YYC scooter guy gets new ride after video of scary Deerfoot trip goes viral
Calgary radio station launched campaign after hearing 'there's a lot more to the story'
One man's extremely cold scooter ride on a snowy Calgary highway seems to have melted the hearts of Calgarians.
A videoof his tripdownthe busy Deerfoot Trail thoroughfare surfaced over the weekendandhas since been viewed thousands of times.
"DeerfootTrail, icy roads, cars in the ditch everywhere ... and then there's this guy!" posted real estate agentKim Star, who uploaded the video Sunday.
The guy turned out to beDiedrich Penner a construction worker whohad to get rid of his vehicle in 2014 because of financial reasons. He lives with his mother in northeast Calgary, and paysthe mortgage for his family.
Heused the scooter to get to work when he couldn't find a ride.
He was riding his moped down the QE2 highway in the middle of Sunday's snowstorm to get to churchbecause his friend was not able to pick him up.
He says he has never braved a snow-covered Deerfoot on his scooter before, and had to put his feet down on the pavement every few feet for balance.
"It was a little bit nerve-racking, I guess," he said. "I kept my signal light flashing the whole time so cars could see. My main concern was to make sure other cars could see me."
Campaignlaunched for new ride
That's when Tyler Hall from VirginRadio in Calgary came into the picture. Hestarted talking about the video during the station's morning show on Monday, but soon receivedcalls telling him "there's a lot more to the story," he said.
So he decided to start a crowdfunding campaign to help findPenner a safe and reliable vehicle.
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"I was totally blown away," said Hall about the quick response from Calgarians.
TheGoFundMepage raised thousands of dollars in just hours, and then they got news that used-car dealer AutoMaxx plans to give Pennera car.
Hall said the funds raised will instead be used to help pay for insurance and gas money.
"I feel very appreciative and grateful, and I feel blessed," said Penner, adding he doesn't want people to feel sorry for him.
Calgary's traffic bylawprohibits the use of a"slow-moving vehicle" defined as not being able to go over 40 km/h on busy roads like Deerfoot Trail.
The scooter can go faster, but Calgary police say a vehicle shouldbe able to comfortably go 100 km/h to drive onDeerfoot,andare reminding others who may want to venture out on snowy roads with ascooterto take precautions.
"Even if it is legal, it's not something we would advise especially in these conditions," a police spokesperson told CBC News.
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