News

Objects & Calendars by R. Bruce Thomas Saying Happy New Year at the end of January always feels a little weird but this is the first AMSS dispatch of the year so it fits. And so far, 2024 is off Read more

Prepare for Safe Success by R. Bruce Thomas Here we are at the beginning of the last month of 2023 and we’ve only had a small amount of snow. And it didn’t stick around. This nice weather makes me sad Read more

Reflection and looking forward by R. Bruce Thomas How is it that we are at the end of October already and there has already been snow on the ground? This year seems to have just sped by and riding season Read more

After a summer of riding! by R. Bruce Thomas 1 – For many years I’ve worn Motoport Kevlar riding overpants and jacket. I bought it for the protection the gear offers me and know it works after “road testing” it Read more

But they still happen… by R. Bruce Thomas Well, about a week after the last AMSS monthly edition was published the AB Government changed the highway rules for passing stopped vehicles with flashing lights. We’ve had to slow down or Read more

plus Road Work Season by: R. Bruce Thomas EDIT from AMSS: At the time of this article was written and published (July 31, 2023), the changes were expected to be what you read below – simply adding in snowplows and Read more

Big and small considerations for a successful trip by: R. Bruce Thomas With all the border restrictions finally removed it is likely that people are finally looking at heading south of the 49th to ride some of the many great Read more

And today is not a good day to die by: R. Bruce Thomas (no major spoilers) I had no idea what I was going to write about this month and then my wife and I just watched the series finale Read more

Spring Tips to Consider by: R. Bruce Thomas Wow. It’s that time of year again. Have you been out riding yet? We didn’t get tons of snow over the winter so many roads are bare and dry as long as Read more

Featuring a simple training video by: R. Bruce Thomas Motorcycles are dangerous. Ask anyone. Ask your Mom. That’s how I started the last piece and it seems rather fitting with the subject this time. Some people would think this activity Read more

Maybe Someday by R. Bruce Thomas Motorcycles are dangerous. Ask anyone. Ask your Mom. The thing is, motorcycles are not dangerous. Granted, you can suffer greater injury if you are involved in a crash while riding a motorcycle than if Read more

A dive into the pandemic years and more. by R. Bruce Thomas AMSS President Liane Langlois reached out to me with a topic suggestion for this News edition – look at fatality stats during the COVID years. Since my post Read more

Visibility Tips by R. Bruce Thomas A recent conversation with AMSS Board Member Jon Watchuk turned, not surprisingly, to the topic of safety features in automobiles that have an impact on the safety of motorcyclists. The presence on many vehicles Read more

Listen up when something just doesn’t feel right by R. Bruce Thomas It was late at night and the Trans Canada Highway was dark and empty as Norm and I got closer to our destination – Kirkland Lake, ON. I Read more

Ask for what you want by R. Bruce Thomas As I sit here at my computer in the early hours of August 25th I realize it is four months until Christmas and, while I shudder at the thought of the Read more

The Things You Learn by R. Bruce Thomas I had some thoughts on topics for this edition and told Liane to expect my submission within a couple of days. A day later and I had yet to decide which way Read more

Or Any Ride for that Matter by R. Bruce Thomas Is my side stand up I’d hate to stall it on this first ride before everything becomes automatic again Were all my lights working before starting this ride Early season Read more

(later) Been there, Done that by R. Bruce Thomas Welcome to June. It’s hard to believe that one of my favorite parts of the riding season has already gone by. For the next four months things will get a little Read more

Don’t let a little sand and gravel stop you. by R. Bruce Thomas I was in to the dentist near the end of March for my annual checkup and the two of us got talking about things, as one does Read more

Tips from women to women! by: R. Bruce Thomas Last year I sent out a request to my riding friends asking for input into what became a three-part series here called Advice For (new) Riders. This year, at the suggestion Read more

Insight into AMSS by: R. Bruce Thomas The tagline on the Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society web site says “Safety, Education, and Awareness for Alberta Motorcycle Riders”.  As an organizational slogan this seems to be pretty succinct and a fitting goal Read more

Winter reading, plus an Art Gallery surprise! by R. Bruce Thomas In the off season, one thing I like to do is plan rides and trips for the upcoming summer riding. This keeps me thinking about riding and gets me Read more

Things to check out! by R. Bruce Thomas At times like this I can’t help but think of the closing scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian and it seems like a good time for a whistle and a song. Read more

Give it a rest by R. Bruce Thomas As I followed my new friend Mark along I-15 I noticed he was tapping his hand to the music. What struck me as odd was it was his right hand on his Read more

Not just for vacationing children by R. Bruce Thomas When I was a youngster and my family went on summer vacations across Canada and into the United States, my siblings and I would play The License Plate Game. It gave Read more