March 1, 2010

Please contact webmaster@roadguardians.org with comments.

In this issue:

1. A word from the Director: Biker's Betterment Conference: by Vicki Sanfelipo

2. Featured Article: ALL OVER THE MAP: Route Planning on a Computer: by John Garley

3. What's New at ASMI?

4. Member Spotlight: Aggie Zimny

5. Partner News: Hardison & Cochran Partner With Road Guardians to Promote Motorcycle Safety: by Bill Campbell

In the next issue:
1. A word from the Director by Vicki Sanfelipo
2. Website features by Andrea Lyman
3. Featured Biker-Owned Business
4. Safety Corner by Chris Hawver
5. The Educated Biker by Trauma Mama
6. Wacky Pic of the Month!

A word from the Director
Biker's Betterment Conference
by Vicki Sanfelipo

With the Biker’s Betterment Conference (BBC) in Chicago only 4 weeks away there is no time to delay. Register now! You have never seen a more star-studded cast of motorcycle safety experts in one place at one time!!!! Scheduled near an airport hub for ease of access, we were able to cut your cost of travel as well as arrange a very special rate of only $75.00/night for up to 4 people. Shuttles run every 30 minutes so no need to rent a car and pay for parking. Currently we have people registered from CT, NY, VA, OH, IN, IL, WI, IL, NC, MN, IA, ID, CA, WA, TX, and more! Don’t miss Lee Parks who is our featured guest speaker or Al Hydeman from the MSF with the Honda simulator. Bobbie Carlson from Cape Fox military training, Dr. Thomas from the Snell foundation, Imre Szauter from the AMA, Mike Aguilar from Innocorp, Michael Jordan from NHTSA explaining free resources available and Rescue Riders who will do a crash simulation with PACT/ABCSS response are only some of the things that will be presented. Raffle give away prizes will be given out at each seminar. Vendors & Special networking bonus free with full conference registration: Friday night cocktail party with free beer and wine! Be sure to stay overnight for maximum enjoyment. Start your riding season out right. There is always something you can do to be a Better Biker!

Sign up soon, as the special hotel rate expires on March 12, 2010. Online registration can be found here: Events

All the best,
Vicki Sanfelipo
Executive Director of Accident Scene Management, Inc
a 501c3 Non-Profit organization

ALL OVER THE MAP
Route Planning on a Computer
by John Garley 02/2010

GPS is a great tool, but it is programmed to use direct quick routes on major roads. GPS cannot be counted on to guide you to meandering scenic roads. My favorite route-planning tool is on Harley-Davidson’s® web site. Fear not; it is available to all, and for free. Ride Planner allows you to plan or define a route of preferred roads, determines timing of similar routes for your comparison, and creates turn-by-turn instructions. Additional functions such as saving a route, sending a route via email, and downloading into a GPS are available if you own one of their bikes and are a member of HD’s national Harley Owners Group®.

Just the same, let’s look at what anyone can do, on any computer (i.e. a computer in a hotel lobby while on the road), and at no cost. First, get into www.harleydavidson.com, look for EXPERIENCE, which is near the middle of the top of the page, and then click on RIDE PLANNER. If you don’t mind remembering long www.harleydavidson.com/rideplanner strings of text, you could enter to get to this same place. Either way, this is a good address to add to your browser’s list of favorites.

Routes run from a “Location” to another “Location.” Let’s plan a route from Canyon Village within Yellowstone National Park to Cody Wyoming by way of Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

There are several ways to set the start Location. One way is to zoom-in, click-on the map and drag it to keep the northwestern corner of Wyoming in the middle of the computer screen, and zoom-in some more, etc.

There are several ways to set the start Location. One way is to zoom-in, click-on the map and drag it to keep the northwestern corner of Wyoming in the middle of the computer screen, and zoom-in some more, etc.

The map will zoom-in and center on the Location (Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming) and another (blank) Location box will appear.

In the second box, type cody wy (or Cody, Wyoming 82414 if you are uptight… it’s all the same).

We have a route, and a prediction that is will take just over 2 hours to cover 86 miles, but is does not start exactly at Canyon Village nor runs on Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

Put the mouse pointer over the #1 location, click-and-drag it up to Canyon Village and let go of the mouse. Now it’s a 2:18 trip that covers 93 miles.

Put the pointer anywhere over the red line, (a pop-up will indicate Drag to change route). Left-click and drag up to Highway 296 (Chief Joeseph) and let go.

Now you have the route. The little red flag on Chief Joeseph is called a “Waypoint” and Waypoints can be added as necessary to select the roads you want. In this example, we only needed one Waypoint.

This of course was a simple example. Route planning can be made by setting a start and end location, followed by setting Waypoints to identify preferred roads. Alternately, set a starting Location, then place the mouse pointer over a preferred road, right click and pick the +Add waypoint option. Do this over and over again until you are near your destination, then right click and select the + Add location option. I prefer this technique.

Putting the pointer over Locations or Waypoints, and then right-clicking will indicate that you can remove (delete) them or convert them. Changing a Waypoint into a Location is useful if you want a time/distance estimate to some mid-point in your route. You also have the option of converting Locations into Waypoints as well, but always end a route with a Location.

Just above the zoom-bar is a series of three boxes ROAD AERIAL MIXED. They allow satellite (photographic) images to overlay the route. This additional information slows down the speed of moving the map, but it can be helpful. For example, in Minnesota (below), a road flanked by cropland does not have many trees and will be fairly flat.

A near-by road surrounded by trees that has not been farmed probably has some hills and tends to be my preferred route. AERIAL and MIXED views allow you to fine tune road selection when you have several ways to run a route.

In the bottom left corner are features to SAVE EMAIL and PRINT. Only the PRINT is functional unless you are a member of Harley Owners Group® and have established a sign-in name and password. The printed route provides left-right or turn-by-turn instructions, and small maps of the whole route as well as detail maps of the start and end. The top of the page indicates additional options to omit the small maps, omit the turn-by-turn instructions, or print a single (larger) map of the whole route. Hint: print the large overview map in landscape mode to get the best size image.

Top

What's New at ASMI?
by Vicki Sanfelipo

ASMI continues to develop partnerships as they strengthen their position in motorcycle safety. ASMI presentations have been given at International Motorcycle Shows across the country with the last one for the year being in Daytona, FL during Bike Week at the Ocean Center. If you are down there for Bike Week stop in and say Hi!!! ASMI will be located near the seminar hub.

We are continuing to seek partners in motorcycle safety which benefits everyone! From our website to our student materials there are many ways that we can work within our own motorcycling community to make it better. To assist us with our partnerships we have brought on yet another staff member. Meet Dave Mackie!

Dave has a unique story to tell. When he got married he did what many men before him have done, he gave up his Harley to have a family. Well, he didn't do that without making a deal with his wife who wanted to have many children. He said "when you get your Harley, I get mine". They proceeded to have 6 children whose first initials spell the word Harley. Hannah, Aimee, Rubie, Lydia, Esther, and Yorrick. Staying true to his word, Dave bought a FLHT once baby #6 arrived! Dave now has the responsibility of maintaining both Harleys and is a busy man. He wants to explain the benefits of connecting to the most comprehensive Motorcycle Safety and Biker-Owned Business site on the World Wide Web!

Dave would love to hear from you. See what he can do for you to make your business stand out on our web site!

Contact Dave at 262-436-0279 or dave@roadguardians.org.

Top

Member Spotlight
by Aggie Zimny

IN MEMORY OF ED. THE MAN WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOVE.

I was about four years old when my grandfather found a new punishment for my misbehavior at Church on Sundays. What four year old can stand for over an hour in a crowded place without letting a peep, follow directions and not complain?
Certainly not me. I was interested in everything around me.

There is some old lady’s purse that was just sitting there, opened and exposing all her belongings. I wondered if she had candy?

The little girls huge ribbons neatly braided into her hair. I often thought how would they look in my hair. If I had hair to braid that is.

My recent adventure with scissors didn’t end very well, and my parents were still trying to find some punishment for me that would teach me a lesson. According to my parents, I was uncontrollable brat, and when my grandfather finally stepped up, and decided that he was going to “discipline” me I wasn’t sure what he really meant. I guess he realized that I needed more stimulation than an average toddler, and he made me do awful things.

First, he started with teaching me how to read. I guess that explains sudden increase of grey hair on his head. Hours of torture were eased over the winter months, because there wasn’t really anything else to do, and I picked up reading rather quickly after the rough start.

Writing wasn’t quite as pleasurable. Being born a “lefty”, back in the day was not a cool thing. Of course I quickly shaped up and made my right hand do things it didn’t want to, and sloppy letters were introduced to the eyes of my parents. They didn’t like it.

Back to more practice for me. I complied just so I wouldn’t have to show slap stick marks on my hands later.

Spring arrived, and suddenly my grandfather become a genius. He found a new punishment for me that did not involve pen and paper or boring books.

In his old, slightly leaning to the side shed, what he called a garage, was his beast.
The Beast had not been seen by anyone, as he was working on it for many months.
Honestly, I always thought it was some kind of a big dog, or other farm animal, and was afraid to ask questions.

All black and shiny with lots of chrome, The Beast was sitting there, staring at me.
That chrome was what I was suppose to polish every Sunday from now on. Little that my grandfather knew, I actually loved making swirlies on that shiny surface and looking at my own reflection in the huge headlight. The Beast wasn’t as scary as I first imagined.
This punishment I can live with.

My grandfather realized that he had sparked unusual interest in this bratty four year old, and with a smile on his face, he offered me a first ride! My very first ride! I was ecstatic, even though I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. This thing actually works?

With funky goggles covering most of my freckled face, and grandmothers huge shawl wrapped around my head and arms just in case I wouldn’t get cold it had to be the “Kodak moment” of the sixties.

With a little cough and loud rattle we rolled out of the neighborhood into the streets. Holding on to his jacket, I was frozen in place, and afraid to open my eyes.
“ How did you like it?” he asked once we were back home, and all I could remember was the feeling of the cool wind on my face, the smell of the country, flowers and fields.
And occasional car fumes. My ears were still holding the sounds of nature. The noise of the car engines have never sounded this way before. “I like it, grandpa.” I remember saying, and running into my room.

Every day of my life I have spent dreaming of having my own beast some day.
Later in school I would sit and watch older guys start their mopeds, and was wondering if I ever have one of my own. Mopeds were the next exciting thing next to what I really wanted. Since the big beast was less realistic at the time, I kept on dreaming.

I was very grateful when a kid in my class offered me to try his motorized bicycle. It will never be the same, but it has engine, and makes noise. That’s all that mattered to me. The sounds of the running motor were like a therapy to my soul.

My dream didn’t come true until I was in my late twenties. My very first motorcycle wasn’t black with chrome, but rather red, and girly. Perfect fit for me, even though some said it was too powerful for a newbie, and that I was going to kill myself on it.
I let them believe they’re right, but I know, that everyone has their own destiny.

Today, my grandfather rides with me everywhere I go. It is him, who started me on this love for chrome, and not one day goes by when I don’t thank him for all that he has though me over the short time we were together.

My new black machine is shiny, chrome well-polished, only I don’t call him The Beast. His name is Ed.

Top

Partner News
Hardison & Cochran Partner With Road Guardians to Promote Motorcycle Safety
by Bill Campbell

When the weather turns warm and the sun stays out longer, some residents of North Carolina may opt to go with two wheels rather than four in their daily travel. The subtracted number of wheels on the road leads to the elevated risk of serious injury in an accident. In hopes to promote motorcycle safety across the Tar Heel state, the personal injury law firm of Hardison & Cochran has teamed up with the nation wide motorcycle safety program, Road Guardians.

“In our dealings with Vicki and Accident Scene Management, Inc., we found out that she didn’t work with just anyone. You had to earn her respect. Due to that fact, we were flattered and humbled when Vicki approached us with this opportunity,” said Hardison & Cochran’s Managing Partner Benjamin T. Cochran. “The more quality education that can be distributed, the more safe we all will be on the road. Road Guardians will be, without doubt, a driving force in those efforts and we’re proud as a firm to be a part of it,” added Cochran.

The partnership between Hardison & Cochran and ASMI began when associate attorney, Kimberly Miller, participated in the Accident Scene Management Inc. program in 2008. After completion of the educational course, she began speaking at ASMI events on the topics of Good Samaritan Laws in North Carolina and motorcycle insurance and still presents across the state to this day.

Miller’s last presentation, at Harley-Davidson of Charlotte in Matthews, NC on February 20th, had two familiar faces in the class room as Cochran and Hardison & Cochran Marketing Director, William Campbell, participated in the Bystander Assistance Program. Cochran and Campbell completed the beginner and advanced sections of the class.

“Not only does the ASMI class teach you the vital procedures you need to know, it teaches you the very small details, which will ensure the safety of not only the injured, but those around the scene,” said Cochran. “I walked away very informed,” he added.

Cochran, Miller and Campbell will all be attending the Biker Betterment Conference in Chicago at the end of March. Miller and two other attorneys will be speaking on Good Samaritan Laws, Duty to Act, obligations, interfering and motorcycle insurance. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to come discuss these topics in Chicago at the BBC. I’m confident the panel discussion will educate all those in attendance,” said Miller.

Pictures from the Charlotte, North Carolina Accident Scene Management, Inc event can be viewed on Hardison & Cochran’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lawyernc.

Top

Link to us!

Simply copy the code below the banner and paste it into your HTML document.

Thank you! Different sizes available upon request to members@roadguardians.org.

Top