OFF THE WIRE
Motorcycle safety hopes ride on new sign's impact
Purdue professor Marifran Mattson and student Jordan Wykoff unveil the state's first motorcycle caution sign Wednesday in West Lafayette. / By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier
Written by SOPHIA VORAVONG Filed Under News WORTH KNOWING Motorcycle Safety at Purdue: www.itinvolvesyou.com
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His was among the motorcycle fatalities that Purdue and West Lafayette officials hope the community is reminded of when passing by a new motorcycle caution sign at University and Third streets, near the Purdue Armory.
The sign, which features the black silhouette of a motorcycle rider, was unveiled Wednesday morning. It's believed to be the first of its kind in Indiana.
"It has to do with awareness of others," university President France Córdova said. "When something like that happens, it affects everybody in the Purdue family."
The sign is part of Motorcycle Safety at Purdue, a five-year campaign that was initiated in August 2006 by Marifran Mattson, a Purdue professor who lost part of her left leg in a motorcycle crash in 2004.
The work on the unique, new motorcycle safety sign was done by two graduate students and undergraduate students as part of Mattson's small group communications class.
Third-year doctoral student Emily Haas has been involved in the project since 2008.
"My cousin had been killed in a motorcycle crash a couple years before that, and I was trying to figure out what I could do to make a difference," said Haas, who chose to attend Purdue because of Mattson's campaign.
"People can walk by this sign every day and hopefully be reminded that motorcycle safety does involve them."
The location
Previous outreach efforts have included partnering with ABATE, or American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, holding focus groups, speaking with family members and friends of motorcyclists, and participating in student events on campus.
Mattson said the intersection of University and Third streets was chosen for the sign because it's across from a motorcycle parking strip on the eastern side of University Street.
"We thought this was a good location where people need to particularly be aware of motorcycles ... take a second look and think about it," she said.
Though approval from the Indiana Department of Transportation was not necessary, the campaign did seek permission from the city of West Lafayette. Mayor John Dennis, who has been riding since age 15, was quick to agree.
Dennis has been injured in two motorcycle crashes, the most recent one in August 2009 when he collided with a stopped sport utility vehicle in Fountain County.
"We're working on this as a community," he said. "I couldn't have been more excited about a project when I learned we were going to put a motorcycle safety sign in the city of West Lafayette and with Purdue University.
"I couldn't be more proud. I think we're doing the right thing -- making motorcyclists and those who drive four-wheel vehicles aware that we're both out there. We both need to share the road."
Mattson said the sign's effectiveness will be evaluated to see whether similar signs can be placed statewide.
