On September 2, for the fourth time, people with visual impairments gathered for one of the most ambitious events RIDE2SHARE 2023 organised by the Latvian Society of the Blind and the motorcycle club “Nekādi labie”. It is a charity event where different motorcycle clubs and riders came together to give people with visual impairments a taste of adventure, wind and motorcycling feelings.
Over ninety visually impaired people from different parts of Latvia had registered for the trip. On the day of the event, there were still others waiting for their rides who had not registered
The gathering started at 10:00 in front of the Latvian Society of the Blind board building. Slowly, motorcyclists started to arrive, parking their vehicles around the car park. Noise, roar of engines, conversations, music. It’s time to split up for the motorcycles. Some riders had already found the previous year’s riders and stayed with them. Some riders are experienced and have been taking part in this activity for four years, for others the feeling is new.
It took almost an hour to find my bike, listen to the safety briefing and get on the bike. Everyone was seated and there turned out to be just as many motorcycles as there were people wanting to ride. There was enough room for everyone.
The journey can begin. The convoy heads along the Vidzeme highway towards Sēnīte. On the pedestrian crossings and circles await all motorcyclists, who stop traffic and ensure that the column does not have to stop.
It’s a special feeling when around a hundred motorcycles come in a column. The feeling of unity always lifts the spirit.
The 40-minute ride to Sēnīte and back ends at Upesciems Stadium. After the ride, everyone enjoyed music, delicious food and various entertainment. The chef welcomed us with pies, coffee, Future Meat sausages, sauerkraut and Solanka. The riders and motorcyclists were quite hungry and had to be well refuelled before they could get down to the common attractions and activities.
As in other years, motorcyclists and riders could take part in joint attractions.
The most popular is the paired throwing of the Sabre. Every year, this attraction brings riders together. It’s not so easy to synchronise your swing so that the boot goes as far as possible.
This year was another opportunity to experience how you can climb the obstacle course with your eyes closed, listening only to a verbal description of where you can and cannot climb.
An intuitive art workshop was set up next door. Pairs had to draw a donkey on an A3 sheet of paper. Each team member drew a body part blindfolded. The sighted motorcyclists guided and told the blind where the right place was to draw the body, legs, tail or ears. It was quite funny… you could make the wrong Donkey Exhibition there.
Biggames.lv had provided the big Jenga set. It is big enough to train attention and coordination for both sighted and blind players. Another coordination game was with a balloon. When the balloon is inflated, holding it between the bodies you have to go around the cross bar. The game leader records who has done it the fastest.
Diplomas and congratulations to the most agile, the furthest and the fastest at the end of the event.
The only thing left to do is to bring the blind back to Strazdumuiža. Others ask to drive calmly, others ask to roll over and feel the speed is higher than when driving in a column. But the main thing is the joy of the event for both of them, who finally had the chance to get on a pedalo and experience wind and speed, and those who can help blind people get that feeling.
Thanks to sponsors and supporters: Nākotnes gaļa, Autokada, Memorywater, Biggames.lv, Motoklubs “Nekādi labie”, Ropažu novada rada, Active citizens fund.
See you next year!
#activecitizensfund