Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Event

By Arielle E Young

Guest Contributor

At a time when motorcycle fatalities are on the rise, the Town of Greenburgh and families around the community have come together to spread awareness and answer the question that lingers in the wake of tragedy. How can we stay safe on the road?

           

 It’s no secret that most motorists aren’t looking for the small two-wheeled vehicle riding in the lane next to them. Motorcyclists can easily be missed in that two second glance at your rearview mirror, the three second stare at your side mirror or even the hastily made look back over your shoulder before you merge. Then it’s too late, another number has just been added to the statistic that continues to rise. Motorcyclists are losing their lives across the nation. 

 In 1997, the total number of motorcyclist deaths were counted at 2,056. In 2015, the number of deaths had risen to 4,693, more than double the amount of deaths according to the data from the Highway Loss Data Institute. 

 So – How do we stay safe on the road? Police Chief Christopher McNerney answered that question Sunday afternoon April 30, at the Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Event – created by the newly formed Motorcycle Task Force. The goal of the task force was to heighten awareness in a way that not only helped motorists to take notice of the issue but offer tools in dealing with it as well.

Town of Greenburgh motorcycle police officers provide demonstration.

“We plan to achieve this [awareness] by implementing a two-prong approach. Through education and enforcement.” Said Chief McNerney, the event sponsored motorcycle demonstrations by the Yonkers and Greenburgh police motorcycle units who initiated the “education prong” by explaining how to accomplish tight-cornering maneuvers as well as how to pick up a fallen bike. “I can do it, and I have screws in my back!” Said Police Motorcycle Instructor Daron Maran. Additionally, a Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor narrated how to safely make an emergency stop on a bike and explained the benefits of both basic and advanced motorcycle riding courses.

This progressive event was a collaboration by Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner and Chief McNerney after Arthur Hardy, the president of the PhatBoyz Motorcycle Club, New York Chapter, called out for something to be done after a death of a beloved member. 

 

Agnes Mebane, 80, testing out the Harley Kick-starter device.

Last August, Andre Garcia, 37, was riding his BMW motorcycle north on Hillside Avenue when he was struck and killed by an SUV making a turn. The fatal accident occurred right outside town hall during a meeting. Garcia was an EMS volunteer, loving son, brother and father to his nine-year-old son Andre Malik Garcia Jr. “The greatest memory that I have of Andre Garcia was on May 10, 2008 — the day we gave birth to our son,” said Celeste Weston, Andre Jr’s mother. “Words cannot express the look on his face when he laid eyes on his baby boy.” His sister, Cherie Garcia, also a member of the Phatboyz Motorcycle Club was a prominent voice among the strong willed 15-member task force that came together during the following eight months. 

Andre Garcia's motorcycle wreckage from his fatal accident

Over 250 motorcyclists were present at the event, showing their support and taking in the sight of the wrecked motorcycle belonging to Mr. Garcia. Sunday, marked the first of what is said to be an annual event in Greenburgh. This is a quintessential example of what can be accomplished when a community comes together and strives towards the same goal. Only then will we see A Better Greenburgh.