Have you noticed an increase in motorcycles on the road in recent days? The 80th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally starts tomorrow in Sturgis, South Dakota. Last year, approximately a half-million bikers attend the 10-day rally.
Riding a motorcycle requires some of the same skills we utilize every day as responsibly armed Americans, including situational awareness, conflict avoidance and knowing our escape routes if something goes wrong.
When you’re driving (or riding), what self-defense skills are you practicing?
If you’re attending Sturgis this year, be sure to look for our team!
Normally I would watch the influx from Canada, down I-15, going to Sturgis. I guess that won’t be a thing this year. I will have to say, I ended up there once, by chance. That would violate so many of my rules that you won’t be finding me going. Insane comes to mine. Best of luck to you and keep 2 on the pavement…
I keep a good turning radius distance from stopped vehicles (stop lights), and use either the outside or inside lane (not middle if at all possible). I drive while looking 3 cars ahead. I pay attention to people at corners as I approach, and assess accordingly. I mostly park away from other vehicles, and I will be watching under mine as I approach, and sometimes walk around it first. If there is something fishy, I may even walk past it first. I do this in rest areas too.
Head on a swivel. Read driver’s eye and hand movements. Watch tires for turning from a stop. Be seen-bright gear, bright light. Ride in a part of the lane where people can see you and where you have an exit path. Don’t leave yourself no escape routes. I’ve had to use the sidewalk before…but knew it was an option.
Drive down the tire track, not the middle of the lane “oil drip” track. Occupy your lane so 4+ wheeled vehicles don’t try to share it with you, plus it keeps an escape route open (impossible to do in a middle lane). Never drive along in someone’s blind spot. Never forget you are in a school zone after sitting thru a red light beside a Police car
Sturgis is crazy! Since i have had 2 motorcycle accidents, when I lived in Great Falls, I am WAY more cautious and aware! Starting to ride again after many years. Starting from scratch, mastering the basics.
A relative of mine pointed out, that once a perpetrator is physically close within inches, it changes one’s ability to self-defend. I’m sure there are some free to read trainings and videos, including on how to avoid or reduce risk.
She reminded me of scenarios like in the video snippet below, from the film ‘Rust Creek’ (2019). Notice how easy it is for almost any one to get close to an unsuspecting innocent. If seen in slow motion, one can think about what you can do to not allow the perps to get close, and think about how you can lessen your own risk of legal consequences. In this scene, two older large males walk care-freely on the sides (10 & 2 O-Clock positions) of a smaller young female. The first 10 min. of the actual film [on Netflix] has the full version of this road-side scene (educational).
