Ups And Downs

UPS AND DOWNS

UP: To AAA World magazine, the voice of the American Automobile Association, for its informative article on sharing the road with motorcyclists. In the article, author Jim Bennett recommends that motorists should “look for motorcycles, make sure the motorcyclist sees you, treat the motorcycle with the respect it’s due, see the road from the motorcyclist’s perspective and steer clear of the reckless.”

DOWN: To syndicated advice columnist Abigail Van Buren, for her negative reference to motorcycles. When asked by a member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association to inform her readers that motorcycles are not playthings and should not be treated as such by young children and other passersby, Dear Abby wrote, “I presume you have insurance in the event that a child (or an adult) is injured on-or falling off—your vehicle. A motorcycle is legally termed an attractive nuisance.” According to State Farm Insurance, the nation’s largest home and auto insurer, the term “attractive nuisance” is not found in insurance policies and is used only by liability lawyers-who, along with Dear Abby can be termed unattractive nuisances.

UP: To the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, for its “Start Seeing Motorcycles” promotional campaign. In an effort to increase the public’s awareness of motorcycles, the state issues flyers with license re-registration forms and provides the public with high-visibility bumper stickers. For more information, contact the department at 612/296-6652.