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By Greg Bartlett

For anyone who travels, whether in a vehicle or on foot, it is common knowledge that there is safety in number. Whether traveling on vacation or hiking the Appalachian Trail most people recognize the wisdom in taking at least one companion along. Although many people, such as truckers, must travel for extensive periods of time alone, they may be among the best informed people on “safety in numbers.” Motorcyclists for many reasons usually travel in groups. One major reason for this is safety. Though some motorcyclists will venture out alone, there are many roads that solo motorcyclists will restrict themselves from traveling. For example, some soloist motorcyclists will avoid roads that are very remote; should an emergency develop in such an area emergency response workers may have a hard time finding and reaching the motorist before it is too late. With GPS tracking, however, solo motorcyclists can know that, no matter where they go, helpers can locate them in a matter of minutes.

GPS tracking dates back to the 1940′s during World War II and stands for Global Positioning System. Designed for the United States Air Force, GPS is the only fully-functional global navigational satellite system (GNSS) in the world today. GPS satellites communicate with GPS transmitters (also known as GPS receivers) to precisely calculate the navigational coordinates of the GPS transmitters. The location of a GPS transmitter can thus be accurately determined and recorded at any given time. From anywhere in the world, people in military, business, sports, law enforcement, science, and government administration use GPS tracking to locate and monitor any given subject at any given time.

As reported on August 21, 2009, a female motorcyclist was traveling alone in a remote, dangerous area. This woman had an accident on a gravel road out in a canyon – alone. She was uninjured, but the bike was ruined. Out under the burning sun in temperatures over 100 Fahrenheit, this woman could have been in some serious danger. She had planned ahead, however, and was equipped with a GPS tracking device that allowed her to call for emergency help and provide some local motorcyclists with her precise location. Thanks to GPS tracking, local motorcyclists soon arrived and provided this woman with the help that she needed.