Every week, I and my teammates make the arduous trek from the Tulsa metro to the wilds on the very edge of Wagoner County, there to indulge in the epic highs and lows of amateur league bowling. The voyage, lengthy and regular as it is, provides an excellent opportunity for sober reflection and meditation upon our fellows.
You know: people watching.
In my time I’ve seen it all: bumper sticker collages, multiple pairs of truck nuts decorating a single vehicle, all kinds of obtuse religious messaging, and of course the ever-present thin blue line sticker and accompanying Punisher skull. But one type draws the attention more readily than any other, even the compact cars covered in borderline-pornographic anime stickers. This is the passively-suicidal motorcyclist.
The reader will likely be familiar with the type, as diverse as it is. Sometimes it’s two people huddling together on a crotch-rocket. Sometimes it’s a small group using the highway as a racetrack and cars as obstacles. Sometimes it’s a group of aging suburbanites doing their best to look like meth traffickers in the 70’s. You may see protective equipment, or even a helmet, but seldom together on the same person.
Apparently others have noticed this too. This week the Tulsa Police Department released a statement asking residents to be on the lookout for speeding motorcyclists, particularly on Oklahoma 51. This comes after a 24-year-old man killed himself while going 150 mph as his friends recorded for social media. Last month an 18-year-old pulled a similar stunt, this time being arrested at a QuikTrip before he could find a concrete wall to decorate.
In fairness, most motorcyclists aren’t like this. As with the recent spate of shootings downtown, the problem is largely with unsupervised young people. The cops can’t really do much to prevent harm. They are directed not to chase motorcycles unless they are suspected of a violent crime, since this often leads to an even more dangerous situation.
It’s on us to protect ourselves. Give motorcycles extra space on the road. Don’t be afraid to report reckless riders. Even if the police stop them right away, they need to know where and how often this happens. Lastly, if you love someone who rides like this, do the kind thing and shame the living shit out of them.
Tulsa News