Local Actions winner takes part in Symposium of Motorcyclist Leaders

Earlier this month, one of our Local Action winners, Maryfely Rincón from Bogota, Colombia, participated in the National Symposium of Motorcycle Leaders - Two Wheels Fair. The Symposium gathered presidents and representatives of organized biker groups in Latin America to meet and listen to specialists talk about regulatory issues and show institutional support for biker clubs. 

The Symposium has become an annual space where the main topics of interest to bikers are debated and where actions and reflections on the policies that regulate the operation of Biker Clubs are discussed. The Symposium also promoted biker leaders' training and participation while generating interaction and exchange of ideas between the public and private sectors. 

Motorcyclists from various regions of the country attended the Symposium where they discussed topics such as road safety, club culture, legal procedures, post-crash care, and more. 

Road safety was a central theme in all the presentations since 60% of those killed in road accidents are male motorcyclists of working age; what he left as a reflection, is that it is unnecessary to wait to be a victim to take preventive measures.

Maryfely joined the representative of the National Road Safety Agency of Colombia Jorge Riveros and the representative of FIM Latin America Daniel Villaveces in a panel to discuss the challenges of road safety in Colombia. 

During her intervention, Maryfely talked about the importance of safe road use and road user behavior on the roads. She also elaborated on the necessity to understand the needs and demands of different road users, especially the most vulnerable such as youth. 

Addressing young motorists and motorist enthusiasts in the audience, Maryfely spoke about the work the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety is doing to educate young road users and empower them in their efforts to take action against the leading killer of youth worldwide; road crashes. She spoke about the training sessions, the mentorship, and the financing opportunities the Youth Coalition offers to hundreds of youth from around the world. 

Following the panel discussion, Maryfely joined the development of a mural where the attendees put in their commitments to ensure road safety and protect road users however they can. 

They Symposium ran from the 5th to the 6th of May and was organized by PRISMA: Operadores de Eventos.