As we continue to learn more about the novel coronavirus and enter new phases of the pandemic, it is important to have a plan in place to stay healthy and safe moving forward. As stay at home orders begin to lift and we slowly start to transition back to “normal” life, what precautions will you take to stay infection free? No one is immune to COVID-19 but there is a lot that you can do to not only protect yourself but others too.

Stay Home When You Can
Be sure to check your local guidelines before heading out on a ride and shelter-in-place if necessary. It is more important than ever to not only protect yourself but others from coronavirus and while unnatural, sometimes that simply means staying home. Even if you are taking every recommended precaution when it comes to riding a motorcycle and avoiding people, there is always the risk of crashing which not only exposes you to others but might mean taking up a hospital bed. Always follow additional recommendations provided by your local health authorities to stay safe.

Avoid Crowds
The best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to avoid exposure, which means staying away from large gatherings. As we enter prime riding season, if your favorite motorcycle event hasn’t been canceled or rescheduled yet, it is best to avoid these large hangouts. Take advantage of this rare time to slow down and get some r and r. Explore the beauty of the open road on your motorcycle and save group gatherings for another time.

Carry PPE on Every Ride
Aside from your normal motorcycle safety gear, during this uncertain time, you should also carry PPE to wear off of your bike in the event of an unplanned stop and when refueling. Carry gloves or hand sanitizer with you and always wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth when you are unable to keep 6 feet apart.

Clean and Disinfect
After your ride, take the time to clean and disinfect touched surfaces on your motorcycle and motorcycle gear. Cleaning your bike and gear will help remove dirt and grime, while adding the secondary step of disinfecting to kill off any lingering germs you might’ve picked up along the way. While you clean and disinfect, it doesn’t hurt to perform a motorcycle safety inspection to prepare for your next ride!

While there are still many unknowns about COVID-19 and it may feel stressful to not be in motion, we can find hope in the fact that together we will move forward and get through this. Ride safe if you have to and stay home if you can. The only curve that matters right now is the one we need to flatten.

It’s A Fine Line is an inclusive community of motorcycle riders advocating one common mission: zero motorcycle deaths by 2030. We want to share videos and stories about motorcycle safety, events, rides, clubs, gear and training because we believe that together we can save the lives of our friends, our families and our communities.