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With the Bikers 4 Boomers Poker Run only days away, organizer Deb Krieger, of Higginsville, is calling on motorists to be aware of the hundreds of motorcyclists that it will attract to Lafayette County byways and highways on Aug. 17.
The event is a fundraiser for the county’s four senior centers and makes stops at each – Higginsville (the beginning/registration site), Odessa, Lexington and Concordia. The centers, all served by Care Connection for Aging Services, receive proceeds from the ride to help with their home-delivered meal programs. Entrance fees are $25 for a single rider and $40 for two people riding double.
The event begins with biscuits and gravy at the Higginsville Center and ends with a party in that city’s park, complete with food, prizes and giveaways. To learn more, visit www.bikers4boomers.com.
Krieger, Care Connection Regional Services Director and an avid rider, emphasized that the approaching poker run provides a chance to remind drivers of cars, trucks and other vehicles to watch out for motorcyclists during the ride and always.
More than half of fatal motorcycle crashes involve other vehicles, and most of the time, the motorist is at fault – not the motorcyclist, according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
Some drivers ignore motorcycles, a mistake that can be deadly. Small motorcycles can be hiding behind a car roof, door pillar or other blind spots. Also, bushes, fences and bridges can block a car driver’s view of a motorcycle. The foundation advises drivers to “take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections.”
Here are some other safety tips from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
Assume that motorcycles are closer than they appear.
Give yourself plenty of following distance with a motorcycle. Sometimes, they slow down by downshifting or some other means that requires no braking. In addition, cyclists have trouble stopping in rain or other poor driving conditions.
Be aware that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, such as to avoid debris in the road, not to be reckless or show off.
Do not share the lane with motorcycles.
When a motorcyclist signals, make sure the signal is for real and not just a forgotten blinker.
See the person under the helmet, rather than just the motorcycle. The motorcyclist could be a friend, neighbor or relative.