I couldn't wait to get to a computer so that I could respond to the news story about the ALLEGED 50 bikers surrounding a driver on the highway. I have to say that this story is nothing more than some sensationalist journalism. How are you going to put something out there like that when there were NO witnesses, no arrests made as a result of the call, and no injuries to any parties involved? All that did was to smear the reputation of sportbike riders with NO proof of wrongdoing. You don't know the full story, so it was irresponsible of you to report one side of it. I ride with groups all the time, and I can say with confidence that people just don't DO that. It causes more of a danger to us than to the drivers, and that's not people who truly love to ride are out there to do. What I think happened is that this clown probably either cut off or otherwise tried to impede the flow of traffic for these bikers. In likelihood, he probably targeted someone either in the front or the back of the group (usually the inexperienced riders). IF this happened, then yes.... he may have gotten surrounded, but for what? They weren't trying to pull him over -- they were trying to make sure that all of them were protected. When you ride in groups like that, there are riders who are assigned "Road Captains." These men (or women) watch out for people like this caller, and they keep the rest of the group in formation (which is for SAFETY, not just to look cool on the highway) and safe.
If the caller's daugher was supposed to be so traumatized, why couldn't you hear her crying in the background? If the story was true, why did the state trooper that you interviewed say that this thing does NOT happen often?
It's funny how you won't report on the bikers that lose their lives every season due to the negligence of some idiot on 4 wheels who choose to run lights, swerve into lanes, or even better, PURPOSELY cut off bikes, not caring or realizing that a motorcyle's center of gravity is totally different than a car. If you cut me off and I have to slam on my brakes, I'm not going to just spill my coffee and give you the finger. My back tire is going to lock up, and I'm going to start to fishtail -- either that or the force of the stop will throw me from the bike completely. Either way, I am probably going to lose control of the bike, and then my son won't have a mother. My husband won't have a wife. My mother will not have a daugher. Because some idiot thought it would be funny to "try" me. I have had people cut me off and I thank GOD that I am a cautious rider, or otherwise I wouldn't be here typing this.
It's funny how you were so quick to report some foolishness, but I don't recall seeing you out at the March of Dimes Bikers for Babies event where 5000 bikers raised money for premature babies. Guess what? Somebody tried to cut a group of us off then, too. But you weren't out there. It wasn't important or newsworthy that we were out there giving back to the community and doing something positive. I guess that isn't as interesting as the garbage that was aired this morning.
Stop trying to give bikers a bad name. For every one biker that is bad, there are 10 that are not. We are responsible parents, spouses, children, members of the community. We go to church AND Sunday School. We are well traveled and well educated. MANY of us have served this country with honor and distinction in the Armed Forces. We are engineers, teachers, models, actors, lawyers, police officers, firemen, nurses..... even my optometrist is a rider! So don't judge the person under that helmet -- you never know who or what they are.
