News: Delware gets more bikes; more crashes

[mediajackl]

Delaware gets more riders, doubles cycle fatal count...article touches on training, helmets...another localized version of "trend" stories we've seen previously....

Excerpt from..."NewsZap" of Delaware (newspaper? website only? no clue)

"DOVER — Images of a leather-clad rebel sitting atop a sleek motorcycle and revving its powerful engine have been burned into the American consciousness for decades, and the vehicles’ popularity has been rising in recent years.
"In Delaware, the number of registered motorcycles has nearly tripled in the past 15 years to more than 22,000, with 5,000 more bikes registered in 2005 alone.
"But that rising popularity also has come at a price.
"Motorcycle fatalities hit an all-time high last year, with 21 dying on Delaware roads, eclipsing a 20-year-old record of 19 and more than doubling 2004’s 10 deaths.
" “We’re all kind of horrified by the deaths,” said Peter Mazzella, legislative coordinator for ABATE of Delaware, a motorcyclists’ rights organization...."


http://www.newszap.com/articles/2006/01/05/dm/central_delaware/dsn01.txt

[Paduan]

Why do we aways have to be "leather-clad rebels"?

And why do we have to "rev our powerful engines"?

[LoDownSinner]

Why do we aways have to be "leather-clad rebels"?

And why do we have to "rev our powerful engines"?
Because -- it sells newspapers...

22,000 doesn't seem like a lot. I've been in a parking lot with many times that number...

[remy_marathe]

Because images of safety-vest clad commuters sitting astride their goldwings, delicately backing out of their parking stalls and following traffic at a safe 3-second distance while making toast and evading hazards have not been burned into the american consciousness for decades. Just our consciousnesses.

[Paduan]

Because images of safety-vest clad commuters sitting astride their goldwings, delicately backing out of their parking stalls and following traffic at a safe 3-second distance while making toast and evading hazards have not been burned into the american consciousness for decades. Just our consciousnesses.
I need to get out more....

[MotoMan]

Can you make toast and take a call on a Goldwing at the same time, or does it overload the bike's battery?

[sanglant]

Why do we aways have to be "leather-clad rebels"?

And why do we have to "rev our powerful engines"?


Because that's just the way we roll, baby! :biker:

[Paduan]

Can you make toast and take a call on a Goldwing at the same time, or does it overload the bike's battery?
I opted for the microwave oven.

Microwave ovens don't make good toast, but we do enjoy those little microwave pizzas while riding.

And there is always the problem of butter and jelly flying about with toast. It gets on everything.

Taking or placing a call on the sat phone does take a little more juice than the standard cell phone. (Note: I always pull off the road to talk on the phone. Letting the bike idle for long sat phone calls does pull the charging system down just a bit, especially with the heaters on.)

You just have to balance your use of electrical accessories.

Been thinking about getting one of those generator puppies to drag along....

[Derick]

Been thinking about getting one of those generator puppies to drag along....

That'd make for a pretty hot trailer..

[FAF]

22,000 doesn't seem like a lot. I've been in a parking lot with many times that number...

DE isn't a very populous state...perhaps that accounts for the relatively small number of registered motorcycles.

FWIW newszap is something I'm not familiar with, but the Delaware State News (looks like the owner of newszap, maybe) is one of DE's print newspapers. I used to check them in at the library when they arrived in the mail. It's either daily or 2x a week...can't remember.

FAF

[Divacycle]

I have to wonder how many of those riders were "self taught", no safety training or drinking -n -riding. I still think that if we are mandated to take a safety class when getting a drivers license...then it should be the same with MC licences. Her in KY, you can ride on a mc permit forever.just keep renewing it...yet the same doesnt apply for drivers permit. I will say after taking a few safety courses, you learn to "respect" the machine you're riding.