You Live in the Land of the Zombies and yet YOU Want to Lane-Split?

The Zombie Apocalypse is here just incase you missed it. No there wasn't a horrific invasion, there was no violence or bloodshed either.

In fact, the people who have become zombies, it would appear, did so willingly.

Texting while you walk, while you drive, while you have meetings and right after you have sex.

Looking down, oblivious to the world around you, yes, you are a part of the biggest invasion in the world today, the Zombie Apocalypse.

There is a movement that began here in Canada a little over a year ago, wherein some motorcyclists are calling for the legalization of lane splitting.

I have ONE, only ONE huge objection to that....

NO ONE FOLLOWS THE RULES OF THE ROADS AS THEY EXIST NOW.

You know, without a doubt that your city has the stupidest drivers ever. You encounter them daily.

You know without a doubt that there are immigrants to this country who have gotten a license that should not have one, even in a smaller city like Grande Prairie we have them.
It's as if someone gets tired of doing their job and just gives these people licenses.

There are drivers both professional and unprofessional that are texting, reading, disciplining their kids, putting on make up, fighting with their spouses and closing business deals, all while driving

People don't just drive in their vehicles these days, they are too busy living their lives inside their cars, trucks, SUV's and vans to care about you and your life or your legal right to lane split.

Let's take a look at a few hard facts about the Canadian end of the human race:

#1 - People know drinking and driving kills and yet, they catch an average of how many drunks each year driving?  The stats from MADD here in Alberta? 1 in 5 people involved in a crash had been drinking. In 5 years 8,600 Albertans have been charged with impaired driving.

#2 - People have known that texting and driving is dangerous for a good number of years now, and yet according to Rate.ca: Distracted Driving is now the number one risk on Canadian roads contributing to 8 in 10 collisions.

#3 - We live in a country where we have a TV show called CANADA's WORST DRIVER - does that not tell you anything?

And you want to risk your life Lane Splitting, on your Motorcycle? Seriously?

I hope your ICE card is up to date and that you have your affairs in order. Let me ask you something....

Do you really think that you could educate enough drivers out there to make the risk worth it?
Do you really think that the guy who is stuck in traffic is gonna let your bike through?

Go drive down on the lower mainland of BC during rush hour and tell me if you really think that you want to risk your life that way.

The hot heads and road-ragers out there will tune you in in short order and they won't care if there is a law that would allow you to do that.

The video below is from Los Angeles, where Lane Splitting has been legal for years:

The rider in this video does not help his cause and is just as much of a hot head as the guy in the car and puts himself needlessly at risk.

And that my friends is the human race and you really want to risk your life to lane splitting?

Whatever floats your boat, but knowing the quality of people driving that I have encountered on the roadways of Canada, you won't be catching this gal lane splitting, legally or otherwise any time soon.

And that's what's on my mind today...

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

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UPDATED - Saskatchewan's R.A.G.E. President REAR ENDED

Rhonda was lodged under the car, miraculously
she suffered minor injuries and is already home and resting
Photo: Neil Hein, VP R.A.G.E.

The woman who has been working tirelessly as the president of the Riders Against Government Exploitation had a guardian angel on her shoulder last night as she experienced one of the most horrifying things every rider faces - being rear ended.

From eyewitness accounts, Rhonda Cwynar and a friend were riding when this incident took place, not stationary!

Rhonda was impacted by the drivers side bumper, pushed almost up to her riding companion's position and then the SUV climbed over the bike. Rhonda was trapped underneath the SUV, still on her bike.
Allegedly the driver of the SUV was IMPAIRED AND TEXTING at the time.

Allegedly she never looked up and never hit the brakes.

Rhonda is lucky to be alive and as unscathed as she is.

Rhonda is one of many volunteers working hard to keep Saskatchewan's riders as safe as is possible and protecting their pocket books at the same time. R.A.G.E. is all about holding government accountable and "lobbying" for equitable treatment of riders.

Photo shared from Facebook

Their government insurance, SGI, needs to address bad drivers and the fines, demerits and penalties.

It is something the entire R.A.G.E. team and their strategist Don Fuller have been working hard at.

Rhonda Cwynar, she is a wonderful woman who is deeply passionate about working for fair treatment of the riding community.

There will be some sliver linings that come out of this crash - I always look to find the silver lining...
(You have to otherwise you'd go nuts.)

Because this crash happened to a person who sits on the Motorcycle Review Board at the SGI round tables, Rhonda is going to be able to chronicle everything that happens as you move throughout the system and call them on stuff that you or the rider down the road would never get to.

She is going to be able to lobby to change the bad driver laws in an even more powerful way than before. (Saskatchewan's fines for chronic bad drivers are a joke). Nothing like first hand experience to give you that"edge".

She is going to be able to lobby to really change the texting and driving laws and driver awareness and education.

Photo shared on Facebook

I am deeply thankful that this single mom is able to continue being a mom...
I am deeply thankful that this woman is still alive to be able to do this work.
She truly had a guardian angel on her shoulder.

And, if the riders from Saskatchewan get behind R.A.G.E and start lobbying for change in their own communities, start really lifting their voices together, you in Sasktechewan are the best hope for the rest of the country - to see massive change in DRIVER education and awareness happen.

In other news, Liane Langlois of M.O.D.E.L reports that the Edmonton Noise Bylaw is being challenged.  Join the Edmonton Motorcycle Club Facebook page to find out more on what to do if you have a ticket.

Please visit the M.O.D.E.L. blog for information on the bylaw and how to contact M.O.D.E.L.

Have a great day everyone,  I'll update you more on Rhonda's condition and the information on her crash as more info becomes available.

UPDATE: From CJME
The 40-year-old woman allegedly driving the SUV, Tanja Hinks, is being charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm and driving while exceeding 0.08.

Update from Rhonda herself: I have a broken ankle, broken collar bone and tissue trauma but I am in one piece thanks to wearing good gear in part and a guardian angel who had other plans for me.

I want to thank all my well wishers, it means so much to see the support and comments. You have no idea how much.

I'll keep you up to date through our VP Neil Hein and Belt Drive Betty.  Thanks again folks, I am one grateful woman today, sore but grateful.

PLEASE ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you, and please consider wearing good gear.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider