In Western Nevada County, California, there is a gated community called Lake Wildwood that has had a ban on motorcycles for 40 years. The ban was originally put in place because of dirt bikes that roamed the empty lots before the community was fully developed. People who own motorcycles there are not allowed to keep them in their garage but instead have to park their machines in a paved lot next to the entrance to the community. The bikers who live in this community, bought their homes with the understanding that there was a ban on motorcycles, but also that there was a process in place to allow for proposed changes to the rules and regulations. However, the Home Owners Association in this community of 3,000 homes (one of 2 communities in California that has a ban on motorcycles) is unwilling to negotiate. The problems that these bike owners have is that their bikes are quieter than the diesel trucks that are allowed in the community and the fact that their motorcycles are subjected to the elements and vandalism. They are asking the Home Owners Association to allow bikes in to the community on a biker per bike case - but even that request has fallen on deaf ears. The motorcyclists have asked for binding arbitration to see if some sort of happy medium can be reached. If that doesn't work, a civil lawsuit will be the next step. Here is the riders commercial - it was made in an attempt to express who they are as motorcyclists and citizens...
Norton is celebrating it's return to North America and Vision/Eleven Apparel is offering you an incredible tee shirt - the cost of which is $35...what makes the tee shirts so special beyond the art work and quality is that when you buy a tee shirt, you also are given an opportunity to win a BRAND NEW 961 SE Norton Commando Motorcycle. That's right, buy a tee shirt and be entered to win a $27,000 motorcycle.
Click here to read the sweepstakes rules & regulations Now I want you to think of something here... You buy tee shirts for your biker buddies for Christmas and for every tee shirt you buy YOU get entered to win the motorcycle! Think about that a second....your friends end up with a gorgeous Tee Shirt - there are lots of styles to choose from, so every friend can have a different shirt and for every shirt you buy, your chances of winning that wonderful motorcycle goes up.
See how easy your Christmas shopping just became?
Today is newsletter and newspaper day for members of www.beltdrivebetty.com
Our National Newspaper, the Busted Knuckle Chronicles is delivered every Thursday morning with a provincial newsletter. As I was editing the paper for our layout man, Darryl, I read with much dismay about the passing of Pastor Rob Dale's dad. My heart goes out to Rob, he's a wonderful man and I know that he has to be hurting. I thank him for the courage to share such an intimate and personal look into his family. I am sure that his sharing of that very deeply personal story will encourage and empower others to know that YOU can forge your own destiny, you can over come your challenges. So Rob, thank you. Thank you for being so real and I pray to God, for you and your family that you all find the peace you need to move forward.
I read with great pleasure today of an award winning video out of Florida that is geared towards teaching the auto driver and the new rider about how motorcycles react to road hazards. It also explains to municipalities and construction companies the signage needed and the best practices of road repairs... It is a wonderful video and is truly deserving of the award it has won and is a fabulous first step in teaching people how to be safe out there! Belt Drive Betty">
I would love to see this video re done in to smaller segments as road awareness commercials for spring time! It is fantastic to see governmental agencies starting to take motorcycle safety and awareness far more seriously - now if construction companies and municipalities would take notice... What are your thoughts on their efforts? I would LOVE to hear them... There is a ton of news in the feeds today, hope you will check them out at www.beltdrivebetty.com where we sift through the news so you don't have to! Here's a couple of my favourite giggles from around the net to start your day off.
Have a HAPPY Hump Day and be safe out there. Belt Drive Betty Editor & Rider
Most people I know are on Facebook these days and it is a great tool when used wisely. You can communicate with group members, friends and family, but what happens when you communicate/share something that is patently false or potentially harmful? With millions and millions of users, lies, falsehoods, porn and viruses get spread like peanut butter on hot toast - quickly. The Patriot Guard Riders & Starbucks are the subject of mistruths being spread and are working on a truth campaign. So what happened? It was reported that they (The Patriot Guard Riders) were thrown out of a Starbucks parking lot in Oklahoma But if you read the article and watch the video, that is NOT what happened. It was a calamity, the Starbucks in question called the police because people who were not using their coffee shop for it's intended purpose were parking in the lot. 4 spaces were being taken up by non customers and some 500 people were on the street and service road. Apparently the Westboro Church was at it again and some other clubs were attempting to calm people down - the Westboro Church was eventually asked to leave by the police. It may not seem like a big deal to some, but when the wrong club is accused of parking where they shouldn't be and the cops are called, and a company is accused of being disrespectful to the military well - all hell breaks loose. The problem in this case where a false story/rumour is spread, is that a company like Starbucks ends up having their name smeared and the good name of the Patriot Guard Riders ends up being drug into it. It is highly unfair, it sheds a bad light on people who don't deserve it and then a ton of energy that should go to good works ends up being wasted on having to do damage control. We all have a responsibility to share responsibly - sadly many people do not read stories in their entirety, they read one sentence, get upset and go off on a topic they have not educated themselves fully on. There are other pitfalls to Facebook as well. The viruses that are maliciously spread, they can devastate people causing untold headaches and some times come with huge financial costs. If you run a business and get a virus well entire systems can go down, business contacts and customer lists can be compromised. Then there is the proliferation of porn. Sadly there are many women who appear to be of really low self esteem who think that getting naked and sharing it on Facebook is a way to feel good about themselves. I personally have unfriended many women who take it all off. It's just not something I want or need to see or be party to. I feel sorry for these gals because to my way of thinking it is demeaning and degrading - it is something I choose not to participate in, that's my personal opinion and I exercise my right to that opinion by simply un-friending them. Facebook has become a place that many use to spread their hate, and many who are spreading this stuff appear to be uneducated about what they are actually spreading. Now don't get me wrong - there are many positives to Facebook. If you have a good circle of friends, if you monitor your page carefully and get rid of offenders right away, the sharing and good things that can transpire are amazing. Case in Point: I shared my idea for a Patch meant to unite all riders in the act of Remembering our Soldiers who have given up their lives for our freedoms. That patch is being sewn as I write this and we have had requests from around the world for it. Our first run of the patch will be 1000 with lots of 100 going to various groups to use as fundraisers for their military charity of choice. We have also gotten requests from many organizations for the use of the High Rez image so that they can get patches made in places like Wales, Great Britain and the US.
Facebook is a great tool when used for good. But like so many great things in this world it only takes a few to ruin for everyone. My suggestion is, remember that Facebook is much like living your life in a fish bowl - be careful what you put out there because you never know who is following you and what you say and do there can and will get you in hot water if you are not careful, with the police, employers, friends and family. You never know whose reputation you might damage - it might just be your own. Before you get carried away and share something that could be hurtful to others ask yourself this: How would I feel if the tables were turned? There will always be those who are selfish, who think that their point of view or opinion is more valid than that of someone else, there will always be those who seek attention be it good or bad...the only way to protect yourself is to unfriend those who are doing things that go against your belief system. You don't need to bash them, you don't need to add insult to injury - just simply unfriend them and don't give them any energy... What say you? In other News: In Ontario, Classy Chassis Cycle is having their Christmas Party this weekend There is a great review on Triumph, Ducati & BMW Naked Bikes In Florida they are getting ready to see the newest Victory Motorcycle - December 9th is the date for the unveiling In Australia, Harley-Davidson is enjoying sales increases In Nevada, the biker accused of slaying the San Jose Chapter President of the Hells Angels is in Nevada waiting for court proceedings In the UK, if you get an insurance quote from Carole Nash - you could win the bike of your dreams! Here's a couple of funnies from around the NET to start your day off:
That's it for me today, if you are able to ride today, please ride carefully - and have a fantastic Tuesday. Belt Drive Betty Editor & Rider
There is an article in the news today that has me shaking my head. A rider in New Jersey was charged and convicted of cruelty to animals for taking his dog on his motorcycle. There are so many truly cruel things that human beings do to animals, but sharing the love for wind in your face? That's cruel? I have a 2 year old cat named "Lost" - Lost had been abandoned at about 2 weeks old, in our local WalMart - stuffed in a shoe box in -58 weather. Abandoning an animal when it is -58 at two weeks old - that's cruel. I am currently "taming" a 2 years old stray cat that I call "Found" - he's been coming here for meals for about 18 months and I finally have convinced him that I am not a bad human and that it's much warmer inside than out. Abandoning an animal - that's cruel. The fact it's taking 18 months for this little guy to trust me is TRAGIC and speaks volumes to what he has seen and experienced. I have seen people beat horses, and myself have threatened to beat the human for it, have in fact turned them in for all the good that did the animals. I have read and seen on TV of dog fights, and people who have mutilated and or dragged dogs. I have seen on TV or read of bastards who get perverse pleasure out of holding cock fights and doing many, many other degrading things to animals. Courtesy of the news, I have seen animals that have been starved, that have been beaten, abused and degraded and very seldom is anyone ever charged in any meaningful way... I'll tell you what I think is cruel, denying a pet, that truly loves to ride on a motorcycle with his/her master - that's cruel. I have a girlfriend who has some Boston Terriers - if you tried to tell "Pearl" that she couldn't go with her mom on her trike she'd throw a fit - and you know Pearl loves to ride cause the minute her mom starts to put on her motorcycle boots, Pearl drags out her Doggles. The cops, the prosecutor and the judge involved in this case, they need to go spend some time at an animal shelter - they need to learn what real harm to animals is. They need to see what real cruelty is and they need to be punished for their crimes - because in this gal's way of thinking - the harm they have done to this man and his dog is immoral. What say you? There is a ton of news on our web site since we "spoke" on Friday... A Harley-Davidson dealer in St Paul is suing Harley-Davidson for their new restrictions on how dealers are allowed to do business. Calgary AB has completed testing the Noise Snare and is now ready to put it in to action! Western Australia has put in place a new, tougher law against Bikies...the law enforcement world is watching KTM has become the first major motorcycle manufacturer to launch an electric bike. Buy a Norton Tee Shirt for your chance to win a NEW Norton 962 SE Commando Motorcycle! There are many many more articles in the news feeds at www.beltdrivebetty.com, where we sift through the news so you don't have to! Here's a couple of m favourite funnies from around the net....cause it's Monday and we all need something to start our week off on a good foot - Laughter really is a great medicine!
Have a fabulous Monday everyone and if you are still riding, please ride safely. Belt Drive Betty Editor & Rider
