A new law allowing motorcycle riders to roll through red lights is a step in the right direction but still not a solution to the problem...

The new law allowing motorcycle riders to treat red lights like stop signs will make life easier for bikers but still falls short when it comes to safety.

"We're telling everybody to wait 120 seconds" before passing through a red light even if there is no visible oncoming traffic, said Brian Wendholt, the legislative coordinator for the Will County chapter of ABATE, a motorcycle advocacy organization.

Starting Jan. 1, motorcycle riders in Illinois — outside Cook County — got the green light to roll through red lights after stopping and checking for oncoming traffic.

The new law was prompted by stoplight sensors failing to detect motorcycles due to their relative lack of iron content compared to cars, said Wendholt, a Shorewood resident.

When the sensors fail to recognize a vehicle waiting to proceed, the light does not turn green. Wendholt said he had that happen to him at the intersection of River Road and Route 52, and that he has planned his motorcycle trips around red lights due to the sensor problems.

If he did not, Wendholt said, "You'd have to make a series of right turns to get where you want to go."

While the law does benefit motorcycle riders, Wendholt said, he would prefer to see traffic engineers improve the sensors so they recognize the smaller vehicles. He said he has been told this is a possibility.

"It depends on what traffic engineer you talk to," Wendholt said.

Guy Tridgell, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said, "We continue to make improvements to our traffic signal operations all the time. The technology is constantly improving."

But Wendholt's complaint is not one often made to IDOT, Tridgell said.

"It's not common that we hear of the problem that motorcycles are unable to trigger traffic signals," he said. "More experienced riders seem to be more knowledgeable about where the sensors are located."

Wendholt disagreed.

"I've been riding for 20-plus years," he said. "There's certain bikes where you could place it anywhere in that loop and it won't detect it."

Wendholt was also concerned that law enforcement may not be fully aware of the new law and that motorcycle riders could wind up with unwarranted traffic charges.

Source: http://shorewood-il.patch.com/articles/motorcycle-group-finds-new-law-lacking 

How to be Seen on Motorcycles

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"I never saw the rider" is one of the most common things automobile drivers say after they've struck a motorcyclist, an unfortunate reflection on how easy it is for riders to slip under the radar. Here are tips on how to stay visible while you ride.


The first and most obvious way to avoid being hit is to stay out of the blind spots of other vehicles and give yourself enough room to react. Ways to do so include:


Making sure you can see the drivers of the cars around you; if you can see them (through eye contact or in their mirrors), chances are you're in their line of sight... but never assume anything.
Creating a safety buffer around you, which means leaving enough distance ahead of you, and giving yourself space to maneuver away from trouble.
Avoid lingering in the blind spots created by the A-pillars and C-pillars of cars; those are the front 3/4 and rear 3/4 angle views out of the driver seat. Passing can be a dangerous maneuver, so be especially aware when overtaking a car or another rider.
If you're riding with a group, be sure to leave a safe distance around you, and ride in a staggered formation for maximum visibility.

Automatic Crash Reporting for Your Smart Phone

For a few years now people wandering about the planet unattended have been able to carry GPS emergency locating devices.  Should something bad happen they can put a button on the unit and the system will send an emergency message to the appropriate people.  The draw back was/is that units are in the $100 and up price range and require an annual a subscription service.  Now there is a free alternative for those with an Android based smartphone.

The excellent people at ActionXL, who create Android operating system applications for business, have created a free app for Android phones.  The app, called CRADAR, uses your smart phone's motion sensor to sense a jarring movement, like say, oh, a motorcycle crash.  The app then sends a text message complete with GPS coordinates to whatever phone number you've specified.  For those of us who ride alone and often in rural or remote areas, CRADAR provides a degree of security should things all go wrong.

I wrote my brother:  "If you don’t mind, I’m going to put your phone number in there for the text message. I’m going to use the app when I'm riding so if I take a fall you’ll know and can quickly fly to Arizona and help me pick the bike up or call 911, whichever is easier."



If you have a smart phone using the Android operating system you'll find the app in the Android Market Place.  A big tip of the helmet to the folks a ActionXL for providing a great safety tool for motorcyclists, bicyclists, hikers, and others out and about.

Assume you're invisible.

While there are many ways to stay visible on a bike, it's also helpful to think about motorists around you as oblivious to your presence. Even if it's your right of way, don't assume a car won't cut you off; even if you've made eye contact with a driver, don't bet the farm that he or she won't make a sudden move that puts you in jeopardy. And finally, keep a finger over your brake lever at all times just in case emergency avoidance maneuvers are required... and remember: only the paranoid survive.

15 RIDING SIGNALS BIKERS SHOULD KNOW!

10 THINGS TO DO DURING OFF SEASON

Even though the weather is turning cooler, you don't have to cover up your motorcycle and store it away until the spring. There are many things you can do as a biker to continue your way of life all year long. We've compiled our top 10 biker projects for the off-season.

1. Take a Motorcycle Safety Course – Search your area or local DMV for a motorcycle safety course schedule. It's important to have a refresher on motorcycle safety, and you can hone your bike handling skills. Even if there isn't one until the spring, many places will allow you to register months ahead of time. Upgrade yourself first!
2. Look for New Riding Gear – If yours is getting a bit old, or no longer doing what it's supposed to do, it may be time to upgrade. Many times motorcycle attire is on sale during the off-season. View our article on choosing proper riding attire for more information.
3. Tune up Your Bike – Check and test all parts of your motorcycle to be sure it's running as safely and efficiently as possible.
4. Change the Seat – It's a great way to make your ride more comfortable, especially if you go on a lot of group rides or cross-country tours. Stay tuned for an upcoming article on this subject.
5. Review Your Insurance Policy – Now is the time to review your insurance policy and decide whether you should upgrade your coverage. Remember, accidents can happen any place, anytime, and anywhere. It's best to be prepared and protect your financial security – before it's too late.
6. Customize Your Motorcycle Helmet – Having a one-of-a-kind helmet is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself as a biker. There are many things you can do, while still making sure it falls within the Department of Transportation standards.
7. Winterize Your Motorcycle – There are dozens of articles out there that tell you step-by-step how to prepare your bike for the winter, how to protect it from snow and ice, and how to store it – if you choose to do so.
8. Join a Local Motorcycle Group – Being a biker is a way of life, and there's no better way to share it than to spend time in the motorcycle culture. Look up local groups and see what they have to offer – group rides, rallies, resources, training courses, apparel discounts, tutorials on customizing your bike, and more.
9. Look into Purchasing a New Bike – If you're thinking you want to get a new motorcycle, the off-season is a great time to do your research and find the one that's right for you. It also gives you plenty of time to review the safety features of each model and see what options are available for customizing it.
10. Install a Camera – In a few weeks we'll share with you more information on the benefits of installing a camera, where to mount it, and the types you can choose. It's a way to relive your biking experiences, but it also can capture live footage if you're ever in an accident, and can provide valuable evidence.

I know this is a bit of a toss up...Brake Light Modules. Do you flash your brake lights? Either way, everyone seems to have an opinion about these. We have researched and come up with the top 3 reasons a rider should take 30 minutes out of their weekend sometime this winter to install a BackOFF.

1. Visibility, the most important thing when you're riding on a vehicle that is 1/8 the size of a passenger vehicle. They rarely see us until they're right up on us or cutting us off and we have to release a middle finger.

2. Usability, Easy to install, simple and easy to understand instructions on how the product works and you can easily disable if you're riding in a group, or it just isn't necessary at the time.


3. Proven, In a recent poll brake light modules deferred 70% more accidents. Including scenario's of passenger vehicles turning left in front of motorcycles, and merging in front of them.

Luxy Future Fashion helmet

Helmet hair is a problem that every non-bald biker faces. Male or female, it's hard to keep the doo looking new after a long ride. Luckily for the fashion conscience, Daniel Don Chang has created a helmet that will keep you looking beautiful mile after mile.

The Luxy helmet was inspired by "mod girls and fashion hairstyles" by Chang, a product designer from Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. Chang says that the Luxy helmet is targeted toward woman scooter riders and he hopes that his design will increase helmet use.

"Luxy is a women's motorcycle helmet for commuting and casual motorcycle riding. Its purpose is to increase helmet use. As many riders are female, the distinctive and unique look sets it apart from existing helmets, proving that style and safety can coexist," Chang writes on his website.

The helmet isn't being produced for consumer consumption yet, but it is an interesting idea. A lot of people don't wear helmets because of the way they look. Maybe a little fashion influence is what's needed to increase helmet use.

What do you think?

Beating a path for a blog, safety...Lets shy away for a minute to show off a really awesome website for anyone and everyone to go and find their nearest biker bar!

www.bars4bikers.com  Like them on facebook and follow them on twitter. Even suggest new bars that you may frequest but are not yet present on their list!

Bungee's are Dangerous

Most of us have at least one set (usually far more) of bungee cords and/or stretch nets to help us secure items to our bikes when we travel. Even with large luggage compartments on some bikes, the bungee cord/stretch net need exists as these are used to secure items that will not fit into those compartments (tents, folding chairs, Christmas presents ...)You should realize that one of the most frequent forms of injury to motorcyclists is damage or loss of an eye - from a bungee cord or net that breaks or slips from your hand while trying to attach or detach it from the bike.Eye protection is NECESSARY when handling bungee cords and stretch nets but may be essentially useless against the impact of one of the metal ends of a bungy cord that snaps directly into your eye.When you remove whatever you have secured to your bike with those cords, REMOVE the cord(s) right then and there! (At least reattach it so that it cannot come loose even without that item.) It is oh so easy to fail to notice a dangling cord when you start your next ride. A dangling bungee cord wants nothing more than to find a way to wrap itself around your rear axle and the odds are good that you and the bike will not find that a pleasant experience if it's successful in its quest.