Hey Jasmine,
I took the MSF basic rider course with you this summer. I left for school in New York a week later.
One of my friends ended up bringing his motorcycle to school a few weeks ago, and he let me take it out for a few rides around Manhattan. I don't know if you have ever experienced the traffic in Manhattan, but there is a really good reason you don't see too many motorcycles here. Anyways, I got accustomed to the bike by just riding around the block a few times. The next night, he let me take it out into the city.
I went all the way down the island of Manhattan. I rode through Times Square, I saw all of Greenwich Village, I drove around Central Park, went past Union Square, and Grand Central Station and all the way up Park Avenue. I even stopped and paid my respect to the Statue of Liberty, and let me tell you, it is even more pretty when seen from motorcycle. It was one of the most incredible nights of my life, just roaming around the city on motorbike.
I ended up taking it out a few more times, and I this is why I wanted to get a hold of you. The roads of New York City are very dirty. They are covered not only with holes and bumps, but also with trash, and lots of oil. They are extremely slick. I was riding down and I ran into a yellow light. I hesitated a moment, and then I decided to go through. In this moment of hesitation, a bus going the opposite direction began to take a left turn. I hit the brakes really hard, and because of the slickness, both of my wheels started skidding. I wasn't going to stop fast enough, but somehow, I managed to swerve around the bus while still skidding. Turns out, I didn't even fall. I was just a little shaken up and had the biggest adrenaline rush of my life.
My first instinct when I was skidding was to let go of the brakes and brace myself for the impact, which probably would have killed me. But I remembered what you had taught us. By some miracle of God, I released the front brake, and held the back brake until i was clear of the bus and had stopped.
The reason I am writing this email is because for the last few weeks, I have just been feeling so lucky to be alive. I keep thinking that I could have died so easily on that motorcycle, but somehow I remembered what was taught to me. I didn't let my instincts take control, but I committed to the braking I was doing, and somehow, I kept my cool, enough to keep me alive.
I just wanted to thank you so much for teaching me the things that kept me alive that day. I don't know how to say it, but without that safety course, I don't think I would be writing this email. I am very grateful for you and what you do, and what you taught us. I Thank You from the very bottom of my heart.
And on a brighter note, I finally convinced my parents to buy me a motorcycle in Colorado. Its a Suzuki GS500 E. Its a really cool bike. I can't wait to come back and hit the roads.
Thank you again for everything, and give my regards to everyone else in ABATE and MSF for putting this course together.
Cheers,
Krishn Khanna