MS-Bike: An Amateur Radio and Public Service Event - Nicole VE3GIQ

At the October 16th OVMRC meeting I presented a briefing on this year’s MS Bike Tour fund raiser, but went on to discuss the role of amateurs in supporting public events in general, with a focus on bringing added value to these events.

This year’s MS Bike Tour was held the weekend of August 17th and 18th. Despite the rainy weather, 200 riders participated in the event, raising 90% of a target of $350,000. This 2 day event sees the riders bicycling about 82 km. each way between Kars and Brockville. We used a single repeater for the event, and Net control located in Kars was at the most distant point from the repeater. We took extra care to ensure that net control had a good signal in and out of VE3IWJ.

I had 21 volunteers for this event, including 3 from Cornwall and 1 from Brockville. Notably 6 of my amateur volunteers were new to this kind of activity. For that reason, and as well knowing many of my volunteers don’t read written instructions, this year I held an on line briefing and training session. We covered a lot of topics in that briefing, reviewing the route and fixed location issues using maps and aerial views. We also discussed equipment and setup considerations, duties and responsibilities with emphasis on procedure in the event of a serious incident. As these events are serious business, I reviewed radio procedures and etiquette as it applies to traffic nets, and provided information on all of the assets of this event, such as the roles of support vehicles and ride marshals that shepherd the riders.

I found that the on line briefing worked better than a written instruction, although it was still not 100%. Having said that, I want to congratulate all of my amateur volunteers on a job very well done. Both MS Canada staff and Medalist’s Matt Hartman, in charge of logistics and coordinating all the resources for this event have heaped praise upon the amateurs. I quote Matt’s remarks: “I work with HAM groups all over North America and you are some top-tier operators”. In particular kudos to our mobiles who went "that extra mile'. There were several lost and found, riders brought forward for repairs, chased lost riders, and minor first aid and bike repairs. On Saturday Medic mobile reported downed power lines on Branch Rd. near CR18. Net control reported this hazard to Hydro One networks.

As amateurs supporting public service events, our goal should be to bring as much value added to these events as possible. Safety always comes first for both the participants and amateurs. Tracking, situational awareness and traffic flow prediction are also goals, along with logistics coordination and dispatch. Of course being prepared for unexpected incidents. Amateur volunteers of these events are a ‘public face’ of the hobby, which make for good public relations and publicity.

I employed software to record radio logs, and tracked amateur equipped vehicles through APRS. Unfortunately it cannot track nor message non-amateur assets such as ride marshals who are on bikes. Combined with other systems these may provide the total situational awareness that I am seeking. We will try to make this happen for next year.

One final word. I am always looking for new talent for these events. The ham volunteers report that they feel appreciated by staff and other volunteers, have a good time and enjoy a sense of accomplishment. A special thanks goes out to Norm (VE3LC) for the loan of equipment, and to Doug (VE3YDK) and Kathleen (VA3WEX) who shared net control duties with me. It was Kathleen’s first experience as net control, and she performed very well. I do hope that they come back next year.

So 73 until next August.

NicoleVE3GIQ

Appears in: Rambler November 2024