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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Thursday during rush hour I was riding my Vision North on Wetmore about a half a mile before the Wurzbach Parkway and witnessed a very scary scene. I skinny teenage girl was pushing a Vespa scooter between the guard rail and the white line. In that area of Wetmore there is only about three feet of distance between the guard rail and the white line.
Using the emergency flashers I blocked traffic for her and asked what was wrong. She had run out of gas. She told me that someone said that the gas station was about a quarter mile done the road. It was really a mile away. I told her wait at a wide spot in the shoulder up the road and I would be back with some gas.
I went to the gas station, bought a can and two dollars worth of premium and went back. She was safe and waiting for me to return. The new gas cans suck! I took off the spout and poured the gas straight in the scooter without spilling too much.
She thanked me and was grateful for the help. I told her to ride safe and buy gas more often.
Off she went.
The whole time I thinking of two things. 1.) I hope someone would do the same if my daughter ran out of gas. 2.) Why didn't more people stop to help?
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Tourer
Posts: 496
Scottsdale AZ | Teach- Very nice! - You are the kind of folks I like to be associated with, even if it is just a forum of Vision owners. I would not hesitate to guess there would be MANY here that would do the same. I would sure stop to help your daughter or anyone for that fact.
I am going to tell Santa Claus about your good deed, you might get something special this year! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 600
Linwood, MI | That's one Good Samaritan Gold Star for you. Good job, man! *thumbs up* |
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Cruiser
Posts: 70
Iowa | radioteacher .....you sir, are a true Gentelmen |
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | Good job. This is the real biker spirit. |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Northeastern Penna. | Nice to hear good things! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | RT, thanks for sharing that experience with us and thanks for helping out the young lady. Hope you told her to check the gas in the scooter from now on. My daugher ran out of gas before, so I'm gald you help this daughter of someone. And YES, these new gas cans are the pits. I guess they are made to help save our asses from burning up. During Ike, filling my generator was a royal pain. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Since I ride this stretch of road twice a day, I have considered what would happen to me if I broke down or ran out of gas there or on Starcrest around the corner. At 45 inches wide there would be no way to keep the Vision out of the lane of traffic. The speed limit on that part of the road is 45 but most of the traffic runs at 50 to 55.
My plan if ever needed would be to:
1 Curse
2 Pray
3 Turn on flashers
4 Grab the Yellow Reflective Vest, red shirt and flashlight from the Right side bag
5 Go about 300 feet back up the road and start directing traffic around the bike using the flashlight and red shirt as a flag
6 Call for help on the cell phone
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Cruiser
Posts: 170
Houston, TX | Teach... You da man! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 69
Citrus Heights, CA United States | Good sumaritan award is yours World needs more people like you |
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | Teach - Doing good things can have a snowball effect. I'm sure the girl went on to do something nice for someone else based on her experience with you. That's what "Paying It Forward" is all about. Great biker spirit. Thanks for sharing.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | Good for you and thanks! I noticed this general lack of give a damn recently. Maybe I'm getting old but I think that people just don't care enough to be bothered. I was in Cali. on my Vision when I spotted a suburban rolling over on its side. I looked around and seen that NO one was bothering to call 911 (it was a nasty roll over, watching debris fly up towards us on the overpass). I; the guy on the motorcycle, had to pull over and call 911 w/my bluetooth helmet set once I got to the other side of the over pass. Same trip again but in NM: Traveling Eastbound on I40, I looked up and seen a plume of dust trailing a car that was upside down and sliding through the median/water run off gap into our oncoming lanes. It was a nasty end over end rollover, I have NO idea how it started. I couldn't get stopped before hitting another overpass because of the semi trucks and a van. Not ONE person was on the phone to the cops. I didn't pull over that time because I couldn't, so I had to rely on my cruise control while I dialed for help on the overpass. I had to stop at the Hi-Po station to give a report for that one. The median was too deep to turn the bike around and no service turnarounds were to be found. They said no one but the paramedics followed up after my 911 call that they knew of!!! How rediculous is that? If I were lying dead in a ditch, I wonder if anyone would bother to stop and tell the cops. It's seriously bad anymore. Normally you can't get people quit yapping on a phone in the car. Then a good excuse comes up to use it while driving; say SAVE SOMEONES LIFE, nobody cares! WTF???!!!
You stopping to offer some fuel was a 100% behavior change to what I've noticed of most people. Again, good job! Keep it up and people are gonna start flagging bikers down to help them instead of the cops! LOL
Edited by bigwill5150 2008-12-07 11:55 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Fargo, ND | Those of you who render aid should be commended. As was stated, it is too rare anymore. Here's another thought to ponder which applies as much to "Good Samaritan-ism" as it does to gun control. When seconds count, the cops are only minutes away.
Edited by nohawg 2008-12-07 9:01 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 550
Tacoma, WA | It is great that you rendered aid. I was brought up that it is just what you do. Like pulling over for emergency vehicles....Hey, it could be your kid in that ambulance. I remember once, on my way to Yelm, where I used to live, I saw two Harley riders off the side of the road, and pulled over to see if they needed any help...I was on a quiet Valkyrie, and almost scared them to death, as they didn't hear me approach! They were just taking a smoke break, but appreciated that someone would try and help.----Metalguy |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 5
| Much respect Radioteacher for a job well done!
A similar situation happened to me last Friday. Heading home from work I took a different exit than I normally do only to see a Ford mustang on the side of the road with the hazard lights on. The lady was standing on the side of the road as I approached and slowed. I asked her what was wrong and her reply was she ran out of gas. Told her to stay put (like she had any other option) I would get some gas and come back. Stopped at the station, bought a two gallon gas can (plastic), filled it up and realized the gas can would not fit in the saddle bag and I had nothing to tie the gas can down to the passager seat. The trunk for my Vision is sitting in the garage at my house. So, with no other choice, I let the gas can ride free on the rear seat on my way back to the lady in distress. I fill the car up with the gas, provided instructions on how to prime the electric fuel pump and when she was ready, turn the key. Well when she turned the key her battery was dead from running her hazard lights since she was on the side of the road for almost two hours. I asked if she had some jumper cables and she said yes and pulled them from the trunk. I stepped into the road and within three cars a gentleman spun a u-turn and popped his hood. We hooked up the cables and let the battery charge for a few minutes and I told her to start the engine. She turned the key and the car started perfectly. She was so excited that she took her foot off of the clutch and slams into the other car. She forgot to put the car into neutral. Not much damage to either car but scratches and two dented license plates however the lady broke down in tears. No doubt she was having a bad day. Well, after calming her down, we started the car again, I thanked the guy for the jump start and I followed the lady to the nearest gas station.
I mention my story only to encourage others to do the same. It could be your wife, your daughter or a stranger and if you don't help, a idiot looking to do some harm will. It doesn't take much time to help someone in need and I tip my helmet to you Radioteacher....... |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Tazmaniac,
Great job. That was quite an ordeal. Gas, Jump and a small crash. My wife would have broke down as well. (That reminds me of the time my wife broke into tears on the phone with a flat tire in a safe parking lot. I had to go there, put the spare down for her and give her a hug.)
I carry a cotton belt used to tie up a karate uniform in a sidebag on the Vision. I have used it to tie down boxes to the back seat and the gas can from the event above. The rear handles work great for tie points. I am going to buy one of those bungy nets with some Christmas money in a few weeks.
It is a testament to your skill as a rider and the smooth ride of the Vision that the gas can stayed on the back seat. Keep up the good work.
Ride Safe! |
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Tourer
Posts: 320
Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | Thank you radioteacher. I have stopped several time, both in the cage and on my bike. I'm not terribly mechanically inclined, but I stop, if nothing else, to offer a cellphone or something. I was on my bike one time, heading southbound on I-95, when I noticed a bike on the shoulder in the northbound lane. I whipped a U-ey, and returned to find a guy on a HD bagger (not bashing). He had called Harley Roadside Assitance over an hour before, and they still didn't have an idea of when a rollback would be out to get him! He was on his way to a Patriot Guard ride in NC, escorting the cremated remains of a Hero for burial in Arlington. I called my hubby (our home was about 10 mile away), and he got our trailer, and we loaded the gent up and took him to the Harley dealer. His wife was on her way in the cage to arrive for the ride later. My hubby road my bike (A Shadow 750) one time when I first started riding. He wasn't used to the low fuel range (he rides a GL 1800), and when I got on my bike the next time, I got about 3 miles from the house, and had to switch to Reserve, in the middle of BFE. Needless to say, I ran out of gas. I was out of cell range, and stucki. Dozens of people drove by, nothing. I was so embarrased, I couldn't flag anyone down. I know what they were thinking, me in my pink helmet and jacket, "Yep, the dingy blonde forgot to put gas in it!". Finally, a nice lady pulled over. Her phone had signal in the area, and I was able to get in touch with my hubby to bring me some gas.... (I gave him an earful later!) I know several times I have seen people on the side of the road, and have been in a rush somewhere, and couldn't stop, but have thought of those people all day. Hopefully, there will always be someone who can stop. It's the one's who don't care enough that I worry about
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Cruiser
Posts: 59
| you know God was smiling down on you and proud of you. |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | A couple of years ago I was heading from Birmingham Alabama to Camp Shelby Mississippi about 1 a.m. Passed through Meridian Mississippi and the I-20/59 split and about 5 miles later saw a car on the side of the road with its hazards on and a woman and children standing around. It was a Hispanic family who had run out of gas and her husband and son were walking to the next exit to get gas. I speak a little Spanish, so I was able to put her at ease (big guy, black leather coat and pants, motorcycle...) Now, this area is really dark and deserted, and they didn't know that the next exit was about 10 miles away, so I told her I would go get some gas for them and send her men back to her. Caught up to them about a half-mile down the road, explained the geography, and they gave me the gas can.
I was riding my Honda Shadow 1100 and I secured the gas can with a bungee net. Off I went to the next exit - where there was no gas station open. I was afraid that would be the case. And a few miles to the next exit. Same story. About 10 miles to the the next station. Same thing. It is a REALLY desolate stretch of highway that time of night.
Came back, crossed the median, told them what was going on, and returned to Meridian where I knew there were gas stations open 24 hours. Took the gas to them and wouldn't let them pay me anything for the gas - they needed the money more than I did.
I rode off into the night feeling pretty good about myself. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | What goes around, comes around. Good karma to all Good Samaritans. Great stories. (The lady popping the clutch into her Samaritan's car is one of my faves.) |
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Stopping to render aid