A fatal accident in Richmond last week involving a motorcyclist didn’t deter a group of B.C. riders from taking part on in a group ride on Saturday for International Female Ride Day, but it was a stark reminder about the importance of road safety.
“We have a community and — I don’t know if you notice — when motorcycles ride, we always give each other a wave and we always help each other,” said Melly Kage, one of the organizers for Vancouver’s International Female Ride Day. “We always feel sad if something happens to someone, even if we don’t know them.”
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and Saturday was International Female Ride Day. The event, which is hosted all around the world and celebrated its 10th anniversary this year since being launched by Motoress Magazine, saw at least two group rides take place in B.C. on Saturday, one in Victoria and one in Vancouver.
The event is meant to draw attention to the popular sport, and to encourage more women to get involved. The month-long safety campaign also aims to raise awareness of safe motorcycling practices and to encourage other road users to be more aware of motorcyclists.
“On the side of the motorcyclists: You do not speed. You do not do anything that’s putting yourself or others in danger. That’s number one,” said Kage of how road users can encourage safe sharing of roadways. “Just go by the rules of traffic. Then we have a couple of extra things we need to do, just because it’s in the nature of the vehicle — we are not easily seen.”
Motorcycle safety is particularly important in a locale like B.C.’s south coast, where the mild climate means a longer riding season compared to the rest of the country. Motorcycle insurance is also higher.
