PORT DOVER Bikers planning to spend Friday the 13th in Port Dover are being warned to “exercise extreme caution on the road” with inclement weather in the forecast.
This week will see the first of two Friday the 13ths this year. The second is in October.
It is a tradition for the lakeside community to welcome bikers any time the 13th of the month lands on a Friday.
An advisory from Norfolk County noted that cold-weather events typically attract fewer numbers.
Still, “visitors should be aware of increased traffic on the roads surrounding and in Port Dover. Drivers and motorcyclists are reminded to obey the rules of the road and be patient while traveling to, from and around Port Dover.”
In warmer seasons, up to 100,000 motorcyclists and enthusiasts gather in Port Dover for what is often referred to as Biker Day. Last May 13 — the only Friday the 13th in 2022 — saw tens of thousands of bikers descend on the community.
“Unlike warm-weather events, this Friday the 13th will not see any road closures in effect,” said the county.
The Environment Canada forecast for the Port Dover area calls for snow and blowing snow on Friday, with a daytime temperature reaching a high of -1 C. By evening, the thermometer will dip to a low of -6 C, with a 30 per cent luck of flurries.
const. Ed Sanchuk of Norfolk OPP said motorists may not expect to see motorcycles on the roads at this time of year, and should exercise additional caution.
“Please double-check your blind spots, and at intersections be sure to look twice,” he said.
“Motorcyclists should wear high visibility clothing, and make sure to always signal turns. We want everyone to have a safe, fun and responsible time.”
The official T-shirt for this week’s gathering depicts a biker riding a motorcycle with studded tires, smashing through a wall of ice with a lighthouse in the background.
It is designed by Darcy Anderson of Rockit Fuel Design and Technology and will be sold by the Kinsmen Club of Port Dover on Friday at the Elmer Lewis parking lot on Main Street starting at 9 am