SummeRide motorcycle rally hopes 'for great turnout'

The first-ever SummeRide motorcycle rally will see hundreds of bikers roll into Summerside this weekend.

The event hopes to help make up for the gap left after the Atlanticade festival moved to Monctonthisyear. For three years that rallydrew more than 10,000 bikers and millions of tourism dollars to the Island.

Although it's only the first year for SummeRide, organizers say they're already pleased with the turnout. Nearly 300 riders pre-registered and more are expected to show up over the weekend.

"Rooms that are being booked as a result of people staying for the weekend, people are eating in restaurants, you know, buying goods in stores," said Carolyn Thorne, executive director of Tourism Summerside.

"Regardless of how many people are here, the people that are here are going to have a good time and we just hope that translates to a great turnout for the city and for the Island, and it does make a difference in tourism dollars," said Thorne.

Juanita Dortrodefrom Nova Scotia with her husband Mike Dort.

"You see so many different kinds, and what individuals have done to the individual bikes to make it their own," she said.

Joe Couto and Donna Mucci, who is originally from P.E.I., rode 16 hours on a two-seaterfrom Toronto.

"Actually, it was great because he likes the bikes and I got to visit family," said Mucci.

The festival has also attracted vendors from across the country, selling specialty clothes and bike gear.