thought it relevant. I wasn't sure where to post it, but I didn't think Jokes and Fun Stuff was exactly right, so I put it here:

THE BIKER

I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.

But, you didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection outside the store as I walked in.

I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.

But you didn't see me, playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant.

But you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by.

But you didn't see me, riding behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children.

But you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you stare at my long hair.

But you didn't see me, and my friends, cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our leather jackets and gloves.

But you didn't see me and my brothers donate our old ones to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos.

But you didn't see me cry as my children were born and have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.

But you didn't see me going home to be with my family.

I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.

But you didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you yelling at your kids in the car.

But you didn't see me pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.

But you didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you race down the road in the rain.

But you didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.

But you didn't see me trying to turn right.

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.

But you didn't see me leave the road.

I saw you waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.

But you didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family.

But you didn't see me.

Because I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker.

A person with friends and a family.

But you didn't see me.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE US, RESPECT OUR RIGHTS TO RIDE WHAT WE CHOOSE AND

TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO BE SURE WE'RE NOT IN 'YOUR' WAY

LIVE TO RIDE . . . RIDE TO LIVE

 

[Mizz Bustanut]

Too bad so much of it happens on a daily basis.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Timbo2015]

The parts at the end about not seeing/ignoring bikers are certainly true; there are a lot of bad, inattentive drivers out there. I don't think they target motorcycles, though. They are just as rude, inattentive, etc. when it comes to cars. It is just easier to see a car than a motorcycle when you are talking on a cell phone while doing your makeup.

The items in the beginning of this list might have been true in the 1960s and 1970s, due mostly to silly 'biker gang terrorizes the town' movies, but I don't think they are at all relavent today. The majority of Harley riders are regular people who just dress up in biker garb when they ride around. Everyone knows this, and I've never seen any of the reactions described. It's time for the Harley crowd to stop thinking of themselves as a misunderstood, oppressed minority.

 

[jwilly]

The parts at the end about not seeing/ignoring bikers are certainly true; there are a lot of bad, inattentive drivers out there. I don't think they target motorcycles, though. They are just as rude, inattentive, etc. when it comes to cars. It is just easier to see a car than a motorcycle when you are talking on a cell phone while doing your makeup.
The items in the beginning of this list might have been true in the 1960s and 1970s, due mostly to silly 'biker gang terrorizes the town' movies, but I don't think they are at all relavent today. The majority of Harley riders are regular people who just dress up in biker garb when they ride around. Everyone knows this, and I've never seen any of the reactions described. It's time for the Harley crowd to stop thinking of themselves as a misunderstood, oppressed minority.

Thanks for putting into words what I couldn't seem to when I read the above post.

JW

 

[Knifemaker]

The parts at the end about not seeing/ignoring bikers are certainly true; there are a lot of bad, inattentive drivers out there. I don't think they target motorcycles, though. They are just as rude, inattentive, etc. when it comes to cars. It is just easier to see a car than a motorcycle when you are talking on a cell phone while doing your makeup.
The items in the beginning of this list might have been true in the 1960s and 1970s, due mostly to silly 'biker gang terrorizes the town' movies, but I don't think they are at all relavent today. The majority of Harley riders are regular people who just dress up in biker garb when they ride around. Everyone knows this, and I've never seen any of the reactions described. It's time for the Harley crowd to stop thinking of themselves as a misunderstood, oppressed minority.

Agree.

And I really do not like the term "biker"...I prefer to call myself a "motorcyclist"...the word "biker" still dredges up negative images in most folks minds, and should only be used by those silly weekend "posers" who wish to re-capture that image so the folks around them will think that is exactly what and who they are.

I have seen that same somewhat outdated piece appear now and then on other motorcycle forums, with various changes, and although I understand the messeage, I think we need something shorter, and easier for the general populace to read and remember..............

KM

 

[jwilly]

I have seen that same somewhat outdated piece appear now and then on other motorcycle forums, with various changes, and although I understand the messeage, I think we need something shorter, and easier for the general populace to read and remember..............

KM

Maybe something like this bumper sticker?

Link to site about bumper sticker: Clicky

 

[FJRBluesman]

Great bumper sticker jwilly.

 

[isuace]

I thought of this today as I was almost being run over by a guy who was in the outer of two turn lanes, who halfway through the intersection decided that he would much rather go straight than continue turning. He suddenly darted straight across the intersection right in front of me as I was turning left and waved and mouthed "sorry" as my horn blared.

Probably should have been thinking about other things than this story at the time....

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

A worthy post. Too bad the millions of cagers who don't ride will never read it. How to change that? I dunno.

 

[amansker]

I think they are still true for "bikers". Motorcyclists like myself and most everyone in the forum don't really seem to intimidate people - at least not because we ride motorcycles and dress in leather. "Biker" has a connotation I don't care to have attached to myself (at least not in 25 years). Just last night a saw a couple jap HD cruiser looking bikes from the 80's - raked forks, all black, etc. parked in front of Tony Romas. One of them had a sticker on the helmet:

"Yeah, so I'm a biker. What are you going to do about it?"

That's the attitude people don't want to hear.

>>>>>The items in the beginning of this list might have been true in the 1960s and 1970s, due mostly to silly 'biker gang terrorizes the town' movies, but I don't think they are at all relavent today.