Paranoia won’t destroy ya

Brendan Powell (June 24 guest column) implies that riding a motorcycle like you would drive a car is all that’s needed to be safe. I’m a rider and I’ve only had two accidents. I had to lay my motorcycle down rather than get hit by woman making an illegal left turn while she had a phone plastered to her ear. I was hit by man pulling out of a parking lot.

In both situations, I was “operating my motorcycle in roughly the same manner as I drive my car,” except you need to replace “roughly” with “exactly.” I had only minor injuries because I braked and lay down the bike in the first instance and swerved so I was only clipped in the second.

Mr. Powell needs to realize that, while he might get tired of the constant paranoia, many drivers don’t pay attention to motorcycles. They’re too used to being in their gas guzzling envelopes and only vaguely pay attention to other large shapes similar to their vehicles. It’s keeping up that paranoia that will help keep you alive, even when riding like you’re driving.

David Teich

Spokane Valley