Friday, August 27, 2010

A day like today is why F.I.R.R.E. is needed

I have a hard job - every morning reading the news feeds and having to tell you all about who has been killed or injured in our community and every morning it appears to be coming harder to do.
(I would much rather be telling you about what events are on this weekend!)

I dread the news feeds and again we have at least two riders dead and a number injured.

Our little community of 600,000 here in Canada can ill afford to loose people - people who have brothers and sisters, moms and dads, kids, wives, husbands, girlfriends and boyfriends and friends who need them, love them and whose lives are forever altered either by death or disability.

Every life is valuable, every life is worth reaching out to save and preserve.
I am on a mission to light a F.I.R.R.E. in the soul of EVERY rider and to spread the message to people who drive motor vehicles to please share the road with riders but riders - YOU have to do your part too.

I have been getting reports of people being drunk and climbing on their motorcycles, riding erratically and just generally thinking they are invincible. You aren't - sadly there really is no super man or wonder woman - and you too will end up dead or disabled or off work while you heal if you don't ride responsibly. The sad reality is even if you ride responsibly you can get into a bad spot because of someone else so please don't add more 'risk' to the situation.

I hate to preach people for I  myself am far from perfect but I work at taking SMART risks and riding responsibly. When I catch myself going too fast I tell myself "Bad Biker Girl" and then I thank God for keeping me safe.

Please people - you are loved and valued by so many - you may not think so but you are - PLEASE - love them back enough to consider them and what will happen to them if you leave this world or add a burden to their life they did not need because of your own actions.

Help me spread the word to those who drive and talk on their cell phones or who drive and text that it is a dangerous behaviour and you are going to call the police. The same goes for those reading while they drive or putting on their make up or shaving...  If you see someone doing something stupid like getting on a motorcycle drunk either try to get them into a cab or call the cops - please don't let then kill someone else.

WE have to take care - WE have to look out for each other and ourselves - if WE don't who will?

As always your comments and feed abck are ALWAYS welcome here - it is through sharing ideas and opinions that we all grow into better people!

In the news today:

In Regina a rider was involved in a collision that tied up the ring road

In BC 2 riders from the Island are dead following separate collisions

In Merritt BC there were two separate collisions involving riders

A motorcycle collision near Bragg Creek AB has one man in critical condition

In Nova Scotia police have identified the ride who died in a collision earlier this week

There are a few other less depressing things in the news today - I hope will will visit www.beltdrivebetty.com to read what those might be.

No mater which event you attend this weekend, PLEASE - Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!


I myself am taking in the first ever Red Island rally in beautiful Charlottetown Prince Edward Island!


Belt Drive Betty
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
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Thursday, August 26, 2010

English Sunshine

I am enjoying a morning of English Sunshine here in Campbellton NB. (Well - OK, I don't really enjoy the rain but I can pretend I do and at least not hate it - right?) What I am not enjoying are the news feeds - again...

I have a question for all of you who ride...does anyone here really believe that you can out run motorola? No huh...didn't really think so...

Why then did a 31 year old female rider run from police in Newfoundland? The article doesn't tell us why she was stopped - just dangerous driving - or why she ran...? In possession of something she shouldn't have? Stolen bike? No License?  Too many demerits already? Why...sad cause at 31 one would assume this gal has a bright future ahead of her...OH WELL.

Then there is a rider who was killed in an accident in NS - I do not understand the way this rider died - the article is rather confusing - he went out of control and slid under a car?  Does that mean the car stopped suddenly and he was following too closely?

And a rider that is in critical condition after a collision in Longueuil QC - he rear ended a car.

There is a sad trend here folks and I guess this is why I feel F.I.R.R.E. is so invaluable - the Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & education  - maybe through education we can prevent some of these tragedies in the future.

For the rest of the news please visit www.beltdrivebetty.com

We update the news twice a day and more often if needs be!

Tonight I will be in Charlottetown PEI for the beginning of the first ever Red Island Rally - I will miss Shediac but hope to get some updates and info from there.

No mater which event you attend this weekend, PLEASE - Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead! 


Belt Drive Betty
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
Contact Me LinkedinFacebookBloggerTwitter
Until Tomorrow...

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Conga so far...

While plans had to change in Montreal and I will not get meet with some of the local riders until I come through the opposite direction I am on time to be in Cambellton. I will be leaving Quebec city around 1pm today after I do some filing and photography.

Ina ll we have touched about 400 riders and I am grateful that in spite of the challenges we have forged ahead and are making an impact.

The more I read the news feeds the more I know that this cause: F.I.R.R.E. - Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education is a worthy and important one to be promoting.
www.firre.ca

In the last 24 hours alone one female rider is dead and two other riders are injured. We need to be supporting each other - every day, every weekend we riders reach in to our pockets and support breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, Little Warriors and so many other absolutely worth while causes but too often we do not support each other - our family wind...Folks - please visit the F.I.R.R.E. web site and join us - join our cause - working for riders...Our Never Ride Alone program alone is worth the $20 membership fee...if you are in an accident, we will support you if we can - if we know about your needs - Use the Rider Down & Never Ride Alone Hot Line Number to tell us you need us...1-866-315-1013

We are here for you and we want to grow so we can be here for riders right across this vast land of ours!

I have to be on my way here , I hope you keep up on the daily news on  www.beltdrivebetty.com 

PLEASE - Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!  

Belt Drive Betty
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
Contact Me LinkedinFacebookBloggerTwitter

Sunday, August 22, 2010

What a sad and tragic state of affairs in Calgary

I read with much sadness and disgust that a man lay dying on a Calgary road way and not one person called 911 - not one person stopped to see if they could assist.

What is going on out there? Why would you leave someone in the street to die - alone?

I am blessed and fortunate - I have had prayers and offers of help and calls and hugs since my brother died - I am so saddened that this person who died alone on Calgary streets had NO kindness - no love and no generosity of spirit exhibited or offered to him.

I pray for every motorist who passed this man by to have an epiphany - a wake up call.
It could be YOU laying in the street dying of your injuries. It could be your mom, dad, sister or brother - a husband or a child - where is the humanity? Where is the care and feeling - have we become so busy that we can not show any love of compassion?

You know - I have a cute story to share on this subject...I was riding by Thunder Bay when I saw a motorcycle on the side of the road. I slowed to ask if the rider was OK only to find out it was an OPP Officer...he waved me on and yelled thanks! It takes one second to slow down, to show you care - Please remember that there but for the grace of GOD go I...what is wrong with the people who passed the man in Calgary over?

I don't know if he was a rider or a pedestrian or a cyclist - but he was HUMAN...

The trip from North Bay to Ottawa was HUGELY wet - raining so hard that rivers were running down the road and at times you could not see - we had to wait things out a couple of times but we did arrive in Ottawa - only 3.5 hours late and we did get to meet about 200 riders!

I want to thank Lou DeVouono, Graham - both of the Hero's Highway Ride, Danni Stockley and Crystal from the Ontario Chrome Divas, Pator Rob & his lovely wife Heather and Pastor Dave - Indian Jim, Lucy LaFlamme and so many others for taking the time to share this Conga with me...I love you all!!!! Today I get to visit with Mike Hauffe of XXX Choppers too!

PLEASE - Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!


Belt Drive Betty
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
Contact Me LinkedinFacebookBloggerTwitter

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Remembering....Riding and tears

Since I got the word on Wednesday night August 18th that my brother had passed away at age 48 - leaving behind a wife and and 18 year old son, I have been - off, for the lack of a better term.

I am continuing with my Awareness Conga as I am one of those who truly believes that going back for a funeral is pointless. And let me qualify that statement. I spent a week with him, his wife and son pitching in to do what I could to help out. I am so deeply grateful for that time. There will be tons of aunties and uncles, my mom and my sister there along with in laws and friends. It is after the funeral when everyone has gone back to their lives and my sister in law is on her own with a son who is away at university for his mechanics ticket that I intend to go and spend some time with her.

I can do my grieving while I ride, then no one has to see this tough, crusty old biker bird cry.

I loved my brother, ours was not always an easy relationship but that does not change the fact that I loved him and in his own way I know he loved me... It is hard as the eldest in the family to bury someone younger than you and it must be rough on my mom burying a a son but that is life.

It's not always easy but it is always rewarding and beautiful if you choose to look at it that way...

Having made calls to family and dealing with my own sadness I am behind on my travel blogs for the Conga but they will get done over the next few days. The good news is my boss can't fire me.

I would love to meet with you - my Conga Itinerary is located: www.firre.ca
If you have the time and are so inclined email me at: bdbetty @ gmail.com (fix the spaces)
I am looking forward to the Biker's Church event today in Ottawa - we have a quick stop in Petawawa first...

Lou from the Hero's Highway Ride and his friend Graham are riding with hubby and I today!

I will sign off now asking you all to say a prayer for my brother's family and that you look at the people you love, and make sure they KNOW you love them...don't let those words go unsaid...

In the News today:
A rider from Calgary AB hit a moving semi in the rear, was dislodged from his bike and ended up on the back fender of the truck for over a half KM until a passing motorist was able to alert the driver. The rider has suffered life threatening injuries.

In Fort Nelson BC a rider from Ohio crashed but no details other than he was airlifted to Vancouver have been released.

In Cambridge ON a rider was injured seriously after a truck turned left infront of him

There is a ton of news today - visit www.beltdrivebetty.com to see all of the news that is making the headlines today....  My prayers go out tp the injured riders and their families...

There are MANY, MANY events this weekend - no mater which one you choose to attend PLEASE - Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!


Belt Drive Betty
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
Contact Me LinkedinFacebookBloggerTwitter

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

I am so disgusted...

Have you read the news about what is going on now in the USA?
The NHTSA is funding MOTORCYCLE only check stops.

The AMA is equally disgusted and demanding to know hwy this is being done.

Under its Motorcycle Law Enforcement Demonstration grant program, the NHTSA will award up to $350,000 in total to be divided among as many as five law enforcement agencies to set up traffic checkpoints that target motorcyclists.

The demonstration program is modeled after a controversial program in New York where the state police set up a series of checkpoints that targeted only motorcyclists, raising the ire of the AMA and motorcycling community. In 2008, for example, New York State Police announced plans to set up 15 checkpoints near motorcycling events that summer. (From USRIDER News)

 There needs to be some way to stop these kinds of discriminatory practices folks - now Edmonton is claiming that it's bylaw is working and touting that fact to encourage other jurisdictions to get on the band bandwagon...sad, sad, sad....

Hubby and I made it to Kenora and had a fabulous meeting and breakfast withe the gang from the MRFD - to read all about it visit my Travel Blog for Ontario: http://travelontariobymotorcycle.blogspot.com/

In other news:
In Victoria BC a lady rider was injured when a white SUV moved in to her lane.

Cops for Cancer needs sponsors in BC...

In PEI they are getting excited about their 1st ever Red Island Rally coming up soon...

In Corner Brook Newfoundland the RCMP have released the name of the man who died in an bike crash, his 14 year old passenger was released from hospital on Monday.

PLEASE - Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!



Belt Drive Betty
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
Contact Me LinkedinFacebookBloggerTwitter

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

A busy few days ahead

Hubby and I are in Yorkton this morning where we woke up to grey and wet skies.

We have a 700 KM trek to Kenora today and in the morning we hook up with the 10th Anniversary Ride for the MRFD.

So - there will be no blogging besides the travel blogs for the next couple of days unless I find myself with some time.

It is challenging - building the paper bit by bit every day, staying on top of paperwork, meeting people and riding but we are getting in the groove.

Apparently I touched a bit of a nerve with  a few people yesterday with my comments on Pee Wee Herman and Sturgis. I want everyone to understand that as a survivor of abuse - I am not going to condone someone who owns "art" as he called it by way of explicit magazines etc. I know that many may think me unforgiving but when it comes to children and abusers - I know only too well how the abuser can lie, manipulate and generally weasel their way out of things - I experienced that for many years.  Perhaps the man is innocent but I will Never feel comfortable with that individual having any representation around children. But that is just me.

In the news today:
In Saskatoon the counsellor who wants to quiet the noise from motorcycles is being threatened.


In Newfoundland a rider is dead after a crash.

In Australia the Hells Angels attended the funeral of a reported crime boss.

In Ontario - the Ozzy’s Garage Youth Mentorship Program is working miracles

In Kamloops BC - city council is being urged to leave noisy bikes to the RCMP

If you wish to follow our progress on our Awareness Conga visit our travel blogs:

Traveling Alberta
Traveling Saskatchewan
 
PLEASE - Ride defensively, ride your own ride - do NOT let peer pressure get the best of you...Ride like everyone around you is BLIND, has an UNSAFE load and IS out to get you and please - ride Proud not Loud - invest in a 140 DB Air horn instead!


Belt Drive Betty
A MAX Award winning web site!
National VP of Marketing
Foundation for Injured Riders, Rights & Education
Contact Me LinkedinFacebookBloggerTwitter