Motorcycle Fatalities in San Antonio drop

Friends say Leonard Goff, 52, would be alive had he heeded his longtime girlfriend's advice to wear a helmet when he rode his motorcycle.

Goff, a longtime motorcyclist, died in a crash after losing control while speeding in the 14100 block of Judson Road on April 21. According to a police report, he may have been drinking.

He is the eighth motorcycle rider killed in a crash in San Antonio this year, police said. But they also say fatal crashes are on the decline: In 2012, eight fewer people died in motorcycle crashes than in 2011.

Texas is one of 16 states that has seen a drop in motorcyclist fatalities in recent years, unlike the rest of the country, where fatalities are expected to reach a record 5,027 once 2012 numbers are finalized, according to a study released by the Governors Highway Safety Association.

“We don't really know why they declined; the numbers fluctuate every year,” said Barbara Harsha, GHSA's executive director. “The state is probably paying more attention to motorcycle safety, but the most effective countermeasure is mandatory helmet laws for all riders.”

While Texas legislators in 1997 repealed a law requiring all riders to wear helmets, those younger than 21 still must wear them when riding, according to the Texas Transportation Code. Shortly after repealing the law, fatalities in Texas increased, published reports state, and the Texas Department of Transportation took notice.

The agency says an aggressive education campaign that began in 2008 is what's caused the drop in fatalities in Texas.

“We saw these fatalities starting to come up, and we knew that we had to focus on it,” said Carol Rawson, the director of TxDOT's traffic operations division. “There was a focus on this, like a laser. The benefits are coming about now, and 28 people didn't lose their lives in a motorcycle crash last year.”

She said that after interviewing motorists involved in crashes with motorcycles, the drivers often claimed not to have seen the bike, so officials targeted the campaign to better inform motorists. Called “Share the Road,” the effort includes electronic and road signs, advertising and education for both riders and drivers.

Texas motorcyclists aren't required to wear helmets, so long as they complete a rider training program or hold medical insurance covering motorcycle crash injuries. But they are encouraged in safety classes to wear helmets.

Rudy Vogt, 37, said Goff, who was a good friend, was a safe rider who was driving too fast while taking a curve on an unlit portion of the road.

Goff, described in an obituary as a “jack of all trades” who had many hobbies, “the greatest of which was riding his motorcycle,” is survived by his life partner, Angela Kiebler, and sons Anthony Goff and Joshua Mancini.

“He just didn't see the curve, but this could have been prevented,” Vogt said. “I always wear my helmet. I believe in it because my brother got into an accident, and a helmet saved his life.”


_____________________
source: My San Antonio (Moravec, 4/29)

Maypearl rally aids wounded heroes

MAYPEARL – Downtown Maypearl was thundering with the thrum of motorcycles as thousands turned out Friday-Sunday for Rally Round Our Heroes.

Big B’s Leather and Wounded Heroes of Texas organized the motorcycle rally, concerts and vendor fair to raise money and awareness for disabled veterans and the veterans associations of Dallas-Fort Worth.

“This is basically the first family-oriented biker rally in North Texas. We didn’t expect it to be this big, but we will definitely do it again next year,” said Chuck Perry, Wounded Heroes of Texas founder. “We wanted this to be an event to honor our disabled vets and raise funds for our Galveston retreat. It’s really just a feel-good event and helps vets.”

Perry said the Wounded Heroes of Texas helps disabled veterans adjust to life after service and reintegrate into society. The nonprofit organization’s annual Galveston fishing and sailing retreat for veterans is one of the ways it helps.

The three-day event featured live music from Southern Heat, Curb Service and Janis Joplin tribute band Piece of My Heart, while several vendors sold “everything from mufflers to mints,” Perry said. Rally Round Our Heroes also featured raffles, displays and bike washes.

He said the Wounded Heroes of Texas serves veterans from the Oklahoma border to Temple, Texas, and he is hoping to start a chapter in Brownsville next year. The organization is part of the national Veteran Association’s reintegration program and aims to continue to serve more of Texas every year.

The Rally Round Our Heroes received support from the Maypearl city council and mayor, as well as local support from businesses. Bruce (the big ‘B’ of Big B’s Leather) and Cupcake Helsing helped host the event, organize the vendor fair and promote the event to their customers.

“We’re a traveling vendor and have the store here (in Maypearl), so we invited all of our contacts to come set up at the rally,” Cupcake said. “We’ve got vendors clear from Iowa to local vendors out here.”

The event attracted a lot of visitors and customers to downtown Maypearl.

“We set it up spread out like this so people would want to walk through town to see everything and spend time visiting the businesses and vendors,” she said. “We hit some logistical bumps in the road this year, but it is the first year we’ve hosted it.”

Cupcake said she worked with Perry to host the event in Maypearl, because she wanted to see the small town flourish. The Helsings opened their store four years ago in downtown and the Farm-to-Market Roads 66 and 157 have become favorite routes of bikers.

__________________________________
Source: Waxahachie News (Schwaderer, 4/15)

Local motorcycle store owners urge drivers to put safety first

LUFKIN, TX- Fatal motorcycle accidents have been popping up all over East Texas leaving many motorcycle owners and fans concerned.

While many people think motorcycles are cool and fast, they are also very dangerous. Riding motorcycles has become more of a social norm in the past decade, but it's also opened up a doorway for more wrecks.

"It's a great thing to do. I've done it for the majority of my life, but you have to understand that you put your life on the line when you get out on the highway," said Scott Wilcox, the owner of Cycle Heaven in Lufkin.

Wilcox says he has seen countless friends die in motorcycle accidents.

"That definitely changed my outlook, and perspective on motorcycle riding and it brought up several points with me. It doesn't have to be an automobile, it doesn't have to be a one vehicle accident and it can be anything. You have to expect the unexpected," said Wilcox.

Tom Moore, the parts and service manager at Texas Thunder Harley Davidson, says a lot of fatalities happen because riders don't follow the rules.

"I'm a firm believer that every time you get on a motorcycle you should be wearing ankle high boots, you should be wearing at least a half helmet, gloves aren't necessary, but they come in handy. It's a little bit easier to repair a motorcycle than a person," said Moore.

It doesn't matter if you are a brand new or seasoned rider, it's always important to put your helmet on before you get on the bike, Moore says.

"The motorcycle is a vehicle just like a car and they do carry the right of way. It is your job as a driver of the vehicle to keep an eye out on them and make sure they are not in your way," said Moore.

Wilcox says he loves to ride, but believes it's every riders job to remind themselves about the dangers of reckless driving.

"The car is always going to win. Once you get comfortable and relaxed to the point of throwing caution to the wind, you are in a very deadly situation. If you encounter a situation where there is a violent person in an automobile, give them the right of way. What do you have to prove at that point? They are going to win with that car. So give them the right of way. Let that get away from you," said Wilcox.

Both men say that it is also important to retake the state mandated rider safety course several times throughout your motorcycle career.

_________________________________
Source: KTRE (Reed, 4/11)

Gender makes no difference when it comes to having fun or accidents on motorcycles

EL PASO — The 2006 Suzuki GSXR 600 roars down the I-10 freeway going 60 mph at 6:30 a.m. on a weekday and exits on Schuster Avenue. The woman at the wheel, Tory Lewis, a fit 5’ 2’’ blonde, then turns left onto Hawthorne from Schuster Avenue entering the University of Texas at El Paso campus. Her bike comes to an abrupt stop behind the Administrative Building and she parks in a spot designated for motorcycles.

She removes her dark-blue helmet and is ready to start her day as she walks towards her graphic and design fundamentals class located in the Liberal Arts Building.

“I just love how I’m able to feel the speed,” said Lewis, a medical engineering student at UTEP.

Lewis, 28, was born and raised in Michigan and served in the United States Army for about seven years before being stationed at Fort Bliss in April of 2005.

Growing up around motorcycles motivated Lewis to learn to ride at the age of 15 and she hasn’t been able to get off since.

She bought the Suzuki, her first motorcycle, in 2006 and is proud to say she has never been in an accident.

“I always take precautions and I wear my safety gear,” she said. “I have also taken the motorcycle safety course and the advanced one.”

She understands it’s a risk to ride a motorcycle because no matter how safely she drives other vehicles are unpredictable and larger vehicles sometimes do not see her.

And she remembers getting pulled over by a police officer for speeding one time. The officer acted surprised when she removed her helmet. “He said he never expected he was pulling over a girl and talked about it nonstop,” she chuckled.

Lewis’ mother, Vickie Knake, 50, has also been riding since the age of 15 and has always been a member of motorcycle clubs. She currently lives in Baldwin, Michigan, and now only rides for fun and occasionally attends motorcycle events. Knake said a lot has changed since she started riding as a teenager.

“Riding used to be exiting and free. Now it’s a money maker and (full of) politics,” said Knake, explaining that most motorcycles clubs and events now seem to focus on making money rather than cruising and enjoying the ride.

El Pasoan Timothy Daniels, 44, has been riding since he was 18. He likes to ride with Lewis, and sometimes jokes about being a better driver than women motorcyclists. He has been a member of various motorcycle clubs for about seven years and is currently a member of the Moto Family, a driving club created about two years ago. Moto Family has 18 members, mainly men, and just three women members. The club participated in the Toys for Tot’s Bike Run last year in Las Cruces. Bike members usually cruise the city in groups when time allows, and try to ride together every Sunday morning depending on the weather.

“We treat women just how we treat the guys in the club,” Daniels said. “No one is better than anyone else.”

He added that although men have always outnumbered women in the club, the few female riders who join like to stick around.

Although accidents are common among motorcycle drivers, the sex of the rider is usually not a factor. Most motorcycle-related deaths occur because the riders aren’t wearing a helmet, according to accident statistics. What matters most is that drivers take precautions like driving safely and wearing a helmet.

There were 426 motorcycle deaths in Texas in 2009, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. This is a 13.6 percent increase from the 375 motorcycle deaths recorded in 2007, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Sixty percent of these bike drivers were not wearing helmets and 39 percent of the motorcyclists killed had a blood alcohol level greater than .08.

According to NHTSA, motorcycle riders are 35 times more likely to be in traffic accidents than someone driving a passenger car. The agency does not break down the statistics for men and women motorcycle drivers.

A possible factor in the increase of motorcycle accidents is that the number of states requiring riders to wear helmets has decreased in the past 40 years. In the 1970s, for example, 47 states had laws requiring the use of helmets by motorcycle riders; today only 19 states have a law requiring helmets. The rest of the states, including Texas, only require riders to wear helmets partially, meaning once they reach a certain age. Here is a map from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showing helmet laws in all 50 states.

Although some men claim that women don’t drive as well as men, gender does not appear to be a factor in accidents and motorcycle deaths.

“I was about to sell my bike a few years ago because of how dangerous it is and all the deaths (I read about) but I wasn’t able to,” Lewis said.

“You’re always going to have accidents, either on your motorcycle or car, and you just have to be as cautious as you can,” she said. “I enjoy riding too much; it’s hard to get rid of something you have had almost your entire life.”

_____________________________________
Source: Boderzine (Gonzales, 3/28)