CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Shelly Bing and her son, Cody Lasley, headed home early after rain interrupted their camping trip. Exhausted from travel, they both went straight to bed. That night was the last time Shelly would see her son alive.
It’s been almost a year since Bing lost her son in a motorcycle accident. He’s one of 28 people who have died in motorcycle accidents in Clarksville in the last five years.
As the weather warms up, more bikers are taking to the road, Clarksville Police are urging that motorcyclists exercise caution, and they and Bing are pleading with drivers and bikers alike. “I don’t want to see any more bikers go down,” she said.
‘He turned mistakes into teachings’
In remembering her son, who would have been 35 this year, Bing said his generosity had no limits. “He’d take people in off the street,” Bing told Clarksville Now. “He’d say, ‘Hey, you homeless? Are you hungry? Let me help you out.'”
Growing up, Lasley made mistakes and had issues with law, Bing said. As a kid, he was constantly getting in trouble, and as an adult, Lasley spent some time in jail. After leaving prison, he turned his life around and did a lot of work to help others while working as an auto mechanic.
“He turned his mistakes into teachings,” Bing said.
After his death, over 200 motorcyclists showed up at Liberty Park for a group ride to honor his memory. Bing said several people she had never met told her how her son had helped them in one way or another. She said some were homeless people that had homes now, and some were former drug addicts who had gotten clean.
Almost 700 motorcycle crashes in 5 years
According to data from CPD, there were 630 motorcycle crashes in five years, from 2019 to 2023, in Clarksville. Of those, 402 resulted in injuries, and 28 were fatal.
As of June 5, 2024, Clarksville has seen 62 motorcycle crashes, with 32 injuries and three deaths.
CPD spokesman Scott Beaubien said bikers can take several safety measures to keep themselves and other drivers safe.
- Wear proper safety equipment (DOT-approved helmets, gloves, eye protection and boots).
- Drive responsibly and sober.
- Obey all traffic laws.
- Stay alert and focused.
- Anticipate that motorists will not see you as you approach driveways and intersections.
For those who don’t drive a motorcycle, Beaubien suggested these measures for safely sharing the road:
- Look twice before changing lanes or entering a roadway.
- Do not try to share the same lane with a motorcycle; treat their vehicle the same as a car.
- Do not follow too closely; a motorcycle can stop in a shorter distance than other vehicles.
Motorcycle safety training
For any person thinking about getting a motorcycle, Bing has this to say: “Go to a motorcycle class and get your endorsement.”
Appleton Harley-Davidson in Clarksville offers these training courses for bikers.
“We offer an extremely robust rider training program,” said Evan Noel, general manager at Harley-Davidson, told Clarksville Now. “It offers a variety of courses; the highest concentration is the Basic Riding Course.”
The BRC at Appleton Harley-Davidson is a 2 1/2-day course sanctioned by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and the only requirement is the ability to ride a bicycle. Noel said the training starts from the ground up, showing the basic controls of the motorcycle and establishing comfort, balance and control. Most importantly, they teach self-awareness. “One of the No. 1 things we see with accidents is not always the rider themselves, but them not being aware of their surroundings,” Noel said.
Appleton trains about 550 students a year. Students must bring some basic gear, but everything else is taken care of. Motorcycles, a driving range, and even meals are supplied for the clients.
At the end of the course, students receive a motorcycle safety course completion card that exempts them from taking the riding portion of the state license exam, and they receive a discount on motorcycle insurance. Training is offered twice a week throughout the year, and the price is $299.
For more information, visit the Appleton Harley-Davidson Riding Academy site.