Motorcycles can sometimes be intimidating for the uninitiated, but the freedom and exhilaration of riding still draws people to the hobby.
Ashley Mills, senior in zoology, said she has grown up with motorcycles, and her hobby has even helped her relax when she felt overwhelmed by her responsibilities as a student.
"For me it's a stress reliever because I'm in classes all the time and studying," Mills said. "I'm a little bit of a nerd, so when I have a break I like to go on my bike and be able to just relax and not worry about everything else that's going on."
Mills also said being a part of a community of motorcyclists is very rewarding because of the great people she has met.
"I've made a lot of friends through the motorcycle community," Mills said. "Something that all motorcyclists do on the road is every time we pass someone else, we always wave. It doesn't matter if we know the person or not. It can be anywhere in the country, and it's like that."
A way bikers get in touch with each other is through Bike Nights, held every Thursday. These meetings happen in Auburn at different places each week, and allow bikers to share their interests and go on motorcycle rides with others.
"A couple times a month usually, two, three, maybe four times we'll get together and ride to Cheaha or any other place that is a good place to ride motorcycles and have fun," said Bradley Rainosek, junior in professional flight management. "Also some people get together and go to a drag strip or race track and either watch or race our bikes there as well."
Joshua Brown, senior in mechanical engineering, said bikes are also very convenient because of good gas mileage. He said his motorcycle can get about 42 miles per gallon, which is why he almost never uses his truck.
"A lot of times if there's no rain, I'll really just drive my truck once a week to the grocery store and the rest of the miles on my motorcycle," Brown said.
Some people, however, feel the risk of riding motorcycles outweighs its benefits, and parents can become concerned when their kids consider riding motorcycles instead of cars.
"There are some motorcyclists who give us bad names," Mills said. "And I know a lot of parents see a motorcyclist who weave in and out of traffic without a helmet or proper equipment on. I think it generally does give a bad name, and I can see why parents would be worried."
But Mills said she actually feels safer and less distracted on a motorcycle, and safety on the road will always come down to the driver's experience.
"It's not always the motorcycle that's dangerous," Mills said. "It's how the driver is and how much control they have over wanting to speed and show off."
There are benefits to riding a motorcycle, and it can be a lot of fun to ride with people who have similar interests. The important thing, however, is to savor the excitement of the ride.
"If you enjoy riding, then that's all that really matters," Brown said.
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