| "Dirty Biker" is a phrase we've all heard. Homegrown | | | | Today, bikers engage in rallies for many different |
| in our cinema, with movies like "Easy Rider" and "The | | | | charities. Many of the events these hardy riders |
| Wild One" starring Marlon Brando, the notion that | | | | attend are held in honor of one cause or another. |
| bikers, especially Harley-Davidson riders, are all a part | | | | Some of these include B.A.D.D.--Bikers Against Drunk |
| of a degenerate gang intent on terrorizing the good | | | | Drivers, B.A.D.--Bikers Against Diabetes, |
| citizens of our home town has infiltrated every | | | | B.A.C.A.--Bikers Against Child Abuse. There are too |
| corner of our nation. | | | | many to list here, but you can find what is going on |
| The truth is far different. If you were to compare | | | | in your home state by visiting the Traveling Bikers |
| the membership of outlaw biker gangs, to the | | | | website charity index: |
| number of motorcyclists across the country, the | | | | The next time you see a group of bikers tooling |
| law-breakers are very few and far between. One | | | | down the road, it may likely be they are donating |
| might compare them to the number of criminals, as | | | | their time, money and energy for a good cause--all |
| to the number of law-abiding athletes in every stripe | | | | while riding a vehicle that saves on gas and pollutes |
| of professional sports. | | | | less than our four-wheelers do. |
| Unfortunately, 'if it bleeds, it leads' is the motto of | | | | "Dirty Biker" might need to be changed to |
| our media. Should there be as many reports about | | | | "Benevolent Biker" in light of the millions raised for |
| the wonderful deeds bikers invest their time and | | | | charity. In a nation in need of heroes, no matter how |
| energy in, the perception of bikers being all renegade | | | | unlikely, I can think of no better figure than the |
| outlaws most definitely would shift. In fact, | | | | leather-clad, open-air rider, hair blowing in the wind, |
| statistically, since the 80's there has been a strong | | | | criss-crossing our country to serve the needs of the |
| movement away from the criminal element that gave | | | | people. Even bad boys do good deeds. |
| so many good bikers a bad name. | | | | |