BAD Ride 13 had in attendance about 1300 riders and huge praises need to go out to the organizers and all the volunteers for managing that many bikes and riders in one day at two main venues as well as corralling us at the lunch stop.

The Big Banana!

My day started off pretty early at 7am as I headed off to my bosses place. My truck wasn’t up to the task of driving around all day so we made arrangements to borrow a truck from Kahuna Powersports to tow our trailer, which allowed me to handle two bikes should the need arise. This truck was a monster and although I felt a bit dwarfed standing beside it, driving it with the trailer was easy. Luckily I had a lot of experience from when I used to tow race cars, so by comparison this was a cinch.

We arrived at the AMC theatre in Woodbridge with hundreds of bike already present, although hundreds more would steadily trickle in. I was pretty thankful for the free coffee and breakfast available to everyone and there were several vendors there selling various ‘BAD Ride’ clothing with 100% of the proceeds going to the Distress Centres.

Bikes packed everywhere!

Bikes were everywhere crammed into every nook and cranny of the complex. Although mostly cruisers and touring bikes, there were also many custom bikes and some rather eclectic ones…not to mention some very eclectic riders too and their choice in clothing left me scratching my head. Then again, I still scratch my head when I see riders wearing virtually nothing at all, especially the young lady passengers who wear shorts, a tank top and high-heel shoes. Ya…that’s practical.

After several announcements by the organizers and local radio personalities (including a last minute route change), the riders started departing around 10am. The temperature was starting to climb so riders were eager to get on the road and get some wind blowing against them. It was quite an amazing site watching all the bikes ripping out of the parking lot as they took to the well laid out route. Taking up the rear of the pack rode several volunteer paramedics and a couple organizer trucks and finally us with our MotoLimo.com trucks ready to pick up whatever riders that needed assistance.

I had programmed the route into my GPS but it turns out that I really didn’t need too. The route was very well marked with large signs at all the turning points (including the last minute changes due to a road closure).

As for the route itself, it was well thought out and kept us away from major roads so that we would neither affect traffic much or be effected by it. There were only a couple of intersections that caused us problems. There were also a couple of sections that were nice and twisty but some spots left me surprised that nobody had crashed with the loose gravel (even in some tight corners).

Arriving in Pefferlaw for lunch was a sight to behold. Once again all the riders had been well corralled by the organizers leaving the streets and sidewalks lined with bikes stretching the entire length of the small town. We also filled every available parking lot. Locals of the town stood slack-jawed staring at all the bikes rolling around their streets. I’m sure thoughts of an invasion crossed their minds. Not one person seemed upset (they were pre-warned that we were coming) and once they realized that it was a charity ride, they smiled and told us to enjoy our day (although I did see a few ladies clutching their purses rather tightly). Bikers are a very misunderstood breed and can sometimes look a little scary covered in leather and tattoos but not a single rider needed to be feared. Motorcyclists are the salt of the earth and will give a stranger the shirt (or leather vest) off their back if needed. It’s a shame that we are so misunderstood but perhaps that’s a topic for another post.

Most riders just stopped to cool down and rehydrate before continuing along the route but others hung around for lunch. We took the time to grab a quick bite so that we could allow the riders to all get back on the road ahead of us. I had already stopped several times to check on riders that had pulled off the road to make sure they were ok. Most just needed a break to rest their sore bums or grab a drink but as the day wore on, I expected that I would find more and I did. Although not one rider actually needed assistance to make it to the final end point at Markham Fairgrounds. No rider wants to get picked up from the side of the road but especially on a ride like this.

So many bikes!

Arriving at the fairgrounds, we once again saw over a thousand motorcycles all shoe-horned side by side as the riders started lining up for lunch and refreshments. Water was being handed out to those waiting in a rather long line to get their meals. Once again…hats off to the volunteers!

We set up our main truck in a nice visible spot with the sun gleaming off it (and beating down on us) and talked to riders who passed by about our services. By late afternoon, I was pretty tired and despite all the water I was drinking, I was still feeling dehydrated.

But alas, my day wasn’t over. I had to go pick up two bikes and finally get the truck and trailer back to my bosses place. It was a long day but a very enjoyable one.

Getting your MotoLimo Mojo going!

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March 19, 2009 10:42 PM – About 50 motorcyclists from across the Greater Toronto Area gathered for a rally tonight near the intersection of Hurontario St. and Eglinton Ave. – the scene of an horrific crash – to remind drivers to be cautious when sharing the road with motorcycles.

With their bikes lined between the road and the sidewalk, the bikers waved signs that read: “Look twice! Save a life!” The rally ran from 7:30-9 p.m.

Shaun de Jager, a Toronto motorcyclist who heard about the accident on an online social forum, said many members of the group are outraged by the accident and sorry for the motorcyclist and his passenger, who suffered serious injuries but are expected to live.

“Unfortunately we’ve all had close calls,” said de Jager, who organized the rally. “Riding a motorcycle does have its inherent dangers, but so does everything in life and these are risks that we take as cautiously as we can.”

Mississauga resident Majid Hashemi was at the nearby Second Cup when the crash occurred yesterday. He had just ben out on his motorcycle and the incident really hit home.

“It’s right by my house and this patch of pavement, I ride on it everyday.” said the 27-year-old, pointing to the spot where the crash happened.

Police are looking into the possibility that the driver of the SUV may have illegally entered the busy Mississauga intersection during rush-hour yesterday.

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March 19, 2009 12:20 PM – Police are looking into witness accounts that the driver of an SUV illegally entered a busy Mississauga intersection yesterday before crashing into a motorcycle, sending the driver and his passenger to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Peel Regional Police said today that the motorcyclist, 30, and his female passenger, 22, are expected to live following the rush-hour collision at Hurontario St. and Eglinton Ave.

Motorcyclists from across the GTA are outraged. Several will be at a rally tonight at the intersection because they believe there needs to be increased awareness among drivers of larger vehicles to be cautious sharing the road with motorcyclists. Police will also be at the rally.

“The weather is warming and more and more riders are on the roads. This tragic incident should be a reminder to all that cars share the roads with bikes and that we must all be aware of each other,” said Shaun de Jager, an avid motorcyclist who organized the rally. “There is no excuse for paying anything less than 100 per cent attention to the road and our surroundings.”

The motorcyclist was airlifted to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto after his Suzuki collided with a Honda CRV at about 5 p.m.

Peel Cst. J.P. Valade said the man’s condition has improved. He has serious leg injuries, but is expected to survive.

The passenger was initially taken to Credit Valley Hospital. She was also transferred to Sunnybrook. She, too, is expected to live.

The 62-year-old female driver of the SUV was not injured.

Officers with the Major Collision Bureau are investigating whether the woman entered the intersection improperly, believing she had an advanced green light to make a left turn.

The accident brought traffic to a halt, as police closed off a large area surrounding the intersection. Lane closures lasted well into the night.

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