Easy Rider, © 1969

Getting on a Harley-Davidson cruiser and feeling the engine rev as you ride down I-4 is like no other feeling. Dennis Hopper in the movie "Easy Rider" knew that feeling, even though he didn't have the American flag painted on his gas tank.

"Easy Rider's" theme song, "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf became an anthem of a generation of bikers. You can hear strains of the tune at many bike events like Daytona Beach's annual Bike Week.

But you don't have to be wild before you rev up to ride down I-4 on your motorcycle.

"Safety is always at the forefront of my mind," says Juan Contraras of Orlando, a Central Florida motorcycle rider. "Whenever I'm on the road, I have to anticipate what [another motorist] is going to do."

60,000 injuries

In 2001, 3181 motorcyclists were killed and an additional 60,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. That's 10 percent more than the 2,897 motorcyclist fatalities and 4 percent more than the 58,000 motorcyclist injuries reported in 2000.

Motorcyclists are about 21 times as likely as passenger car occupants, per vehicle mile, to die in a traffic crash, the NHTSA said.

According to the NHTSA, 43 percent, of the fatalities in 2001 occurred in one of seven states, Florida ranking second with 287 fatalities.

Certainly a large number of fatalities in 2001, the most recent figures available, were due to motorist actions or lack of proper safety precautions.

NHTSA's estimates say helmets saved 674 lives in 2001, and an additional 444 lives could have been spared if all motorcyclists would have worn helmets.

In 2001, 39 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding approximately twice the rate of passenger cars or light trucks. The percentage of alcohol involvement was 37 percent higher for motorcyclists than for drivers of passenger vehicles.

"There are too many irresponsible people on the road. If you want to do pop-a-wheelies and act crazy on a motorcycle, then stay off the road," said Damien Thomas of Oveido, a motorcycle rider for over 22 years. "Too many people want to ride motorcycles for the wrong reasons, and they end up dying." In 2001, 29 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents involved intoxicated drivers.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Florida requires that motorcycle riders wear a helmet if they are younger then 21. We are one of seven states to have this age range law. Only three states are motorcycle helmet free: Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire.

Bill Harley and Arthur Walter Davidson developed a one-cylinder motorcycle in Milwaukee during 1903. It was reliable and attractive. By 1905, they made 11 motorcycles. In 1908, they were up to 154. Their company was in a little wooden barn, built by Davidson's father. They later built a stone factory, which housed 20 employees.

A century later, Harley-Davidson is the most recognized motorcycle brand in the world.

Orlando Harley-Davidson has been owned by Anne and Steve Deli for five years. Their commitment to motorcycle safety is exemplified with 18 trainers. They also created Help Art Reach Kids (HARK) in 2004. Between bike trips, bike raffles and a Biker Style Gala, HARK has raised over $150,000 for The United Arts. The money raised benefits arts education programming for kids K-12 in the Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties.

How does does it feel to ride a motorcycle down the I-4 corridor? "It's like no other feeling," Robles said.