I think the rant is a bit overboard.
There is a lot more to the S/TEP class than riding around a parking lot and while practice on your own is a good thing, there is no way you will get as much out of un-coached practice alone as you would from taking a class and then going out and practicing what you were taught.
That said, I am not a big fan of the added sidecar/trike endorsement that Washington requires.I think it is an unnecessary impediment to people getting into our corner of the sport. Given the requirement for that 3 wheel endorsement in Washington, the state is failing to meet it's own statute guidelines and cheating the folks that live outside the Seattle area.
I do think the S/TEP training program, subsidized by rider registrations is a very good idea as are the basic motorcycle classes offered solo riders. BUT the money should be absolutely earmarked for training, not subject to budget raids by the politicos, the state should be kicking in additional money and training opportunities should be much more available, throughout the country. It is a shame that they are not, just because it is a proven way to reduce accidents.
I still think safety is a personal responsibility, and risk is
a personal choice to be made freely by individuals.
When actions significantly affect others, then regulation
is reasonable. I believe that the government is trying
to legislate away all risk. The fact that in Seattle an
adult is required by law to wear a bicycle helmet is one
of the clearer examples (it's county wide, actually).
Very few bicyclists are killed by head injuries which
they would have otherwise survived had they been wearing
a helmet.
Motorcyclists should be free to choose what risk level they
are willing to accept in the learning process. There are
not hundreds of trikes or sidecar riders crashing, let
alone hurting others.
The classes are fine, and I may decide to take one, but
it should be my decision. People who don't think they really
need to be there often make lousy students. If I decide to
go, I do know that I will learn valuable skills, but I am
convinced there are other ways to acquire those skills. Books,
videos, practice, and mentoring are a few.
There are just too many laws regulating behaviors that
are not the government's responsibility. It's getting to
the point where I have to get a landscaping permit and
environmental impact study to mow my lawn! Let's not keep
letting the government make decisions in every facet of
life for us. I don't want the government as a father figure.
Hey, Jones,
You're preaching to the choir. The place for your rant is in Olympia.
I had over 4 years of the pricey #7 Washington endorsement left when I dropped it and I moved back to Idaho and bought a license in a ride free State. It's great having the right to choice.
Lonnie
As far as I know, the classes are a matter of choice. The endorsement is required.
The classes are a choice to some extent... there is heavy
incentives to take the classes (like insurance breaks and
test waiver).
I used to not care about helmet laws... until the time
I was moving my motorcycle a few spaces in a parking lot
and almost got a ticket.
There is a Wednesday night classic car cruise at the A&W near
where we live. I called my wife and said "Why don't I meet you &
the kids there after work. When I got there, there was another bike,
so I parked next to him in the same parking spot.
My wife got there, I put my riding gear in her car.
We decided to have pizza instead of A&W, as there is a pizza
parlor in the same parking lot nearby. I saw that there
were a lot more classic cars there now, and the other bike
had left, so now there were classic cars surrounding my bike.
I decided the car guys would probably like to have that
parking space. So I told my wife to go ahead of me to
the pizza place and I'll catch up after moving my bike.
My gear was still locked in her car, but since I was only
going 50 yards at 10 mph on private property, I should
be okay w/o the helmet. I was going slower than the
policeman on the mountain bike wearing the cheap bicycle
helmet... the one who yelled "Pull it over, RIGHT NOW"
I explained it to him, and said politely that I didn't
think it would be an issue on private property.
He was going to write me a ticket until I said
"You know what burns me... I was moving my bike
to be polite to the classic car group, and you're writing
me a ticket for that"
He finally relented. I suspect someone at dispatch might
have told him to drop it (he did go on his radio at
some point).
But I am sick of public safety codes.
I'm convinced that the police will shoot you for your own
safety if they have to do so to enforce your safety.
So, now I can't legally even try a sidecar rig w/o getting
the enorcement first. Parking lots are private property,
but are a public place, so the laws can be enforced (see
my helmet post).
It is just unnecessary legislation.
If there were no requirement for endorcement, many people
would not take the classes; thus the class becomes a de facto
requirement, or at least has heavy incentives.
I'm not disrespecting the classes. They are probably excellent.
I have taken boater safety classes, and recommend them
I also recommend the MSF classes to new riders.
But it seems a bit silly to me that I have been riding for
30 years, could teach an MSF class with the knowledge I
have accumulated by reading, mentoring and experience...
Yet I have to take the course to get an insurance break.
If the course were not government sanctioned and an alternative
to the riding test, I doubt that would be the case.
I'll probably take the course when my son is old enough
to take it. I don't need it right now; fortunately the
one bit of freedom that remains in Washington is that
insurance is not a requirement.
I have plenty of medical and life insurance, and accept the
level of financial risk of not having motorcycle liability.
In the unlikely event that I do lots of damage and survive,
I can always claim bankruptcy.
I agree that idiot proofing the world is not a very productive path to take as a society, and it sounds like the bicycle cop was a dick.
I think heavy incentives to promote a proven safety program are just fine. You should get an insurance break if you take a driving class. The DOL should make it easier to get a license if you get training. The training should be readily available, and it is generally not a money maker, so that means some sort of public support is needed.
Training reduces accidents. Lower accident rates mean lower health care costs, a good deal of which are subsidized by the public. On the road you not only put yourself at risk but your actions affect the safety of your passengers and of other drivers as well as bystanders. Your competence IS a matter of public concern and not just a personal free choice issue. Driver's safety programs are not the same as helmet laws.
While I see your point, I believe the benefits don't
outweigh the costs (to personal freedom).
I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.
Maybe we can talk about it face to face someday. You're
only about 3 hours south of me, and taking one of your
adventure sidecar classes appeals to me.
Obviously not soon, since I don't have a sidecar or a dual
purpose bike, but after I get some of my current hobbies out
of my system I might be able to justify a new pursuit.
BTW, if you hear of a sidcar oriented event in the Puget Sound
area (especially Kitsap County) email or PM me.
Thanks.
The classes like Vernon do are great. Any training is a good thing. We offer training by appointment at our shop as do some others. No, it isn't 'official' so to speak.
In a nutshell training is a good thing but the mandatory law which is in Washington State stinks!! Oh no doubt some will try and get similar legislation into other states...and...of course some will think it is just wonderful. Motive? Oh look what a great thing we did just for you.
Oh well.
Quote at top of page today said:
Those who wish to appear wise among fools, among the wise seem foolish.>Quintilian< - (Added by: RumpStun)
Mark,
You haven't been able to "try out" any motorcycle legally in WA since MC endorsements were instituted, with or without a sidecar. At least a portion of this tax goes toward training subsidy unlike most taxes in WA that just go into the General (Slush) fund.
Re: "The freedom of no mandatory insurance".
Explain that one to a friend of mine who also thought insurance was a frivilous expense. One day he wasn't paying much attention and ran into the back of a car containing two(2)welfare cases, one of whom was pregnant and both of whom sustained "grevious" injurys. His bike suffered a bent front wheel and one fork tube. He wasn't even ejected from it.
After much legal hassle and lawyers fees the case was mediated and he settled out by promising to pay $600.00 a month to the "injured" parties for 42 months.
He now rides insured (and doesn't snivel about it).
Lonnie
Another inequity in my opinion is:
Why do you have to have a conventional winged aircraft license to obtain a helicopter "endorsement".
L.
You can only hope people like that will die in a fiery crash
as poetic justice... with their lawyer in the car.
It's sad that courts keep letting people get away with frivolous lawsuits.
I didn't realized fixed wing was a prerequisite for rotorcraft license.
You're right, they should be seperate. Fixed wing is so much easier to
fly... it's almost like requiring a sailplane or hang glider license
before getting powered fixed wing.
Still, in most states you can try out a sidecar rig if you have a
motorcycle endorsement. I can always hop over to Idaho when I am
visiting family in Newport, WA.
I'll be doing the Pend Oreille poker paddle this year, so maybe I'll
head over to see some sidecar rigs (especially if I sell my FZR).
Speaking of slush fund... did y'all see the article about how the
state has been selling organ donors parts to private companies
and putting the money in the general fund?
You going to the First Ever NW Regional Sidecar Rally in Hayden Lake this weekend?
http://adventuresidecar.com/firstever1.htm
I have a question. I'm not being a smart alec or asking
with an agenda, I'm honestly curious...
How are the safety statistics for sidecars?
Example... Sailplanes and Commercial aviation are similar.
Next in safety comes General Aviation and Hang Gliders (similar statistically)
Then comes Ultralights (I would guess paragliders are in this range statistically)
I'm wondering how sidecar rigs compare in their safety record
statistically to motorcycles and automobiles.
Are they easier to see (except the Gear Up, of course 😉
Do they tend to do better because of older, less squidly operators?
Thanks.
Due to the small ratio of sidecars to solo bikes I know of no states that separate the different motorcycle classified vehicles (Solo, Sidecar and Trike) in their crash statistics. Some may separate on road vs off road use but I'm not sure of that.
Sidehacks do command a bit more respect from the cagers due to a larger profile than a solo bike and at night that sidecar running light on one side can be mistaken for a larger vehicle with one headlight out. So they might give you a wider berth in that event.
It seems that most of the motoring public, regardless of age or gender, will not give the right of way to anything that is not bigger or more intimidating than their rig.
Lonnie
I'm also wondering about single vehicle and also
accidents where the sidecar pilot is at fault, especially
if it has factors somehow unique to sidecars
(like dropping the flying sidecar while lane splitting)
Okay, that last sentence is me being a smart aleck...
I could only resist for so long, but I am actually serious.
Also, I wonder how much the sidecar might protect the pilot
in a collision, both by being a buffer, and by keeping
the bike from falling down and sliding on the pavement.
