Safety urged as motorcycle deaths in Minnesota climb

The death of a 42-year-old Duluth man is the latest in a grim rash of motorcycle accidents involving death or injury - now 33 - statewide since May 29.  
Patrick Rix was traveling with a group of motorcyclists when he attempted to merge onto northbound Interstate 94 in Minneapolis about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. While merging, he lost control. The accident is under investigation by the State Patrol. Rix wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Earlier this week, a Grand Rapids rider died from his injuries at St. Luke’s hospital. His motorcycle went off the road Sunday along a curve on the scenic highway near Lower Lawrence Lake in Itasca County. The rider, Zackary Mikel Adams, 21, was employed in Duluth. He wasn’t wearing a helmet, either.
A Minneapolis police spokesperson urged riders to wear helmets after two deaths in 29 hours in the city earlier this week. But it’s not easy to gain compliance when state law calls for a minimum of eye protection only.
“We can’t force people to wear them,” said Duluth Police Sgt. Chad Nagorski, who also said he sees anecdotal evidence that younger generations of riders are more apt to wear helmets.
The fatalities noted above made for six motorcycling deaths in the state in the past nine days through Thursday. In some of the accidents, the motorcyclists were struck by other vehicles. This year’s total of 11 motorcycle fatalities matches the number at this time last year.
So, while the numbers don’t present a statistical trend, the cluster of accidents piqued the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s interest enough for the agency to issue an awareness bulletin on Thursday.
The DPS noted motorcycle ownership and ridership are on the rise in the state, with nearly half a million licensed riders in 2013, and half as many registered bikes.
“Anytime people get out and get back on their bikes we try to educate other drivers to notice the motorcycles out there,” Nagorski said. “People aren’t necessarily conditioned to look. We forget about them in winter and we start missing them in our blind spots.”
The DPS issued reminders of both motorist and rider techniques. Among the tips to riders: “Get trained,” as both beginning and advanced rider classes teach crash-avoidance techniques.
Riders are also reminded to not drink and ride. In one of the recent collisions, involving two motorcycles crashing, alcohol was a factor.
Motorcycle safety is a component of the state’s primary road safety initiative, Toward Zero Deaths.
“One of the biggest things is getting rid of distractions,” Nagorski said. “Even if you’re using hands’ free you’re still dividing your attention when you’re thinking about making a call versus having your full attention on driving.
“One of the things police officers do is look in their mirrors constantly. If you see a cyclist coming at you from way back, you’ll notice when they gets closer.”
Rix, the Duluthian, was an Army veteran who served in Iraq, said a friend, Dave Hamil of Duluth. Hamil called Rix “a very experienced rider.”
Safety and training literature can be found by searching “Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center” on the Internet.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune contributed to this report.