Please watch out for motorcycles

Since mid-April, I have prominently displayed a "Start Seeing Motorcycles" sign in my front yard. I do this for two reasons: I care about my brothers and sisters in the motorcycling community; and drivers need to be reminded to share the roadways.

Unfortunately, an individual passing by my property does not believe I have the right as a U.S. citizen to invoke my First Amendment right to free speech by displaying the sign. This individual took it upon himself to trespass on my property and knock down the sign. Furthermore, this individual defaced my property by affixing an uninformed, illogical, narrow-minded, and opinionated typewritten statement on my sign.

Many municipalities across Illinois are proclaiming May as Motorcycle Awareness Month. These leaders realize that the majority of motorcyclists are law-abiding users of the roadways, and all users of the roadways should share in the use of the roadways to provide a safer environment for all. We ask drivers to look three times at intersections, not only for motorcyclists, but also for bicyclists, pedestrians, and, yes, automobiles.

We read and hear all too often of users of the roadways being killed or injured by distracted drivers. I see distracted drivers using cell phones, texting, reading, eating, putting on makeup, painting nails, yelling at their kids, and other conscious distracting behaviors.

I, for one, want to come home alive to my wife, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and parents. As for the individual who trespassed and defaced my property, I invite him to discuss how we can contribute to making the roadways safer for all of us.

Mark Garrison

Wheaton