According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, state motorcycle registrations have increased from 180, 345 at the turn of the century to 439,108 last year. And it’s no surprise that motorcycles are so popular in the state.
The long riding season is definitely a plus for Texans. This article appearing in the Killeen Daily Herald talks about some of the ways Texas motorcycle enthusiasts are able to take advantage of the summer months, as well as discussing current biker trends. Naturally, nobody would ever plan to add a motorcycle injury into the fun. The Houston motorcycle injury lawyer of Kurt Arbuckle, P.C. encourages safe riding to prevent injuries and prolong the ride!
For those stuck in the frozen north, the riding season may be a few paltry months, but in the Lone Star state, your riding season may run year-round.
Will Watson, the sales manager at Indian Motorcycle of Fort Hood is optimistic about the growth potential for motorcycles in Texas. “This area rotates people about every three years and the riding here is beautiful, so I think the potential for growth in this area is limitless.” But the owner of Killeen Power Sports, Jim Foster, doesn’t agree. According to Mr. Foster, “The motorcycle future is flat right now, and the sales have not returned to where they were before the recession.” He believes that the economy is a prime factor in the downturn.
The general manager of Fort Hood Harley-Davidson, Lowell Doublin, sees Texas women purchasing more and more bikes. As many as 15% of his customers are women. He says that “Women feel more liberated now and they want to ride their own bikes.”
Texas has always been a fantastic place to ride, with its wide-open roads and fantastic weather, but riding Texas’s roadways isn’t without its risks.
Hopefully, as motorcycles grow in popularity, motorists will develop better awareness of occupying the roads with them.
But in 2011, Texas had the most bike fatalities in the U.S.; 441 riders were killed in the state that year.
No matter how safe a rider you are, drivers around you are the biggest risk to your safety. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, seek a Houston motorcycle injury lawyer who’s familiar with the intricacies of personal injuries cases involving motorcycles.
Photo Credit: ND Strupler via Compfight cc
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