Bike Month kicks off with help from McLeish Orlando

Toronto critical injury lawyer Rikin Morzaria kicked off Bike Month 2013 this week, joining hundreds of cyclists in riding his bike to work and speaking on behalf of Bike Month lead partner McLeish Orlando at Nathan Phillips Square.

Morzaria, a partner at McLeish Orlando, rides his bike to work every day and spoke to the crowd about safe cycling and encouraging businesses to be smart commuters.

“As a law firm that represents seriously injured people, we often encounter cyclists who have been injured in road collisions,” Morzaria said during the kick-off. “Because we see the impact of these injuries up close, we feel that we have a responsibility to promote safe cycling.  Some of this involves advocating for safe solutions.  For example, Patrick Brown, was instrumental in prompting a coroner’s review of cycling safety.  We are also strong supporters of cycling advocacy organizations such as Cycle Toronto.

Greater awareness

“We also believe that cycling is safer when more people are using it as a method of transportation,” he said.  “This leads to greater awareness of cyclists by motorists, and to reduced hostility.

“We feel that we need to lead by example by encouraging our own employees to cycle to work,” Morzaria told the gathering.  “We have taken some concrete steps to make this more practical and appealing.  For example, we have made our workplace more cycle friendly by providing secure bike parking and including shower facilities in our retrofitted office space.  We have also regularly participated in cycling events, and purchased memberships to Cycle Toronto for our employees.

“Perhaps most importantly, we lead by example; many of our lawyers, including several partners, regularly commute to work by bicycle.  ‘Helmet head’ won’t make you so self-conscious when you see your boss sporting it,” he said.

Helmets on Kids

The firm also participates in a “Helmets on Kids” program every year, purchasing and handing out approximately 500 helmets each year to children who wouldn’t otherwise have them.

“I’m excited to be part of Bike Month because I love cycling – I’ve cycled year-round as a commuter for over a decade –  and because I want to be part of the movement that makes cycling accessible to others who haven’t yet started using bikes as a method of transportation,” said Morzaria.