15 Years of Standing Up for Riders: BikerDown’s Motorcycle Awareness Day Ride Returns to Colorado
For fifteen years, the BikerDown Foundation has brought Colorado’s motorcycle community together for a ride that is about far more than the miles traveled. The Motorcycle Awareness Day (MAD) Ride has become a powerful annual tradition—one that blends remembrance, unity, advocacy, and community support into a single day where riders stand together and make their presence known.
This year marks the 15th Annual Motorcycle Awareness Day Ride, and the mission remains the same as when it first began: to remind drivers that motorcycles are on the road and deserve to be seen. BikerDown’s hosted several awareness rides, and then in 2014, we worked with other riders to host the CAN YOU SEE ME NOW ride, with bold safety orange. 
From that vision, this ride continued to grow each year with our annual ride being the ONLY Motorcycle Awareness Day in Colorado, focusing on gathering all riders together to get the awareness out to drivers. There are bigger rides out there helping charities outside of the biker community, but all riders knew that our Can You See Me Now, Look Twice Save A Life Ride, and now Motorcycle Awareness Day (Get MAD) was a ride for us, by us, and TO HELP JUST US!
The importance of this message has only grown stronger over the years. Nearly every morning, riders wake up and check social media or the news only to learn that another motorcyclist has been seriously injured or killed. These tragedies ripple through the entire riding community. Families are left grieving, riders are reminded how fragile the ride can be, and the same question always arises—who is there to help when a rider goes down?
That is exactly why BikerDown exists.
Founded to assist injured riders and their families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, BikerDown has become a critical support system within the motorcycle community. Through programs like BDFundMe fundraising support, financial guidance, access to medical equipment, and even providing motorcycle urns for grieving families, BikerDown has stood beside countless riders and families when they needed help the most.
Motorcycle Awareness Day also carries official recognition. The State of Colorado issued a proclamation recognizing May as Motorcycle Awareness Month, acknowledging the importance of reminding drivers to watch for motorcycles and share the road responsibly.
But the MAD Ride is not only about awareness—it’s about community and unity.
For one day each year, riders from every corner of the community come together. Clubs, independent riders, riding groups, families, and supporters all gather with one shared purpose. The patches may be different, the bikes may vary, but the message is the same: stand up for riders and ride united.
This year’s ride adds even more excitement with a Poker Run format, giving riders the opportunity to enjoy a great day on the road while competing for some serious prizes.
The ride begins with registration at The Piper Inn, a longtime biker gathering spot in Denver. From there, riders will roll out together and make their way through several well-known motorcycle-friendly stops, including 20 Mile Tap House, Takoda Tavern, and The Angry Clover, as participants collect poker cards along the route.
The ride will conclude at The Frontier Club, where riders will gather for prizes, raffles, and celebration—but the final stop also carries special meaning for the Colorado motorcycle community.
The event will honor Randy Savely, founder of the legendary Randy Run for Fallen Bikers (RRFB) and one of BikerDown’s greatest supporters. After Randy suffered a devastating motorcycle accident that resulted in the loss of his leg, ABATE of Colorado organized the very first Randy Run for Fallen Bikers to support him. What began as a ride to help one injured rider quickly turned into something much bigger. Inspired by the community’s generosity, Randy and his close friends continued the tradition, transforming the Randy Run into an event that helped countless injured riders and the families of fallen bikers over the years. In 2017, Randy and the RRFB board made the difficult decision to close the organization, but, in true Randy Run fashion, they paid it forward by donating to BikerDown so the tradition of helping riders in need could continue.
The poker run will award high-value prizes for Best Hand, Second Best Hand, and Worst Hand, along with gift cards, raffles, and door prizes throughout the event. Riders who pre-register will also have a chance to win additional awareness prizes.
While the prizes add excitement, the ride’s deeper purpose remains clear.
Motorcycle awareness today means confronting one of the biggest threats riders face on the road—distracted driving. Smartphones have created a dangerous environment where drivers are often looking down at screens instead of watching the road. For motorcyclists, that split second of distraction can mean the difference between life and death.
The message BikerDown wants drivers to hear is simple:
Put the phone down.
Keep your eyes on the road.
Watch out for motorcycles.
Motorcycle Awareness Day also provides something equally important for the riding community itself: a place for families to mourn and remember together. When riders are lost, the motorcycle community does not forget. The MAD Ride creates a space where families can gather with fellow riders, share stories, honor memories, and feel the strength of the community that surrounds them.
After fifteen years, Motorcycle Awareness Day continues to grow—not just as an event, but as a movement within Colorado’s riding community.
Because when riders unite, raise awareness, and stand together, the message becomes impossible to ignore.
Look twice.
Put the phone down.
And let every rider make it home.
Riders interested in joining the 15th Annual Motorcycle Awareness Day Ride can pre-register here:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/xb528zq
