A long weekend on the Sunshine Coast usually sees an increase in traffic, but on Sunday, Sept. 4, the roar of more than 80 motorcycles sounded the alarm for road safety.
The ride was organized in response to a fatal collision between a motorcyclist and SUV on Highway 101 in Halfmoon Bay on Aug. 24.
As riders gathered in Madeira Park before driving south, organizer and fellow motorcyclist Susana Williams said she was grateful to them for representing a community that is often misunderstood, and for showing up to remember the rider who died.
In a video of her speech, Williams said she expected 10 to 15 people to show up, then paused to be heard over the sound of more motorcyclists arriving. “We have a right to be on the road,” she told the crowd.
The forecast had predicted more rain than the group expected when the event was being planned, but an outpouring of attendees showed up instead. Williams says she was overwhelmed by the turnout. Signs of support also lined part of their route on the highway.
“When I think about the turnout, I think it is powerful to see how, in the middle of such tragedy, people come together to show support. That speaks volumes about the Sunshine Coast as a community but also the motorcycle community,” she said.
They stopped counting at 79 riders, Williams told Coast Reporter, adding that she’s never ridden with such a big group. She hopes to turn the awareness ride into an annual event, an idea shared by the German Corner Bakery and Bistro, who provided the riders with coffee and treats for all when they arrived in Davis Bay. The bakery owners are also motorcyclists, and want to support making the roads safer.
“Sometimes it takes one person to start something and give people permission to show up,” Williams said. “I think that a lot of us were grieving this loss. A lot of us were afraid by what had happened because it could happen to any of us. I think that everybody saw an opportunity to speak up — and speaking up wasn't necessarily like talking about it, but showing up and riding together as a group.”
