ABATE of FLorida continues to feed the propaganda mill, the propaganda mill regurgitates it and we all suffer

and we have a little fun

Clay Today | March 26, 2009 |

By Joao Bicalho

Correspondent

ORANGE PARK -- Some people may think that the first rule of safety that comes to mind while riding a motorcycle is to wear a helmet. The Black Creek Chapter of ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Towards Education) is trying to get the point across with a different method: education.

The association, established in the 70’s in Florida, started out by working in Clay, Baker, Bradford, St. Johns and northern Putnam counties. Their journey had an unexpected turn once the association reached a wider and longer road.

Members from a wider area joined the ride and decided to make a difference either by making their voices heard through national channels or stepping in local classrooms to talk about motorcycle safety.

"Actually, we’re not a club,  we’re a group of people that are interested in watching legislators and make sure that they don’t enact laws that discriminate against motorcycle riders in general. Safety is our biggest concern. We go to high schools in the area and teach motorcycle safety to those young kids before they get behind the wheel," said Darrell Meadows, Black Creek chapter president and safety director of ABATE.

We would have to question ABATE of Florida's effectiveness at stopping laws that discriminate against Motorcyclist. The record to date is poor indeed.  However Mr. Meadows may wish to bone upo on the history of ABATE, unless of course like many of his compadres he is perpetuating revisionist history. ABATE started out as "A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments".  It's primary concern was bikers rights. Safety was not an issue and only became one after ABATE in an effort to gain political correctness opened it's doors to anyone that would sign on the dotted line, bike or not.  Has one Dept of Highway Safety told me, "They changed their name to get safety money from the state".
Freedom cost much but pays little.

Meadows is excited about the result which has been "working out pretty good." He gets in touch with high schools in the area and lectures about safety.

Somebody can correct me if they wish. I'm not sure that the observation "working out pretty good" stands as a valid research statistic. In other words,  Mr. Meadows, do you have any independent, peer reviewed, data that demonstrates you are doing anything other than making yourself feel good. Here's your pat on the shoulder!

But then even when research demonstrates  that what your doing is not working, such as LEO's favorite , The DARE Program, it doesn't matter if you can find a way to profit from providing crap. AS P.T. Barnum said, "their is a sucker born every minute" See:
DARE is not only ineffective, but also sometimes counterproductive.

DARE Exploits Children

D.A.R.E. Fact Sheet

His lectures have always two points in common: safety and visibility.

"People out there just don’t see us," said Meadows, who added that motorcyclists are small targets when compared to a truck or a full-size car on the road.

People do see us. If they put their cell phones down, quit beating the spouse and kids, get their faces out of their GPS's and pay attention to the road as the act of "driving" calls for, they would see us. Until the "LAW" adequately addresses distracted driving more motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians (you know like children) will be killed.  One of the fallacies of the DARE program was that if you teach children that drinking, drugging and driving do not mix then when children grow up they will not drink, drug, and drive.  Whoops, wrong assumption eh!

Meadows’ feedback on his lectures also evidences that education is key - a work in progress which cannot be stopped.

Show us your research data that backs up your contention MR. Meadows please.

"They are so unaware. They are clueless," said Meadows.

Even though most of the students have familiarity with motorcycles by riding with relatives and friends, education still proves to be an effective tool to warn future drivers about the real danger for motorcycles and road safety in general.

"They don’t realize the danger of a small motorcycle out there compared to a 3,500 pound-car. We are almost invisible," said Meadows, who understands that no matter how bright and colorful a motorcycle or a rider may be, they are just not visible enough.

It's sad that a member of ABATE of Florida would make such a statement as this. I can think of any number of legislators, are you listening "loopy Lopez" that would seize on such a statement as an exuse to ban motorcycles period.  But then Maybe Mr. Meadows is an advocate for neon colored handlebar streamers, blinky helmet lights, and fluorescent clothing with Blacklights embedded in the motorcycle seat to insure our visibility.  And let us not forget that at twilight and dawn or on overcast skies that pale blue and gray cages without lights are damn near impossible to see.

Meadows’ organization helped in repealing a helmet law in the state in which a rider was obligated to wear a helmet.

"We felt that it should be a choice of the rider whether you should or should not wear a helmet, so the law as it stands now is if you’re over 21, you can ride without a helmet if you have $10,000 of medical (insurance) and proof of it when you ride. If you are under the age of 21, you must wear a helmet. Period," said Meadows.

Meadows should understand that the courts in Florida has already declared the helmet law unconstitutional on two occasions and the state had little choice but to repeal the law.  It was kind of ABATE to agree to a modified law requiring insurance and age limits when there was a possibility of
a  total repeal!

For Meadows, there is an important reason why wearing a helmet should be a rider’s choice.

"The government should not dictate what we should wear when we’re riding our motorcycles, they don’t dictate what you wear when you’re driving a car. We just like that choice," said Meadows, who added the dangers on the road still exist for both types of drivers.

He recalls a four-day trip to San Diego with his wife last May. It started out as "a good trip." On the way back, Meadows and his wife were surprised by a driver whose distraction and apologetic words are often the object of his school lectures.

"A lady in Texas decided that she would invade my space and she made a left turn in front of me. It totaled my motorcycle," said Meadows. The accident aftermath left him with a broken rib and his wife with a broken arm.

"The first words out of her mouth, when we were picked off the ground, were ‘I didn’t see you,’" said Meadows.

He understands those words seal the fate of many motorcyclists out there who are often run over by car and truck drivers who simply do not see them.

That is what is referred to as anecdotal evidenced based on one persons experience. It proves or disproves  nothing.

"Although they (motorcycles) are doing the speed limit, one second you see them, next second you don’t. We are basically invisible on the highway. You have to look twice, maybe three times," said Meadows.

Please MR. MEadows, stop  feeding the government more ammunition to ban motorcycles or dream up more absurd notions of "conspicuity"

He said that most of the 33 independent chapters of ABATE, that total 7,000 plus members in Florida alone, understand the most effective way to change the current situation is more educational than it is legislative.

Then why is it that Mr. Meadows own organization employs a legislative lobbyist at a cost 50+grand a year. How much are they paying there "Safety Folk" and what training are providing them?

Hmmm should we mention that less than 6000 of that 7000 (and that depends on how many  people are counted twice, dead and counted or haven't seen a meeting in years yet are still counted).

"You can legislate all you want, you can make all the laws you want regarding on how you should ride a motorcycle, how you should dress when you ride a motorcycle, but it won’t do any good if the people out there are not educated to look out for us," said Meadows.

His experience was a life-changing reminder of what and why he lectures at schools.

"Get off your cell phone, don’t text (message), don’t be bouncing around your car talking to half a dozen people you might have in the car with you. Just be aware," said Meadows.

For the future of motorcycle riding, Meadows foresees that more riders will come out on the road. He reasons that the rising cost of gas and the current economic situation are just a few examples why people should expect an increase of motorbikes.

"Be aware of motorcycles," said Meadows.

Vice-president Tom Nugent, state safety deputy for ABATE Florida, said his challenge is to make a safer ground for riders and drivers through education.

Once again we will reiterate the the original mission of ABATE of Florida was "Bikers Rights'.  There was nothing in the mission statement about engaging in touchy feely ineffective feel good positive news generating wastes of time. 

"The most difficult challenge is to reach those people who do not ride," said Nugent.

Nugent said that they have a common thread on the road.

"They don’t realize we are no different than they are. We are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, uncles and grandfathers, we’ve got members who are in every profession that you can think of, we’re the same as everybody else," said Nugent.

People who don’t ride cannot fathom why some riders cannot live without their motorcycles, he said.

Mr. Nugent, you say that we are like everybody else yet you follow it up by saying people who don't ride can not understand us.  So which is it.  You sir may be like everybody else. Some of us are proud not to be like everybody else.

"There is certain exhilaration, a freedom to being out there in the fresh air, you just don’t get that in a car. It is the closest thing to being able to fly without ever leaving the ground," said Nugent.

Meadows could not agree more. His mission to educate people in the state has a reward he would never find behind the wheel of a car either despite all the dangers on the road.

"You have the smells, you feel the breeze on your face" said Meadows, "and that is why you never see a motorcycle parked In front of a psychiatrist’s office."

 Then may I make a suggestion, get on your bike and ride your ass to nearest psychiatrist office as quickly ass  possible and request that you be de programmed from the kool aid  induced cult mentality exhibited by many other ABATE of Florida Members.

For more on ABATE of FLORIDA SEE:
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?oe=utf8&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&hl=en&q=ABATE+of+FLorida+blogurl:http://www.bigbendbikersforfreedom.com/&sa=N&start=0

“There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths” Bertrand Russell quotesAdd to Technorati Favorites

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