Motorcycle riders from around the state will be gathering at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Sunrise & Ft. Lauderdale Harley-Davidson for the 2nd annual “Memorial Ride.” This event aims to help raise awareness about motorcycle accidents in Fort Lauderdale and pays tribute to the late Bruce Rossmeyer. This event will feature a Bruce Rossmeyer video memorial tribute, the memorial ride and BBQ.
The police escorted motorcycle ride will be held on July 30, 2011 and will benefit the Youth Automotive Training Center (YATC). The ride will begin at 5:00 p.m. from Harley Davidson in Fort Lauderdale and will end at the Sunrise location. Attendees will receive a free commemorative patch and t-shirt according to Road Racing World.
Our West Palm Beach motorcycle accident attorneys remember the tragic motorcycle accident that took the life of Bruce Rossmeyer. It all happened back in July of 2009 when Rossmeyer’s motorcycle collided with a pickup truck about 11:00 a.m. He was traveling as part of a convoy to the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota, according to Auto Week.
If you don’t remember, Bruce Rossmeyer, was an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and the world’s largest Harley-Davidson dealer. Rossmeyer bought his first dealership in 1994 in Daytona Beach. He got into the business to find a retirement hobby. In 2005, he opened the world’s largest Harley Davidson dealership right here in Florida. The 150-acre complex includes the dealership, hotels, condos, restaurants and bars. It is a top tourist destination bikers and non-bikers alike.
Rossmeyer enjoyed sharing with a number of local charities, including the Youth Automotive Training Center (YATC) in South Florida, Serenity House, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, the Darrel Armstrong Foundation, the Boys & Girls Club and Camp Boggy Creek. He also prides his dealerships on offering clients with the knowledge, service and information to get riders safely on the road.
In an additional attempt to help preserve the safety of motorcyclists on our roadways, the Nation Transportation Safety Board has added motorcyclists to their “most wanted” list. This list aims to raise awareness about the dangers that surround these drivers. Motorists hold a lot of responsibility in keeping these motorists safe.
From 1997 to 2009, the number of yearly motorcycle deaths doubled from 2,116 to 4,462. It is estimated that about 12 motorcyclists were killed our roadways every day. Even though these motorists only make up about 3 percent of the vehicles on our nation’s roads, they account for nearly 15 percent of highway fatalities.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers these tips to motorists to help keep motorcycle riders safe on our roadways:
-Don’t follow too closely behind a motorcycle. They oftentimes have difficulty stopping on slippery, wet pavement.
-Allow a motorcycle to occupy the entire lane. Do not share lanes with these motorists.
-Turn signals on motorcycles are not always self-canceling. Make sure that a motorcyclist’s signal is for real.
-Motorcyclists are likely to slow down their bike by downshifting instead of using the brake. Downshifting does not activate the brake light. Don’t follow too closely.
-Always assume that a motorcyclist is farther away than they actually are.
-Check and double check your blind spots. Because of their small size, bikes are easily lost in a vehicle’s blind spots.
If you have been injured contact an experienced motorcycle attorney. Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC have been representing accident victims and their families in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Ft. Pierce /Port St. Lucie for years. Call us today to schedule a free and confidential appointment to discuss your case at 1-800-529-2368.
Additional Resources:
Harley dealer Bruce Rossmeyer dies in motorcycle accident, by Greg Migliore, Bike Week
More Blog Entries:
Motorcycle Accidents Common on Palm Beach Roads , South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, April 28, 2011
Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accidents a Bike Week danger , South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, March 9, 2011