Analysis and follow-up to yesterday's motorcycle crash post

Here's my follow up to yesterday's motorcycle crash (prior posts).

Analysis

So what really happened here?

I was nearing the end of a two day 750 mile ride from New England to my home in Detroit. The final leg of my route took me through Ontario, Canada, to the Ambassador Bridge. (Motorcycles are not allowed to use the Tunnel.) I was anxious to get home. The traffic leading to the Ambassador Bridge was stop and go for a couple of miles in Windsor. Probably took me close to an hour to reach U.S. Customs. Trust me on this: Stop and go on a motorcycle is much worse, more stressful, and more tiring than in a car. At Customs, I endured the usual questions, including "What do you do for a living?" For a few minutes, the Customs Officer and I chatted about non-customs issues. Finally, I was waved on.

After paying the bridge toll, I entered I-75 northbound and took this to the northbound Lodge (10) ramp. I've ridden this ramp a number of times, and never had a problem. I estimate I was going about 35 MPH on the ramp, staying to the outside of the lane to give me a visual on any traffic or debris ahead. Suddenly I realized I was at the edge of the lane and counter-steered slightly to the left. At that time my tires started to lose traction in the gravel between the roadway and the guardrail. My tires then hit the uneven pavement line and I went down on my left side as my bike skidded towards the guardrail. Yes, I was concerned that I was about to be flipped over the guardrail. It would have definitely been lights out if that had happened. The base of the guardrail stopped my skid. I tried to crawl out from the bike, but couldn't free my left leg. Gas started leaking next to my face and I yelled out for help. A big man in a hard hat came running up and lifted the bike up off of my leg. I was then able to crawl out. I only recall him remarking how lucky I was that I was wearing protective gear. He helped me to upright my bike, which we had to pull from the guardrail's base where the tires had come to rest.

I am very sore this morning (left ankle, left side of my neck, and right side of my chest, primarily). But very thankful too. I figure if I was going a little bit faster - say 40 or 45 MPH, I wouldn't be writing this.

So, what are the lessons?

I definitely was preoccupied with thoughts of getting home. I was aggravated by the delay getting through customs. So, I wasn't as focused as I should have been.

I may have entered the ramp a bit faster than I should have, although 35 MPH seems quite reasonable. Knowing Detroit road-debris as I do, I definitely should have stayed in the middle of the roadway, rather than to the outside of the lane. I should have anticipated road debris, including glass and gravel and oil and adjusted my path accordingly.

Finally, I'm thankful that I was wearing protective gear. And that weather didn't add to the slickness of the roadway.

I'm mighty thankful to be able to write this this morning.

In conclusion: My advice is to maintain focus; Wear proper gear; Slow down on overpasses and ramps; Expect gravel and debris at the road's edge. These principles apply to bicyclists as well as motorcyclists.

Why I ride a motorcycle

This is sort of a prologue to my post about the crash on the last mile of my ride today. I was writing this in my head the entire trip. I guess the crash is the epilogue

Why I ride a motorcycle

I figure it's not a real motorcycle ride unless you pray at least once.

This Tuesday morning, at about 6:30 AM, I checked out of my motel in Buffalo, NY, bungee corded my waterproof duffel bag to my Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, and headed out. Destination: my home in Detroit.

In hindsight, lots of things were going against me. It was dark; I was not familiar with the roads; It was foggy; It was also raining steadily, though not heavily. My bike doesn't have a windshield. Nonetheless, I was anxious to get home, and I had rain resistant gear on. So I headed out west on I-90 towards Niagara Falls, where I would cross into Canada to take the short-cut through Ontario to Windsor (also known as south Detroit!). The rain got worse and there was some flooding on the roads. And I couldn't see the puddles on the roadway, nor could I see the white lane markers, the fog lines, or the road itself. I could only see, and even this wasn't clear, the tail lights on the big truck in front of me. Almost forgot, I did see a couple of a dead Bambi relatives along side the road. I'm sure they'll put up "Warning Deer" signs in the area next year.

So I followed those truck lights as I tried to clear the mist from my face shield. Nearly blind (remember, motorcycles don't have windshield wipers), I raised my face shield to try to get rid of the fogging. Sure enough, a tiny bug committed suicide by prescription lens. Naturally, I used my glove to try and wipe away the bug's remains. A semi-opaque bug residue paste resulted! I figure I was down to one and a half eyes. At that moment a van pulled up on my left, too close for comfort, and started honking. At 65 miles per hour. Thinking there might be something wrong with my bike, the luggage, or whatever, I looked over as the van driver honked again. With a big smile he pointed at the bike, and gave me a big thumbs up! Nice compliment, pal. Wrong time for it. Particularly when I can't see. At this point I said a few prayers. They always go pretty much the same way: an admission of my stupidity, a plea to let me live through this; followed by a promise that I'll never be so stupid again!

Although correlation certainly isn't causation, the weather did finally start to clear up as I approached the toll both at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. The toll taker demonstrated that he has an excellent grasp of the obvious when he said to me, "Little wet out there, eh?" I replied, "It's a British bike. It's s'posed to be wet." He laughed and asked, "Are you English?" "Nah, but I speak the language." He laughed again, waved me on, and said "Nice Bike."

I crossed the Rainbow Bridge and approached the Canadian Customs booth. Two vehicles were ahead of me, one a bicycle! (Now that really made me mad! The folks in Niagara have figured out how to let bikes ride across an international bridge. Why not us?) The two vehicles went through and I rode ahead. The Canadian customs officer asked the usual assortment of questions: Citizenship? Where are you going? Where do you live? Where are you coming from? Is this your bike? Do you know the license number? Do you have any firearms with you? Same old stuff. "Just riding through Ontario trying to get home, sir." Satisfied that I didn't need any further scrutiny, the customs officer then said, "Nice Triumph. I used to ride. But got married, had kids, and the wife said no more motorcycle." I gave him the "I feel for you" grin and head nod as he waved me on. Never heard that story before (sarcasm alert!).

And up until my incident one mile from home, the rest of the journey was uneventful. And as I rode I thought that these are the reasons I ride. The challenge of weather, of road conditions, and the chit-chat that motorcyclists are regularly engaged in. There's a reason many motorcyclists refer to cars as "cages." The only thing that would have made the journey better was if a certain "bird" (slang, Great Britain) was sitting behind me with her arms around my waist.

HERE'S THE EPILOGUE TO THIS. I'll write "lessons learned" later!

Well, I had just crossed the Ambassador Bridge into Detroit and was thinking about writing a short summary about my love of motorcycling. I was taking the ramp onto southbound 10 (Lodge) when I encountered
loose gravel then uneven pavement. My bike went out from underneath me and I went down skidding next to and then into the guardrail. At least a 100 foot drop over the guardrail. I thought for a moment that I was going over the guardrail. Yes, scary indeed. The bike stopped on top of my left ankle. Gas was leaking. A hard hat stopped and helped pull the bike off of me. We were able to lift the bike up. Shift lever broken off. I was wearing the right gear! Which saved my knees. The boots helped, but I've wrapped my sore ankle. I was able to get the bike home by staying in 3rd gear! I'm shaken up, but will be OK. My first "going down" at speed. 750 mile trip, and this was the very last mile. Lesson there for sure.

Two Michigan law makers want to require the Chief to be state certified

Letter to the Editor, Detroit, News,

Re: Mich. lawmakers want to require police chiefs to be certified as officers, October 30, 2013

Dear Editor:

This "controversy" is much ado about nothing. Chief Craig has 36 years of experience in Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland, ME, and Cincinnati. As Chief of Police, he serves primarily in an administrative, policy-setting role. And he's extremely qualified to do just that. I applaud him for being determined to become State certified, but I think his time could better be spent being Chief. Since law-makers (like State Senators Virgil Smith and Coleman Young Jr.) make laws, maybe they should be required to be lawyers, right? 

Thomas E. Page

Letter to Free Press regarding the Detroit Council rejecting a 30 year lease of Belle Isle

Re: Rochelle Riley's column, Sunday, October 20, 2013, "Detroit is Pure Michigan, too"

Dear editor:

By first refusing to even put the Governor's proposed lease of Belle Isle to a council vote, and now by rejecting a 30-year lease, the Detroit City Council has successfully destroyed any remaining goodwill by the people of Michigan.  I doubt that any other jurisdiction in Michigan, a super-ceding democracy by the way, would look a "gift horse" in the mouth as the Council did. The Governor's proposed lease would allow the City to retain ownership of Belle Isle. It would relieve the City of all expenses related to maintaining it, much less improving it. Detroit Police Officers would be freed up to perform duties where people live and work.  Making Belle Isle a State Park would likely increase property values, and taxes, in the adjacent neighborhoods. Restaurants and other shops would open to cater to an increase in visitors.  Bicyclists would be able to ride to, from, and on the Isle without dodging broken glass. 

Detroit may be "Pure Michigan," as Rochelle Riley writes. But the actions of the Detroit City Council in rejecting the lease are pure sophistry.

Thomas E. Page

Belle Isle Lease - Watson calls it a "rape"

Letter to the Detroit Free Press on this topic.

October 3, 2013

About the only thing that would thrill me more than the State leasing Belle Isle from the City would be for Councilwoman Watson to immediately resign from the Council. November can't come soon enough. Watson took demagoguery to a new low when she called the lease a "rape" of the City.

I applaud the Governor, Mr. Orr, and Mayor Bing for coming to a win-win agreement to manage Belle Isle. As a regular cyclist on Belle Isle, I look forward to the day when I don't have to constantly steer clear of broken glass in the roadway.  

Thomas E. Page

State to lease Belle Isle from the City!

I sent the following letter to the Detroit News in response to the article announcing the lease of Belle Isle to the State of Michigan.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131001/METRO01/310010072/1486/metro08/Belle-Isle-run-state-park-will-get-10M-redo

Dear Editor:

I completely support the lease of Belle Isle to the State of Michigan. And I thank Governor Snyder and Emergency Manager Orr for moving forward on this win-win agreement. Unfortunately, some City Council members continue to espouse the ridiculous point of view that this lease is attempt by the State to steal the City's jewels. The City hasn't done a good job of maintaining, much less improving, Belle Isle for many years. I am a regular user of Belle Isle, usually on a bicycle. I am hopeful that this lease will lead to regular and continuous sweeping of broken glass from the Belle Isle bridge and the paths on the Isle itself.  Hopefully, the City will use the $6 million dollars it annually (supposedlLy) spent on Belle Isle maintenance to improve other parks, such as Chandler Park and Rouge Park. 

I am as excited by the prospect of an improved Belle Isle as I am by the prospect of a new City Council in November! I will relish the day that the leader of the "Gang of No," Councilwoman Joann Watson, leaves the City Council.

Thomas E. Page

Detroit Police Department - not sure how much as changed

I thought things were getting better with the Detroit Police Department. I attended a crime in Brush Park meeting last evening. A Sergeant from Central Events Section represented the DPD. Out of nowhere this Sergeant says (not his exact words), "We all know what's going on in downtown with race," clearly implying that white people were the problem. He then proceeded to give the typical "blame the victim" diatribe about people leaving valuables in cars. No substantive suggests were offered about addressing the problem. I was furious. I didn't want to disrupt the meeting so I didn't say anything. He left afterwards. Same old, same old.

No hotel shuttle service from the Metro Airport to downtown Detroit

I sent the following letter to the Detroit News in response to the following article.  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130917/METRO01/309170022

Dear Editor:

The Wayne County Airport Authority is obviously much more concerned with enhancing revenue from parking spaces, taxi and Metro Car contracts, and rental car fees than with being the economic engine it purports to be. The lack of affordable and reliable transportation from the airport to downtown is a disgrace. This lack discourages tourists, conventioneers, and conferences from coming to our City. I belong to a number of professional group that have annual meetings. Suggestions that they meet in Detroit are often met with, "How will we get downtown from the airport?" A reasonably priced reliable express bus service from the airport to downtown is the least the airport should provide. 

Thomas E. Page

Incompetence of the Detroit Police Department

http://www.freep.com/article/20130811/NEWS01/308110005/hubbard-farms-rape-vigilante-justice-assault-teenage-girl

August 11, 2013

Dear Editor: 

The continued incompetence of the Detroit Police Department to perform the basic measures of crime investigation alarms and infuriates me. In the southwest Detroit case, a fifteen year old girl of reduced mental capacity alleged she was raped by a 43 year old man. The victim identified the suspect, and the apartment where the alleged attack took place. According to the reports, the suspect is well-known in the community.  You don't have to be a Sherlock Holmes to solve this crime. Rather, you just have to do the basics: get search warrants expeditiously, collect the evidence, and have the evidence appropriately analyzed. In this case, it took the Detroit Police Department almost three weeks to get the "rape kit" to the Michigan State Police laboratory for analysis. To make matters worse, it took sixteen days for the DPD to search the suspect's apartment and confiscate evidence, such as bed sheets.  

I certainly do not support the so-called "street justice" that reportedly was inflicted on the suspect. But I do understand the frustration of the community at the pace and thoroughness of the DPD investigation.

I have absolute confidence in the ability of Chief Craig to right the foundering DPD ship. I know that he brings a needed sense of urgency to his position. I hope this sense of urgency results in action by DPD investigators and officers.

Thomas E. Page

Los Angeles Police Department, retired

I sent the following e-mail letter to the Detroit News in response to the "Not Guilty" verdict in the George Zimmerman trial in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman was tried for 2nd Degree Murder and Manslaughter in the shooting deal of Trayvon Martin.

Dear Editor:

A jury's finding that a person is "Not Guilty" does not mean that the former defendant didn't do anything wrong. "Not Guilty" doesn't mean that the person's actions were appropriate, that the level of force was consistent with the situation. Further, "Not Guilty" shouldn't suggest to those easily swayed  that they should imitate the former defendant's actions. Simply, "Not Guilty" means that the jury determined that the prosecution, though evidence, did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the elements of the charged crime (s). 

As a citizen and as a criminal justice professional, I have often been surprised, and even astounded, by jury decisions.  The O.J. Simpson murder trial comes immediately to mind, as does the Casey Anthony acquittal.  But I have never said (absent corruption such as jury-tampering) that a jury made the wrong decision. Only jurors listen to every bit of testimony, see every bit of admitted evidence, view face to face every witness, and then discuss, argue and debate the case with fellow jurors during deliberations. I may believe the jury found a guilty person "Not Guilty." But unless I was on the jury, I can't in good faith say the jury made a "wrong" decision. 

Finally, the Double Jeopardy clause of the 5th Amendment prohibits the re-prosecution of a an acquitted person for the same offense. 

Our criminal justice system isn't perfect. Certainly, guilty people sometimes go free. But we should accept these imperfections in order to insure that the innocent person isn't falsely convicted.

Thomas E. Page

Los Angeles Police Department, retired

Former Detroit Police Officer

Mayor Bing and NYC's Bloomberg battle over murder rates

Dear Editor:

Mayor Bing apparently does not understand that Detroit isn't the rule; rather it's the exception when it comes to murder rates. Most large cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and yes, even Chicago, have murder rates that are literally a fraction of Detroit's rate.  Mayor Bing challenges New York Mayor Bloomberg's statement of fact that New York's murder rate is one-tenth of Detroit's by writing that Detroit doesn't have techniques such as "stop and frisk at will."  My goodness, Mr. Mayor. "Stop and frisk" is constitutionally protected proactive policing. It's not randomly stopping people and violating their rights.

I am a former Detroit Police officer, and have retired from the Los Angeles Police Department.  In spite of many professional and proactive police officers, the Detroit Police Department has time and time again demonstrated that it does not have the creativity, the flexibility, and the will to effectively fight crime in our community. A lack of resources isn't the problem, any more than "more cops on the street" is a solution. The DPD lacks leadership. In my opinion, large parts of our community have little confidence in the Detroit Police Department. That's one of the reasons that many of us who live in the Midtown/New Center neighborhoods rely on the Wayne State Police Department for police services. I am not certain that the DPD should continue to be the primary policing agency in our city.

Thomas E. Page

Retired, Los Angeles Police Department

I sent the following letter to the Detroit Free Press editorial department on April 14, 2013

Re: Tom Walsh article, April 14, 2013, "Bridge is a gift we can't squander"

Dear Editor:

Tom Walsh properly points out that our region has failed to implement the most basic of transit systems to connect downtown Detroit with the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. 

I am a midtown Detroit resident, and am a frequent traveler. Until a few years ago, I was able to take SMART route 125 (Fort Street) from downtown to the airport. And although the ride took approximately an hour and a half, it didn't require a transfer to a different bus. Since SMART discontinued direct service to the airport from Detroit, even that option is not available.  The lack of mass transit from the airport to downtown hotels and attractions hurts our community's ability to attract conferences, visitors, and tourists.  

I'm pleased to hear that the Convention & Visitors Bureau is finally working on a proposal to improve airport transit. A reasonably priced express bus shuttle, with hourly service, that links downtown hotels with the airport should be extremely easy to implement.  Unfortunately, the short-sighted Airport Authority and Metro Cars would probably try to derail any transit system that may curtail use of the Metro parking garages and limousine services.

I would like to encourage my professional association to hold its annual conference (attended by 1,000) in downtown Detroit in two years. But the lack of reasonably priced transit from the airport to downtown makes our City a tough sell. 

Thomas E. Page

The following letter to the Detroit News is in response to Wendell Anthony's comment in the linked article.  http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130227/METRO/302270350/

Dear Editor:

Wendell Anthony knows exactly what he's suggesting by asking the rhetorical question "Has Michigan become the new Mississippi?" He is implying that the appointment of an Emergency Manager for the City of Detroit by a white governor is akin to instituting Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, and literacy tests to deprive black people of voting rights. It's incendiary statements like Anthony's, that are a pure figment of his imagination, that cause many Michiganders of good will to want to say "to heck with Detroit; let it die." Apparently, Mr. Anthony would prefer that Detroit become the new Enron, the new Hostess, or the new Greece. And that's where municipal bankruptcy will lead us.  An Emergency Manager is our best and maybe last chance to avoid the consequences of municipal bankruptcy. I applaud Governor Snyder and his team for looking out for the best interests of all Michiganders, including Detroiters.

Thomas E. Page

Letter to the Detroit Free Press, February 15, 2013

Re: February 13, 2013 article, "New panel to explore options for
improving Belle Isle"

Dear Editor:

Detroit City Council President Pugh wants to form a "new panel" to
explore options to improve Belle Isle.  Not surprisingly, Councilwoman
Joann Watson endorses this idea, and in fact wants to be on this
panel. The only three duties of this panel should be, in order:
1) Profusely apologize to the Governor, the people of Michigan, and
Detroiters for the Council's collective stupidity in failing to
approve a lease with the State;
2) Plead with the Governor to rescind his withdrawal of the proposed lease; and
3) Approve the lease without delay.

Thomas E. Page

Re: Detroit council's Pugh seeks study group to tackle Belle Isle,
February 13, 2013

From The Detroit News:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130213/METRO01/302130331#ixzz2KmIa0tl8

Dear Editor:

Rather than form a "working group" to look at options for Belle Isle
as proposed by Council President Pugh, the City Council should
collectively get down on their hands and knees and beg Governor Snyder
and the State to resubmit the withdrawn lease agreement. The Council's
refusal to even vote on the proposed lease with the State destroyed
any remaining credibility of the Council. I will not support any Belle
Isle plan that gives the City of Detroit any control over Belle Isle.
I hope that one of the first steps of any Emergency Manager will be to
turn Belle Isle over to the State.

Thomas E. Page
New Center, Detroit

Re: Detroit City Council's rejection of the Belle Isle lease
Letters sent to the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News

Dear Editor:

The legendary baseball manager Casey Stengel famously said in
frustration over the ineptitude of the NY Mets, "Can't anyone here
play this game?" In a decision worthy of the 1962 NY Mets, the Detroit
City Council looked a gift-horse in the mouth and rejected a win-win
Belle Isle lease agreement with the State. The City would have saved
approximately $7 million a year, and Belle Isle would have been
maintained and improved at no cost to the City. Saving $7 million is
the same as earning $7 million.  I hope the City Council is not
surprised when the Governor, after getting sand kicked in his face,
appoints an Emergency Manager for the City. I hope that day comes
soon.

As Casey Stengel rhetorically asked, I too wonder if there's anyone on
the City Council who can "play this game." With the exception of
Council members Brown, Jenkins, and Tate, the answer is a resounding
"NO." We will not forgive nor forget those Council members who
rejected the Belle Isle lease. The November election can't come soon
enough.

Thomas E. Page

My Jean Paul Sartre "Hell is Other People" designation is awarded to the entire City of Detroit City Council for its failure to approve a Belle Isle lease agreement with the State of Michigan. The agreement would have resulted in the State of Michigan managing Belle Isle, at no cost to the City, for a 10 year renewable lease. The City of Detroit would have saved over $6 million annually. 

"More cops on the street:" not the answer to crime

Earlier this week, Detroit's Mayor Bing and Acting Chief Chester Logan announced a restructuring of the DPD. The primary restructuring consisted of closing done the gang unit and the Tactical Mobile Unit. The stated purpose was to put "more cops on the street." My letter to the Detroit Free Press is in response to this issue.

Re: Detroit Police Reorganization

Dear Editor:

Believing that putting more "cops on the street" will significantly impact our City's embarrassingly high crime rate is akin to believing that simply having more teachers will make students smarter. Just as it is with teachers in the classroom, it's what the officers do while "on the street" that matters. 

Do we continue with a failed EMS style of policing in which the police role is primarily reactionary, responding to calls for help or service? Or preferably, do we adopt a data-driven problem solving approach in which patrol officers and their supervisors seek out crime and criminals, and are held accountable for implementing strategies, including making arrests, to combat crime in their districts? 

The data-driven approach should also be partnered with so-called "broken-windows" tactics. in which crimes such as vandalism, graffiti, metal scrapping, and traffic violations are given a priority. As a police lecturer once said, criminals drive like criminals. Criminals do "drive-by" shootings, rarely "walk-by" shootings. 

The minor reorganization of the Department announced by Mayor Bing and Acting Chief Logan will have little impact on crime unless it is accompanied by real change in the tactics of patrol officers. Efficient policing has had a huge impact on reducing the crime rate in many U.S. cities. For too long, our city has been the outlier.

Thomas E. Page

A January 14, 2013 article in the Detroit News had the headline that 16% of Detroit murder victims are "visitors." http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130114/METRO01/301140319

Here's my letter to the Detroit News on this stunning misrepresentation.

Dear Editor:

As a veteran of the Los Angeles and Detroit Police Departments, I am a firm believer in accurate and honest crime reporting. But to call 16% of those murdered in Detroit "visitors" is not only misleading, it needlessly hurts our entire community.  Do you call non-Detroit residents who work at the Detroit News visitors? Or perhaps you call them "carpetbaggers?" Am I a "visitor" when I shop in Hamtramck? Of course not. Using the term "visitors" for those who have a primary residence in the suburbs, including Highland Park, Hamtramck, Dearborn, and others, recklessly damages our reputation, and creates the impression that tourists and true visitors to our town are being routinely gunned down.  And that's just not true.

Words matter. And if any institution should know and respect that, it's one of our major daily newspapers. Shame on the Detroit News. 

Thomas E. Page

"Retiring Boomers like college life"

USA Today article, January 15, 2013

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2013/01/14/retirement-community-saving-home/1817793/

This article isn't Detroit specific. In fact, it doesn't mention Detroit at all, save for Detroit's western suburb of Ann Arbor.  Certainly has relevance to our City.  The media constantly tells us how important it is to make our City appealing to young professionals. You know, the creative class. And I totally agree with that. But, I've felt for a long time that Detroit hasn't marketed itself to the retiring baby boomers and empty nesters.  Frankly, one of the reasons I was attracted to living in the Midtown/New Center area was the proximity to Wayne State, CCS, and the many cultural and entertainment options. It really is like living in a college town, but it's a real city too!  And even though I didn't attend Wayne State University (I went to what the South End many years ago referred to as "God's Little Acre" - that Catholic school (University of Detroit) on Livernois and McNichols.), WSU and CCS have become my neighborhood schools! I attend sporting events, cultural events, art exhibitions, and more. I think these schools and others ought to seriously consider building condos on/adjacent to their campuses to attract alums and others who desire to live close to energetic college campuses.