The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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May 17, 2008

Spring brings out bikers

Annual run raises safety awareness

When the motorcycle advisory group ABATE says “motorcycles are everywhere,” it’s especially true in Pennsylvania.

Ten million motorcycles are registered in the United States and 890,000 of them — nearly 10 percent — are in the Keystone State, said Keith DeCiancio Sr., vice president of Mercer County chapter of Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education.

The popularity of motorcycles has increased in recent years, but so has traffic in general, said Mercer County ABATE President Keith Swartz. The high price of gasoline is likely to lead more people to buy motorcycles, he said.

Increased traffic means it is more important that drivers be aware of what’s around them. Motorcycles are easily obscured in the blind spots of larger vehicles. As far too many motorcyclists know, a pleasant ride can turn tragic quickly.

“You have to watch everybody all the time,” said Swartz, of West Middlesex.

According to ABATE literature, the most common accident between motorcycles and larger vehicles occurs when a vehicle makes a left turn in front of a motorcycle. According to DeCiancio, seven of the eight motorcycle fatalities that occurred last year in Mercer County were the result of such a scenario.

“You can’t say you’re sorry for something like that,” said DeCiancio, of West Middlesex.

PennDOT encourages motorists to check their mirrors and blind spots at intersections and before making lane changes.

“Motorcycles are smaller and harder to pick out among larger vehicles,” PennDOT says in its materials.

ABATE has tried to raise awareness of motorcycles through its “Motorcycles are everywhere” signs, and an annual safety and awareness run.

Saturday, about 25 bikes were escorted by a Mercer County sheriff’s deputy from Quaker, Steak and Lube in Sharon, to the Mercer County Courthouse for this year’s run. The convoy also included two larger vehicles adorned with ABATE banners.

The rainy weather hurt turnout, although organizers were pleased with the number that came.

The state also tried to raise awareness of motorcycles by Gov. Edward G. Rendell declaring May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, including a flier on motorcycles in official documents sent to drivers, and a billboard campaign.

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