Tuesday Tips: Motorcycle safety

It's that time of year again, where motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters are enjoying the summer sun. Remember to stay safe when riding with these tips.

Whether you are an experienced rider, thinking about riding or just curious you can find ALOT of information at the Motorcycle Safety Foundations website. *Most of the tips in this article can be found in greater detail in various articles and sources on their website. 

Riding a motorcycle, or really operating any motor vehicle, involves much more than yourself. Riders have to be aware of the vehicle itself, road hazards, animals, mother nature and of course other drivers. 

Have you ever heard of T-CLOCS? 

​T-CLOCS is a pre-ride inspection checklist to ensure that your motorcycle is ready for the ride. See the guide below straight from the MSF website and it covers; tires and wheels, controls, lights and electrics, oil and fluids, and stands. 

There is a saying that you can never be too safe, especially on a motorcycle or scooter. These vehicles are small, balanced on two wheels and offer little to no protection from the outside elements. Motorcycle safety gear should ALWAYS be worn. Items like a helmet, gloves, glasses or goggles, pants, and a jacket will help protect the rider. 

After making sure a rider has the right gear and the bike is ready to ride, that doesn't mean the safety talk ends there. Road conditions can change at any second, a strategy called SEE should always be used to SEARCH - EVALUATE - EXECUTE a situation. 

"Pretend you are invisible "

People in vehicles usually have a hard time seeing motorcycles or mopeds, especially early in the season when they aren't used to bikes being on the road. Give yourself time to be seen, use proper lane change signals, and know how to control your ride. 

Being able to search your surroundings for potential hazards, evaluate what could or will happen and execute a plan of action to hopefully avoid a collision could save your life. 

Look twice for motorcycles!