KAMLOOPS — A motorcyclist’s world expedition is advocating for road safety, while passing through Kamloops.
BV Narayana, originally from India, is riding his motorcycle around the world to raise safety awareness for drivers and pedestrians alike.
His journey started in 2015, and since then, he’s been to 25 countries around the world.
Coming from England by boat, Narayana started off the Canadian leg of his journey in Halifax, however he ran into some mechanical issues with his motorcycle.
The Sikh motorcycle club became aware of his troubles, Narayana says, “So they came forward and donated this Honda bike.”
Narayana has made a unique vehicle for himself with a welded sidecar as an attachment, bringing the motorcycle to four wheels instead of two.
After a harrowing, ran-out-of-gas experience on the Coquihalla Highway, Narayana says he recently found himself in Kamloops.
“I had come to know there’s a motorbike club (in Kamloops),” Narayana says. “One of the guys, the owner of this motel (Countryview Motor Inn), I called him, and he said ‘come over’, so I popped in.”
That owner is Pav Gill, a member of the local Sikh motorcycle group, who caught wind of Narayana’s journey and invited him to Kamloops.
Narayana says he has a personal interest in the subject of road safety, after being in an accident himself, which resulted in a torn ligament.
“I was not able to drive a two-wheeler (motorcycle) so that’s why I created a four wheeler.”
“Do not use your cell phone while driving, do not drink either,” he says. “If you happen to be drinking at parties, take somebody’s help to reach home, so that you will be safe, your family will be safe, more than that, so innocent people on the road will also be safe.”
It’s not the first time Narayana has made a trip around the world. In his youth, Narayana says he took up a more physical pursuit, bicycling around 59 different countries.
“But the difference is, at that time, I didn’t have much to say, I was a young boy, you know, doing an adventure and sports, just spreading a message of peace at that time also but you know, it was not as serious,” Narayana explains. “But this time, I’m behind the purpose. That’s why I’m driving slowly, staying here and there, talking to people. Even in the gas stations, I open up my banners and let people read the messages and talk to me, and then continue the trip.”
When his Canadian stint wraps up, Narayana says he plans to start making his way down to Mexico and Brazil.
