By Dr. Donald L. Green, 22 February, 2022 (a Twos-day)
Riding a motorcycle gives a physical and emotional feeling unlike any other form of transportation and movement, one that “if you have to ask about it, you wouldn’t understand.” The wind pressing against our bodies and smells of the places we ride, a closeness to the road, the world, and other riders create a craving to get out there and do it again. Most of us have clear mental pictures of the internal happiness formed by those extraordinary rides. Our souls are calmed and rejuvenated enough to push through another day of hard work to get back in the saddle to become one with our machines again. …
Scanning for escape paths helps see areas where we can escape potential hazards before they become traps. The Search Evaluate Execute (SEE) strategy continuously identifies 1. traffic controls, 2. highway users, 3. surface conditions, and 4. possible escape paths.
Dr. Donald L. Green, 14 February 2022 (updated from 17 January 2020.)
Bernt Speigel (2010) wrote in the preface of his book the Upper Half of the Motorcycle that motorcyclists are “thinking, acting, reacting” organisms with “the unique ability to create, use, and adapt tools, instruments, equipment, and machines in an integrative way as extensions, or components, of [themselves].” It is essential to emphasize the thinking, acting, and reacting statement because it supports the human element’s primary factor in all motorcycle experiences. The Human Element also represents the primary factor in Motorcycle crashes – The Motorcyclist. …
Knowing what to Scan for helps categorize potential hazards before they become dangerous. The Search Evaluate Execute (SEE) strategy continuously identifies 1. traffic controls, 2. highway users, 3. surface conditions, and 4. possible escape paths.
No kidding, here I am sitting down to read multiple incident reports from the same class, and it strikes me, I have been missing something here. I am probably reading too much into the situation, but I must get this thought out, so here we go. Are you ready? This could go someplace neither of us wants it to. …
Applying this insight into conducting a Basic Rider’s Course, if the coach is speaking about the geometry of steering or aerodynamics, the reality is the music in a novice rider’s ears is not in sync with the lessons or skill they are trying to learn. …
Eyes should continually Scan to identify hazards before they become dangerous. Using the Search Evaluate Execute (SEE) strategy to look for hazardous factors also increases your ability to find an Escape Path if a hazard exists.