Motorcycles ARE Everywhere

by John Stumpner

This past May was, as it is every year, Motorcycle Awareness Month. In the early weeks of the month, many ABATE of Wisconsin members are out at awareness rallies, reminding the drivers of cars, trucks and vans to watch out for motorcycle riders. Later in the month, a group of ABATE of Wisconsin members joined bikers from around the United States for “Bikers Inside the Beltway,” which is a biker’s grassroots lobby session with the United State’s Congress and Senate. One of the many slogans you saw in May was “Motorcycles are Everywhere.”

Of course, one of the places most often motorcycles are seen, is on the streets and highways. Many riders just like to get out and ride for fun and relaxation. Others like to take vacations which involve traveling on their motorcycles. Still other riders use their bikes as their preferred form of transportation. Many companies provide special motorcycle parking for their employees that ride. Sometimes, you will even see a biker doing grocery shopping with a motorcycle.

Another place motorcycles are seen in on the track. Motorcycle races are run for any type of motorcycle made. Motorcycle racers vary from small dirt bikes to the fastest super bikes. Some bikers might want to race, but don’t have the money for a special racing bike. There are races for them also. Others just like to go to open track days at racetracks, like Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, to see how fast they can go.

Motorcycles are also seen on dirt roads and trails. Some bikers like to get off the paved roads and travel to out of the way places. Bikers on dual purpose bikes and adventure-touring motorcycles can travel on unpaved forest roads to go to secluded places for hunting, fishing, camping or touring remote areas. Not all forest roads are open to motorized traffic, but on those that are, you can go wherever your imagination and abilities take you.

Hopefully, some day you will be able to get out riding on your own motorcycle. Since motorcycles are truly everywhere, where you can go will only be limited by your imagination. ABATE of Wisconsin, of which you are a part, continues to work with our government leaders to make sure that “Motorcycles are Everywhere” is always true.

John