Embrace Your Fears

With some great tips...

by R. Bruce Thomas

A motorcycle is inherently not a dangerous device.

It's only when a rider starts a motorcycle moving that the danger arises.

The small contact areas between rubber and road, the coordination and skill required to safely and smoothly operate the six main controls (steering, throttle, front brake, rear brake, clutch, shift lever), plus the need to manage all of this at various speeds and lean angles, means safely operating a motorcycle in the dynamic environment that is our modern roadway system is not for everyone.

Being able to master everything necessary in order to ride a motorcycle can lead to some cockiness in one's own ability, but do not let that blind you to danger.

I'm not saying that you should ride scared but that you should always keep in mind the potential dangers and let your fear of the consequences drive your behaviour as a rider. Having a healthy respect for what can go wrong, and being prepared for those eventualities, goes a long way to keeping a rider safe. By being aware of the hazards, a rider can ensure that they do not do anything to increase the risks they already face.

First off, make sure you and your motorcycle are in top condition before you ride. This means being in the right mental and physical state, plus ensuring your bike is also fit (tire tread depth and pressure are critical, lights, working controls, etc).

The first thing at the top of your mind should always be, are my actions as a rider increasing or decreasing my safety?

Scan the surrounding area as you ride to identify hazards, prioritize the biggest one, deal with it, and on to the next one.

A few of the endless questions you should consider include:

Am I doing all I can to be visible? Am I being proactive rather than reactive to driving conditions? Is the weather impacting the behaviour of other road users in a manner that could be detrimental to my safety?

Am I going too fast for this corner? Can I see far enough ahead? What is around this corner? Is the road surface clean? Where is traffic that may conflict with my path?

Are there any road signs warning of potential dangerous conditions. Does opposite direction traffic warn you of possible hazards ahead (wipers going, covered in snow, in bunches as from construction zones,...)

Now is the time, near the start of riding season, to refresh good behaviours and do all that we can to be prepared so that we get to the end of the riding season safely.

Ride responsibly, and often.