Be gentle...PLEASE

Occasionally our event calendars have a date in them that is wrong. We are, for the most part, volunteers who look after the event calendars and we have riding clubs that submit their own stuff. Now we work really hard at checking things and trying to follow up (Which is way more than Motorcycle Monster or Let's Ride or any of the other calendar operators do) but every now and then one slips through the cracks.

When that happens, it would be deeply appreciated if you would point the errors out using a tad bit of kindness instead of hostility.  The written word comes across pretty harsh at times folks... We appreciate knowing when something isn't right - we WANT our information to be as accurate as possible but PLEASE - just be kind and remember that we do the best we can and if you want better - pitch in and help out, don't kick us!

In Ontario - catering to Bikers just got to be a bigger industry. You have all heard of the Biker Coffee Company (Best damned coffee around - made by riders for riders) well now there is Biker Beer...I haven't heard if the people from this micro brewery are riders but I am going to try and find out...

If you are a dirt biker in PEI around Summerside - be on the watch if you are doing stuff you shouldn't be - the police there are going to be riding ATV's in an effort to nail you!

In the Kootenay's of BC the police are on the look out for a rider who drug a police officer about 30 feet...

In Manitoba - one lucky dude won a Harley...

I was going to go to Thorsby for their show 'n' shine and then to Slack's in Onoway however the amount of snow on the ground in this north country precludes me from going anywhere - which - when I look at the number of articles I have yet to write and the funding applications I need to finish...yah, I guess Mother Nature is sending me a message...

And on the roadways of Canada - the police are going to be extra vigilant and out in far larger numbers than normal for the long weekend...It is the May Long Weekend folks - if you don't want tickets - watch your speed and behaviour - if you want to arrive alive - watch what everyone else is doing.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com

A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
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www.greatcanadiandayrides.com

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Noise Bylaws and Boycotts

North Hampton businesses in New Hampshire are extremely concerned that a motorcycle riding club will make good on its threat of a boycott after a MOTORCYCLE NOISE ordinance was passed.

The motorcycle noise ordinance passed by a vote of 512-274. It calls motorcycles "a chief contributor of ... excessive noise" in town and references an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulation that requires motorcycle manufacturers to attach a permanent label to their products stating that they meet the EPA's noise emission requirements.

North Hampton's ordinance prohibits in-town operation or parking of any motorcycle that does not have this label. First violations of the ordinance would result in a fine of between $200 and $500, and each subsequent violation would be punishable by a fine of between $500 and $1,000.

What has angered motorcyclists and others about the ordinance is that the maximum decibel level for the EPA sticker is 80 decibels, while the state standard is 106 decibels, making the town's ordinance more restrictive than the state's.(http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100521-NEWS-5210402)

According to the article: Pete Pitman, president of the Manchester Motorcycle Club, is asking his 67 members to boycott North Hampton businesses until this ordinance is repealed and is urging other motorcycle clubs around the state to do the same.

Boycotts - when honored by all can truly make an impact, so perhaps this guy is on to something.

I find it rather interesting that in the US of A these kinds of laws can discriminate in this fashion.

As always, your feed back and input are deeply appreciated.

In other news:

Polaris is moving some of it's business to Mexico - I personally find it shocking that in an economy where American's are struggling that another American manufacturer would move yet more jobs out of the US and still want the American consumer to buy their products. 

To me and my way of thinking, that's a pretty short sighted thing to be doing but hey, what do I know. Perhaps Mr. Pitman's idea from the story above has some merit here as well? Just saying...

Highly satisfied motorcycle helmet owners are approximately 10 times more likely to repurchase the same helmet brand, compared with owners with lower levels of satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.  Who pays these people to do these studies? Did they really think that if a consumer was not happy with a product that they'd rush out an buy more of the same?

The Durham Diva's has made the news along with the Forbidden Ride in Perth as have sadly several more motorcycle accidents. 

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone is blind and can not see you, and ride Proud, not Loud...

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com

A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
www.firre.ca
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca
www.bikerfriendly.ca
www.motorcycletourism.ca
www.greatcanadiandayrides.com

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Another day of Why's

In the news today there are reports of a motorcyclist being injured in an accident involving tailgating. This motorcyclist is responsible for his own injuries as he is the one who was tailgating.

There are other reports of motorcyclists being hit from behind. WHY? Why do we as a motoring public tailgate? We all know how dangerous that behaviour is. And three, count them three motorcycle accidents in the space of a half hour...

The next WHY that I have is the new impaired laws in Ontario. Why would you take a law that has some serious teeth to it and then soften it that way they are in Ontario? 

Then there's the three day "festival" that an entertainment firm wanted to start in Port Dover - they were turned down because three days of noise was not worth the economic benefit to the local town folk. The article alludes to the demise of PD 13 yet when I went to the PD13 web site there was no mention of the vent being canceled or dying.

Oh well - I guess we will always have reason to ask why...

If you are riding today, please stay safe...ride like everyone around you is blind and out to get you and please ride proud not loud.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
www.firre.ca
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca
www.bikerfriendly.ca
www.motorcycletourism.ca
www.greatcanadiandayrides.com

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Customer Service, how do you get what you want?

I have a question that I hope some of you are willing to answer.
How do you get good customer service? And what do you do when you don't get the service you are looking for?

Are you the kind of customer who is willing to complain to the manager when things aren't right or do you just take your trade elsewhere when things go south?

How do you deal with the disappointment of a bad or un-fulfilling experience?

Recently I had some one post on my Facebook that they thought the Customer Service at a certain dealership sucked - so I asked what happened and when I was told the situation I asked the person - did you give the man who owns the place a call? Did you talk to him because this just does not sound like the shop that I have come to know. The customers answer - NO. So I counseled him to give the man an opportunity - he can't fix what he doesn't know is broken and guess what - the customer talked to the man who owns the place - the misunderstanding was quickly remedied and everyone came out of the situation feeling either valued or vindicated.  Sometimes, in an experience that isn't going the way you had hoped - all you have to do it talk to the boss.

Next time a situation appears to be going south, ask to talk to the manager or owner - you might be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to get things back on track and guess what - the employee gets to learn first hand as well!


In the news today:
BMW is recalling its K 1200 GT and others built on the same platform due to a risk of leaking brakes.

Vancouver Motorcyclists are going to be paying some of the priciest motorcycle parking fees...

In cities across Canada May 17-21 is a street sweep for the police services where they are on the lookout for all kinds of motor vehicle safety infractions including seat belt and helmet violations - Saskatoon is going through phase two right now!

A rider in Coquitlam BC is dead after a crash with a truck and trailer.

The Motorcycle Ride for Dad targets Prostate Cancer...

It's pouring here in Grande Prairie AB today - but none the less, I am asking that if you live where you can be riding today - PLEASE ride like everyone around you is blind and out to get you and ride proud not loud...

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
www.firre.ca
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca
www.bikerfriendly.ca
www.motorcycletourism.ca
www.greatcanadiandayrides.com

Contact Me

In the news today....

Motorcycle accidents - not the kind of news I want to wake up to and I am sure not your favorite way to wake up either but the feeds are full of them today.

One that is missing from the feeds is about a rider in Edmonton that went down. Betty Rondeau - president of the Thorsby Chapter of F.I.R.R.E. is asking if anyone knows who it was to please let her know so that their chapter can reach out to help. Betty can be reached at bettys.jam@live.ca

This weekend Thorsby has it's Car and Motorcycle Show 'n' Shine on Saturday and Sly's Picg Roast in Onaway is on.

In fact there are events happening every weekend from here on in right across the country. If you are looking for an event to attend good chances you will find them in our on line event calendars: http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/events

I am keeping this really short and sweet today as I have a TON of work on my plate and a short amount of time to accomplish it. Check out all of the latest news in the Latest news section of the home page: www.beltdrivebetty.com for your daily news fix.

If you are fortunate enough to be riding today - PLEASE - remember they are all blind AND out to get you - ride Proud not Loud.

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
www.firre.ca
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca
www.bikerfriendly.ca
www.motorcycletourism.ca
www.greatcanadiandayrides.com

Contact Me

Great News for Vancouver Island Riders!

Pepper and the gang from the Vancouver Island AIM Chapter have managed to salvage all of the chapters show 'n' shines - the PIG 'n' Fin is still a no go but if this extremely determined lady and her group have anything to say about it, their chapter and the cause of helping injured riders will be looked after for a long time to come. Please visit their web site by using the link above - the full story is available for you there!

F.I.R.R.E. is also about the cause of Injured Riders, it was formed in the wake of troubling times between AIM Can and AIM. It also however has the rights of riders and the education of riders, drivers and the general public as part of it's mandate. F.I.R.R.E.

Volunteers are needed in almost every organization - please people consider getting involved - we need you  - every volunteer based group needs you!

Dave Munro, President of the Vancouver Chapter of AIM and the man who headed up the lawsuit between the Vancouver Chapter and the National Governing body had this to say about the lawsuit, the information that I had been given on the suit from various sources and formation of F.I.R.R.E.:

Renee,
Since you have put a lot of information of the lawsuit between AIM & Aimcan on the Internet and some of it borders on slander, perhaps as a journalist you would like to print the truth of what really happened, instead of a one-sided misinformation.

AIM Vancouver has no intentions of taking over other chapters, finances, fund raisers or anything else they do. As for your accusations that we do not want to the organization to grow, that is a flat out lie, as we would love to see it grow.

You accuse Vancouver chapter of not caring about injured riders, is especially insulting,  with the number of riders we have helped in Alberta and you know yourself that we have forwarded emails to you,  people requesting help and one of our director was kind enough to put together an informational package for you during this lawsuit.

 
If you care to find out, look at our website and see how many visitations our chapter alone has done this year. And through this whole court proceedings, we have not asked any chapter for funds nor have we taken funds  that were to help injured riders and put it towards the lawsuit.

There are people that believe in AIM strong enough that they are funding the lawsuit.

You say that you do not understand the reason this came about, yet on your blog, your question is your answer dated April 29^th.

To make the accusations of the prez of any chapter, shows you do not understand how a chapter should work. All chapter members vote and whether the prez agrees or not, he has to follow what the membership voted on.

Distancing yourselves from Vancouver chapter is a perfect example of null and voiding the networking of helping injured riders.

We do not allow personal attitudes, nor agendas to interfere with helping injured motorcyclist and their families. We hope you can do the same to the benefit of those in need.

If you or anyone else that has questions and would like to know the truth, and not be biased by one person’s opinion, you can call me and I will answer your questions.

Dave Munro
AIM Vancouver
604-897-7645
P.S. In my “humble” opinion, what I see of this organization F.I.R.R.E. is someone or people are acting like a flock of vultures’, trying to swoop in on the kill. AIM is doing fine, we are not dying and any rider who wishes to help injured riders can be part of AIM.
If the reason for F.I.R.R.E.,  is AIM or AIMcan will not help injured riders, then F.I.R.R.E.  is basing itself on bullshit.(Sounds pretty personal to me Dave and not accurate in any way shape or form IMHO)

Mr Munro obviously only read some or parts of the various articles that have been printed on the subject - No one said anything about AIM being closed- AIM Can however is shutdown as a result of the fact that it could not afford to hire a lawyer to defend itself - because no of the Chapters would help to fund the defence of this law suit. I resigned when a board member took it upon himself to file an appeal after we had agreed to wind down as AIM Can and re brand ourselves - my personal feeling on the subject was - its just a name - the cause is what is important...

As far as AIM taking over other chapters etc - there is a document that was reportedly signed by the VIAIM Chapter - I was told by a VIAIM member that it literally signed over the autonomy of the Vancouver Island chapter to Vancouver - I guess I was told wrong??? - and that information by the way was not put out on the INTERNET until now, but rather, was expressed in a private conversation between myself and an Okanagan Chapter member.


No one said Vancouver didn't care about injured riders, but rather, that no one here in Alberta wanted to spend money we raised for injured riders on a lawsuit and in my humble opinion - the whole lawsuit did nothing but harm to the reputation of the organization here as volunteers did not want to be a part of something that was involved in a lawsuit. We here in Grande Prairie had Grande Prairie Regional Tourism and Grande Prairie Regional College members on the board for AIM Can Peace Country Chapter and they backed out because of the lawsuit - IMHO, the harm that was caused was far greater reaching that many might have thought.

Nothing in my blog post of April 29th answers that question at all - all it does is ask - WHY.

I myself am distancing myself from the Vancouver Chapter and its president as I have no love for what went on and feel the whole lawsuit thing was wrong - I as an individual do not speak for F.I.R.R.E. or any other organization - only for myself and I am entitled to my opinions.

And just to be clear: F.I.R.R.E. started because as the soon to be confirmed AIM Can chapters that had no governing body decided to strike out on their own - a fresh start, a new name and organization with none of the political baggage that had hamstrung AIM Can National. F.I.R.R.E. started because there is a core group of riders in Alberta dedicated to helping injured riders and wanting to work for riders rights and education of riders and the general population (we have no BCCOM here)  So I humbly submit that if you read everything that has been put out there on the topic you will see that the only thing I care about is seeing injured riders get support.


Even though I as a person have no intention of ever speaking to the parties involved in the lawsuit again on a personal level - it has not prevented the Busted Knuckle from carrying stories about AIM Vancouver's fund raising show 'n' shines or the web site Belt Drive Betty dot Com from putting news feed articles on Dave Munro's comments in the news - Mr Munro does not seem to understand me or my mind but that's OK - let me explain it for you all - I have no desire on a personal level to ever speak to these men again - that does not negate the work that AIM does - the value to the riding community is apparent and therefore the Busted Knuckle - which is a community paper will carry articles as they are sent in because the paper is not about me or what I feel. Belt Drive Betty dot Com will carry the news feeds regardless of my personal feeling - I provide a service to the community - oh and Dave - I am NOT a journalist - you imply by using that term that I went to school and have formal training - I do not, I am a community reporter not a journalist. Self taught and learning daily and I sir am entitled to my opinion just like you are entitled to yours - they are like "A holes" - opinions are - everyone has one.


Now on to the other important stuff of the day....


I heard this past weekend from some BCCOM members that Jim McNenney is getting ready for a fight to prevent the province of BC from altering the helmet law in that province.
I have a call  in to his office and hope to hear that directly from him.

I have a question for all of you and I WANT you wading in this...

Rights or protection and who should get to decide.
Is it up to our government to legislate the degree of risk you should be allowed to take?

Helmet or no helmet or beanie - where do you fit in this equation and why?

Please remember that everyone is ENTITLED to their opinion - I promise to be as respectful as possible on this ever so tender topic, if you will...but I do want debate, I want to really understand every side of this situation  - inside and out.


In the news today:
A family in Kitwanga BC is suffering a double tragedy as the step grandfather of a dead motorcyclists disappears the day of the funeral.

In Ontario a Quebec motorcyclist died in an accident on Satruday.


In Ottawa an accident between a bicycle rider and a motorcyclist saw the bicyclist die.

And in Ontario the Lansdowne Children’s Centre Foundation fundraiser saw 600 riders turn out.

There's a ton of American Sports News from the AMA circuit in the latest sports news section on the home page at www.beltdrivebetty.com - scroll to the centre of the page...
If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please - ride like everyone around you is blind and out to get you and please remember to ride Proud not Loud - save them pipes for when it counts!

Belt Drive Betty
www.beltdrivebetty.com
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
www.firre.ca
www.bustedknucklenews.com
www.canadianriders.ca
www.riderfriendly.ca
www.bikerfriendly.ca
www.motorcycletourism.ca
www.greatcanadiandayrides.com

Contact Me