Captain Dan Affalter with the Lawrence Police Department will chat about motorcycle safety. He wears several hats – training officers to ride motorcycles, covering motorcycle accidents and is a boomer on a bike himself.

Fatty_McButterpants

Capt. Affalter, you mentioned that you attended a motorcycle training class when you were on patrol. What were some of the most surprising things you learned in that class? Do you know of any training classes around here? Has the department ever considered offering training classes to non-LEO’s?

thanks!

jcollar

I’ve noticed a significant problem related to noise from motorcycles, enough to make it a “disturbing the peace” issue in my mind. Whether at home (which is on a fairly busy street in Lawrence), playing with my kids at South Park or riding bicycles downtown, I’ve noticed that the noise from some bikes is annoying, even dangerous to hearing at times. Are there any laws concerning motorcycle noise and are any citations issued in the city?

Moderator

Hi. I am LJ World reporter Christine Metz and here today with Capt. Dan Affalter with the Lawrence Police Department. We are talking about motorcycle safety. If you have any questions, please post them. And Capt. Affalter, thanks for joining us.

Dan Affalter

Thanks Christine. I am happy to be here and be of any help I can concerning cycle safety. I am by no means an expert but have many years of experience and will do the best I can.

Moderator

Since you mentioned it, what is your motorcycle experience. You are both a rider and an enforcer of motorcycle law – right?

Dan Affalter

I have been riding since I was a teenager. My brother taught me how to ride in the parking lot of K.U.’s Memorial Stadium. However, I didn’t actually own my own cycle until many years later. I bought my first bike in 1979 (and still have it) and have had several others since then. I used to ride police motorcycles when i was on patrol but I have been in Detectives for many years so I don’t do that any more. While riding the police motorcycle I researched cycle safety and found that most motorcycle accidents (approx. 95%) involve untrained riders with informal riding instruction. I requested permission to attend a police motorcycle riding course. That course opened my eyes to just how much a person can gain from formal training. Although I haven’t been on a police motorcycle in years I still ride regularly and have been taking an annual cycle trip with a few close friends for about 25 years.

Moderator

Thanks for the background. Now let’s get started with our first question.

LogicMan

Capt. Affalter:

With the increasing gasoline price, more folk are likely to start riding scooters and mopeds for their short trips. What are the tag/operator licensing and safety requirements (helmet, lights,etc.) for both? Thanks.

Dan Affalter

I have seen an increase in popularity with scooters and mopeds. I would assume gasoline prices factor into that but there are many other reasons for the increase. There are three classifications of motorized cycles and the requirements vary depending on which one we are talking about so I will break them out.
1) Motorized Bicycle: is basically a bicycle with a small motor to assist the rider. It is defined by Standard Traffic Ordinance as having less than 3.5 brake horsepower, not more than 130 cc and a maximum speed of no more than 30mph.
2) Motor-Driven Cycle: All cycles, including scooters not to exceed 5 brake horsepower
3) Motorcycle: Every motor vehicle having a seat with not more than 3 wheels

The registration (tag) and driver’s license requirements are basically the same in that everyone operating a motor vehicle is required to have the vehicle registered and must possess a valid driver’s license. All Motorcycles and Motor-Driven Cycles are considered to be motor vehicles. A Motorized Bicycle is not a motor vehicle but still requires a valid driver’s license.

The helmet requirement is that all operators and passengers must wear a helmet if under the age of 18

LA_Ex

How do you feel about a cell phone ban for drivers in Lawrence. Just looking around, it seems the majority of the people on the road, are also on the phone. As a motorcyclist, I feel this is a very large contributor to accidents.

Dan Affalter

I know there are many strong feelings about the issue and many in favor of a ban. The law requires anyone operating a motor vehicle to give full time and attention to the operation of the vehicle. Cell phones are one of many types of activities that distract drivers but certainly not the only one. It is probably the most identifiable one because we can all see a driver holding the phone to their ear but may not see them doing other things that distract them from giving their full time and attention. I think the enforcement of a ban would be very difficult. As a fellow cyclist, I too want everyone to give their full time and attention to the road but the reality is that some aren’t going to. Even if most or all drivers do it perfectly 99% of the time, there is still that one percent of the time when tragedy can strike that we all need to be prepared for. Everyone needs to be a defensive driver and assume that the other guy isn’t paying attention. I always try to make eye contact with cross traffic at intersections so i know the other guy sees me. If they aren’t looking at me they don’t see me and I prepare for the worse. Of course just because they are looking your direction doesn’t necessarily mean they see you so you still have to be prepared for evasive action.

Moderator

Since we are talking about driving laws and motorcycles – let’s hit on a hot button topic in the motorcycle community. What’s your take on the helmet law?

Dan Affalter

I am a big believer in good quality helmets. I believe they save lives and protect people from injury in most cases, even low speed impacts. I know many people who ride motorcycles without a helmet yet insist on wearing heavy boots, gloves, chaps, and leather jackets for protection. That doesn’t make sense to me. I recall when the helmet law was changed in the mid to late 70’s but I don’t know if there are any statistics available showing an increase or decrease in the chance of being injured without a helmet. I have ridden without one in the past, but not since a truck turned in front of me and I crashed into it and did not have a helmet on.

newsreader

Shouldn’t we talk about Motorcycle Safety in the spring time? Why talk about it now, going into winter??

Dan Affalter

Sure, we should talk about it often. Spring time is traditionally when most riders roll out the bike and take a ride to shake off cabin fever but many of us ride year round also. The first nice days of spring are a wonderful time to go for a ride and many people do but they are also dangerous because so many people all have the same idea and are out and about. That being said, there isn’t really a single day of the year when we get to take the day off when it comes to being careful.

Moderator

Well we are out of questions. Thanks Capt. Affalter for taking the time to chat with us today about motorcycle safety. Any parting words of advice?

Dan Affalter

Thanks for the invitation Christine. It is always nice to have the opportunity to talk to folks about cycling and safety. I would just like to say I understand people wanting to make their own choice about wearing a helmet. I encourage them to make the choice to wear one but it is up to them. I also encourage anyone who has never taken a motorcycle operating course to take one even if they are an experienced rider. You just might learn something that will save your life someday.