Shoppers heading to Save On Foods on May 27 may have noticed it was busier than usual, but it was all for the cause of motorcycle safety.
The supermarket was running its annual CoreySafe Society fundraising and awareness day, with messaging about safety, displays of helmets and safety clothing and a chance to win points to put towards free groceries or travel.
The day was capping off Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in B.C., which runs for the whole of May.
While most people were there to do their morning shopping, organizer Denise Lodge said it was still great to see so many stopping to support CoreySafe with their fundraising.
“Save On supports the promotion of road safety and has been supporting us for years, we are very lucky,” she said. “Every year, we do a fundraiser to spark everyone’s curiosity and it just keeps it in the forefront. We have banners across the store, examples of safety gear should look like and to be seen on the road. We also want to remind people to watch out for motorcycles on the road because they don’t have the protection of a vehicle.”
This year, people could buy tickets that allowed them to spin a wheel with Save On shopping points. Wherever the wheel stopped was the amount the person received, with up to 10,000 points up for grabs. Participants received their points in the form of coupons they could either load onto their rewards cards, or use at checkout.
CoreySafe Society started in 2006, one year after Corey Lodge died in a motorcycle accident, according to Denise. In 2005, Corey bought a high-speed motorcycle with enhancements and wrote his motorcycle learner’s knowledge test on the same day. The next day, he died in a collision after not being able to navigate a turn.
Denise started working with RoadSafety BC in 2005, wrote the first PowerPoint Presentation on motorcycle safe practices in 2015 and started the CoreySafe Society in 2016, taking the presentation to schools. Since then, the society, in conjunction with the RCMP and BMD Safety Services has reached 11,500 students about on and off-road motorcycle safety, as well as teaching other drivers about sharing the road with motorcycles.
They also partnered with Rio Tinto to create video presentations to share with schools during the pandemic, when restrictions on crowd sizes and gatherings were in place.
Both parties have a responsibility for safe riding and driving, Denise said.
There are two different programs through CoreySafe. C.O.R.E.Y Motorcycle Safety with RoadSafety BC for safer roads in the province, and C.O.R.E.Y. Ride & Drive Safe Presentation, which goes around to schools with the RCMP and BMD Safety Services.
It was also a time to talk about recent changes to Bill 12 that included amendments for graduated licensing, accessibility and safety. This past April, the provincial government announced its introduced legislation improving safety for motorcycle drivers with a new licensing program. It includes a restriction period and enhanced safety measure requirements for protective gear, which will be established through regulations, stated a news release. These changes will help reduce fatalities and serious injuries resulting from motorcycle-related crashes.
Key changes include a longer learning and restriction period is being introduced, with a:
- Learner stage of nine months (six months with approved training); and
- Restricted Class 6 stage of 18 months (12 months with approved training).
Lodge said this will give new riders more time to learn about the unique responsibilities of motorcycle driving, as well as the need to stay safe and be seen.
