Belt Drive Betty's Blog

From the Depths of File 13 (AKA My 2 bits worth) the Edmonton Motorcycle Noise Bylaw

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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Monday to Friday I do my best to talk to you and draw your attention to the various things going on in the news that affects our community, the motorcycling community.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In our weekly community newspaper, the Busted Knuckle, I write a weekly editorial called form the Depths of File 13.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I thought I would share this weeks column with you as I know that many who read this blog do not realize that I have a large web site for riders, many have no idea we produce a newspaper of Predominantly Canadian Content called The Busted Knuckle Chronicles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So here is this week's column....as always - I welcome Your Feed Back!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Life Talk with Wade Sorochan  is a Shaw TV production.<br />
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Liane Langlois got me a DVD and the blessings of Shaw TV to post it on <br />
BDB TV.<br />
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The Show dealt with the Edmonton Motorcycle Noise Bylaw and features Ward 7 Councillor Tony Caterina, Cst Eric Theuser and Liane Langlois.<br />
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I have not been this dismayed in a very long time.<br />
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Cst. Theuser is oblivious as to how he comes across, he is rude, insufferable and contradicts himself many times. He was disrespectful to his boss - a city councillor is one of his bosses, he completely discounted an engineer and his concerns, he made so many unprofessional and uncalled for remarks.<br />
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Cst Theuser attributes the creation of the J2825 to the motorcycle community itself. Actually it was the manufacturers who paid for this test to be <br />
created. They thought - wrongly, that if there was a standard set it would reduce the discrimination.</span><br />
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As long as men like Cst Theuser are allowed to wear a uniform, it is my humble opinion that no law will ever be truly subjective.<br />
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I was totally amazed that the EPS would allow this man to represent them. I am struggling here <br />
because I believe in the law of attraction and I would much rather attract kind, warm, funny people into my life and this man that I am talking about is NONE of those things. I do not want you take my word for what was on TV - Here is the link to where the video lives on my site - it’s an hour long show and, truly, well worth watching for a number of reasons.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><br />
http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=589&video_id=677</a><br />
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Tony Caterina appears to me to be a very level headed man who thinks before he speaks. He seemed thoughtful and was highly respectful.<br />
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He is against this bylaw as he sees it for what it is and like almost everyone in this equation he would be all for it if every vehicle type was being charged for excessive noise.<br />
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His comment was, “We don’t just charge red cars for speeding”<br />
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Liane did a very credible job of laying out the issue, highlighting all of the concerns and countering, with facts many of the things Cst Theuser put his foot in...<br />
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I resent the rude and selfish people of the world. <br />
I know that I am not alone in that thought either.<br />
I wished we could all learn to share the road, share our world and learn to realise that we are not alone and the world does not revolve around anyone individual.  I have said it so many times that I feel like a broken record - We need to learn empathy, compassion and consideration.<br />
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The Motorcycle Noise Bylaw is unfair the way it is - are there selfish and thoughtless people in our community who wick on it and think they are more special that the rest of us? OH YEAH, but there are those people in every community and Eric Theuser, in my humble opinion is that type of person for the police services in Edmonton. I feel he ranks up there with cops like Monte Robinson, you remember him, the cop who was again IMHO drunk, fled the scene of an accident to “shield” his kids - more like they were his excuse to manipulate the law - I could be wrong, but I am not so sure that I am...<br />
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Yes, every community has its gross offenders, those who are over the top, but unlike most other communities, we, the motorcyclist appear to be singled out far more often that other communities for special treatment. Bylaws like this one that are knee jerk, ill though out and ill advised make me wished we weren’t so special.<br />
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My heart was very heavy after hearing the news that Derrin and Janet Blais of the Southern Alberta Bikers were killed by a 56 year old man making an unsafe left hand turn with his SUV. This middle aged couple were valuable volunteers, friends,    family members and a mom and dad.  My prayers go out to those who are affected by their untimely demise and I hope everyone has the support they are undoubtedly going to need.<br />
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My conga this summer is all about filming Public Service Announcements that will show the non rider that we are people with families, friends, communities and employers that we mean something to. They will put the human face to our machines and gear and hopefully allow drivers to see us as something other than a vehicle.<br />
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I hope that some of you will be able to join me be it for an hour, a day or the whole 46 days!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I leave Grande Prairie on July second and head to Beaver Creek YT, head to Merritt to the Great Canadian Bike rally, up to Sturgis North in Salmon Arm - my headquarters will be at<a href="http://www.joeschmucks.ca/"> Joe Schmucks</a> in Sicamous...then on the morning of the 18th of July I begin the trek to Cape Breton - we will have more details shortly - as soon as the second printing of the RFBA Phone Book for your saddle bags goes to print at the end of the month.<br />
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I am going to sign off for this week and ask you to PLEASE - Ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you.<br />
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Until next time, I am your editor, Belt Drive Betty</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a><br />
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From the Depths of File 13 (AKA My 2 bits worth) the Edmonton Motorcycle Noise Bylaw

Monday to Friday I do my best to talk to you and draw your attention to the various things going on in the news that affects our community,...

Laws and the give and take over them...

Belt Drive 1 Law & Politics 7:44 AM

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<i><span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to Bikes in the Fast Lane, <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/lastest-international/286-news-international-/10240-france-give-and-take-on-motorcycle-laws">France is doing some negotiating with bikers.</a></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">France will be lifting the 100 HP ban on motorcycles which means that bikes like the Ducati Multistrada will be allowed on French roads. The trade off? </span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Beginning in 2012, all riders will be required to wear florescent vests and only orange and yellow will be acceptable. Among other things that the French government wants to implement will be mandatory jackets with armour and riding boots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Talking about laws, <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/lastest-international/286-news-international-/10238-when-babes-on-bikes-rolled-into-town">5 police officers in Otago must have felt pretty silly.</a>..they heard that a group of bikers were coming in to town and so they went to meet them and they discovered the bikers were the Babes on Bikes riding club! I would have loved to be a fly in a squad car!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There is a great press release from the UK this morning reminding one about the <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-health-and-tech/334-contacts/10236-dont-gamble-with-bike-tyre-safety">dangers of under inflated and defective tires </a>- I will be installing the Doran 360M Tire Pressure monitoring system on my bike in a week or so, just waiting for my new front tire to come in. I will be doing a full product review over the course of the summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Under inflated/improperly inflated tires are one of the leading causes for motorcycle crashes where single motorcycles are involved.  Defective tires are another contributing factor to crashes. Tires all have a stamp on them that let you know what year and month the tire was made. If it is over 5 years old it should be replaced as rubbers shelf life is only 5 years. Make sure you check your tires for inflation and age.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There is some sad news out of Nashville this morning - <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-rider-down/1650-bc-rider-down/10230-deltas-star-racer-seriously-injured-in-motorbike-crash-family-by-his-side-at-nashville-hospital-">Shawn Cowie from Delta BC,</a> a renowned young drag racer was critically injured yesterday when his motorcycle was hit from behind causing him to plunge over a guard rail and fall 8 meters into some bushes below the underpass. My prayers go out to him and his family for his speedy recovery. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-ab-news/292-motorcycle-television/10231-charges-eyedin-fatal-crash-">The couple killed on the weekend down by Lethbridge</a>, have been identified as Derrin and Janet Blais of the Southern Alberta Bikers Association. There are no words to express the sadness in my heart as I pray for their kids, family and friend. The 54 year old driver of the SUV who hit them will probably be charged with making an unsafe left hand turn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Please people, I can not stress enough to watch everything and everyone around you - ride like everyone around you is blind and CAN NOT see you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Have a great Tuesday,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span data-jsid="text"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cceedd; line-height: 18px;">Belt Drive Betty<br />
Editor & Rider<br />
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Laws and the give and take over them...

According to Bikes in the Fast Lane, France is doing some negotiating with bikers. France will be lifting the 100 HP ban on motorcycle...

A sad start or end to the day...

Belt Drive 0 Community 1:55 AM

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<span style="color: #e69138;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">As I write this I am just getting ready to head to bed - after 20 hours on the computer I am ready to fall over but I felt that in order to get my day off to a good start for Monday morning and the meetings I have that I had best do the news feeds and my blog now. </span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/latest-rider-down/1649-ab-rider-down/10216-two-killed-in-highway-crash">Two riders were killed in southern Alberta</a>, by Lethbridge and why?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A 56 year old man making a left hand turn, never saw the bike.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">People, PLEASE ride like EVERYONE around you is blind and can not see you - it truly is your only defence...my heart is heavy and my prayers go out to the families and loved ones...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The scene in<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/lastest-international/286-news-international-/10208-world-trade-center-beam-arrives-for-911-memorial-"> Indianapolis must have been some impressive</a> as the beams from the twin towers arrived escorted by over 10,000 motorcycles. I would have loved to have been present - I can only imagine the pride, the emotions ans the sight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Loud pipes <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/lastest-international/286-news-international-/10221-epa-to-crack-down-next-month-on-large-motorbikes-that-cause-noise-pollution">will hurt the pocket book of those living in Taiwan </a>- NT$1800 - 3600 worth to be exact or $60 - $120 Canadian. Specifically being targeted? 550 CC and up bikes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I put in a<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/whats-hot/pics-pics-pics/2011-event-posters"> 20 hour day doing event posters on our site. 133 of them</a>! Every group seems to be late getting their stuff done this year - I think the long winter made them think they'd have all kinds of time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/whats-hot/contests/2012-calendar-contest">Calendar contests are going well and I sure hope that more</a> of you are going to pre order calendars we need to raise some funds and awareness for our 6 charities folks! The order information is on each calendar contest page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I set up a<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/shop/bdb-gear"> Cafe Press Store for those who are always</a> saying they want tee shirts etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The cost of purchasing, storing and then=n the time to pack and mail them is more than this girl can handle - the time in particular and so I thought this might be a great way to handle that situation. We will be adding more designs over time and who knows if it goes well I might even spring for a bigger store with more offerings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am beginning to get geared up for 46 days across Canada on the Share the Road Motorcycle Awareness Conga beginning July 2nd - I am looking for riding clubs that want to spend some time with me and help me film a series of PSA's (Public Service Announcements) for use in 2012 on TV and web sites across the country - the message is I am a rider, a mother, a sister, a wife, an auntie, a volunteer, an editor....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I look forward to getting the finishing touches done on the final printing of the 2011 RFBA phone book for your saddlebags.  For a gal who hates typing it seems that's all I do these days!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway folks, I am off to slumber land...</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Please if you go out riding - Ride like EVERYONE around you is BLIND and OUT TO GET YOU</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span data-jsid="text"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cceedd; line-height: 18px;">Belt Drive Betty<br />
Editor & Rider<br />
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bustedknucklechronicles.com/">www.bustedknucklechronicles.com</a></span></span></span></span></span></div>

A sad start or end to the day...

As I write this I am just getting ready to head to bed - after 20 hours on the computer I am ready to fall over but I felt that in order to...