Trouble Brewing...Motorcycle Fatalities up 200% in BC

<i><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the Okanagan in particular, police have noted that those riding<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/bc-news/293-motorcycle-television/1895-motorcycles-pose-problems-for-police"> "cafe style/Crotch Rockets"</a> are overall the worst offenders for unsafe riding.</span></span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While I do believe that cafe racer/crotch rocket riders are a part of the problem when it comes to speeding and stunting, why does this article not address the fact that fatalities on motorcycles are up and the number of those accidents that are caused by motorists performing unsafe left hand turns, inattentive drivers etc...</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The police in the Okanagan are planning a crack down on motorcycles - not drivers who are careless but riders.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/law--politics/1901-the-local-police-have-stepped-up-their-pull-overs-as-of-late">In Ontario</a>, the police are reported to be cracking down on riders with insignia's or any kind of patch on their back...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Politics - semantics....</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/law--politics/1899-harley-davidson-and-corporate-social-responsibility-to-fallen-riders">USA, Freedom fighter Bruce Arnold takes on Harley-Davidson Motor Corp</a> and asks why they do not have a fallen rider support fund instead of supporting MDA. He makes some very compelling points and is obviously frustrated that he is not getting any straight answers.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Edmonton today at 10 AM, they are going to pull life support from a friend of mine, Kathleen Purser. She went down near Mayerthorpe last weekend and unfortunately the injury to her brain stm is such that they do not believe she will ever return to us in a meaningful way.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">She may last a few moments, hours, days weeks or even months, no one knows but God.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please say a prayer for her and her family today...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If I haven't told you through all of the nagging I do at you all...Each and every rider I meet becomes a part of my family.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I may not agree with you, I may get angry with you, I may scold and chastise you - you are my family.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I will always care about what happens to you.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I will never turn my back on you when you are in need - not if I know about it...that includes those who swear to be my enemy, because just like any family - our bond is far stronger than our grievances...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Family - it's who you are even if we have never met - as we share a very strong and common bond - the highway, the wind, the life.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Stay safe out there - you are IMPORTANT - never forget that!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span>

Trouble Brewing...Motorcycle Fatalities up 200% in BC

Belt Drive 0 8:08 AM

In the Okanagan in particular, police have noted that those riding "cafe style/Crotch Rockets" are overall the worst offenders for unsafe riding. While I do believe that cafe racer/crotch rocket riders are a part of the problem when it comes to spee… Read more »

Read more »

Riding Clubs, Events, Businesses - PROMOTING YOURSELF JUST GOT EASIER

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our web site:<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/"> www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> was recently moved to a new server.</span></span></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As a result of that move, our web site is now fast and easy to use.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We want riders, riding clubs, event organizers, businesses and tourism regions with rider friendly businesses to use our web site to promote their causes, rides, regions and businesses.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">We have made it as easy as possible, as simple as possible</span> for you to promote your "thing" whatever that may be and IF you are a member of Face Book or a good number of social networks, we have made it so that once you add an article to our web site, you can share it with your friends n Face Book - a great bang for your valuable time!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Your articles go live the minute you save them - you can control the look and feel of your information - every page, every section where we accept membership submissions has a SUBMIT YOUR (Article/Poem/News - Whatever).... link</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Promote</span> your riding club by submitting a Riding Club Profile.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Promote</span> your event by having it added to our <a href="http://gator797.hostgator.com/%7Ebdbetty1/calendars/index.php?v=m">on line calendars</a>, submitting a Motorcycle Event article to our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/travel-mainmenu-32/bc">Travel & Tourism area for your province.</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Promote</span> your<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/business-mainmenu-29/bdb-club"> business</a> in our business section, promote your band - gear-art- in <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/lifestyle/clothing-and-gear">the lifestyle section</a>.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Promote</span> your discipline by submitting to our sports section.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Join</span> in contests, auctions and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> never fill out another registration form</span> - do puzzles in our forums or get to know other riders.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Share </span>photos, tag people and create you own friends network.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Share </span>your favorite Day Ride, your favorite recipes, your favorite poems, honor our troops....</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Become </span>a member of our Canadian Riders Network of Riders willing to assist during a time of need when on the road.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">All of this and more is available to our membership for FREE</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Businesses </span>- You can now post your jobs to be filled on our site FOR FREE</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Riders</span> - You can now post your resume and apply for jobs right on line. FOR FREE</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our Newly overhauled<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/classifieds?page=show_all"> Classifieds ad section</a> is ready to accept your products for sale, trade or swap be you Business or Rider - it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">FREE</span> to our members and remember - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Membership is FREE</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">You get a savings card that is good at over 150 locations and growing.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes we have some paid services too.</span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our Newspaper - The Busted Knuckle Chronicles is printed weekly - 48 times a year and is available in print - at rallies, in stores, coffee shops etc and delivered to your door.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is also available electronically - delivered to your computers in box every Thursday morning.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Along with your link to the newspaper is our newsletter - it is filled with last minute information, new BDB Club partners and all sorts of interesting information. It is also your weekly reminder to come to the web site at www.beltdrivebetty.com and see what else has been going on in our community.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The cost for the printed version of the newspaper is $47.20 GST Inc for one year</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The cost for the Electronic version of the newspaper if $15.75 GST Inc for one year</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our Community Phone Book - the printed Version will be free in 2010 at participating businesses etc, or available for $15 plus shipping, handling and taxes</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">On line as part of our web site, it is available for free as are the GPS Coordinate information!</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our entire site is mobile too</span> and available to <span style="font-weight: bold;">our membership for FREE </span>at www.beltdrivebetty.mobi - broke down? Got to wandering and meandering and Got lost?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you need help on the road - our resources are available to you on your smart phone or web enabled phone!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For Business we have a ton of services we offer in <span style="font-weight: bold;">our paid services category</span>...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Print ads in our weekly newspaper, the Busted Knuckle Chronicles</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Web Site ads on <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Phone Book ads in our electronic and printed Rider Friendly Business Directory & Community Phone Book The Little Black Book</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">There are a ton of tools at your disposal on www.beltdrivebetty.com</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We are so much more than good event calendars - we are your clearinghouse of information for everything Motorcycle Related in Canada. We are your chamber of commerce, your tourism destination office, your shopping guide and so very much more.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are over 400 active riding club links - add yours today!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are web site links, and web wheel links - if its about motorcycling, motorcyclists or anything they do - we do our best to serve it up to you.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So come, join us in creating a strong on line information hub where all roads lead to the news, information and resources you as a motorcyclist needs -</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Come promote yourself - it's easy to do!</span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you need any help while on our web site, drop in to our forums, use our live help located at the bottom of your home page. Or email either Ali or myself through the contact us section of the web site located at the bottom of every page.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your home page</span> is your central hub for everything you do and participate in on our web site.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And for the for-see-able future, we will have more tools, more resources and more contests and auctions for you to participate in coming on line.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stay tuned because we are on the grow again!</span></span></div> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are lucky enough to be riding today, PLEASE - take a walk around that Iron Steed and really look at it. Stay hydrated - ride like everyone around you si blind and can not see you and PLEASE, use respect with that throttle hand.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></b></i>

Riding Clubs, Events, Businesses - PROMOTING YOURSELF JUST GOT EASIER

Belt Drive 0 9:40 AM

Our web site: www.beltdrivebetty.com was recently moved to a new server. As a result of that move, our web site is now fast and easy to use. We want riders, riding clubs, event organizers, businesses and tourism regions with rider friendly businesse… Read more »

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In the news today...

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our good friend, Tom Mann of Biker TV is in London hospital in Ontario recovering from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on Sunday. We have no other details than he is doing OK.</span></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My thoughts and healing prayers are with Kathleen Purser who went down in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mayerthorpe</span> on the weekend. She is in the U of A in ICU, fighting for her life.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Duane " <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bling</span>" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lowry's</span> Memorial will be held at the Heritage Ranch, the date is still to be announced.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/news--events/sk/1853-bikers-foil-robbery">Saskatchewan bikers lover their Timmy's! </a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;">10 motorcyclists were having a coffee in the Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Horton's</span> on Regina's Albert Street and </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> Avenue when they noticed two men putting on masks. One of them had a machete.</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> That's when the bikers took action. Staff-Sgt Brian Wilkinson says the man with the knife </span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> tried to use it on one of the bikers. "A couple of these helpers jumped the bad guy and took the machete away from him and held him for police."</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In Nova <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Scotia</span>,<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/news--events/nb/1858-biker-hits-black-bear-bruin-tries-to-retaliate"> a rider from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Moncton</span> NB</a> and a black bear had an encounter you really don't want....he credits good gear for coming out of it virtually unscathed!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's been a rough riding season on our community and guys like the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/news--events/ab/1857-edmonton-police-nab-racing-motorcyclists">7 in Edmonton</a> who got caught speeding by the police helicopter don't really help our cause much!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The OPP in Ontario are cracking down on aggressive motorcyclists - <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/news--events/on/1861-opp-team-focusing-on-aggressive-motorcyclists-"> sport bike riders in particular.</a> They have seized a number of bikes for stunting, speeding and failing to stop for police...when are people going to get it? YOU CAN NOT OUT RUN A MOTOROLA!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have a question to ask...</span><br /> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When are we riders going to come together as a community, from coast to coast to coast and start creating a positive movement towards safety?</span></i><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's time folks. I am sick of seeing people on their bikes wearing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">sandals</span>, flip flops, shorts, tees and bikini's. I am sick of hearing about people I care about sustaining life altering injuries or dying in avoidable accidents. My heart is heavy people. I am sure yours must be as well...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists of Canada would like to invite you to start a chapter in your region - the Alliance is all about supporting riders and their families in the days, weeks and months after a motorcycle accident. For more information on the Alliance and how to get involved please visit their web site. <a href="http://www.aim-can.com/" target="_blank">www.<span class="il">aim</span>-<span class="il">can</span>.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please take a walk around that Iron Steed of yours. Ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you, stay hydrated and please use your head for something other than a helmet rack...</span><br /> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></b></i>

In the news today...

Belt Drive 0 5:31 AM

Our good friend, Tom Mann of Biker TV is in London hospital in Ontario recovering from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on Sunday. We have no other details than he is doing OK. My thoughts and healing prayers are with Kathleen Purser who w… Read more »

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Motorcycle Deaths, a time for action.

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The time has come for all motorcycle awareness groups in Canada to come together to start a trend towards improving motorcycle safety.</span></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Too many, far, far too many good and talented people have been dying in our community.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dying in left hand turn accidents - avoidable left hand turn accidents.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Accidents involving inattention/distraction by motorists, illegal u turns and failing to stop infractions.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Terry from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Fantom</span> Choppers, Duane in Red Deer, a young man in London Ontario, killed when a driver failed to stop. I can go on and on - it's like an epidemic in this country.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What's even more horrifying from my point of view are the charges that are being laid.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Failing to stop? How about adding a charge of undo care and attention causing death?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I personally think it is high time that AIM-Can, AIM, BRO, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">OCC</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">RoadAwareness</span>.ca, Biker Down in Nova <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Scotia</span> and all organizations involved in riders rights including <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">BCCOM</span>, Saskatchewan Motorcycle Association and all of the Safety Councils across this country sat down together either by video phone or something and get together to produce so solid and unified lobbying efforts for stiffer penalties and we need to work on a really good safe driving campaign.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We need to approach the issue of unsafe motorists in such a way that we are promoting and focusing on BEING SAFER - Attention goes where energy flows!</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>We want to promote safe riding, safe driving - we do not want to be against bad driving - we'll only get more bad driving!</i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have what I believe is a really GREAT idea...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I would love to host a video contest. We'd need some prizes and buy in from the community at large...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The contest idea:</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Produce a 30 second commercial PROMOTING safe driving at intersections for motorists</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The commercial must include a motorcyclists going straight and the automobile driver wanting to turn left....The goal would be to see these commercials be sponsored and played on TV stations and web sites across the country as Public Service announcements that could play during the entire riding season.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If any of you who read this blog, think that it is a good idea and would like to become involved, PLEASE respond to this post with what ever help or involvement you might wish to offer.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We could expand this idea into other areas of concern like cell phones and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">texting</span> issues, distractions inside a vehicle, tailgating etc. Promoting the right way to be driving, not focusing on the bad driving behaviors.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I for one am tired of loosing so many good people because of the poor choices of others,</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and I am also tired of the way tickets and charges are handled in these cases.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A united community is a strong community. If we learned to work together on causes and issues that are close to and affect all of us we might actually get somewhere.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please join us on <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com </a>where we are working to create a stronger riding community in Canada by sharing ideas, information and thoughts!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you are lucky enough to be riding today, please take a walk around that iron steed and check it over. Stay hydrated, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you and please, use respect with that throttle hand!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span>

Motorcycle Deaths, a time for action.

Belt Drive 1 6:17 AM

The time has come for all motorcycle awareness groups in Canada to come together to start a trend towards improving motorcycle safety. Too many, far, far too many good and talented people have been dying in our community. Dying in left hand turn acci… Read more »

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Some important facts about our web site and memberships

<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have been asked by many people, why do we require so much information to register for the Free Membership on our site.</span></i></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's the answers:</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your name and mailing address, we need this information for three main reasons:</span></span></div> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you subscribe to our newspaper, the Busted Knuckle Chronicles, we will be mailing you out a hard card once per year - that card is good for specials, special services and or discounts at member businesses. Right now, about 140 - 150 locations and growing.</span></li> </ul> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> If you are "free" member, in other words you use our tools and news but do not subscribe to the newspaper, we still need your information to send out prizes. We run a number of contests all year long, and on the chance you decide to enter one, having your accurate and up to date contact information means getting your prizes to you. If you want to submit articles or stories, we need to know your information just as if you had submitted a story to the regular newspaper.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Not to mention that if you decide you like what we do and choose to later subscribe to the paper, it makes it easy on all of us!</span></span></li> </ul> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I don't like calling or bugging people if I don't need to!</span></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(I am a one person admin team at the moment)</span></div> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Because everyone fills out the same form, business partners or members, our business partners know that our information is rock solid. That gives us the credibility in their eyes that they have come to the right place. Our list is not bloated - it is not fabricated.</span></li> </ul> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do we want to know the brand you ride?</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So we can ensure that we are providing all of our members information that has value to them and we can gear our contests and information to suit our community.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you want to know what I do for a living?</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As many people know, statistics are what drive our governments and their agencies.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Being able to tell tourism and other government departments who makes up our community in statistical terms has enormous value to our community. In terms of lobbying, there is also great value in statistics.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We can share the statistics that hold NO personal information with our various counterparts</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you want to know if I own my own business?</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All riders are encouraged to promote their businesses to other riders. If you choose to put the information about your company in your profile, we <span style="font-weight: bold;">MAY</span>, contact you to ask you if advertising and promotion of your business to others in the riding community would interest you. You will NEVER get a high pressured sales call. You will generally get an email asking if it is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OK</span> for us to send you the marketing information or a phone call to ask the same question.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is also valuable statistical information and we can share the statistics that hold NO personal information with our various counterparts.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why do you want to know what riding club I ride with?</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Again, content and contests and how we decide what we are going to do and or provide is largely driven by the community and its interests. We also want to ensure that every group is represented, that they are promoted...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">BDB</span> Club?</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For you riders it is the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bikers</span> Discount Buying Club</span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For business owners - it's the<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bikers</span> doing Business Association</span></span> <br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Both are a part of the non registered Belt Drive Betty Foundation which has a mandate to assist the promotion of the riding community, it's people, businesses and charities.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here at Belt Drive Betty, we are not some big faceless corporation that just wants to make money. We are here to work FOR our community.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ali and I, along with the riding clubs, groups and individuals who write articles and share with us are riders who want to see our community be treated with respect and dignity.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We want our community to be strong and vibrant.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ali and I have been working on fixing and fine tuning a few things. Watch for changes and improvements on the site daily for the next while.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/classifieds">classifieds section</a> is now up and running and ready to receive your ads!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/garyscookbook/"> Cook book</a> is also up and running and ready to receive your recipes.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As always, we accept story submissions from all of our members - we do have to approve them and put them in the appropriate category so they may not appear immediately.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/bookmarks/">Our Riding Club Directory</a> has been moved from the old server and installed - please check to see if your group, club or chapter is represented there and if not - add them!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/home-mainmenu-1/forum">Our forums</a> are up and running and super easy to use.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/joomgallery/?func=detail&id=1">Your personal photo galleries</a> are ready to use )This is the link to the general community albums list) To create your own gallery, click on the Gallery Component in your profile tool box in the center of your profile/home page.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can now share your stuff from our web site to your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Facebook</span> page as well as to our forums and by email to your friends! Different components allow you to share in different ways.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As we go, more and more of our tools and components will be sharable!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And you can comment on articles in the news and share the news with your friends!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please join us... <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please take a walk around that iron steed, stay hydrated, ride like everyone around you is blind, and PLEASE, use respect with that throttle hand.</i><br /><i><b><br /></b></i></span><br /> <i><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Belt Drive Betty</span></b></i>

Some important facts about our web site and memberships

Belt Drive 0 6:44 AM

We have been asked by many people, why do we require so much information to register for the Free Membership on our site. Here's the answers: Your name and mailing address, we need this information for three main reasons: If you subscribe to our news… Read more »

Read more »