More than 130 accidents involving bikers have been recorded in St. Petersburg since the start of the motorcycle season.

      On June 9, 2026, 12:33 Incidents At the beginning of the motorcycle season in 2026, the number of accidents involving motorcyclists in St. Petersburg has significantly increased. According to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, in the first few months of the year, there were 137 road traffic accidents involving motorcycles in the city, of which 45 cases resulted in injuries or fatalities. One person died, and 46 were injured, as reported by "KP-Petersburg." In one of the traffic accidents, billionaire Mikhail Smirnov, who was on the list of the wealthiest residents of St. Petersburg, died. He was riding a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and lost control. The bike veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a Haval car. In the motorcyclist community, two versions of the incident were discussed: either Smirnov made a mistake on a curve in the road, or he felt unwell. Dmitry Popov, an expert from the working group under the Russian government on road safety issues, noted that the summer of 2026 has become anomalous in terms of the number of motorcyclists on the roads. He also emphasized that many of them abuse lane splitting, taking advantage of the fact that the rules do not contain clear guidelines on this matter. According to Popov, motorcyclists should adhere to traffic rules and not cut safe lateral distances. Furthermore, he pointed out that bikers are not visible in cars, which increases the risks of accidents. Loud motorcycles also cause dissatisfaction among those around. Grigory Putintsev, president of the "Motorcyclists of St. Petersburg" association, reported that in 2026, the official opening of the motorcycle season took place without the traditional ride through the city center. This is due to the fact that this tradition was interrupted in 2020, and there are no plans to return to it. Putintsev also noted that the association is fighting against violators, including those who use excessively loud motorcycles. He emphasized that a proper motorcyclist would not create noise under other people's windows, as this is perceived as anti-culture. There are specially designed silencers that do not irritate those around but are loud enough for drivers to hear the motorcycle in traffic. This is necessary to ensure safety on the roads. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+