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Is it safe to tour in the States?

So, getting back to motorcycle riding for a moment.....

:banghead


Actually,, the OP didn't inquire about motorcycle riding, as it might have applied to routes, dealerships, mapping, etc.

I quote:

"Can I get some feedback on any incidents you have had, any advice,......."

His request implied an assessment of our nation in terms of safety. That led to the cornucopia of responses we all have been reading. :deal
 
You see, from up here all we see is a constant barrage of "bad news" about what's been going on down south. Shootings and gun obsession, racism, protests both left and right, political issues, bad cops, robberies and a whole lot of other craziness which just makes us outsiders pretty nervous about heading down there especially if it's our first time.

Really? Funny... that's all we get on the news here, too!

Can I get some feedback on any incidents you have had, any advice, or your experiences while crossing borders and heading into that wild west craziness down there?

As long as you stay out of the wrong parts of town, you'll be fine.

Put a cover on your bike overnight.

Ian
 
I can think of any number of places to tour that are less safe than the United States.

If a person avoids large urban areas for the valid reasons of crime and aggressive drivers, that person would find the US to be very accommodating.
 
I'm not sure what amazes me more? :scratch

The fact that the OP actually asked that question,

I think the OP is trying to stir ****.
He has not been back on the site since he posted.
If he was serious you would think he'd check back in to see what we have to say.
 
I think the OP is trying to stir ****.
He has not been back on the site since he posted.
If he was serious you would think he'd check back in to see what we have to say.

That thought crossed my mind, when I brought up that very suspicion back in Post #29 on this thread.

Giving him the benefit of the doubt for now, but you're right.

What have you learned from all this banter richardus? :scratch

(Wait a minute - richard us as in USA?) - Actually, I researched some of his previous posts, and he mentions living in "Midwestern Ontario."
 
After many miles in continental States, I gotta say y'all are scaring me:eek

I still rely on situational awareness and gut feeling.I know that cannot be quantified, but serves me well and do not avoid taking the route I have found myself on.

Have stayed in some sketchy places at times...some urban, some very remote spots across the lower 48.

After being a first responder without any protection other than my hardhat during a long career in the power industry, I gotta say I have been in about as many diverse neighborhoods as most avoid. If something looks, feels, or smells odd...I move on.

When in Canada, I do nothing different other than work on my metric conversions and stink eye looks to the fine folks in Quebec who think being snotty to english speaking folks from the states is fun:laugh:laugh:laugh

Folks everywhere can be a hazard at some point and I'm not going to stay at home.
 
When in Canada, I do nothing different other than work on my metric conversions and stink eye looks to the fine folks in Quebec who think being snotty to english speaking folks from the states is fun:laugh:laugh:laugh

You need to come to BC. We can be equally snotty. :laugh

Although, if you did happen to show up on my doorstep I could probably find room to accommodate you.
 
lived for a time in a tiny town in far northeastern Washington State and loved to cross the border and jump on BC3 then head east or west for some drop dead fantastic scenery. Now, when it comes to danger from other drivers Canadians can put the fear of god into you mighty quick with aggressive driving. The BCers aren't too bad it's the Albertans you gotta look out for, just nuts! About the only time you see the RCMP on the road is at an accident sight. I don't think Canadians get offensive when they see a US registered vehicle any more than what is normal for them they just drive aggressively by nature might be the huge distances they have to cover to get anywhere. Canadians, gotta love 'em:)

If my wife had a sense of humor I'd move back up to NE Washington in a minute.:thumb
 
The BCers aren't too bad it's the Albertans you gotta look out for, just nuts! About the only time you see the RCMP on the road is at an accident sight. I don't think Canadians get offensive when they see a US registered vehicle any more than what is normal for them they just drive aggressively by nature might be the huge distances they have to cover to get anywhere.

Especially if we are driving our 4x4 Pickup Truck powered by this:

IMG_0925.jpg
 
Hi bogthebasher, How much would that stuff cost up there what with what a six pack of brew will set you back.:laugh
 
Hey everyone,

I wish to thank everyone for such an overwhelming amount of responses. I need to let it be known that I must have forgot to subscribe to this thread and was under the impression the past several days that I received ZERO responses to my question... <crickets>.... I was thinking maybe nobody wanted to discuss it. Then I came back in tonight to look at the thread and find over 70 replies so my mistake, I had a lot of reading to do to catch up.

I can totally understand a few of the sarcastic responses and am in no way offended. Perhaps they have a right to be, but I still needed to ask about it, the general consensus however has been to keep a streetwise approach and stay out of the cities. I think I just needed to hear it from experience riders out there so for that I thank you all.

A trip south of the border is certainly not off the board now, I may even design it around one of the meets, after all, I need some sort of goal or destination! For many years I've always had the dream to see Montana. From some old movie I watched years and years ago, it just looks so awesome there, I have to see it for myself.

I also agree that driving safety should be the number one concern, but I believe the one thing that has kept me safe thus far in every respect is to always be aware that there are no guarantees wherever you go, wherever you are driving, always be alert, always drive safe, and avoid anything that doesn't feel right. (but I have to admit sometimes I can't help but pass that truck and six cars in one go. I feel compelled to prove what the C650GT can do sometimes :p)

Thanks all, and no I wasn't just trying to stir up the pot. I think it was a good discussion, and yes we do get quite a negative picture on the media up here and I also agree that news is for profit, and only bad news sells.

Ride safe all, and maybe will meet some of you next summer.

Cheers,
Richardus
 
I'll be the contrarian on cities - they can be quite enjoyable to ride in if you avoid rush hour. I've ridden through Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Reno, Oklahoma City, Denver, New York City, St. Louis, New Orleans, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Birmingham, Nashville, Baltimore, Albany, Sacramento, Columbus, Harrisburg, Pittsburg, Ontario, Philadelphia, Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, Rochester, Baton Rouge, Tallahassee, Kansas City, Bakersfield, Reno, Salt Lake City, Topeka, Lexington, Charleston, Hartford, Springfield, Munich, Dusseldorf, Prague, Zurich, Bern, Nice, Marseille, Leon, Geneva (admittedly the last few weren't in the US or North America) - and a few dozen more that I've forgotten.

Never had a problem. Somehow it seems I become invisible on the bike in the city, people just take no notice of me. I've been lost (thanks to Doofus the GPS) in some rather unsavory parts of some of these cities, and was never really concerned since it seemed no one saw me passing through. Probably the best city memory I have is of riding down Park Ave in NYC with a police escort going to the opening of the Art of the Motorcycle at the Guggenheim Museum. That was majorly cool. We left the BMW dealership building around 11th Ave and 44th? Had the police do a rolling traffic block all the way up Park Ave - we never had to slow down.

Ted Simon once pointed out that people in one location will always tell you how dangerous and awful it is in another location.. and it never really is. Use a tiny bit of common sense, smile a lot and don't try to attract attention and you'll be just fine.

And don't let fear rule your ride.

BTW - my very FAVORITE place to ride IS Canada. I go at least once a year for the past decade. Every other year to Nova Scotia. This fall I circled Lake Ontario. A few years ago toured Montreal. Ottawa was fun. I'm always amazed at how courteous Canadian drivers are. I've never had a scare there..
 
Reminds me of all the US riders asking Canadians about the dangers from bears. I always come back from Canada with a full bottle of bear spray and an empty bottle of mosquito repellant. Fear the mosquitoes and just use common sense precautions to avoid bear encounters.

The analogy here, is just use common sense precautions to avoid mass-murderers, but fear the ubiquitous texting and aggressive drivers.
 
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Actually when it comes to Bears in Canada, again it depends where you go! I've been looking at some far north trips and once you get to Thunder Bay and beyond, Bear encounters while camping are not that uncommon. Bear attacks on humans however, are very uncommon, but not impossible. People have died to bears, but the odds are minuscule! Just have to remember, they are after your food, just the same as a squirrel, chipmunk, dog, or any other critter of the woods, they just happen to be a bit bigger. Bears are mostly afraid of humans.
 
Two nights ago I stumbled through a couple of the posts here and had the misfortune of reading some of the sarcastic posts and one I thought was just insulting. Not being the polite Canadian, I saw red and fired off my own sarcastic and provocative post. It was a zinger designed to gut punch.

In the morning I got an email that my post had rightly been taken down. Yet I'm wondering why the American sarcasm got passed over but the Canadian who swung back got deleted. I'll put it down to home field advantage.

Still my Canadian sense of fair play drove me to go back and read every single post. Being a Canadian can be a burden but it's a cross we must bare. So I read and saw a trend emerging. To make sure I went back and carefully read every single post again. Here's more or less what I found.

Thirteen post advise avoiding large cities.
Three say ride in the empty spaces. (Midwest, rural or out west)
A couple said avoid California.
There were four invites to come on down. Thanks
One raised gun issues - that one baited me, and a couple tried to address it in response.
Five offered up advice on how to conduct yourself when stopped by a police officer.
There was lots of good common sense advice.

Regarding large cities. Don't take this advice. Visit them. Go to Washington DC take in the monuments, the memorials, the mall, the Smithsonian and the National Musem of Art. These places celebrate the best of America. Go to NY take in a musical on Broadway, go to Fenway in Boston, in Chicago take in a football game or visit the Art Gallery or take the boat cruise through the architectural giants. Listen to music in Nashville, Austin, St. Louis and Memphis to name but a few.

Now about California. Here's a secret; 80% of Californians drive better then 98% of Canadians. Those are my estimates and I'm probably low. California has some of the greatest motorcycle roads in America, It has Highway 1, at least the parts that are open. Redwoods, Death Valley and Yosemite. Plus it has three great super cities full of culture, entertainment and sporting events. For sports lovers California has it all; good teams in every major sport. Yes traffic is heavy - just filter or split. Plus the food. Mexican, Asian, the whole world cooks in California. But, go to the PNW or New England for seafood.

The police. Well in Canada it's simple if the police pull you over; just stop. That's it. I do however endorse all the recommendations in the five post regarding the police in the USA. Especially if you happen to be a brown Canadian. Be careful.

Large Urban areas apparently worry a lot of MOA members if we assume this thread to be typical. I know assumptions are bad but bare with me a moment. A significant number of the responses to the OP hold that riding in the USA is safe; then oddly recommended not riding where most of the people live because well it might not be safe. Is that code for something else or coincidence?

I disagree with that conclusion and challenge the MOA to endorse getting more members to go and visit the great cities of America. Check your own assumptions, go meet your fellows in some of the wonderful cities in America. It's a diverse place try to embrace the differences. Or not. The empty spaces also have lots to offer but you're going to miss a lot.
 
Thanks....

to Romany! Very well said. You have to understand that most of the posts are by folks who have never left the state they live in.
 
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