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The Battalion
Page 3 • Thursday, March 11, 2004
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IMotorcyclists rule the road, feel the rush of having the wind in their hair
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By Jose Cruz
THE BATTALION
John Creasy, a junior engineering major, started
- Staii#|ding motorcycles because he found the speed and
dom attractive. However, he had no idea riding
ped simile would effect his love life.
"I’ve found that certain girls won’t date me now.
lot of girls here at Texas A&M are looking for
eirMRS degree, so they want safety in the future,
Idthey don’t see motorcycles as a part of that,”
jreasy said.
Students such as Keith Smith, a senior
iography major began riding motorcycles
lainly because it’s relaxing and
.Smith said motorcycles offer
imething that no other form of transporta-
m can offer.
I"!like the speed and being out in the
hen, with nothing around you. It’s just
ho,sitting on an engine and two
keels,’’ Smith said. “It gives you a free-
1. If I’m stressed out, I jump on my
ipmgjuj Land go for a ride, and you won’t see
lays tat Lforhour, maybe longer.”
Some people believe, however, that the
eedomand speed come at too high a
; ice because of the danger involved.
hadLasnau, a senior economics
” , j ajor, said motorcycles are dangerous,
9 e itihat with proper training and caution, they offer
, f lve J any benefits over cars.
Clubi M y morn was scared at first, and she still is. It’s
A [finitely more dangerous than driving a car,” Lasnau
‘You have to be more aware of the people
[oundyou because if you wreck, you will have more
injuries than you would have if you got into
jiaccident in a car. So as a motorcyclist, you have to
istantly keep your guard up.”
According to riders, some benefits of riding a
|iotorcycle include better gas mileage and ease of
ting. In addition. Creasy said riding a motorcycle
lasmade him a better car driver.
"When you are in your car, you know it isn’t going
kasfast as your bike, so you have nothing to
wanymore. and that makes you a better driver,”
he said. “People call me a granny driver in my car,
but as soon as 1 get on my bike they’re scared of me.”
Due to the slick roads that may cause more danger
on two wheels than four for example, most riders have
a car they can rely on when the weather conditions are
not optimal for riding. Also, riders use their automo
biles whenever they must carry multiple passengers
and items, such as groceries, that a backpack alone
can’t hold. The destination and weather conditions
usually determine whether riders will mount their
motorcycles. Even though motorcycles may not be the
most convenient form of transportation,
riders say the danger factor is their
biggest disadvantage.
Smith has been riding motorcycles
for about two years now, but said the
danger mostly comes from bad automo
bile drivers rather than motorcyclists.
“Most of the time, the danger comes
from the cars on the road. They are our
biggest problem,” Smith said. “I’ve
almost been run off the road and pulled
out in front of by cars many times.”
Motorcycles have such a bad image
that some riders, such as Creasy, have
resorted to keeping their passion a secret.
“If my parents found out I ride a
motorcycle, I would probably get
removed from the will and possibly
disowned. They pay for my school, so
I’m taking a bit of a risk, but that just shows how
much I love riding motorcycles,” Creasy said.
Motorcycle riders have the image of being reckless
and irresponsible on their bikes, which. Smith said, is
the main reason why Texas A&M won’t officially rec
ognize the bike club that student and Bryan-College
Station riders have formed.
“Sport bike riders especially have a bad image,”
Lasnau said. “People think we are irresponsible and
reckless and only drive fast. As a result, cops tend to
keep a closer eye on us more than on cars.”
But that image only represents a small number of
riders, Creasy said. He said most of the people he rides
with are cautious and respectful of the street laws. Part
of the reason for this is that riders such as Creasy have
^ ^lf my parents
found out I ride a
motorcyde, I would
probabjy get
removed from the
will and possibly
disowned.
— John Creasy
junior engineering major
personally witnessed motorcycle accidents.
“I have several friends that are missing a lot
of skin now,” he said. “Witnessing an accident
serves as a reality check for you. Just like
in any sport, there are certain things
that you witness that cause you to
reevaluate things.”
Having a motorcyle
wreck is more likely to be
fatal than in a car because
there are no seatbelts to
keep riders from flying off
the bike, and there is no car
frame to bear the impact.
“I had a friend that just
recently got into an accident. I
She didn’t even do anything
wrong; she just had a car pull
out in front of her and she
couldn’t avoid it in time. She
missed an entire semester
because she had to recover
from the injuries. If you’re
weak of mind, then you’ll con
vince yourself not to ride any
more,” Creasy said.
Camaraderie among motor
cycle riders is present and spe
cial. Most of the riders say they
wave to other people on motorcycles,
while most of the time they don’t even
know the other person.
“You belong to a group of people that all
have something really interesting in common,
and you go out and do something most peo
ple don’t do,” Creasy said. “It’s the danger
that unites us. It’s like an exclusive club.”
As for his love life. Creasy said he found
a way to handle the issues certain women
have with motorcycles.
“I’ve had one girl I started dating tell
me to get rid of it,“ he said. “So I don’t
talk to her anymore.”
Paul Wilson • THE BATTALION
How does your religion view organ donation?
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Catholic
Christian Scientist
Episcopal
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Independent Evangelical
Islam
Judaism (^All Branches^)
Lutheran
JVIeth o dist
Donation is highly supported, by the denomination.
The decision to donate is left to the individual.
Organ donation is encouraged as an act of stewardship and
of compassion for those who are suffering.
Donation is a matter of individual conscience.
A high value is placed on acts of compassion.
Organ and tissue donation is an act of charity and love.
Pope John Paul II has stated that Christians should accept
this as a challenge to their generosity and fraternal love.
The decision to donate is left to the individual.
A resolution in 1982, recognizes the life-giving benefits of
donation. All Christians are encouraged to become donors
"as part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ,
who gave His life that we may have life in its fullness."
The decision to donate is left to the individual. Organ
transplantation can be used to alleviate the suffering of
other human beings.
The decision to donate is left to the individual.
Nothing in Scripture contradicts organ donation.
Muslim scholars belonging to various schools of Islamic law
have cited the principle of the priority on saving human life
and have permitted organ donation and transplantation as a
necessity to procure that noble end.
Organ donation is a contemporary Mitzvah. When a human
life can be saved, it must be saved.
Donation contributes to the well being of humanity and can
be "an expression of sacrificial love for a neighbor in need.**
The United Methodist Church encourages aU Christians
to become organ donors as part of their mininstry to others
in the name of Christ.
Presbyterian Members are encouraged to be organ donors.
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ill
SIGN A CARD
SAVE LIVES
Talk to your spiritual leader about organ donation.
Then, talk to your family about your decision to donate.
Come talk to us today at the MSC or
the Blocker Building from 10am-3pm.
www.donorworld.com
1.800.355.7427
www.organ.org
1.800.788.8058