A new student organization for motorcyclists will promote safety and provide companionship for cyclists at NIU.

The NIU Motorcyclist Association has “a great deal of potential,” said Rick Kieltyka, one of the association’s faculty advisers and director of NIU Motor Safety Project.

Association President Wes Bank said this is the first semester the association has been at NIU. Last semester, a couple of meetings were held to get students interested and receive Student Association recognition, Bank said.

There will be two introductory meetings held Tuesday and Wednesday in DuSable in room 202D at 9 p.m. Bank estimated that there will be about 100 members by the end of this semester.

About 40 students were interested in membership, Bank said. The association is “very enthusiastic,” said Robin Carson, another faculty adviser and coordinator of the NIU Motor Safety Project.

The association will promote safety by requiring bikers and their passengers to wear helmets, Bank said. Gail La Barbera, who is currently a member of the association, said she does not want students to get the idea the association is “the huskie angels.”

La Barbera said there are about four women members now. She said she encourages more women to join.

All motorcyclists and scooter drivers are invited to join and particapate in activities, Bank said. Even those who do not own a motorcycle of any kind “may want to try” the association, said Carson.

The association will participate in group trips and in some charity events, Bank said. The first trip will be a breakfast run in March, he said. The association hopes to do charity work specifically for DeKalb, he said.

Bank said he thinks the association will be a success because bikers “have something in common,” and they all know the “excitement of riding in a large group.”