Passes & Canyons Blog

Riding Cottonwood Pass.

The Denver Post, as the media tend to do, had an article the other day that focused on a real issue but made its central thesis something that is very secondary. Specifically, in an article “Deadly crashes hit all-time high in 2022,” they wrote about exactly what the headline implies. And good for them on that.

But, no surprise to us, after stating the facts of the matter the article veered off into how many of those who died were wearing helmets and why wearing a helmet is so important. I don’t dispute that helmets make a difference. But it was not until the very last paragraph in the article that they said, rather blandly, “Other drivers also need to use caution around motorcycles, particularly around
intersections where passenger vehicles often fail to see oncoming motorcycles.”

Oh really? Maybe that should have been the second paragraph in the piece. Yes there were way too many deaths in Colorado last year and I’m willing to bet that most of them were not the fault of the rider who died. Who among us has not narrowly avoided a similar fate more than once?

So I did what I do, I wrote a letter to the editor. I have a pretty good track record on getting my letters published, but at this moment I haven’t heard back from the Post on it so who knows if this one will be. Here’s what I said.

In regard to your article, “Deadly crashes hit all-time high in 2022,” on May 18, as a motorcyclist I support wearing helmets but I object to your focus on helmets related to fatalities. It’s OK to mention that “Of the 2022 fatalities, more than half of the motorcyclists were not wearing helmets, and nationwide, DOT-compliant helmet use decreased by 4% from 2020 to 2021.” But to then go on another two paragraphs about why helmets are good, then do a couple paragraphs about why rider training is good, and then finally, in the last paragraph in the article, point out that other drivers need to be cautious of motorcycles is seriously disingenuous.

If you look at the statistics on motorcycle fatalities you will see that an extremely high percentage of them are caused by other motorists violating the rider’s right-of-way. That is to say, the motorist caused the crash. How about putting that front and center?

And finally, something under half of those killed were wearing helmets. Safer crashes are not the answer; fewer crashes are the very safest thing. Don’t drink and drive–or ride–and put down your phone. That will save lives.

I know I’m preaching to the choir here but maybe somebody, if the letter gets published, will stop and think one time and it just might make a difference.

Biker Quote for Today

100 reasons not to date a biker: 13. The neighbors will come over to complain.

A screenshot of a portion of the Biker Down Facebook page.

OK folks, this is serious. Unfortunately, the data I’m able to come up with are unclear.

I was on my V-Strom headed south on I-25 a few days ago and one of those highway message signs was saying something like “102 motorcycle deaths this year, be aware of motorcycles.” I swear it said 102 but now I can’t anything to support that number.

But that fired me up to look at the latest numbers. I mean, it’s only September and if we’re at 102 that’s a lot because whereas in 2016 the Colorado fatality rate hit 125, it had dropped to just (just!) 103 in 2017, again in 2018, and a third time in a row in 2019. And as recently as 2012 the number was only 79. So 102 in early September is a lot.

That’s not the whole story, though. In 2020 the number shot up to 140. That’s a lot! And in 2021 it was 137. Yikes.

Now, the most recent information I can find is saying we were only at 75 at the end of August. Something just doesn’t jibe here. I swear that sign on the highway said 102. And various reports I found said we’re up this year from last year, so in that case 102 now would make sense. Only 75 now would seem to suggest a downward trend. I don’t get it.

OK, I’m passing this along in real time. I just went to the Biker Down Facebook page and they have a photo of the sign saying 102, along with the note, dated September 7, “2 weeks ago, BikerDown Colorado was interviewed on Fox 31 with year-to-date statistics that 85 riders had passed on a motorcycle. Heading to DIA yesterday, the total is now 102.” Holy smokes! What the heck is going on?!

People, we’ve got to be careful out there. While it’s easy to point fingers at drivers on their cell phones there are riders at fault here, too. Jungle has always said that if you’re in a crash you were at fault. Yes, the other guy may have precipitated the situation but it is your responsibility to always be riding as though you are invisible and everyone else on the road is deliberately out to kill you.

It’s pretty hard to argue against that. Ride like your life depends on it. Because it does.

Biker Quote for Today

Cars have bumpers. Bikers have bones. Drive aware.