Motorcyclists defy 2-metre rule outside Old Strathcona Tim Hortons

Motorcyclists refusing to obey the two-metre physical distancing rule while congregating on Whyte Avenue are frustrating community leaders.

Coun. Ben Henderson says he sawpeople clusteredoutside the Tim Hortons on Whyte Avenuea few days ago.

"If we can't get compliance then we'll be forced to make him shut, which nobody wants to do," Henderson said.

"I'm guessing that that's the real fear," he added. "If people will not behave, then we may have no choice."

CBCNews contacted the owner of the Tim Hortons, who did not want to be quoted or have his name published, but saidhe had askedthe city and police for help with motorcyclists.

The citydelivered traffic barricades which have been erected around the majority of parking spots outside the restaurant, he said.

In an email to CBC News, the city confirmed it supplied barriers to the restaurant on April17 at the request of the Edmonton Police Service, which wanted toclose the parking lot to motorcycles.

'Putting more people at risk'

Cherie Klassen, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association,said she's heard from several business owners and residents who say they're disconcerted byongoing defiance of Alberta's public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's concerning to me that, in our area, people wouldn't be following those rules and be putting more people at risk," Klassen told CBC News Monday.

Most businesses in the area are co-operating with the province's ordersand setting a positive example for the public, Klassen said.

"They're very concerned about the safety of their patrons, their staff and the public and so they've been very co-operative," she said. "So this is very frustrating when we are trying to create a safe environment as we always do and then for the people in the public to not pay attention, that is quite frustrating."

Liane Langlois, founder and president of the Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society, is urging fellow riders to follow the rules.

"There's no reason you can't go out and ride," Langlois said. "We need to be responsible with that."

Fines may be the answer

Riders are expected to obey the same rules as passengers in vehicles they can only ride together on a bike if they live in the same household.

In aninterview Monday, Langlois noted that with few outdoor hobbies left, it's important now more than ever to adhere to the public orders.

"The last thing anybody wants to be is the cause ofthe City of Edmonton or the province of Alberta[deciding that] riding a motorcycle is non-essentialand therefore we're stuck without being able to ride."

Henderson said he expects peace officers and police will soon switch gears and, instead of issuing warnings, start handing out $1,000 tickets.

Complaints about noisy motorcycles and vehicles withmodified mufflers arethe same every year in and around the river valley, he said.

"My email's exploding with people complaining about loud vehicles again, which obviously includes those bikes," Henderson said.

'It's the same idiocy'

ButHenderson noted the noise is worse now because there are fewer vehicles on the streets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I can't tell you how frustrating this is," he said. "This is just not a time for people to be idiots.

"Whether or not you somehow think it doesn't mean you not to cluster in a parking lot, jeopardizing a business it's the same arrogance, it is the same selfishness, it's the same idiocy."

The city launched a noise-detecting pilot project in August2018 and began issuing tickets for noise infractions last spring.

At a council meeting last week, Henderson asked city managers about the progress of the program. Managers said they are still gathering data on noise infractions and plan to report back at a later date.

• Pipe down: Edmonton peace officers told to ticket noisy mufflers, motorcycles

@natashariebe