On May 21, Sahil Kapoor, 31, an Edmonton man, was killed on a smoke-covered highway near Camrose. He was attempting to help two riders in his group pull their motorcycles to the shoulder when he was hit by a speeding truck.
Since January, other municipalities such as Mayerthorpe, Fairview, and Cochrane have witnessed motorcycle fatalities. Even St. Albert has counted close to a half dozen collisions. Fortunately, none were fatalities.
In 2020, Alberta’s motorcycle fatalities peaked at 21, nearly double the number for 2019 at 11. For traffic enforcement and organizations such as the Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society, there is concern as riders click into high gear.
Karen Garrett, a 30-year, long-distance motorcycle rider, survived a horrific, life-altering motorcycle crash that prevented her from returning to work for eight months and robbed her of a degree of independence.
“It (motorcycle) was too big, too heavy, too new. I got carried away in the curves and overshot the double line. There was a car coming from the other side. I tried to correct it and get back in line. The situation went from bad to worse,” said Garrett.
Back in August 2020, the St. Albert rider had just purchased a 2019 Suzuki Boulevard C90 with 1500 cc, a beast with classic lines and roomy comfort. Apart from the aesthetics, it boasted more power and torque with smoother delivery.
Every year Garrett and her wife, Patricia Madden, would jump on their bike, twist the throttle, and enjoy the thrill of the open road. In 2011, the couple rode to Alaska and back with the Gold Wing Riders, an 8,400-kilometre adventure that took three weeks. Later in 2017, the duo took part in the Three Flags Classic, a four-day registered endurance event from Mexico to Calgary.
Last year, the “ladies ride” took them to the Kootenays. Returning home, the stretch they chose was Highway 31A between Kaslo and New Denver. A favourite among bikers, it showcases a mountain vista of untouched wilderness, a two-lane highway that challenges riders with non-stop twists and turns.
“I like the curves, the mountains, the pines. In the middle of one of the rest areas they have frogs breeding in a pond and they hop across the lanes. They’ve built culverts under the highway for the frogs. And we love the Kootenays for the weather, the little towns, the people, the roads. For motorcycling, it’s Number 1. You can’t beat it,” she said.
A victim of her own fearlessness, Garrett recalls the fatal maneuvers.
“In the process of correcting, I hit my rear brakes. I’m not sure why. Every biker knows you’re not supposed to do that. The wheel seized and the bike slid sideways with me still on it. The wheels caught the pavement and the bike catapulted me over onto the highway. “Thinking, ‘Oh, s--t,’ I landed on my left shoulder, side, and hip. I was unconscious for a few minutes, but I woke up to a lady telling me she was a first aider.”
Upon hitting the highway, Garrett suffered multiple fractures, including the left humerus, a long bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. In addition, a gash on her left arm the size of quarter became infected and she suffered two broken bones in her right wrist. While sliding across the road, her leather jacket rolled up and Garrett also sustained a painful red road rash the length of her side and back.
There was no cell service in the mountainous terrain. Taking control of the situation, the first aider sent people in both directions to contact 911. It took one hour before help arrived.
“I got the RCMP, the fire department, and EMS. I was told most motorcyclists don’t survive. That’s why I got everybody – to pick up the mess.”
Two small hospitals in the Kootenays were ill equipped to deal with Garrett’s wounds. By the time she returned to St. Albert, her fractured humerus was attempting to mend itself and surgery was out of the question. Instead, her arm was placed in a sling with orders not to move it.
“I slept on a recliner for three months. I couldn’t lie down in bed. It was too painful. And I couldn’t have treatment for my arm for 12 weeks (until the bone healed.) Now I go to massage therapy and physio with acupuncture three times a week.”
Initially, Garrett had virtually no range of motion within her left arm. Now she can raise it shoulder level. But it will be a long time before she can lift it straight up.
“I’m not sure I’ll ride again. It was very painful and it was a lot of hard work, energy, and stress that didn’t need to be. And it happened during COVID, and I was traveling in another province. I had to go to the hospital and take up their beds. We all make mistakes, but that was a pretty big one.”
Road safety tips
Const. Jarrett of the St. Albert RCMP traffic division is the proud owner of 10 motorcycles and is an advanced rider with four decades experience. A fair-weather rider, he has traveled cross-country from Yellowknife to Newfoundland and down to the United States and Mexico.
As a rider and a police officer, Jarrett appreciates riders’ vulnerabilities. A common mistake he sees are first-time license holders buying super-charged sport bikes they are unable to handle.
“They go out and buy the crotch rockets. They can do 100 to 120 kilometres in first gear. Some of the GSR 1000s are a speed thing. They fly. They handle well and stop well. But if you are inexperienced, you can easily spin the back tire and wipe out. One fellow we spoke to had a Suzuki 600 and had already dumped it twice.”
For novice riders, he suggests riding 250 cc bikes.
“I know in Australia – we went there one time – they had a rule where for the first year you had to ride a 250 cc bike or less until you learned to ride. Then you could progress to bigger bikes. We don’t have those rules here. You can get your license and buy the fastest you want.”
As a police officer, he adds that it’s very easy to tell individuals to follow the speed limits and pass safely.
“Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen a lot. And I understand it as a bike owner. Personally, I don’t like to be riding at the speed of traffic. I like to be going just a little bit faster. If you’re in someone’s blind spot and he pulls over and hits you, it’s dangerous.”
In addition to following the rules, he recommends looking out for other vehicles. Jarrett has endured his own close calls: people cutting him off, changing lanes without looking, pulling into an intersection in front of him, and unexpectedly slamming on the brakes.
“Be diligent. Pay attention to what is going on around you. It’s not just you on the road. Bikes can flip in and out of cars and lanes and traffic. It’s not the best idea, but again I understand why people do it. It’s a little bit of a thrill. Everybody likes a bit. They’re powerful. They’re fun. They’re an adrenaline rush.”
For anyone contemplating the purchase of a bike, Jarrett recommends a motorcycle safety course.
“The instructors are very patient. They start off right at the beginning and explain everything. Just remember. It’s fun, but it’s dangerous. Wear protective gear and watch out for others on the road.”
