My objection to Dr. Hurt’s statement is the sweeping generality of it. I expected more from such an educated and influential person. His statement is a clever, throw-away sound bite when he could have made a meaningful point.

Not all “older riders on large bikes”, I fall into the 40+ demographic and ride an 1800cc cruiser, are “boozed up.” His statement makes it sound as if that were true. I want to think it was not Dr. Hurt’s intent, but his statement plays into the “drunken biker” image that so many of us are trying to diminish. I think it was a poorly thought-out statement.

Yes, a large percentage of the riders who die are drunk. That doesn’t make the rest of us the same.

I believe it was on this site that you quoted a recent WSP talking points memo about older riders (returning baby boomers) being involved in more accidents. And the statistics of Alcohol involvement in rider fatalities speak for themselves.”