Over Coming Fear and Dealing with Anger - Road Rage or something more?

12 years ago I had a 17" Boy Scout canoe come off of a trailer and land in front of the vehicle I was driving at 100KPH.

I suffered from panic attacks and was terrified to drive and really terrified of anything that appeared to be a unsecured load. My Motorcycle got me back on the road and eventually behind the wheel. I still have to work on my fear behind the wheel - and this trip to Vancouver proved to me yet again that I am more competent than I give myself credit for sometimes. Where ever possible - if I am driving 10 or 20K under the limit - I pull over or let the driver behind me know when it is safe to pass or safe to come back in when they get around me. 

I am a considerate driver for the most part - I work at it - my father would have kicked my arse if I wasn't. When he taught me to drive he had 4 million accident free miles under his belt and I spent many an hour in the cab of a semi - I know how tough their job is and I know how many of these so called professional drivers now a days have no regard for anyone out there.

Heading up Messiter Mountain on Tuesday I had a Landtrans Truck so close to my bumper (I was in the slow lane as it was EXTREMELY ICY) I was doing 80 in a 90 - The truck had plenty of room to go around me but instead he chose to ride my back bumper - he was so close to me I was terrified that he was going to hit me from behind. When he finally pulled around me I was shaking so bad I wanted to throw up - but I controlled myself - and my passenger, a class one driver of 34 years took the unit number down - and was some disgusted at the unsafe behaviour of this driver.

I have called the trucking company and have lodged a complaint with them and they have promised me that they will deal with this driver. This driver was rude and dangerous and should not be behind the wheel of a 100,000+ pound weapon IMHO.

I over came the out right terror I felt having this behemoth behind me - but the seething anger I feel now is no more pleasant than the fear was.

These drivers of semi's do not realize sometimes that on hard packed ice a small car handles far differently than their 18 wheeler does. They do not understand the fear and hatred they generate with their unsafe and disgusting driving habits. The call to the trucking company this morning had me talking to their safety manager and he was non too pleased.

More people need to be reporting these unsafe drivers. I can not tell you how many who are behind the wheel of these 18 wheelers now a days should not be called professionals. My father, God rest is soul, would have thumped the crap out of at least 6 of the semi drivers I encountered while on the road from Edmonton to Vancouver. When he died he had 7.5 million accident free miles under his belt and he didn't get them by tailgating, passing where unsafe, riding the yellow line or cutting people off because they passed where unsafe to do so and had to cut in because a vehicle was coming.

I am fed up with distracted drivers, bad drivers and rude drivers - Wake up people - life is not a race track and that vehicle you are driving - it IS a weapon and it can and will kill. The TV Show - Canada's Worst Driver is indicative of the problem in this country - and folks it is no laughing matter. Sadly - many who are supposed to be professional drivers are not and they cause far more damage than they understand.

As always - I appreciate it when you get involved in the conversation folks!

Congratulations to Motorcycle Mojo Magazine on their $20,000 grant to overhaul their magazine and web site. I sadly do not appear to qualify but am always happy to hear of the success of great people and Glenn and Gwen are great people!

Our show 'n' shine now has over 200 pictures in it - are yours among them? Do I have to continue suffering from PMS because yours isn't there???? HMMM????

We are accepting donations to help the flood victims in Australia - your help is urgently needed people.

We now have our own road side assistance service - hope you will check it out and perhaps consider using our service provider, Best Roadside.

I am getting ready for the opening of the Vancouver Motorcycle Show this afternoon and will be gratefully accepting hugs for the hug challenge between Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton - so far Edmonton is in the lead!

Have a fabulous day and come cure some of that PMS you are feeling at the Vancouver Motorcycle Show.

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

Some Proposed Laws Make NO sense

Along with the Motorcycle Noise Bylaws that are cropping up are other laws that make little to no sense.

Take a look at what they are attempting in Virginia. They want to ban kids 8 years old and under from riding with their parents. Federal law here and in the US - from everything I have read, is identical. If a child can comfortably put their feet on the foot pegs and there is a proper back rest, they are allowed to ride with their parent. And from everything else I have read, the statistics involving kids being hurt while being a passenger are negligible or unrecorded. In other words - there is nothing to back the need for a law banning them from being on the back.

Helen Jazek in Ontario tried this same stunt - it appears that there are many who would like to see our children NOT be exposed to our lifestyle and the enjoyment of a motorcycle - what's next? Banning them from riding their own machines in motocross?

It is sad to see those who do not like or understand our lifestyle attempting to propose a ban that makes NO SENSE - how do you subjectively say an 8 year old can not be on the back? One 8 year old can be short and others are tall  - how can you pick a random age and say that that is the right age to prevent them from being on the back? Where does that make sense?????

I shake my head...I am sorry, I just don't get it.

In other news: 

In New Brunswick they are calling for mandatory motorcycle inspections for used bikes after the death of a prominent lawyer last summer.

A Tourism Director is needed for Norfolk County Ontario

In BC a young Supermoto racer is flying high

In Vancouver - the Deeley Exhibition is slated to be at  the Vancouver Motorcycle Show this weekend.

In Idaho - one was won for the community - the rider community and MIC have successfully lobbied to change the rules in the US and be allowed at the table regarding riding on federal lands

I am on the road to the Vancouver Motorcycle Show and can not wait to see all of my friends and family members!

Have a fabulous day and remember to get your bikes entered in the Beat the PMS Blues on line Show 'n' Shine!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com

A weekend that is filled with mixed blessings and Riders in Edmonton BEWARE....

This past weekend at the Edmonton Motorcycle Show was filled with mixed blessings.

I got over 500 hugs and they were top quality! It is my favorite thing about going to the shows - that and seeing the motorcycles and gear offerings.

I was fortunate enough to take in the Motorcycle Madness - the talented riders had people holding their breath and when the quad rider, Jon Guetter came out and did his 360 jump you should have heard the crowd - it was such a great event!

The ladies from the Calgary & Edmonton Motorcycle shows put on such a great trade show for us - they work so hard to keep it fresh and real and man the 2011 shows were excellent.

You'll have to read this coming week's newspaper (The Busted Knuckle Chronicles) in order to see the pictures and report. I am back to laying out the paper myself again - sadly I had to fire the gal that I had contracted to do the job - I refuse to allow our community newspaper to be held hostage by someone who refuses to honor their contract commitments.

Although I haven't done the books yet, I know that our Injured Rider Fund donations from the sale of patches, BDB gear and the Death Wobble Rentals Charity Bikini calendar is somewhere in the neighbourhood of $400 - The CMTA will be able to at least help one rider with a no interest loan in the advent of a crash - remember the period between when the crash happens and insurance comes in can be a very difficult period for many. Our goal is to get that fund up to $25,000 and be able to lend money at no interest until insurance pays you back for some of your out of pocket expenses. Once you are on your feet, you pay the fund back so we can help the next rider. You can apply for assistance at the CMTA web site: www.motorcycletourism.ca

I had a chance to talk to the Edmonton City Police about the motorcycle only noise bylaw. I have to tell you I was some disappointed in Eric Theusser - he is rude, arrogant and insufferable in my humble opinion. He was preening like a peacock when I started the interview and the first tough question that I asked him about why ONLY motorcycles and how that works - he ended the interview and told me he refused to talk to me anymore.  I walked over the the RCMP booth and asked the same question, in EXACTLY the same way and got answers. They weren't what I was hoping to hear but they were polite and direct, honest answers. Why the Edmonton City officer couldn't or wouldn't answer me I am unsure. I do know this much - riders in Edmonton - either change your pipes or look to be treated badly - I say that because of my personal experience with this one officer - I don't mean to come across like all of the officers will be that way  -  but my understanding is that he heads things up and if that is the case, remember that crap runs downhill...
Read my editorial in this coming week's paper to read what was said.

I also would like to warn those who are not running stock pipes - if you do not know what your bike is putting out for decibels then either get your bike tested or stay away from Edmonton OR be prepared to go to court and fight.

Liane Langlois has not given up the fight to get this bylaw reversed - only you fighting tickets will help get this bylaw changed. It is your choice folks - fight, avoid the city of Edmonton or run stock pipes of the after market pipes that are EPA certified from the US - because if they are the style of pipes that are Not for highway use - you most likely will be ticketed.

We are accepting donations for the Australian Flood Relief Fund - all donations will go to the Red Cross - you can also donate directly if you want tax receipts....http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000005&tid=003

Don't forget to get your bikes entered into the show 'n' shine folks - tons of great prizes up for grabs and it is free to enter...

There is a lot of news from the weekend for you to check out, since I have to get cracking on building the paper, I will leave you to go snooping on your own.

Have a FABULOUS day - I know mine will be!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider
www.beltdrivebetty.com
www.bustedknucklechronicles.com