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Motorcycle Awareness Program (MAP) - Arizona
Being the Coordinator of Abate of Arizona’s Motorcycle Awareness Program (MAP),
I’d like to share a little bit of what’s been going on. This program was started in Arizona, by ABATE
of Arizona approximately 8 years ago. It had a rough start the first year or so, but finally took off
running about 2003. With the potential for access to funding from the Motorcycle Safety Fund, I started
a documenting process, recording all aspects of the classes presented and number of students taught, as
well as teacher and students comments, for every class moving forward. I went to different areas of the
state and worked with ABATE members in those areas, to educate and train prospective MAP presenters. I
then approached the Arizona Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council that I was a member of and requested funds
for such things as the Key Chains and informational Tri-folds we handed out to students. They did us one
better, by actually making these part of what we know as ‘stock items’ today, and are available to all
motorcyclists to hand out at their events
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As continuity of the MAP is a key to its success, all presenters follow a script
that takes approximately 50 minutes to present. The fact that MAP is presented to all High School
Driver Ed periods for any given day, we may present to 150-200 students in one visit. We usually have
anywhere from 2-4 presenters and at least 1-2 bikes at every presentation. The ‘certified presenters’
and their assistants introduce themselves and explain the reason for the program is to make drivers
more aware of motorcycles on the road and how to see us better and safely share the road with us. They
then talk about the most common crashes being left turns or pulling out in front of a motorcycle, show
examples of the different types of gear they might see a motorcyclist in, and invite participation from
the students on if they or anyone they know rides. After the showing of an 8 minute MSF Video, the
presenters verbally go through the 10 question quiz with the students, giving examples of real life
experiences that relate to each question throughout.
Afterwards, the students are taken outside to witness a few ‘ride bys’ to
demonstrate how hard it is to judge the speed of a motorcycle by having them guess the speed and to
further explain the ‘narrow profile’ of a motorcycle coming at you and how easily it can be hidden by
small objects or ignored due to larger vehicles around it and so on. They then go back into the
classroom, collect the evaluation sheet students fill out, hand out key chains and informational
tri-folds to everyone and ask them to take them home, along with the quiz, and educate their
parents.
We now have ‘certified presenters’ teaching in Tucson, Kingman, Lake Havasau,
Phoenix/Metro, and soon to be Payson. Many others from ABATE and MMA and the motorcycle clubs
themselves are working with us to present this very FUN and IMPORTANT Program. Although most of
our recipients are High School students, we have also presented to Senior Groups and even one
engineering company on 24th Street and Camelback to help them meet their safety education
requirements for that year. The man in charge just happened to ride and had heard of our program
from his teenage son.
Please read a few of the Teacher and Student Comments that we’ve collected
off of the Evaluation sheets over the years. Their comments speak volumes for the success of MAP
in Arizona. I especially like the first one under students.
You DO NOT have to be a member of ABATE or any other organization or club
to assist in these presentations. If you have the time, and want to get involved in any way,
shape or form, please contact me at 602-672-3531 or bobbij2@earthlink.net and I’ll get your name
to the presenters in your area. If MAP is not currently being presented near you, I’ll get
something going there myself and with your assistance we’ll go from there.
Teachers Comments:
I love this presentation – The message is so important and is presented very well.
The kids love having the message come from real motorcycle riders!
Program provided information in a very professional and interesting manner.
Students enjoyed the demonstration and the video. The guest speakers were great with their
interesting backgrounds and experiences.
Great presentation, students like it very much. Fun and informative. Bobbi
and Tim Carney relate really well to the students.
The students enjoyed the information given first hand knowledge
Great information that most vehicle/car drivers don’t understand, but need to
know about motorcycles. Good info and Good Demo. Students learned a lot.
Did a tremendous job. The students return the next day and say, “I saw a bunch
of motorcycles today/yesterday”. It’s an effective program and we are thankful for the presenters
who bring this to us.
Enjoyed the professional touch and knowledge of the subject – Definitely would
like to make this an annual event each semester.
This is always one of my favorite days of the semester – Very well done and the
fact it comes from “bikers” I think carries more weight with the kids.
Students. Enjoyed all 3 participants. Very well adapted to students needs.
The students really like meeting motorcycle riders. This presentation helps raise
their awareness and appreciate motorcycle riders.
Tim, Sky Pilot, and Lisa do a very thorough job while maintaining student involvement
throughout.
The guys did a wonderful job. I like watching the motorcycle demo. Certainly
raises students awareness of motorcycles.
Excellent information about motorcycle awareness and safety. Much interaction with
students! Great.
Good presentation. Helps make students aware of how they can better interact
with motorcycles and some of the problems motorcycles have to deal with on the roadway.
Bobbi and Tim are awesome! Without a doubt their presentation will help our
students be safer while driving.
This is a fine program that all licensed vehicle drivers need to see – awareness
of motorcycles. We were pleased to have them speak to our students.
Students Comments When Asked: What Did You Like About The Presentation?
I hope that I never have to say what I learned today. “I didn’t see the motorcycle
officer.” That fact will be stuck in my mind when I drive.
Interesting facts about how to watch out for a motorcycle – you made a point to
me.
Learned more about the bikes and how they operate – how small they are, why they maneuver,
lane positions, why they wear things, where accidents happen.
Nice people, they were real personalities – taught by real motorcyclists – they knew
what they were doing.
It was better than using the simulators – I would never have learned it otherwise
if I had not heard it from a real person.
Presentation taught me more about how important motorcycles are and how vulnerable
they are. I learned to give them more respect on the road and how I will treat them in the future.
I will be a lot more cautious and keep my eyes open for motorcycles.
Got us to talk about our friends and family who ride motorcycles.
They are real people that took the day off to inform us of the hazards on the road.
Good info and facts on needing to be safe around motorcycles and to look out for them.
This class really helped me learn how to look for motorcyclists and be aware and to
respect them like other motorists.
It was hard to judge the speed of the bikes, now I know how to be more careful.
I had never been talked to about motorcycles and I never realized how important the
information is to me and the rest of the driving world.
The instructors didn’t talk down to us. They made us feel important.
It was great having real people teach the class who were nice, and could relate to us,
and weren’t really serious (boring).
I liked that the presenters were here on their own time and were excited to be here.
I like the “drive by”. It gives you a better prospective on motorcycles and their riders.
Covered a lot of helpful information. It was good because we had people who knew about
motorcycles first hand, and now motorcyclists do not intimidate me anymore.
I thought it was great. Very informational. It’s better to have presenters who know
what they are talking about.
That there was an actual biker (motorcyclist) giving presentation. And we got to see
an actual motorcycle.
The information you gave us. Very informative, interesting and valuable.
Real people trying to help kids and prevent death of motorcyclists.
I liked that it taught me to watch out for motorcycles. They are harder to see than people
think.
I liked learning about how driving is for motorcyclists. I did not know anything about
motorcycles and now I know more and how to be safe and share the road with them.
The information given was very useful and helpful when dealing with motorcyclists on the road.
Being a beginning driver I am still a bit nervous about driving around cyclists, but having this info
and knowledge now makes me a bit more comfortable.
I liked that she was passionate about what she was saying. Made me really believe what
she’s talking about. I liked the demonstration.
I liked the demonstration and the presenters sharing their own experiences.
Knowledgeable presenter, good speaking skills, very good examples, guessing speed
gave a realistic view to new drivers.
Bobbi Hartmann
ABATE Designated Lobbyist
ABATE MAP Coordinator
NCOM LTF Member
bobbij2@earthlink.net
Motorcycle Awareness Events
Remember, this
is YOUR organization and it cannot survive without its members and
volunteers. If you can help your fellow members
and ABATE, let us know.
