Round Up

ROUND UP

GOOD DAY, GOOD TOWN

Rialto, Calif., is one of the smaller suburbs sandwiched between two larger suburbs of Los Angeles. On the roadmap, the city is indicated in the finer print-it's a dot, not a square. But, Rialto put itself on the motorcyclists' map the other day with dedication of a trials and training course to the young people of the city.

John Montgomery, one-time flattracker, thought the kids of Rialto ought to have a place to learn to ride, then practice, then compete on motorcycles. Montgomery took his idea to a church group. There were some anti types and some clucking of tongues, but eventually the negative votes were swung around.

Then the Rialto Junior Chamber of Commerce—the Jaycees—adopted the cause. This group of energetic young mini-tycoons applied pressure here, did a little begging there, opened a few billfolds, and generally created community interest in motorcycling—where once there had only been, at best, apathy, and more likely, antipathy and aversion.

Ron Lantz, Jaycees president, said his group prevailed upon a local water company to donate the use of 40-some acres of boulder-strewn drywash. Some of the area motorcycle dealers agreed to chip in—and American Kawasaki donated a bike to the training cause. "The toughest part was getting insurance," Lantz said. (Any motorcycle club secretary could have told him that.)

Some donated time and borrowed heavy equipment cut and graded a parking area amid the hellscape of boulders, brush and sand.

Then came the great day. The Mayor of Rialto, the Hon. Frank Lowell was called upon to speak. A Civil Air Patrol color guard paraded the Stars and Stripes, and California's Bear Flag. State Senator Bill Coombes put in an appearance. Some Jaycees' ladies served punch and cookies. It looked like a Norman Rockwell painting of an Independence Day picnic. It felt good and damn well American. Liz Haggard, blonde, blue-eyed San Bernardino Junior Miss, snipped the white ribbon to officially open the motorcycle training area. There were some cheers and applause.

Sammy Miller, European Trials Champion, demonstrated his skills for the youngsters present—and his Ulster accent to the ladies present.

It was a good day in a good town. The kids will start training sessions on weekends, with experienced riders as instructors. They'll compete among themselves in novice trials competition. As they progress, they'll work toward some more difficult trials sections.

And, in the third stages of training, they'll be readied for actual trials competition in Southern California Trials Association meetings.

True aim of the entire effort is to promulgate motorcycle safety. In this case, no one is ramming safety down the kids' throats. The people in charge figure that a competent trials rider is a safe rider.

AAA OKAY

Like legislators and motorcyclists, English and Irish, another pairing that isn't on the friendliest of terms is comprised of the people who drive four-wheeled vehicles (hereinafter named motorists) and motorcyclists. A lot of motorcyclists think motorists just can't wait to turn left in front of an oncoming bike. An equal number of motorists believe motorcycles to be diabolical devices in the hands of demented dervishes.

Now, the most official of official automotive organizations, the American Automobile Association, has taken cognizance of motorcyclists— and the motorist view of motorcycling isn't all bad.

In a recent issue of the AAA's monthly magazine, entitled (would you believe?) American Motorist, there is published an article under the heading, "Triple-A Takes a Look at the Two-Wheeled Motorists." The motorcyclists on CYCLE WORLD'S staff prepared to read the worst—and were surprised.

"The motorcycle is not without its good points," says author Pat Halstead, then cites the motorcycle's economy, utility, agility and modest size when it comes to parking space requirements. The writer continues with details of uses of bikes on farms, campuses, and recreation areas.

Then Halstead springs the loaded question: "But are they safe?" Another surprise—the author states, "The motorcycle is safer than most non-cyclists realize. The cyclist's vision is unlimited. The controls can be operated more quickly and sensitively than an auto's controls. The motorcycle's small size and high degree of mobility give the skilled rider an advantage in avoiding a collision which might be unavoidable if he were driving a car." By this time, all the CYCLE WORLDers

JOE PARKHURST

were nodding their heads in agreement. Halstead goes on to recount the inherent stability of motorcycles, and the excellent braking systems with which bikes are fitted.

Then Halstead unloads the curve ball that could be expected. "The fatality rate of cyclists is almost exactly twice the death rate of all other motorists!" Then the writer qualifies the statement where it needs qualifying. "The fact that most cyclists are under 25 must be considered relevant. This group has established (Halstead's italics) an almost identical record in automobiles." Hear, hear, Halstead.

He continues, "Certain practices of immature cyclists infuriate other motorists, including motorcyclists." The CW crew again was in agreement.

Then the writer tallies up the recently enacted legislation which affects motorcyclists.

In conclusion, Halstead sums up what motorists should know about motorcyclists:

"The small size of a motorcycle may cause a driver to underestimate its speed and misjudge the distance between his car and the motorcycle. The driver should make adequate allowances.

"On dry pavement most lightweight cycles can brake to a stop much more quickly than most cars. The driver should allow adequate following distance.

"The driver should be alert to motorcyclists' hand signals. Few motorcycles are equipped with turn signals.

"When passing one or two motorcycles, the motorist should sound his horn and pass just as he would if the motorcycles were automobiles occupying a full lane of traffic. The driver should not try to pass without changing lanes by forcing the cyclist to the extreme edge of the pavement.

"Most motorcycle accidents occur at intersections, frequently because the motorist with four wheels failed to yield the right-of-way to the one on two wheels. The driver should yield right—of—way to a cycle as he would to a car."

These bits of motorcycle education reached an estimated 2,000,000 automobile drivers, according to the AAA. Triple thanks to the Triple-A.