Nova Scotia Bikers Information

WHO GETS HELP: These are the criteria that bikers must meet to get help from Bikers Down Society: •They must have a valid Nova Scotia motorcycle licence. •They must show loss of income. •They must not have been provided with assistance by Bikers Down Society in the last twelve months. •They must provide a police or accident report, if applicable. •And the accident can’t be caused by i ntoxication or recklessness on the part of the rider. More information is available at www.novascotiabikers.com/bikersdown.html.

It’s what every motorcyclist fears: twisted metal, screeching tires and the smell of gasoline mixed with a bone-breaking crunch.

Now a new non-profit society wants to make sure Nova Scotians don’t face a financial struggle if they’re thrown from their bikes.

"Motorcyclists are really giving in general," said Jimi Swinamer, a board member with Bikers Down Society.

"What happened is we had so many people injured, not only killed, that we had to look after ourselves."

The Bikers Down Society was set up by bikers to help bikers.

The group’s first goal is to help prevent crashes. But if one of the 15,000 motorcyclists in Nova Scotia hits the pavement, the society steps in with immediate financial assistance.

The money is used to help victims and their families before the insurance paperwork clears. It will also help those
 under-insured. "You’re eligible no matter what part of the province you’re
in," Mr. Swinamer said in a phone interview Tuesday. "It’s a pretty good deal."

The program has a few restrictions. The rider has to have a Nova Scotia
motorcycle licence and the accident has to be caused by someone else.

A retired motorcycle cop with Halifax police, Mr. Swinamer knows what it’s
like to be in a wreck.

He was on duty on Dec. 2, 1982, driving a 1976 Harley-Davidson in front
of the Gottingen Street police station. A parked van pulled out of a parking
space and did a U-turn. Facing a collision, Mr. Swinamer said he did what
 he was taught to do — he dumped his bike.

Mr. Swinamer underwent a number of surgeries on his right leg. He got back
on a bike as soon as he healed, but he still feels the injuries. He said he’ll
need a new knee at some point.

The group is trying to teach the public — those who bike and those who
don’t — about the danger. Mr. Swinamer said some bikers do drive
recklessly. The society is trying to teach them things like speeding aren’t
smart when a simple pothole can cause a wreck.

"We’re trying to get motorcycle awareness out there to the other motoring
public. We had 12 deaths last year (in Nova Scotia). Seven of them were
attributed to other drivers not paying attention."

The society is working on promotional material, including a video shot
from a biker’s perspective. The group plans to meet with
Transportation Department officials after the spring sitting of the legislature.

( dstevens@herald.ca)