Deaf motorcycle rally
Renca: Do any of you enjoy riding on a motorcycle? There are different kinds of motorcycle groups in the Deaf community that enjoy riding motorcycles together for various reasons. There are some official Deaf motorcycle clubs and non-profit organizations like Deaf Bikers of America (DBA). Some others just gather together for fun. Heartland Deaf Bikers (HDB) had a motorcycle gathering recently for a fundraiser to support the Iowa School for the Deaf Alumni Association (ISDAA) and they invited me to join them for a day to see what it’s like to go on a group ride. Enjoy the video.
Ron and Sarita Hovinga: Hello!
Sarita: Heartland Deaf Bikers!
Ron: Heartland Deaf Bikers! This is the sign we use for Heartland Deaf Bikers. We combine this Heartland sign with the bike throttle, and there you have it.
Sarita: We decided on that name because Iowa meets up with six or seven states?
Ron: Six different states, yeah.
Sarita: Six surrounding states, and we thought it would be nice if there were a way for us to come together and grow.
Ron: It was a dream of mine to have HDB (Heartland Deaf Bikers) set up for our Deaf community to get together and enjoy. HDB isn’t a club, it’s just a group with a recognized name. We can all come together and take turns hosting everyone under HDB. I realized I had to set this up because I knew many Deaf bikers, including myself. So I grabbed the opportunity. Keep in mind though, you don’t have to be a biker to join. You can also drive, following us to lend support for different events, like a poker run or a charity run. Like right now, we’re supporting the Iowa School for the Deaf Alumni Association. We’re raising and collecting funds to support them.
Renca: Soon we’ll be ready to hit the road!
Ron: Important thing related to helmets- helmets aren’t required by law in Iowa. So you’ll notice some of us are wearing helmets, and some aren’t. It’s a personal choice, but for me, when I’m riding with my wife I always wear a helmet. Another state, Nebraska, passed a law effective this January saying helmets aren’t required anymore, though they were required by law in the past. Every state is different. Texas doesn’t require a helmet, but the state of Virginia does. It depends on each state’s laws.
Renca: As a passenger, my responsibility is to communicate with the bikers behind me. So I might sign “two blocks” or “one block” for two or three people–
Sarita: If you are a passenger with a bike that is in front- you will need to signal the blocks in order to block the road. So two blocks will be with two hands, and one block is one hand. These blocks allow the others to come through.
Sam Rush: Hey, I’m Sam and there are two bikes here. The Harley is more of a leisurely ride while this bike is good for the adrenaline junkies. It goes fast, no cruise control on that one. The Harley has cruise control, nice and steady. Wow, it’s been a while for me since I’ve ridden though.
Ron: Here’s the cruise control button. We’re ready to set it up. That button is to slow down and resume. With that engaged it gives my hand a break since I won’t need this handle. Pretty cool huh?
[communicating about two riders will need to catch up]
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Tjay Schejbal: I’ve been riding for almost 10 years. I came out here to support the HDB group. And for fun of course. My bike is a Road Glide. Thank you.
Mollie Easter: Hey, I’m a biker and I love it. I’ve been doing this since I was a little girl because my parents both had motorcycle licenses, so I learned from them. I had a dirtbike when I was young, then a moped, and then I went to Gallaudet where I eventually met my husband who was also a biker. That was that, I bought my own bike and I’ve been riding for almost 21 years now. That’s my story! And the reason I’ve joined the ride today is because I wanted to help the Deaf community and be with my fellow Deaf bikers. It’s not that hard being a Deaf biker, no. Most hearing people think it requires relying on our ears but that’s not true. It’s a visual thing, and with good communication, we’re just fine.
Jeffrey Cutter: Welcome! I grew up riding motorcycles since I was a teen. I am the only one in my family who rides motorcycles. My parents hated that I did that! I had seen so many hearing biking groups traveling around together, and I always wanted to be a part of that. I moved to Nebraska and the first group I became a part of was the Deaf bikers for the Iowa School for the Deaf homecoming. At that moment I was sold, so I try my best to join them every year. COVID put a stop to it for a while and no one was hosting for three or four years. Finally, we decided it was time to hit the road again. I hope we can keep getting more bikers, and I’m surprised at the big turnout today. I didn’t think it would be this big but that’s a good thing. I hope in the future we can keep on growing and get back to how it was before. It’s awesome seeing all of us Deaf bikers together. It’s a joy. It’s wind therapy!
The Daily Moth wants to thank HDB for their time. You can check out their Facebook page if you are interested in more information. We have included a link to HDB and also a link to Deaf Bikers of America in this transcript. You can also research to see if there is a Deaf motorcycle group near you too!
Heartland Deaf Bikers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082312062322219
Deaf Bikers of America: https://www.deafbikersofamerica.com/