In defense of motorcycle riders

Kenneth Hellstern of Fox Lake recently wrote a letter to Fence Post headlined "Traffic laws apply to motorcycles, right."

He complained that motorcycles do not obey the laws.

I am a senior citizen who rode a cycle in high school in 1956, and I started back again in 1978, riding safely up to today. I also drive a car. Motorcycles are dangerous, even if you are very careful, but mainly because of auto and truck drivers. You never hear of motorcyclists colliding with each other -- it's usually with the auto or truck drivers who probably don't notice them, don't care enough to give them leeway as the rules-of-the-road say to do, or don't realize how vulnerable motorcyclists really are.

Some annoying autos/trucks seem to enjoy racing or passing motorcycles, but many kind people do give me their right-of-way, and I thank those for protecting me.

I agree with Mr. Hellstern that some have loud or no mufflers. I don't, but in motorcyclists' defense, they claim that the noise lets you know they are around, for safety reasons. Likewise, that's also why we must ride with our lights on during daylight hours.

Mr. Hellstern also complained that motorcyclists don't dim their lights at night. I personally never noticed motorcycles doing this, but I have seen many auto/truck drivers doing this very same thing. There are many more cars than bikes, and many more offenders who don't adjust their headlights anymore.

Some motorcyclists drive fast, some risky. I've witnessed a heck of a lot of over-powered car/truck drivers doing the same, so I don't see Mr. Hellstern's point in singling out motorcyclists. We ride motorcycles because they're fun to ride in good weather. They do have greater visibility than autos/trucks, and besides, mine consistently gets 50 miles per gallon in overall driving.

Frank J. Sasevich

Bolingbrook