Follow THE REF into 2011

Many of you have heard about THE REF (Transportable High-End Rider Education Facility) and know what it's all about.  If you don't please view previous articles within this blog to learn what WMSP (Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program) has done to lead the way lowering motorcycle fatalities to Zero in Wisconsin!  

Wisconsin leads the way in motorcycle education by offering different levels of training to motorcyclists, scooters and trikes.  We listened to what the public was asking and that was programs that certified them to  ride scooters and trikes.  Greg Patzer is the Program Manager at WMSP and has four RiderCoach Trainers who are each assigned a quarter of the state.  These RiderCoach Trainers together oversee state certified RiderCoaches.  

THE REF rolled out August 2010 with its first Event in Columbus, OH at the NHTSA/SMSA/MSF Conference.  Then it was onto WI Governors Safety Conference, Milwaukee Rally, BMW Conference, Tomahawk Fall Color Rally, Traffic Incident Management, Rover River HOG Ridin' to a Cure, Governors Highway Safety Administration Conference in Kansas City, Missouri and Bikes to Bogs.  The next venue we will be attending in December is the Illinois Motorcycle Safety Conference in Springfield.

If you would like to schedule THE REF at your Motorcycle Event please contact me through this Blog and provide information on when, where and how to contact you.  If you require a guest speaker and simply request a presentation to a group without scheduling THE REF contact me too.  

We are working on the 2011 Event Schedule and listed are some of the Venues you will be able to see THE REF and participate in free motorcycle safety training;

Note: Dates listed below are dates set by Rally, Fair and Dealership organizers.  Dates THE REF will be available at these venues may change from time to time.  Please check back regularly.  Events updated as of March 17, 2011.

1. International Motorcycle Show, Minneapolis (February 4-6)
2. Madison, Spring Kick-Off Meeting (February 8)
3. International Motorcycle Show, Chicago (February 11-13)
4. GE Safety Fair, Waukesha (March 2)
5. Wisconsin Harley-Davidson, Oconomowoc (March 12)
6. Waukesha County Technical College Open  House (March 19)
7. Gateway Technical College (March 22)
8. Capital City Harley-Davidson, Madison (March 26)
9. Rice Lake, WI Motorcycle Show (April 1 & 2)
10. Milwaukee, Harley-Davidson Museum (April 8)
11. Northcentral Technical College, Wausau Motorcycles & U (April 15 & 16)
12. Tomah Bike & Swap Meet (April 29 & 30)
13. Pewaukee Waukesha County Technical College (May 1) Kickoff to Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Month 
14. MSF Event in Kentucky (May 5-7)
15. Janesville, Kutter Harley-Davidson Open House (May 13 & 14)
16. Wausau, Wausau Harley-Davidson Fire Dept. MDA Event (May 20 & 21)
17. Tomah, WI Car Show (Monday, May 30)
18. Elkhart Lake, WI Road America Super Bike Races (June 3-5)
19. Elkhart Lake, WI Road America Vintage Bike Races (June 10-12)
20. Janesville, Kutter Harley-Davidson MDA Event (June 17 & 18)
21. WI State HOG Two Rivers (June 23-26)
22. WI Blue Knights State Convention Mishicot (June 24-26)
23. Chippewa Falls, WI BMWRA (June 30-July 3)
24. Jefferson County Fair (July 6 & 7)
25. Madison Capital City Harley-Davidson Thunder Run (July 8 & 9)
26. Sauk City Sauk Prairie Harley-Davidson MDA/Freedom Ride (July 15 & 16)
27. Middleton, Yamaha Star Days (July 19-21 not confirmed)
28. Waukesha County Fair (July 22-24 not confirmed)
29. Monroe County Fair (July 29-30)
30. Green Lake County Fair (August 3-5)
31. Wisconsin State Fair (August 4-14 not confirmed)
32. Waushara County Fair, Wautoma (August  18-19)
33. WI Dells, Governors Highway Safety Conference (August 29-31)
34. Milwaukee Rally at Milwaukee Harley (September 1-4)
35. UW-Madison (September 6 & 7)
36. Northcentral Technical College, Wausau WMSP (September 9-11)
37. Tomahawk Fall Color Rally (September 15-18)
38. Oconomowoc Rock River HOG Ridin' to a Cure (September 23-25)
39. Kilbourn Fire Run in Wisconsin Dells (October 1 not confirmed)
40. Pine Bluff Slimey Crud Run (October 2 not confirmed)  
41. Portage Police & Fire (October 15)   
42. ???                                            

Life Is Graded On A Curve! What's Your Grade?

Life is graded on a curve! In 1997 2,116 motorcyclists’ lost their lives operating their bikes; figures more than doubled in 2008 to 5, 337! Part of the increase is due to the age of the rider and engine displacement. This combination of older riders on higher-powered motorcycles is partially responsible for a steady increase in motorcycle deaths from the late 1990s until 2004. Half of motorcycle fatalities in single vehicle crashes relate to problems negotiating a curve prior to a crash—almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle crashes occur at night (List of motorcycle deaths in U.S. by year). The age of those owning motorcycles over 40 years of age has also increased from 15.1% in 1980 to 43.7% in 1998. With age comes slower reflex times, unsteadiness and loss of dexterity. The average age of a Harley-Davidson owner has risen from 38 to 46 in the past decade!

Having said this, in order to lower the risk of crashes, motorcyclists must attend some form of safety education, mainly hands-on training. Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has two basic classes; the Basic Rider Course (BRC) and the Experienced Rider Course (ERC). Both classes teach students what they need to know to maintain a strategy to minimize risks. Risks associated with age, riding ability, other traffic, road conditions, weather, passenger, luggage, fatigue and drugs; with each of these comes an increased level of risk. Risks are compared to a step-ladder, each step is equal to a risk factor. As with a ladder, the base is wide and stable, the higher you climb, the more risks are being added, with that a higher degree of a crash developing. Riders need to constantly be aware of their surroundings. By keeping their head up and eyes aggressively searching ahead, they can maintain a 12 second anticipated path of travel. By searching well ahead of ones motorcycle and playing the “what-if” game, you stand a much higher degree of reacting to a situation before it becomes a risk and potential for a crash. Many riders know that intersections pose the most dangers for them and other traffic. Vehicles turning left in front of them because these drivers are not looking for motorcycles only cars. The next area where many crashes and/or fatalities occur is in the curves, hence the title of this article. Life is graded on a curve, actually life and death happens in the curve! By properly setting yourself up prior to the curve, you can be safer, see further into the curve and maintain traction control through the curve. How you do this, will result in a Life, yours!

MSF teaches Slow, Look, Press and Roll as the 4 steps to any curve. One must SLOW prior to the curve. This slowing must be enough to allow for a slight roll-on or increased speed in the turn, this is known as Entry Speed to a Turn. Whatever that speed is, it allows for a slight increase in speed while in the turn and helps increase your needed traction control through the turn. LOOK, by looking all the way through the turn, or as deep into a turn as one can, will allow for a smooth path of travel, not like “connecting the dots”! To help oneself Look into the turn, you must start every turn on the far outside portion of your lane. You need to take turns in an “outside-inside-outside” path of travel. By doing this, you will open the radius of the turn, helping to look further into the turn and allow yourself to increase speed, offering that important traction control. PRESS in the direction you want the motorcycle to lean and go. A slight PRESS on the left hand grip will lean the motorcycle to the left and the motorcycle will go to the left and vise-versa. The final step is the important ROLL step. This is the part where you roll-on the throttle or slightly increase speed to help maintain or increase traction control. Four things you NEVER want to do while in a curve is brake, roll-off the throttle, down shift or pull in the clutch. Any one of these four will result in loss of traction control and may result in a crash. Riders who crash during a curve normally enter the curve too fast, thus feel the need to slowdown. By remembering the 4-Step Process of Slow, Look, Press and Roll, you can maintain safety and minimize risks. Life on a motorcycle is judged on a curve. Ride free of Alcohol and Other Drugs, Wear All The Gear All The Time, Attend a Motorcycle Education Safety Class and Get Licensed to help with judging curves and your right to life! Practice riding within your ability and Maintain your motorcycle. Wisconsin Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club has introduced 5=Zero Campaign. By practicing the 5 personal choices  noted above we can all get closer to the goal of zero motorcycle deaths in Wisconsin!

Practice Safe Riding Don't Be Distracted

This newly created blog will address motorcycle safety. Ever wonder why with motorcyclist's making up a small percentage of motorized vehicles on Wisconsin roads, the number of fatalities continue to rise year after year? Studies have shown that many riders have never attended a motorcycle safety education course.

These courses range from beginner, move onto experienced, and then advanced training. No matter what your skill level may be, there is a class offered to help make you more proficient on your ride. No matter whether you ride a Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Ducati, Yamaha, Moto Guzzi, Buell or one of the many customs, practice safe riding skills. Motorcycling is inherently risky. A risk is defined by Wikipedia as, "Combination of the likelihood of an occurrence of a hazardous event or exposure(s) and the severity of injury or ill health that can be caused by the event or exposure(s)." Since motorcycling is risky, don't you want to manage these risks, so they don't turn into a hazard? Minimize the risks by getting trained.

Future articles will discuss key elements of safe riding; those being riding unimpaired, get trained and licensed, wear all the gear all the time, practice safe riding skills and maintaining your motorcycle. These 5 elements make-up 5=Zero, a Wisconsin initiative reducing motorcycle fatalities to ZERO! You can read about 5=Zero on my other blog v-twin ventures.

The State of Wisconsin received a federal grant and has partnered with The Blue Knights Wisconsin XVIII and Innocorp to create a mobile classroom. This classroom is entitled, "THE REF" (Rider Education Facility). In the coming weeks an article will address THE REF on this blog site. I have been hired as the Coordinator for THE REF and will introduce it to you the reader as well as publish an event schedule where you can experience what THE REF has to offer. Check back and read about THE REF and other motorcycle safety issues.

If you have ideas on future articles or want to publish and article on this site, please send them to me and I will try to post them. This site is a work in progress and I need your help in educating not only motorcycle riders, but those that drive those "caged" vehicles too.

Until later, Ride Safe, Sober, Straight and FREE!

WMSP THE REF Defined

What's all the excitement around Wisconsin's new mobile classroom? Wisconsin Department of Transportation & Bureau of Transportation Safety through a Federal Grant is promoting motorcycling safety programs in such a way it reaches ALL riders. THE REF (Transportable High-End Rider Education Facility) will provide an interactive approach to motorcycle safety. The classroom's mobility is key to delivering the product. By being mobile, THE REF will deliver motorcycle safety education to locations where riders, passengers and the public gather.

Nearly 80% of all motorcycle riders never have and never will take a rider education class. Sometimes even the simplest tip or survival technique can make the difference in living or dying. Since riders won't come to us, THE REF will go to them....to where they gather. Through a compelling display, riders will experience a non-intrusive and insightful way to learn to be both a better and safer rider. Along the way, somewhere, someday, one of them will survive, who otherwise would not have.

"Similar to other states, Wisconsin motorcycle deaths typically represent 14% of all traffic fatalities, yet account for but 6.8% of all vehicle registrations. This disparity is accomplished over a shortened riding season of less than 9 months. Here in 2009, we continue to record record-low traffic fatalities, with motorcycles currently representing more than 17% of all traffic deaths. Wisconsin ridership continues to climb rapidly, with a 61% increase in registration in just the past 5 years alone. Motorcycling is inherently dangerous, where over 90% of those involved in a traffic crash will suffer some degree of injury."-Major Daniel Lonsdorf, Director, Bureau of Transportation Safety Wisconsin.

What's on board THE REF? Interactive programming starts with 2 Honda SMARTrainers (Safe Motorcyclist Awareness & Recognition Trainer). A RiderCoach will facilitate students through the use of the SMARTrainers as well as a printout of how well the rider did. Another interactive program includes the use of several large screen LED monitors that will be used by RiderCoaches to show training videos as well as other presentations. In the rear of THE REF is a garage that houses 3 training motorcycles which will be used with MSF's newly created IME (Introductory Motorcycle Experience) Training. THE REF also will work with up to 4 seasoned riders with the help of 2 Law Enforcement Motor Officers as they conduct a street-riding experience.

It is an exciting time for the State of Wisconsin as we ZERO in on Zero fatalities in Wisconsin. If you request additional information on THE REF or would like to schedule THE REF at your event, please contact Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program THE REF Coordinator, Phil Neidner at phil.neidner@dot.wi.gov

Where to see THE REF: Suburban Harley-Davidson during The Milwaukee Rally, September 2-5, BMW Rally (Chula Vista/Wisconsin Dells) September 10-12, Tomahawk Fall Color Rally September 16-19, Ride the Ribbon Breast Cancer Ride in Oconomowoc September 25 & 26.

Remember 5=Zero; Ride Unimpaired of drugs & Alcohol, Wear All the Gear All the Time, Get Trained & Licensed, Ride Within Your Ability and Always Maintain Your Motorcycle. Keep in mind these 5 objectives will lead to Zero fatalities in Wisconsin, a vision we can all live with!

The Person in the Mirror

Consider a warm sunny summer day in Wisconsin; a perfect day for a motorcycle ride. As the weather changes, clouds form and change in temperature and suddenly rain starts to fall. You choose to stop riding because of the changes in being seen, increased stopping distances, less traction on the roadways and because you just don't want to get wet. All valid reasons to stop riding until the storm passes.

Now, consider the choice to consume alcohol and then get on a motorcycle. Why is it that you will stop riding due to rain but continue riding after consuming alcohol? 46% of motorcycle fatalities involve just the cycle, no other traffic; while 27% involve another vehicle failing to yield the right of way. Everytime we hear of a motorcycle fatality, we are quick to blame the other vehicle has the cause!
Motorcyclist's need to LOOK OUT.......................for themselves! The person in the mirror is to blame for most motorcycle fatalities. 96% of all motorcycle crashes involve injury to rider and/or passenger!

As it starts to rain and you choose to stop riding because it is safer and you want to minimize the risks of riding, make the same choice when it comes to consuming alcohol. Motorcycling is inherently dangerous because of the risks.

Ride Smart, Ride Safe, Ride Sober ! Be in control at all times.

Free To Ride, Free to Choose

Project Green-Yellow-Red is a campaign to reduce (eliminate) alcohol related crashes by motorcyclists. In the 1st year alone, Project G-Y-R led to a 35% reduction in alcohol related crashes in counties where it has been implemented, compared to a 2% reduction in other counties here in Wisconsin.

Green Choose to ride sober. The safest choice is to never ride after drinking even one drink of alcohol.

Yellow When a rider chooses to consume alcoholic beverages and ride, the program provides options to encourage moderating the amount of alcohol consumed over a period of time. The goal is to reduce the chance that the rider reaches a level of impairment that will likely result in an alcohol related crash. Options include using server intervention to reduce total alcoholic drink consumption through special promotions, and extending the amount of time between alcohol drinks for drinking riders.

Red When a rider reaches a level of impairment at which they should not be riding and need an option to safely store their motorcycle and get home. Options include suggesting the rider use the motorcycle storage container or other secure storage option provided by the tavern. Securing the motorcycle at the tavern allows the rider to leave their motorcycle behind and get a safe ride home; promote the use of Safe Ride among drinking riders along with using the container; facilitate transport of the motorcycle and the impaired rider back to their home.

For additional information regarding this campaign or to become a contributor to Project G-Y-R contact; Michael Aguilar at Innocorp, Ltd. P.O. Box 930064 Verona, WI 53593 608-848-5557 (Direct Office).

If you have an establishment which serves alcohol and the biking community, contact Michael Aguilar to find out how you too can participate in Project G-Y-R! The biking community will be glad you did!

Zero Motorcycle Fatalities in WI

By now most riders have been hitting the asphalt jungle in search of that perfect curve to lean into. Others are in some process of getting the motorcycle out of winter storage. No matter where you find yourself, being ready to ride means more than just dressing in layers and wearing a helmet.

Wisconsin's Blue Knights Chapter XVIII along with Innocorp, LTD have teamed up to create a unique motorcycle safety initiative called 5=Zero. Through a grant from the Department of Transportation this initiative for motorcycle safety is geared towards zero deaths in Wisconsin of riders and their passengers.

This program is based on maintaining all 5 safety points; Ride Unimpaired, Wear All the Gear All the Time, Get Trained and Licensed, Ride within Your Limits (Use safe riding practices) and Maintain Your Motorcycle.

May is motorcycle awareness month. Please be alert and share the road with us! Those that ride, be smart, practice your skills by signing up for a motorcycle education safety class. These classes will help you avoid becoming a statistic! Studies have shown most motorcycle fatalities are those that never attended an education class and who rode while under the influence.

The risks are high, the risks are real. The ability to choose is up to you! Don't compound the risk of riding by adding speed, fatigue, alcohol, other drugs or inexperience. Think of these risks as a ladder, the higher to climb (the more risks you take), the greater the chance of falling (crashing). Be a survivor, your loved ones will be glad you are!

With your help we can all meet the objective of 5=Zero in Wisconsin!