Bikers plan rally, parade

COEUR d'ALENE - Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) of North Idaho will hold its 13th annual rally and parade for all motorcyclists Saturday in Coeur d'Alene in celebration of Motorcycle Awareness Month.

Participants and attendees should meet at the Kootenai County Courthouse, 451 Govern-ment Way, around 10 a.m. The rally will start at 10:30.

Guest speakers will be Sean Beers, of Idaho Skills Training Advantage for Riders (STAR), and Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene.

Led by Coeur d'Alene Police, motorcyclists will ride down Sherman Avenue, rain or shine, at 11 a.m.

Dave Cazel, an organizer of the event and a motorcyclist for more than 30 years, said the rally is aimed to create more awareness within the community that bikers are out this time of year and that it's important to share the road.

"Anyone who has a motorcycle we welcome to ride with us," Cazel said. "We don't discriminate against any bike."

Cazel said education and reminders are important to keep motorcyclists safe on the road.

He estimates about 40 percent of motorcycle fatalities are due to failure to negotiate curves because of inattentive driving, speeding and other factors.

"Encouraging riders to take education safety courses is the best thing we can do to alleviate problems," Cazel said.

For more information on the Saturday events, contact Cazel at 771-1774.