A few weekends ago Officer Mike Leum and many others tried desperately to save the life of a new motorcyclist on a new motorcycle who ultimately lost his life in an accident on Angeles Crest Highway.
I didn't see the accident. Anything might have happened. But the chances are above average that the rider's inexperience with both the art of motorcycle riding and the motorcycle itself were contributing factors. It is a scenario that will repeat itself again and again, and not just here.
Leum posted about it on Facebook, in a matter of fact but very heart wrenching way. He didn't preach. He just shared with us how he spent his patrol that afternoon.
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People responded, possibly out of respect for Mike, with comments like "Well, you know how I feel about this, so I won't say..."
Those words always leave me uneasy. Probably at some point in my own ignorant past I have said them myself.
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If you have feelings about the issue, or experience, or both, sufficient to inspire a comment, I urge you to take it one step further. Make a difference. Be the change. Find a way to be of service in addressing the problem.
The problem is that new riders often do not have anything more than a motorcycle license to guide them through the challenges of a technical highway; a highway with myriad other vehicles moving at all speed ranges, using both lanes, and the occasional unexpected obstacles, like rocks, wildlife, bicyclists in the middle of the lane, tourists stopping to take pictures or backing up on the highway because they missed a turn.
New riders might be trying to keep up with their more experienced friends, who don't grasp the gravity of leading a new rider to their death until it is too late.
New riders may not have any friends in the motorcycle community at all.
Reach out to them in a good way. Sacrifice your own fast ride to take them on an intelligent ride. Encourage them to go to workshops, motorcycle schools, track days that emphasize skill over speed. Be something better than the person who just makes comments, as if some really terrible thing is never going to happen to you.
Riders like the one who died last weekend are why we do the Highway 2 track day. That's why it's called the Highway 2 track day. It is a direct response to the problem. It will never be enough. But it's something. And yes, I am going to shamelessly talk about it in the same written breath that I share about the death of an inexperienced rider.
Skill and muscle memory can save your life. Or the life of someone you love. Or just met. Or don't even know.
The Highway 2 track day series is new and it needs support. It needs riders in all the groups. It needs the support of the motorcycle community itself, without which, it is as meaningless as a comment on a Facebook post. Please help us get the word out, share the event, come to the track day, encourage new riders to come. We focus a lot of energy and love on the C group, the newer riders, and we work with them to build the skills and the muscle memory that will make their riding experience safer and more enjoyable.
We have a track day coming up on August 8, and we need riders in all groups. Our mission is serious...the track days themselves are a ton of fun.
For you experienced riders, come and enjoy going as fast as you can without getting a ticket. Your attendance supports the cause. Track days are expensive and demanding events that require the dedication of many people.
To all of you who know the pain of losing a loved one on the Crest all too well, I cry with you. Thank you for hearing me out.