Motorcycle riders with lit-up helmets are expected to ride through Richmond streets this weekend.
The 10th annual LightMode night ride will see more than 100 riders starting from Richmond's 1st Gear Motorcycle Training School, near Viking Way and Cambie Road, at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 10 and travelling through Delta and Burnaby.
Riders of all skills, from beginners to experienced "street veterans" will take part in the night group ride.
Thomas Plywaczewski, organizer of the event and founder of LightMode helmets, said the night ride started as a small group of riders but has attracted much more attention from riders across Metro Vancouver over the past decade.
"It's for those who just want to have a good time and light up their bikes and their helmets, and have this bonding experience with a bunch of different people and other riders," said Plywaczewski.
Plywaczewski, an SFU engineering graduate, started LightMode Helmets in 2013. Inspired by the movie Tron, he created helmet light kits to increase his visibility while riding at night.
When asked if they ever had issues with police, Plywaczewski said they have been stopped, but never had any problems.
"The light-up helmets usually draw a pretty big crowd when we ride through the cities and even attract the attention of the police," he explained.
"They usually just check us out, I chat with them real quick and explain what we're doing. They just want to know what's going on and they're fine with it. We keep it pretty tame."
All riders must strictly follow a couple of rules during the ride.
Motorcyclists are not allowed to rev their bikes, do wheelies or perform burnouts at any stops or during the ride. They also cannot pass other riders in their lane unless they are waved through for safety reasons.
Plywaczewski is reminding other road users to stay focused on driving and not to use their phones despite the "attractive colourful light-up helmets."
"It is something to look at, but please keep your eyes on the road and give the riders some space when passing."
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