A ride to remember

MAY 4: UPDATE: Members of the local meet-up group are considering combining the memorial ride with the weekly run out of Martin's Grill. The runs are Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Martin's is run by a longtime SOB.

Other members are considering running smaller rides. Drop by for updates.........

An international Internet motorcyclist group wants us to ride to remember lest we forget.

The organization is asking riders to hit the road on May 23 in memory of four Phoenix members of Motorcyclemeetup.com who were killed in a fiery collision with a garbage truck.

On March 25 a big garbage truck slammed into eight motorcycles stopped for a light at the Phoenix, Ariz. intersection of Carefree and 27th Drive, rolling over bikes and starting a fire beneath the truck.

Three of the four dead riders wound up beneath the truck when their bikes' gas tanks ruptured and caught fire. They burned with the bikes. The fourth died later, at a hospital.

Carl Moje, of the Charlottesville meetup group, sent along the invitation to ride, which came from a rider named Becca.

May 23 is a Sunday. That's the normal riding day for local members of the meet-up. They meet at 1:30 p.m.

 http://www.meetup.com/motorcycle-111/

"On March 25, 2010 in Phoenix, four riders were killed and five others seriously injured when they were hit from  behind by a large truck while stopped at a traffic light. This sad event has touched the hearts of many and reinforced the importance of motorcycle awareness initiatives," Becca wrote. "As riders, it  is our responsibility to make ourselves highly visible while  riding and to do our part in creating more awareness of  motorcyclists everywhere."

http://www.meetup.com/Worldwide-Motorcycle-Awareness-Ride

The victims of the Phoenix wreck were members of “Phoenix MC Kruzers” (PMCK) and “Phoenix Motorcycle Riders Group” (PMRG), both Meetup groups, Becca said. She said that, in support of motorcycle awareness and of PMCK and PMRG and to honor the fallen and their families, meet up groups across the nation are being asked to ride on the same day in May.

They've even set up a Cafe Press site to order special materials from shirts to ribbons.

"All profits above the Cafe Press cost for items sold in this shop are donated to a fund to assist all the victims and their families. Most items include a $5 markup except for buttons and stickers," the site states. "Show your support and purchase a shirt, coffee mug, bumper sticker, or magnet to both support these riders and their families and to show the world around you that you care!" 

http://www.cafepress.com/FMVF
 Becca said riders are asked to wear bright colors, such as Waste Management-reject, hi-viz, lime green vests, hunter orange or other colors. 

" Some groups are having shirts made for the occasion with “Can You See Me Now” printed across the back," she said "If there are multiple riding groups in your area, consider joining together, as larger groups tend to attract  more attention from motorists and may assist in obtaining media coverage."

 Becca said the main thing is to show support, physically and metaphysically.

 "The important thing is to show support for PMCK, PMRG and promote motorcycle awareness by getting out and riding (safely) for at least one  hour on May 23, 2010."