I had a great week of weather recently and commuted on my motorbike. My commute is roughly 70 miles (112.65km) a day. While I did use 93 octane (the costliest we have here), I still averaged about 75mpg (32kmpl). That’s about 30mpg (12.75kmpl) better than my car, so ultimately, I saved money. My car is pretty good, but it’s definitely not the same as riding on two wheels.

There is a connection from the seat to the world that is grounding. Sights and sounds, smells (mostly the good ones), the way the wind feels along with the sun. It’s a God-appreciating experience. Even though it takes more mental and physical preparation in getting my gear set out, packing things nicely, and retrieving my bike from storage, it is hard to say it’s not worth it.

Recently in Knoxville and the surrounding area, there have been lots of motorcycle accidents and even deaths. I will not and have not researched numbers, but let’s face it, one is too many. This post is not about scolding, religion, or politics; this is about what we all can do (those on two wheels, four, and more) to arrive at our destination safely.

• Prepare. When I commute on the bike, I have things ready. I have my gear, my pack . . . everything. Typically, I know my route as well. On the bike, I prefer two-lane roadways. I know it will take me a few minutes longer to arrive at work. That means, I cannot hit snooze those extra several times.
• Slow. We do not have to ride or drive like hooligans, darting in and out of traffic like professional racers. Think about it like this: A ticket or an accident will delay you much more than simply slowing your speed.
• Communicate. Turn signals are communication devices. I’ve tried to incorporate hand signals as well when I ride. I want to be seen, and I want to communicate my moves.
• Bubble. Particularly, we can give ourselves more space. Whether driving or in stop-and-go traffic, giving ourselves more room is a great way to give ourselves just fractions of time that could be helpful.
• Out. Likewise, I find it helpful to think of an “out.” What I mean by this is should something go awry, what would I do?
• Focus. In other words, put the phone down. It may be difficult for some to imagine, but years ago, we did not have telephones in our cars—most of us anyway! The TikTok video or Snapchat is not worth it. That song is not worth it.
• Awareness. We all can boost our awareness. Autos, please watch for bikes. Bikes, please minimize your risks. Riding alone is risky; it doesn’t need help.

These ideas aren’t comprehensive. They’re not groundbreaking. Consider them; incorporate your own or add yours to the comments. We all have loved ones. We all have purpose.

With a little bit of conscientiousness, we all can arrive safely where we are going and even enjoy the process. These are not just machines (for the most part); they’re machines driven by human beings. Human life is about as valuable as it gets here on the planet.

Let’s value one another.

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