#SeeMotorcycles – MSF Reminds Motorists

[advrider]

Sales of motorcycles and scooters continue to rise. Two years of solid sales mean that more riders will be on the roads this year., and since May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) strongly reminds motorists to watch for motorcyclists using the hashtag #SeeMotorcycles.

#SeeMotorcycles – more motorcycles and scooters

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) Retail Sales Reporting System, motorcycle and scooter sales in the US increased by 14.2 percent in 2021. Overall, motorcycle and scooter sales since 2019 are up 21.8 percent. These figures come from the Motorcycle Industry Council’s platform, which gathers new motorcycle and scooter retail sales data from 14 leading manufacturers and distributors in the US. With numbers like these, it’s clear that there will be more bikes plying the US’s roads than in the not-so-distant past.

More riding

In addition to this sales data, a MIC survey offers a look into just how much riders plan on using their motorcycles this year.  The survey of motorcycle owners found that 57 percent said they plan to use their motorcycles more since gas prices have increased. And of those who plan on using their bikes more often, 69 percent said they would use them for commuting, 69 percent for day trips, and 59 percent for errands and shopping.

Armene Piper, Owner of Clutch Motorcycle School in Loveland, is quoted in the MSF’s press release as saying:

“These are all indicators that more people will be out riding this year, so it’s the responsibility of all road users to look out for one another.  Riding a motorcycle is such a fun way to get around.  But a rider’s No. 1 priority should be safety.  That means following the rules of the road, wearing safety gear each and every time they ride, and using smart street strategies.”

MSF viewpoint

In the same press release, Erik Pritchard, the President and CEO of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) reminded motorists that motorcycles and their riders have a smaller profile than cars and trucks and can be easy to overlook. He also reminded motorcyclists to check their machines and refresh their riding skills. Specifically, Pritchard said:

“May has been the traditional start of the riding season for many across the country because the weather is getting warmer and the days longer.  That’s why it’s a great time to remind drivers to actively look out for motorcyclists, and for riders who are taking their bikes out of hibernation to do a thorough pre-ride inspection. It’s also a good idea to take time to refresh your riding skills, ideally with a safety course.”

We encourage drivers to use their turn signals, keep speeds down, and be vigilant when driving, especially when changing lanes.  Please remember to #SeeMotorcycles.”

More training

And it also looks like motorcyclists are taking Pritchard’s training advice seriously. Even with the effects of COVID, enrollment in MSF courses increased substantially.

Again, according to Pritchard:

“Demand for rider training is also robust.  The Motorcycle Safety Foundation saw an estimated 48 percent increase in enrollment in 2021 over 2020, and early data from 2022 indicates a continuing trend.”

While on-bike motorcycle training may be the preferred method for the practical skills necessary to ride more safely, the MSF also makes a wealth of training materials available online at no cost.

Online training

For motorcyclists wishing to brush up or learn motorcycling skills, the MSF offers many different training materials at MSF-USA.org. In addition, riders or potential riders can test their motorcycle perception skills and knowledge with timed challenges and quizzes. You can find these training materials on the MSF’s dedicated webpage for this type of training.

Image: Motorcycle Safety Foundation

MSF training for car and truck drivers

And those training options are not just for motorcyclists. The MSF also has a  training and safety site specifically aimed at car and truck drivers. The website provides easy-to-understand information. It is aimed at helping car and truck drivers recognize motorcyclists. The goal is to get motorists to take active steps towards increasing safety for all road users.

On the front page, car and truck drives will find ten points that the MSF believes all car and truck drivers should know:

1. Your car can kill
2. Look out for us, please (motorcycles can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots or masked by objects or backgrounds)
3. Check again and again
4. Keep a safe distance
5. Lane changing points
6. Be sure about that turn signal (make sure a motorcyclist’s turn signal is for real
7. Nimble most of the time (don’t expect motorcyclists always to be able to dodge out of danger)
8. Give yourself time to stop (allow more following distance behind a motorcycle)
9. See the person (remember that the person under the helmet could be your friend, neighbor, or relative)
10. No take backs (after a crash that causes serious injury, motorists can’t take it back)

 

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