Drivers need to be on the lookout for motorcycles and stop engaging in illegal practices, Julian Calleja, chapter director of the Harley Owners Group, said yesterday.
He was speaking as some 300 bikers held an emotional ceremony at the site where motorcyclist Johanna Boni, 27, died instantly on Tuesday in a collision with a truck.
The event was also intended to raise awareness on the importance of road safety in the wake of several motorcycle accidents in recent weeks.
“Not all drivers are in the wrong, obviously, that’s not what we are saying. But drivers need to be more on the lookout for us bikers,” Mr Calleja said, speaking in general terms.
He said the idea of organising the event came to one of the group’s members and, as news of the initiative spread among enthusiasts, many wanted to take the opportunity to appeal for safer roads.
Riders from various motorcycling and bicycling groups met at the Luxol Grounds and drove slowly along the Coast Road to the site of the tragedy in Labour Avenue, Naxxar.
Flowers were then laid in memory of Ms Boni, below the words ‘Cherish your loved ones as if it’s your last moment together’, written last week by Daryl Cauchi, Ms Boni’s boyfriend of three years, in a moving Facebook post.
Her parents, family and friends attended the commemoration. Ms Boni’s parents thanked those present and urged the bikers to be careful.
While many adorned their motorcycles with flowers and black scarves in honour of Ms Boni, others pinned posters to their bikes and helmets with slogans encouraging greater awareness on the road.
Mr Calleja said the use of mobile phones by those behind the wheel was of concern to many motorcyclists who used their bikes on a dailybasis and often observed this illegal practice.
Look twice... save a life! We all have families! Mobile calls can wait, indicators and side mirrors are there for a use. Respect- Owen Grixti on Facebook
“We commute every day, we use our bikes to go to work and we come across a lot of drivers on their mobile phones,” he said.
Another worry was fuel tanks full to the brim, Mr Calleja added, which could overflow onto the road and cause riders to skid.
“The Civil Protection Department are very helpful and are very often quick to clean the diesel up, but still, more caution is needed to avoid such incidents.”
Shirley Galea, HOG Malta Chapter Ladies of Harley officer, urged those on the road to always look twice before making any drastic manoeuvre as this could save a person’s life.
Members of the Bicycling Advocacy Group were also at the event and joined forces with the motorcyclists to promote safer driving.
Last week, the group called for new laws that would hold drivers automatically responsible for accidents involving bicycle users or pedestrians unless they can prove their innocence, after a number of high-profile biking incidents.
Rebecca Borg, a member of the group, which works to promote road safety for cyclists, said BAG supported the appeals made by the motorcyclists since cyclists faced the same dangers.
“Whether you are walking or inside a car, you need to be aware of the fact that the road is used by everyone,” she said.
Hundreds of motorcyclists rode from Luxol Ground to Labour Avenue, Naxxar, driving slowly through the Coast Road. Daryl Cauchi, the boyfriend of Johanna Boni who died in a road accident on Tuesday, rode in front (far left). Photos: Steve Zammit Lupi
Several accidents involving motorcyclists have already made headlines this year
In the days leading up to the new year, two motorcyclists were injured in separate accidents.
On December 30, a 55-year-old from Fgura suffered critical injuries in a crash involving a car in Għajn Tuffieħa Road, Mġarr.
The next day, a 32-year-old from Birkirkara was seriously injured in a collision in Birkirkara.
On Tuesday, a few hours after the Johanna Boni accident in Naxxar, another motorcyclist, a 66-year-old man from Xewkija, was critically injured in a crash with a Toyota Hiace driven by a 55-year-old man from Victoria.
A 20-year-old motorcyclist from St Paul’s Bay was injured in a collision at Tarġa Gap roundabout in Mosta on Wednesday. His condition was not known. The police said he was riding a Kymco that was involved in a collision with a Nissan Micra being driven by a 61-year-old man.
On Saturday, a 70-year-old man suffered grievous injuries after his motorbike skidded in Birkirkara. At hospital he was found to be suffering from serious but not life-threatening injuries.