Roll me away
Bikers encounter unique hazards and pleasures
April 6, 2020
Pictured above, 2009 Yamaha Road Star 1700, owned by Scott Roberts, of Cassville. Photo by Caden Swearingen (CS Photography)
Caden Swearingen
As summer approaches, so do motorcycle riders on Missouri roads. May is National Motorcycle Awareness Month. Because motorcycles don't have the same traction as a vehicle with four wheels, their drivers face unique hazards they'd like others to be aware of.
Motorcyclists ride for a variety of reasons. For some, it's a stress-reliever; for others, it's a great way to spend time with friends and family. Whether you're a solo rider or a socializer, freedom - and a short escape from the real world - can be found on the open road.
But while trying to escape the real world, bikers can face real-world problems, including distracted drivers, grass blown onto the road from mowers, and materials - including gravel, logs, furniture, even animals - blown from the back of open trailers and trucks.
Distracted drivers are always on the road, no matter the season, often on their phones and not paying attention. They're a big hazard to everyone, but especially to motorcyclists, primarily because it's much easier to see a car coming than a motorcycle.
"I cannot count how many people I pass or pull up beside on a road who are looking at their cell phones," Russ Pendergraft, of Cassville, said.
Because of its high water content, freshly mown grass can become as slippery as ice for motorcycles when it falls on roadways.
"Many people who cut grass close to the road don't often think of the grass on the road being dangerous to motorcyclists," Rosie Roberts, of Cassville, said. "It's like ice to us motorcycle riders, though. Stops become uncontrollable. Plus, it is hard to look ahead down the road, while focusing on the hazard below us."
Spring is the time for gardening. Prior to hauling a load of gravel, soil or mulch, gardeners should cover and secure it so it doesn’t blow into the road way.
"Loose gravel on a roadway is really dangerous when you're coming around a corner, especially after a heavy rain," Russ Pendergraft said.
With yard sales also blossoming, people are cleaning out their houses and garages, getting rid of clutter. It's important to strap down your loads so your cast-offs don't give someone else a send-off.
When the weather warms, more animals are on the go - including deer, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, opossums, groundhogs and turtles - presenting a menagerie of opportunity for disaster for motorcyclists.
A few years back, Larry and Angie Periman, of Cassville, were coming home from Larry's class reunion around midnight. While driving down Highway 37, a deer ran out and hit their motorcycle. They thought it was a small dog.
A truck coming from the opposite direction saw what actually happened, and turned around to check on them. Both Larry and Angie were taken to the hospital by ambulance, both with serious injuries.
"There have been so many deaths due to deer hitting motorcycles (or vice versa), it's important for people to watch for them," said Angie.
Although there are many hazards in the roadway for everyone, there are a lot of preventative measures we can take to protect others. Even the smallest thing can save a life.
"We are very vigilant about our safety. We pay close attention to other drivers, scan for possible hazards and ride within the constraints of our abilities," Kelly Tolbert, of Cassville, said. "We all have stories of near misses and accidents caused by road hazards, but they're worth it, just to feel the wind on my face and feel the freedom that only a motorcycle can provide."
David Holenda, of Cassville, summed it up nicely.
"Riding is a part of who I am; it's not a hobby or something I do for entertainment. I ride because that's where I belong; it's my happy place. Whether I'm by myself or running handlebar -to-handlebar with my family, it's where I belong," he said.
As summer approaches, so do motorcycle riders on Missouri roads. May is National Motorcycle Awareness Month. Because motorcycles don't have the same traction as a vehicle with four wheels, their drivers face unique hazards they'd like others to be aware of.
Motorcyclists ride for a variety of reasons. For some, it's a stress-reliever; for others, it's a great way to spend time with friends and family. Whether you're a solo rider or a socializer, freedom - and a short escape from the real world - can be found on the open road.
But while trying to escape the real world, bikers can face real-world problems, including distracted drivers, grass blown onto the road from mowers, and materials - including gravel, logs, furniture, even animals - blown from the back of open trailers and trucks.
Distracted drivers are always on the road, no matter the season, often on their phones and not paying attention. They're a big hazard to everyone, but especially to motorcyclists, primarily because it's much easier to see a car coming than a motorcycle.
"I cannot count how many people I pass or pull up beside on a road who are looking at their cell phones," Russ Pendergraft, of Cassville, said.
Because of its high water content, freshly mown grass can become as slippery as ice for motorcycles when it falls on roadways.
"Many people who cut grass close to the road don't often think of the grass on the road being dangerous to motorcyclists," Rosie Roberts, of Cassville, said. "It's like ice to us motorcycle riders, though. Stops become uncontrollable. Plus, it is hard to look ahead down the road, while focusing on the hazard below us."
Spring is the time for gardening. Prior to hauling a load of gravel, soil or mulch, gardeners should cover and secure it so it doesn’t blow into the road way.
"Loose gravel on a roadway is really dangerous when you're coming around a corner, especially after a heavy rain," Russ Pendergraft said.
With yard sales also blossoming, people are cleaning out their houses and garages, getting rid of clutter. It's important to strap down your loads so your cast-offs don't give someone else a send-off.
When the weather warms, more animals are on the go - including deer, skunks, raccoons, armadillos, opossums, groundhogs and turtles - presenting a menagerie of opportunity for disaster for motorcyclists.
A few years back, Larry and Angie Periman, of Cassville, were coming home from Larry's class reunion around midnight. While driving down Highway 37, a deer ran out and hit their motorcycle. They thought it was a small dog.
A truck coming from the opposite direction saw what actually happened, and turned around to check on them. Both Larry and Angie were taken to the hospital by ambulance, both with serious injuries.
"There have been so many deaths due to deer hitting motorcycles (or vice versa), it's important for people to watch for them," said Angie.
Although there are many hazards in the roadway for everyone, there are a lot of preventative measures we can take to protect others. Even the smallest thing can save a life.
"We are very vigilant about our safety. We pay close attention to other drivers, scan for possible hazards and ride within the constraints of our abilities," Kelly Tolbert, of Cassville, said. "We all have stories of near misses and accidents caused by road hazards, but they're worth it, just to feel the wind on my face and feel the freedom that only a motorcycle can provide."
David Holenda, of Cassville, summed it up nicely.
"Riding is a part of who I am; it's not a hobby or something I do for entertainment. I ride because that's where I belong; it's my happy place. Whether I'm by myself or running handlebar -to-handlebar with my family, it's where I belong," he said.
Shown above, the 1994 Harley Davidson Softail Custom owned by Lehi Marion, of Monett