South Jersey biker club projects positive image

Off the Wire
MCs in the News

Some Alpha Biker commentary... isn't it nice to see that when it is a group of "former law enforcement, fire, rescue, and military personnel" that it is a BIKER GROUP... but when it is organized group of serious men... it is a BIKER GANG... this is bullshit people.

EVESHAM — Just before takeoff, their engines thundered and popped in staccato. The 25 black-vested motorcyclists convened like family Wednesday evening in an Evesham parking lot, exchanging hugs, laughs and stories. They mounted shiny bikes dripping with chrome to ride to the swearing-in ceremony of group member Gary Gubbei as Maple Shade's new police chief.

The brotherhood of current and former law enforcement, fire, rescue and military personnel from South Jersey formed last summer as the state's first chapter of the nationally recognized Defenders Motorcycle Club, which boasts about 28 units and approximately 600 members.

"It started with a group of seven of us who knew each other from law enforcement and were looking for clubs to join with similar philosophies," said South Jersey 1 Chapter Vice President Nick Matteo, former Evesham police chief. "We liked what we heard and saw from the Defenders. We reflect a positive image within our communities and we like it that way."

During weekly rides, Matteo, whose road name is Chief, said the group doesn't try to lay down the law against One Percenters, those who have given biker groups their bad-boy stereotypes.

"There are so many negatives portrayed regarding biker groups but lawyers, doctors and judges have clubs," the 65-year-old said. "We have no relationships or encounters with the One Percenters. We've never had a problem, we've never seen a problem and we're not looking for a problem."

Matteo, now a civilian employee in Evesham's police department, said his chapter also includes active and retired Medford, Cherry Hill, Lenola and Mount Ephraim police and fire officers. He said it isn't looking to expand but will accept the right candidate.

Those eligible to join must go through a full background check, lengthy application process, pay a $200 application fee and pass a three-ride trial to ensure safety.

"One bike can take out 10," Matteo said while describing what can be an inherently dangerous pastime of group motorcycle riding.

In this, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, public safety officials said it's necessary for motorcycle fatalities and accidents to continue to decrease. Those numbers fell nationwide last year for the first time in 11 years, according to a Governors Highway Safety Association study released late last month.

In 2008, the 5,290 motorcyclist deaths were the most ever, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Motorcycle deaths declined last year in New Jersey and about 35 other U.S. states.

Fifty-nine motorcyclists died in the Garden State between January and September last year, 13 fewer than that period in 2008, according to the GHSA survey. New Jersey is one of about 20 states that require motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Between 2003 and 2007, 377 motorcyclists died on New Jersey highways, while registrations increased by 17 percent, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

The number of registered motorcycles statewide decreased by about 2,000 between 2008 and 2009, after increasing by approximately 5,500 from 2007 to 2008, according to the state Motor Vehicle Commission's most recent statistics.

Experts attribute last year's sudden decline in motorcycle accidents and deaths to the economy, with motorcyclists riding fewer miles, a decrease in new motorcycle riders and bike sales, and a continued initiative by many states to implement comprehensive motorcycle safety and training programs, like one offered at Camden County College.

Officials urge car and truck drivers to increase following distances behind motorcyclists to at least four seconds and be aware of motorcyclists' tendencies to be in blind spots, appear farther away than they are or slow down by downshifting instead of using brakes with visual warnings.

Reach Jeremy Rosen at (856) 486-2456 or jrosen@gannett.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it