I suppose I should win an award for irony, but the same year I buy a motorcycle and start riding again is the same year as the death toll from motorcycles in the area doubles. It’s a combination of alcohol, inexperience and plain carelessness on part of riders and automobile drivers. While you can’t make drivers more aware of the road, not with their sound systems, cell phones and DVD players, you can easily not drink and ride and take a motorcycle riding course, regardless of your level of experience. My youngest wanted to get her motorcycle license and we insisted she take the beginning riders course at MCC (mentioned in the linked article). I wish I had done that myself, although the course wasn’t as popular back when I first started riding. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way.
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I did the Beginner’s Riding course and it was totally necessary. It made me feel much more comfortable on the bike. If I had been smart and kept my little Honda Nighthawk bike, I would still be riding probably. Style of bike really does matter!! I wish I could take a refresher course to feel good about it again but then I keep seeing terrible statistics of how many motorcyclists get hurt b/c of other’s carelessness or their own idiocy.