On Sunday, Bikelife Aurskog-Høland organizes a procession from Bjørkelangen to Trøgstad.
The aim is to honor Charlie Strand (16) from Havnås, who died in a traffic accident in Trøgstad on Saturday 4 May and the 16-year-old who died in the motorbike accident on county road 115 in Løken on Wednesday 8 May.
– What has happened is terribly tragic. Now the district has lost two young MC drivers in a short time. We have no more to lose. Bikelife has zero vision of the number of deaths in traffic. Arranging a procession of motorcycles, we think it’s a nice and proper way to honor the dead, says initiator Håvar Haaby in Bikelife Aurskog-Høland.
Bjørkelangingen has co-owner Morten Nordby on the event committee.
– Close-knit environment
Nordby clarifies that motorcyclists are extra vulnerable in traffic.
– It is important to drive in such a way that you are not dependent on motorists to help you. Helping oneself and creating our own margins is something we constantly focus on. The MC environment is very familial and close-knit and we feel that it is right to stand together at a time like this, explains Morten Nordby.
He says that Bikelife is particularly keen to recruit young motorcycle riders into the organisation.
– Many are with us and trying out on the track. Afterwards, the drivers will put their experience to good use when they have to go out on the road again. Track driving makes motorcycle drivers better drivers and makes them more careful in traffic on normal roads, notes Nordby.
Attendance for Sunday’s procession is at 11.30am. at the Uno X station in Bjørkelangen.
From here, the cortege travels county road 115 to Hemnes.
– From Hemnes we drive to Langstranda and south towards Havnås, through Trøgstad. Here we stop at the place where Charlie Strand died. There will be a laying of flowers, lighting of candles and a minute’s silence. Charlie’s parents will also be present here.
– Collected NOK 10,500
– On the way back, we park at two farms in the immediate vicinity of where the 16-year-old from Hemnes died and walk together on the footpath down to the scene of the accident. Here the procedure will be the same as in Trøgstad. It is important to specify that the procession will take place in a safe manner. Several MC organizations have announced their arrival at the cortege, also from outside Aurskog-Høland, says Håvard Haaby.
NOK 10,500 has been collected via vipps in connection with the cortege.
– NOK 6,000 will be used for flowers to be laid at the accident sites and for wreaths at the funerals, while the rest will be donated to the Personal Injury Fund (Formerly known as the Traffic Injury Association), Haaby further explains.
– Anyone who rides a motorcycle is welcome on Sunday, especially those who ride a 125 light motorcycle. We drive to make those who drive motorbikes and other vehicles aware of driving sensibly in traffic. Look in the mirror, pay attention, put down your phone and other distractions, urges Morten Nordby in conclusion.
