Motorists, be wary of motorcycles

This is the plea that I wrote to the Bradenton Herald Letters to the Editor on Nov. 11, 2014:

“This past Saturday and again on Sunday, I had close calls with motorists while riding my motorcycle. I try to wear high-visibility shirts when riding and my headlights are always on. Yet, I am apparently invisible to some motorists.

“Two out of my three close calls required me to make evasive maneuvers with my bike to avoid collisions. Without going into details about the three incidents, all I can say is the motorists somehow didn’t even see me coming. I am weary of reading stories where motorists are not attentive to the road, resulting in too many fatal accidents killing motorcyclists. We motorcycle riders would be very grateful for your attention to the roads. So please, locals and snowbirds, look twice and save a life!”

Apparently my plea has gone unheeded because on the evening of Oct. 1, 2016, an inattentive motorist turned into me and my motorcycle at a controlled intersection here in Bradenton, tearing off my left foot and throwing me 20 feet across the intersection, blowing my right thumb to bits, tearing my aorta (repaired with a stent — this could have been the real widow maker), and receiving a serious concussion (I was wearing my helmet).

I am slowly on the mend and will be receiving a prosthetic leg in the near future. I am suffering from bouts with vertigo. Quite frankly, I’m lucky to be alive.

Fellow motorcyclists, always be alert and always assume you are invisible. Contemplate making evasive maneuvers.

Motorists, all I can say is pay attention to your No. 1 responsibility behind the wheel: Look twice and save a life!

This story was originally published November 23, 2016 at 12:30 PM with the headline "Motorists, be wary of motorcycles."