Location, Location

[JamesW]

Coming up a local twisty road I came upon a spilled bike with rider and passenger in roadway, no serious injury noted, some pain from road rash and possible broken toe(s)on riders right foot. Rider was on cell phone and contacting 911 when he stopped talking and asked me "Where am I", so I told him and he continued the call. After chuckling to myself I thought about do I always know where I am at? Answer was around local yes, traveling not so sure, going to make more effort to keep myself located as well as enjoying the ride. Only riding gear these folks had on where helmets, hence the road rash on both partys (arms mainly, one hand)and the crunched foot. Cotton clothes and no boots. Must be summer.

 

[ionbeam]

Traveling through Pennsylvanian in my car I had a problem where a tow was the only solution. We had been traveling on a highway where the last 20 miles was just trees, no exits and no identifying landmarks. Also, no GPS and no paper maps, after all, I'm a guy and I knew where I was going. Fortunately, I was able to walk up the highway and find a mile marker. Ever since, when we are traveling on an off the beaten path route we often say, "How would we ever tell someone how to find us." So we do pay attention. Should we ever need help we do have the GPS but it would have to survive what ever the crisis was. BTW, I may be the last person in the US that does not own or carry a cell phone, I may have to reconsider this and get one for at least a 911 situation.

 

[HotRodZilla]

The most surprising thing about this thread is that Ionbeam doesn't own a frigging cell phone. Holy Crap.....

As far as the original post, I always try to know where I am. When I became a cop, knowing what street we were on and what direction we were traveling got hammered into us. That training has bled over into regular life. I often do it without thinking about it.

 

[LowAndSilent]

I have not seen a day around here recently where there was a need to ditch proper riding gear due to the heat. It's not like we have been experiencing a heat wave like the rest of the country. Hell...it's still comfortable enough out that I'm still in my Roadcrafter with business casual garb on under it (in commuter traffic!) and don't get sweaty. Are people that cold natured around here that 60's to mid-70's causes one to ditch gear? Jeebus...

After my last ride in Montana, I've been trying to make a mental note of major roads, signs, businesses, etc that I pass when out on a ride, especially in the boonies. If not, I have my GPS unit with me on all rides, along with my cell-phone. With one or the other, I'll find out where I am.

 

[Panman]

This has happened to me twice in the last year and a half. First time was on the way to work down a road I use frequently, a MC was following me down the road and a car came to a stop sign to right of me waited and hit the MC. Once I got turned around I stopped the car by the guy laying in the road but had to walk up the street corner to read the sign.

Next was when I was out on a group ride four bikes total this is the ride that BeamerReamer and his Mrs' hit the deer and wound up in the lake. I knew the road was called Northport something but when the dispatcher was asking it wasn't good enough for them if a farmer hadn't came by or I didn't come to my senses soon to look at my GPS thing's could have gotten worst than they already were.

Good thread, something for all to think about.

 

[rickcorwn]

I was just thinking about this on the MN 1,000 this weekend. What if... and I need to call for help. I was out in the far western part of the state on a lonely little traveled road and although I did know what road I was on, County Road 1 I didn't know what county. I've got a GPS that would be helpful if it still worked and I could get to the bike. The GPS an be the savior but also the cause of not knowing where you are. After following the magenta line from bonus to bonus it's easy to loose track of where in the heck you are. Situational awareness is key.

 

[Intech]

It is always good to plan your ride ahead too. That way you already have an idea of where you will be going. Where we were riding this weekend most of the time there was no cell service. In that case it is import to know where you are,so you can get back, because someone will have to go for help if needed. GPS works well for that too. This thread has me thinking more about a spot. A week ago yesterday I rode 471 miles mostly in poor or no cell service area and on roads that were pretty much empty.

 

[Mount Rainier]

Most people cannot give accurate directions to their own home. They know where they live of course, but can’t tell you the names of the streets to turn on to get there. They know about the row of mailboxes, the old red barn, and the large oak tree, but not the names or numbers of the streets.

This has been my experience for many years. It’s not tied to the use of new technology, it’s just human nature as it relates to “The need to know” mind set. :lol:

Keep Going!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Assuming the ride is not on roads you know and without our modern cellphones and GPS devices, it's pretty hard to give instructions accurate enough for EMS response. It'd be far harder if you're in the weeds with the bike laying on your leg.

I keep the cellphone (Blackberry) in a pocket where it ought to stay with me and not in the belt holster for such rides.

 

[Hello Kitty]

I'll admit to not always knowing where I am. Especially in a rally. I'm just following the GPS... However, Mount Ranier is so right about others not knowing their local area. Even the police. I had this experience in Caribou, ME during the 11 IBR. Trying to find the 24 hr gas station was quite a challenge. The locals kept asking me "Well, you know where the IGA is?" and "Well, you know where the movie theater i?" NO, I DON'T KNOW WHERE ANYTHING IS!!! They couldn't get it. So I just asked to point me in the right direction and I finally found a couple teenagers who started with the same questions, but finally understood that I didn't know anything about their town and got me close enough that I was able to find it. Geez.

My favorite was years ago in rural upstate NY and the locals gave me directions to turn left where the black people used to live.... Is there a frigging sign in the yard stating so??? How in the world would I know where that is? Had a similar experience in The Void a few years ago trying to find some rural post office.

 

[CAJW]

Good thread. Like HTZilla, me being in the EMS business forced one to be aware of where we are at all times. One thing I've done is taught my Mrs,. who rides pillion, how to read mile marker signs and how to discern which county and highway we're on, not just the mileage. Many counties continue the same road/highway designation, but change the county abbreviation and restart the mileage at the county line, so attention needs to be paid to that as well. Just to report "Hwy 132, mm 65.5" is not enough as it might be a road that travels through multiple counties. I've often asked my riding buddies at a gas stop to see if they knew where we were for the past 2 hours, sometimes the answers are amusing, not very accurate, but amusing.

 

[kolonial72]

I don't know how many times I've been in a group ride and though to myself, "I have no clue where I am." Kinda makes me smile. Here's to cell phones and aGPS!