To preface this, I own a small bar and restaurant in the upper thumb of Michigan.
Recently I overheard a man speaking to his 3 companions about how he drifts toward the center of the road whenever a "Biker" is riding close to the centerline in the opposite lane. His reasoning was that the "Biker" was trying to intimidate him.
Intimidate
him.
I couldn't keep quiet. I politely introduced myself and apologized because I overheard his conversation and I couldn't help but ask him how he could think that way. I told him that motorcycle riders ride in the manner we do so we are more visible to people in cars.
His reply was the same as he told his companions "
They're just trying to intimidate me."
I asked him, how can a person riding in the open air, the only protection around him/her/them being leathers or riding gear on an 500 to 850 lb motorcycle possibly hope to intimidate another person enclosed in 2+ tons of steel and plastic? For me to swerve at an oncoming car on my motorcycle at 55 mph would be suicidal because if I hit your car/pickup/truck at that speed head on.... I, and my passenger, are going to die.
Well, his reply was less than cordial, but I didn't rise to the bait. Obviously this person had a problem sometime in his life with a "Biker". I realized I couldn't argue with such ignorance so I had to just shake my head, walk away, and hope that my words had reached this mans companions. A friend sent me this a couple days after this incident and I wish I could have had it to give to the man I spoke with. Please pass it along to your friends and family who ride
and don't ride and say a prayer to protect your loved ones from ignorant people like the man who came into my bar that day.
Ride Safe.
JUST A 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 plate last Sunday.
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 when you saw my bike parked out front. 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 where born or 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 she 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.
Re-post this around in hopes that people will understand the biker community...
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 ARE NOT IN 'YOUR' WAY