Commuting by motorcycle: not a good start

With gas prices soaring through the roof, I decided it was time to try commuting from my home in Grand Prairie to the Star-Telegram office in Fort Worth on my new bike, a 105th anniversary edition Harley Sportster 1200. I traded a Harley 883 Sportster in for this beautiful new ride on Saturday.

But Tuesday was a freaky day that now has me wondering if someone is sending me a message.

I drove a back route, Pioneer Parkway through Arlington, cut over to Division Street, which becomes Lancaster in Fort Worth. I didn't want to jump on Interstate 20 to Highway 287 and into downtown Fort Worth. Too many crazies on the highway, especially at 6:30 a.m.

The traffic was light, but in an eye blink, I lost a contact despite wearing sunglasses. That made vision a little more difficult, although fortunately, my distance vision was OK.

I sit down to the computer and one of the first e-mails I open is about a friend and his wife who were in a horrible motorcycle accident on Memorial Day along Interstate 20. Both are lucky to be alive. From the e-mail chatter, I learned that they flew across the median on I-20, but oncoming traffic avoided hitting them.

The two are in the hospital with multiple injuries, although fortunately none life-threatening. Still, the injury list is sobering: both are missing some teeth and have broken ribs. His knee is shattered; she had surgery to remove her spleen. He will require facial-reconstruction surgery.

Both had on half-helmets. He had on jeans; she was in shorts.

Next, the rain started coming down. Hard. Great.

I don't like riding in either rain or on wet streets. The forecast said only a 30 percent chance for rain. Jeez.

Then a co-worker stops by. We talk bikes. I pass along news of the accident. He tells me about one of the first bike accidents he came across. Guy was wearing only a half-helmet, flew over the handlebars and scraped off his nose and chin -- which is why, my co-worker said, he always wears the full helmet.

I wore the half-helmet on Tuesday. On the ride home, to say the least, I was a little jumpy.

Now I have friends trying to talk me into getting rid of the new bike.

I drove the car today. Things to think about.

I'd love to hear from others who commute on motorcycles. Please post some comments.

Gary Hardee

Comments

[Michael H.]

Gary,

My comments aren't about cycling per se, but here are some ideas:

1. What about driving (either by car or by bike) to the TRE's CentrePort station, and then walking the half-mile to the S-T office from the FTW T&P station? Plus, since you travel entirely in the western fare zone, the day pass is $3.00. This would be a savings of roughly $1.00/day (considering gas only) over driving your car.

2. Why not see if your boss will let you work out of the S-T's Arlington or Bedford offices, either permanently or a couple of days a week?

[bullschuck]

I made the mistake of bringing up the idea of getting a motorcycle to my wife in front of a party full of medical professionals. After about four or five "rolling organ donor" stories, I was informed that I would never own or operate one. I say go with a man's bike, one where you are the motor.

[Edward]

Riding motorcycles is like most decisions in life; for some it's right, and for some it isn't. If you understand the risks and don't add to them by doing stupid things, you can enjoy riding like I have for 31 years. The highways and streets are no place to show off. It is more impressive to return home safely and have a good ride than to pop a wheelie in traffic. I have commuted safely back and forth to the Star-Telegram for 21 years with no accidents. Keep the sunny side up and wear a full faced helment.

[Doug]

I don't own a motorcycle, but there must be some reason they are referred to as donorcycles.

[Jamie]

"1. What about driving (either by car or by bike) to the TRE's CentrePort station, and then walking the half-mile to the S-T office from the FTW T&P station?"

Just a comment: He could even take the Route 2/Camp Bowie bus right up to the front door of the Star-Telegram garage on 6th Street after getting off the train at the ITC.