RIDING solo and poor mobile reception recently resulted in tragedy for a young motorcycle rider on the Reefton Spur.
The young man headed off on what should have been an exhilarating ride generating lifelong memories amid the magnificent scenery of the Great Dividing Range.
The memories of his ride now belong to his family and friends; and they are more than tragic, they are cruel.
Senior Constable Robert Firns of Warburton Police said the 25-year-old from Coburg died after crashing his bike on a Tuesday in September.
He died alone and in horrible circumstances.
Sen. Const. Firns said it was a particularly sad outcome for both the rider and for those close to him.
The man had ridden from Upper Yarra Reservoir across to Marysville and was on his way back to Warburton when he crashed at about 5.30pm.
“He attempted to call ‘000’ and the other emergency number, 112, but he didn’t have any phone reception,” Sen. Const. Firns said.
“We know he tried to send a further text at 6.30pm to his family, but unfortunately, he died at the scene.”
The motorcyclist was found at 4am the next morning by a passing motorist.
“He was very close to the Reefton end of the spur, only about three kilometres from Reefton itself, but unfortunately the reception in that area is extremely bad,” Sen. Const. Firns said.
Had the man been even just one kilometre further on, the outcome of his accident may have been different.
Sen. Const. Firns said it is a situation he could easily relate to as a fellow motorcycle rider.
“If another person had been riding with him they would have known … even if he had an accident and the other rider was in front of him, they would know within a few kilometres that he may have fallen off, or worse, and would have gone looking for him,” Sen. Const. Firns said.
A lot of bike riders like to ride alone. Others take the chance because there is no-one who can ride with them at a given time.
It might be the perfect riding day, or just a rare opportunity in a busy life.
“Don’t ride alone” is a message that Warburton Police are pushing to minimise the risk that bike riders face on what some see as the best rides in the state.
The aim is to try to change behaviour of riders and drivers who take those risks,” Sen. Cons Firns said.
“There is always that incentive to do the right thing by way of issuing infringement notices and also the potential of being charged and having to go through the judicial system,” he said.
“What we would prefer is that the results are achieved through educating people to ride or drive in an appropriate way and put some of those safety nets such as riding with a friend in place.”
