The general public continues not to understand, or like, motorcyclists in many respects. Even those who gladly offer that they have a rider in the family, or at least someone they know who rides, will also gladly tell you how much they hate loud bikes, lane splitting, and "those crazy" motorcyclists. So it is not surprising that in Riverside County we are looking at a new ban on bike use. Or that I am noticing urban parking lots that don't allow motorcycles at all. After all the charity rides, the celebrity riders, the many cleaned up image bikers, the bad news continues. We are a minority in a time of intolerance, and there really doesn't seem to be much justification for it. In the 60's Honda did us big favors with their "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" ads that heralded the Japanese Invasion. We need to keep on this, because if we don't, we'll lose. | 
