By Aastha Sethi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter CABIN RADIO
In some southern provinces, practising Sikhs can ride bicycles or motorcycles without a helmet.
This exception was first introduced in British Columbia after Sikhs lobbied the provincial government. Other provinces to since make the same change are Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario.
The BC-based Sikh Motorcycle Club is behind most of that lobbying. Spokesperson Amandeep Singh said the team is “very close” to a similar change in Saskatchewan.
Singh is one of a few dozen motorcyclists who arrived in Yellowknife from Vancouver earlier this week.
On Wednesday, with the help of Yellowknife’s Indian community, the group organized a gathering at the city’s multiplex parking lot to meet residents.
“It’s been almost 24 hours that we are here and we feel awesome. We didn’t feel like we are coming that many kilometres away from our home. It’s totally like home,” Singh told Cabin Radio on Wednesday evening
“Firstly, I just want to thank to my God, who had given us the strength that as a group, the Sikh Motorcycle Club, we are on this land.
“We never thought we could make it. But yes, by the God’s grace and blessed with all the sangat company from here … From the very first day, we just want to promote our Dastar, to promote our turban, to promote who Sikhs are. That is the only one aim — which began in 1999 when we got permission in Canada that yes, Sikh Motorcycle Club or a person can ride a bike with turban.”
Singh said in the time the club’s members are here, they will try to initiate a dialogue with representatives from the territorial government to make an exception for people to ride motorcycles or bikes without a helmet on religious grounds.
At the moment, NWT legislation states: “No person shall drive or ride on a motorcycle unless the person wears a prescribed helmet in the prescribed manner.”
Last year, in an effort to fight diabetes, the club raised a hefty amount through its Ride for Cause initiative — one of many charity rides the club has arranged.
In 2019, members travelled for 40 days across 22 countries between Canada and Punjab, India, to celebrate Gurpurab or Guru Nanak Jayanti, a sacred festival in Sikhism, and raise funds for the nonprofit Khalsa Aid.
Singh said the club rides twice a year, more recently dedicating a trip to United States Route 66. “That is the route where they say a biker must do in their lifespan. So last year, we have done that,” he said.
The Yellowknife trip, via High Level on the way up and Grande Cache on the way back, is just over a week long and involves close to 10,000 km, Singh estimated.
Club member Azad Sidhu said he joined in 2003, the year it was launched. Over the years, he said, bikers overcame “a lot of hurdles” to change helmet rules in different provinces.
“They gave us an opportunity to exercise our religion and also give us independence to do what we need to do. This is a great country to be in,” he said of the governments who approved the switch.
He was impressed by the attendance at Wednesday’s gathering, too.
“This was not part of the plan, but I think this is the welcome, this is the love, this is the affection of these people, and smaller communities normally show this kind of warmth,” Sidhu said.
Yellowknife restaurant Masala Kingdom’s Harmanpreet Singh, at the event with his family, served food and drinks for 300 people. The club contacted Singh to help coordinate its arrival and learn about road conditions in the territory.
A day prior to the gathering, the restaurant organized dinner for the club at a downtown church.
NWT Riders Association president Robin Weber handed out souvenirs to the bikers.
“Members of the Sikh Motorcycle Club, they all got patches for coming up,” she said. “We welcome all riders to come to town. It’s really cool that there are so many of them all together, though. We don’t see that very often.”
Charanjit Singh Dhadda, who has been riding bikes for 25 years, said the club used to use lightweight motorcycles that were easier to manoeuvre but has slowly transitioned to using bigger custom Harley-Davidsons. He said some of the Road Glide models on display cost more than $100,000.
“We’re all family friends. We’re all best buddies. We ride together,” he explained.
“If one person has a particular brand, like for example a Harley Road Glide, then they encourage their friends saying, ‘Hey, you ride my bike. Hop on my bike, and then see if you feel comfortable.’ So even the members that had Street Glide, they switched over to Road Glide now, because it’s more comfortable.”
Dhadda said this trip marked his first ride on his new motorcycle. Despite the costly models, he said the club has never had a bike stolen.
“It’s just a respect factor, I guess, or they’re scared — one or the other,” he said.
“The moment you hop on your bike, it’s just you and your bike. That’s it. There’s nothing else in between. Your bike is your baby. You forget about all the stress, you forget about all the tensions.
“It’s hard to explain. It’s just that freedom, you know, the fresh wind you catch in your face.”
READ ALSO: B.C. woman praises helmet after truck runs over her head
READ ALSO: Ontario government to allow Sikhs to ride motorcycles without helmets
