Metro Vancouver motorcyclist calls for locals to drive safe as riding season kicks off
Posted May 16, 2023 4:28 pm.
Last Updated May 16, 2023 4:29 pm.
With motorcycle season back at full throttle, the president of the Greater Vancouver Motorcycle Club is highlighting some of the dangers riders face on Metro Vancouver’s roads.
Bill Talley explains their group actually prefers to leave the city when it comes to riding.
“Every ride that we schedule except, for a more recent one, is away from Vancouver. Anyone that’s in our club, or rides with our club tends to shy away from the Greater Vancouver area because of the traffic, the idiocy of the drivers,” he said.
A report from the BC Coroners Service shows there were 37 reported motorcyclist deaths in the province in 2021.
The same number of deaths were reported the previous year, but the service reports this is down from a peak in 2018 that saw 53 motorcyclists dead.
This year, multiple people have died in collisions involving motorcycles over the past few months.
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Talley says his family has seen the dangers of distracted driving firsthand.
“I’ve seen it myself. My wife was almost taken out by young lady driving with a cell phone in her hand. So I mean, the inexperience of car drivers seems to be a big impact on motorcyclists,” he said.
However, he notes that riders can also ride dangerously.
“We have few motorcycles out there that tend to go over the speed limit and ride a little carelessly. That coupled with the increasing amount of inexperienced car drivers out there, a lot of the accidents are caused by that,” Talley said.
One motorcyclist says he experiences “multiple close calls” every day when out riding around Vancouver.
“I’ve been riding for like six years, but I’ve never had a problem with the roads, but more like people driving by me, so like people cutting you off without checking the mirrors. They have mirrors but they don’t really use them,” rider Joseph said.
Talley says all drivers can do their part in keeping our roads safe.
“Give people distance. Stop trying to squeeze your car in-between spaces. Be more mindful of your surroundings. Motorcycles are harder to see, keep your music in your car down so you can hear your surroundings,” he said.
He encourages all riders new or old to pay attention to traffic speed limits, watch ahead, and avoid reckless driving.
