Recent fatality makes the message more poignant, say bike safety event organizers (3 photos)

A recently-fallen motorcyclist will be in the hearts and thoughts of local motorcyclists at an annual memorial ride next week.

On Saturday, May 6, the Sault Ste. Marie Bikers Rights Organization (BRO) will be having their annual Awareness Memorial Ride.

It’s a way of letting the public know that motorcycle season has begun again and to help drivers be aware of riders on the road.

The sentiment is poignant as about a week ago the Sault lost 50-year-old motorcyclist Robert Michael Coutts after he was in a collision riding his motorcycle back from the funeral of a family member.

Coutts family friend and longtime motorcyclist Gene Prusky made a general statement about motorcycle safety.

“I’m not pinpointing anything in any way (but) people need to slow down. A vehicle is not an office. Get off your phones, put your coffee cup down, and drive to where you are going. People need to be aware and its springtime, please everyone open your eyes,” said Prusky.

Sault BRO has been hosting the ride for more than 30 years.

“Its unfortunate that we lose motorcyclists every year from unsafe turns and fail to yield offences. It’s unfortunate that we lost one already this year. Our hearts go out to the families, for the recent tragedies they’ve suffered. We want people to be aware that motorcycle accidents can happen out there,” said local BRO chair Gerry Rhodes.

Sign up for the ride will begin at 10 a.m. at Strathclair Park on Saturday, and at 10:30 a.m. a memorial service will be held in front of a plaque in honor of motorcyclists that have died in Sault Ste. Marie.

At 11 a.m. 'kick stands are up' and the riders will travel along a path throughout the city before ending at Grand Gardens. 

If the weather is nice, and there is enough riders, they will then proceed to The Zone in Goulais river for pizza.

Besides their annual rides, the group works in a myriad of ways to fight for bikers rights.

A long-term project they have been working on is to make changes to the Highway Traffic Act to have stiffer penalties for drivers that kill or seriously harm a motorcycle rider.

Rhodes said Coutts will be mentioned in the service and in the thoughts of riders at the event.

Last years awareness ride raised money for The Animal Assistance Group and this years ride with raise money for Cops For Kids. 

At the request of the group, at the last council meeting mayor Christian Provenzano declared the week of April 30-May 6 2017 Motorcycle Awareness Week.

As part of the awareness week, BRO have created an audio PSA and printed stickers.