To mark the start of Motorcycle Awareness Week, local enthusiasts will be heading to Orange on Sunday to promote motorcycles as road users.

“Between 2004 and 2008 in Western Region, 27 people were killed and 646 people were injured in crashes involving motorcycles,” said Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer Melanie Suitor.

“Motor vehicle drivers involved in motorcycle casualty crashes often report that they ‘look [for] but did not see’ the motorcycle.

“This can partly be due to the relative size of motorcycles and how they appear to drivers in the traffic stream,” Ms Suitor said.

Motorcycle Awareness Week reminds motorists to be conscious of motorcyclists, always checking blind spots and looking twice at intersections.

“People subconsciously look for a car,” motorcycle enthusiast John Schrader said.

Local motorcycle enthusiast George Hancock is passionate about his Harley Davidson and the freedom of riding his bike, however he said every time he goes out on his bike, there is the potential he will be involved in an accident.

“Every time I go out, I need to be riding defensively and not to assume right of way,” Mr Hancock said.

“Sometimes you look at people and think, can’t you see me?

“People tend to look out the window for a car, not a motorcycle,” Mr Hancock said.

Despite the apparent dangers, Mr Hancock remains passionate about his motorcycle.

Mr Hancock bought his bike in 2002 and has ridden over 100,000 kilometres on it and says it’s a great social thing.

“It’s something people can do together at any age,” Mr Hancock said.

“If you have any stress, you don’t have it on the bike. It’s a freedom thing. It’s therapy,” he said.

The Forbes contingent will depart from the BP service station on the corner of Lachlan and Johnson Street at 8.30 am on Sunday, October 25 and will head to Eugowra, Canowindra, Cargo and Orange before joining the ‘Meet you in Molong’ ride to Molong.

Mr Hancock said all riders who join the Forbes contingent to Orange on Sunday will be able to ride in their own comfort zone and experience.

Motorists on the road this weekend are encouraged to be aware of extra motorcycles on the road this weekend.

Mr Hancock said Forbes motorcycle enthusiasts meet on the first Sunday morning of each month for organised rides and welcome all local riders to join them.

For further information contact George Hancock on 0408 214 131 or John Schrader on 0404 155 247.