Now THIS Is A Protest

[Gypsyangel]

http://ukfrancebikers.com/2010/03/14/french-motorcyclists-more-angry-than-ever/

French motorcyclists more angry than ever
MARCH 14, 2010
tags: Fédération Française des Motards en Colère, ffmc, filtering through traffic, france bikers demonstration, jean-marc belotti, metro, motorcyclists, périphérique, powered two wheelers, ptw, traffic jams, vincennes, westminster city council
by UK France bikers

10,000 bikers on the Paris peripherique

http://ukfrance.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/manif-13-mars-1.jpg

Last month, we published a post where we said that thousands of motorcyclists were expected to demonstrate all over France in protest at a recent Government announcement to fine any bikers caught filtering through the traffic. Well, the demonstrations took place yesterday, 13th March 2010. More than 60 cities and towns saw their roads blocked by thousands of angry bikers who said NON to the French authorities who keep treating motorbikes, scooters and mopeds like cars.

The French Government have recently announced their intention to take draconian measures against bikers who overtake cars and filter in between them in traffic jams by issuing expensive fines. They expect every bike to stay in lane, like cars, behind each other, and not go any faster than them. How stupid is that? Paris, for instance, but also Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Toulouse are already very congested cities due to the high number of cars in circulation, and the Government is keen to add more pressure on the roads by forcing Powered Two Wheelers (PTW) to behave like cars.

They treat us like cars, we will behave like cars!

http://ukfrance.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/manif-13-mars-3.jpg

La Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (FFMC - the French Federation of Angry Bikers) urged all motorcyclists on the other side of the Channel to protest and, as a result, France saw a total of 40,000 motorcyclists gathered on the roads yesterday, with 10,000 of them in Paris alone. Parisian motorcyclists joined the FFMC at 2pm at Château de Vincennes, on the outskirts of Paris. There were already 5,000 bikers at 1.30pm, another 2,200 joined between 1.30pm and 2pm and the rest joined during the demonstration.


If one car = one bike, let's see the results!

Angry bikers took over the whole périphérique (the express road running around the centre of Paris), each occupying the space of one car in each lane. Within minutes, an enormous traffic jam was created by these 10,000 motorcyclists, thus gridlocking the whole of Paris on a busy Saturday afternoon, when Parisians go out to do their shopping and visit friends and relatives. The result was absolutely spectacular, car drivers were stuck in traffic until late in the evening by the time all the traffic jams cleared.

Let’s cause massive disruption in the metro!

http://ukfrance.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/manif-13-mars-2.jpg

Did you say bikers, if not happy, had to take the metro like everyone else? Fine, let's do it!

For anyone who decided to leave their car at home and take the metro instead, unfortunately that didn’t help. In response to a statement made by the French Transport Secretary, Jean-Marc Belotti, who said “If they [bikers] are not happy, they can take the metro like everyone else”, protestors took over the Paris underground network. While some bikers continued to block the roads and cause standstill overground, others went down the underground en masse and occupied an entire train, thus bringing the entire line to a complete stop. We let you imagine the outcome if thousands of motorcyclists left their bike at home and commuted by tube. This is valid in London too, if Westminster City Council continue to stealth tax bikers to park, thus increase the cost of motorcycling. Next time, Mr Belotti will think twice before opening his mouth!

UK France Bikers are very proud indeed of the FFMC and their actions to protect the rights of motorcyclists in France. The FFMC is a real example to follow for everyone. It is now time that public authorities, wherever they are in the world, realise that they’re not above everyone else. To the contrary, they are there to serve the people who elected them.

They inconvenience us, we will inconvenience them! Power to the people!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTi5PyWeraA

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[Will]

LOL, that is brilliant. Surprised they coordinated that so well.

[Derrick]

Bravo!!

[wallypiper]

I'm sure that got them a lot of support from their fellow non riding frogs. But it did make a point. Anybody up for a 285 jamming group ride?

[Gypsyangel]

I'm sure that got them a lot of support from their fellow non riding frogs. But it did make a point. Anybody up for a 285 jamming group ride?

It would have to be in support of something already in the works i.e. a bill to allow lane sharing/splitting etc..Otherwise it'd be misconstrued. Also you'd likely get some a*holes popping wheelies and making everyone look bad. In this protest, no body was technically breaking any rules.

[TroyBoy30]

:up:

[Reece]

viva la revolucion!

[wallypiper]

Yeah. I know. You'd have to keep the squids out. But with a little local news coverage, you could certainly get some attention. Maybe get out and create a 5 mile long group and then, all at once, collapse it and show how little room we COULD take up if they would let us.

[Mortalis5509]

Yeah. I know. You'd have to keep the squids out. But with a little local news coverage, you could certainly get some attention. Maybe get out and create a 5 mile long group and then, all at once, collapse it and show how little room we COULD take up if they would let us.

good idea if people play along.

[ramm]

Sweet! :up:

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I'd be in for that. Never thought I'd say it, but they got this one right! haha

[Killen]

Ha, I was thinking the same thing... for once I'm proud of the French!

[Gypsyangel]

I found this today


The other cities in France that were organized for this protest.


Quote from Bikes in the fast lane (http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/france-the-massive-motorcycle-protest-of-this-weekend.htm)


Lille 3,000,
Bordeaux 2,000,
Nantes 1,000,
Orleans 550,
Royan 1,000,
Toulouse 1,200,
Clermont-Ferrand 1,500
and many more cities, 40 in total.

Despite what you may think, car drivers support our movement. They know it's in their own interest, and during the protest, many cars applauded the protest

From UK France Bikers.com (http://ukfrancebikers.com/2010/03/16/with-40000-bikers-blocking-the-roads-the-french-authorities-are-now-starting-to-back-off/)


Well, it sounds like the French Government are now starting to seriously regret to have made such stupid proposals.

With 40,000 bikers bringing the whole country to a standstill, we have been made aware that Dominique Bussereau (Transport Secretary) subsequently met with the Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (FFMC - the French Federation of Angry Bikers) to discuss.

And guess what? Mr Bussereau suddenly recognised that with the increasing number of motorcyclists on the French roads, which contribute to significantly reduce congestion and pollution, it was important to take into account their safety and concerns. Filtering through traffic may not be that bad after all, and might now become legal in France, subject to the introduction of a more robust motorcycle training course, designed to make new motorcyclists aware of the dangers they may face on the roads, including those associated to traffic filtering. Can you see how the French Government has just changed its tone overnight? They’ve gone from a categoric “NON” to a possible ”OUI mais…”.


Having said that, another reason why 40,000bikers invaded the French roads and public transport in quite a few cities and towns last Saturday is because they remain opposed to bikes being obliged to go through a safety and mechanical test on an annual basis (such as the UK MOT test), again like cars do. We are told that the FFMC, who organised this massive and spectacular national protest, was created 30 years ago to fight against a Government proposal to introduce an annual road tax for motorcycles. Of course, while cars had to pay the French road tax, bikes never had to, as a result of the enormous protests that were organised at the time by the FFMC, pretty much like the one that took place last Saturday. The FFMC has advised that the Government failed to carry out appropriate consultation prior to announcing their intention to force motorbikes and scooters to go through this annual mechanical and safety test, hence their call to all bikers to go down the street and protest en masse.
So we now have a Government that potentially says yes to traffic filtering subject to more robust motorcycle training and no to giving up their proposals for the introduction of a safety and mechanical test for bikes. It is this double-tone that the FFMC now seems to be unhappy with, to the extent that they’ve threatened to organise further demonstrations all over France, until the Government is brought to complete submission.
UK France Bikers remain confident that the FFMC will win, once again, as they have always done! Hats off to them!


Power to the people!

[TwoFace1911]

Fantastic protest. I guess "the revolution WILL be televised"

[Killen]

The revolution will be motorized.

[cudruln]

Awesome. Valid cause for what they did.

[A&A Motorsports]

We need to protest here in GA.... isnt Lane-Splitting illegal in GA ?

[Killen]

I think it's illegal everywhere but in CA. I might be wrong though. I do know it's legal in CA.

[Gypsyangel]

It's only legal in California because it ISN'T illegal. They never put it on the books. Actually Arizona is now considering it as well. Wish the rest of the nation would cacth on.

[MotoMike]

I don't know if I'm sold on the safety or wisdom of lane splitting. I saw it first hand in LA 25 yrs ago on the busy San Diego Fwy(405) on a Sat afternoon. You have folks on the road like me that really don't know there way around there very well.........and these days, all the distracted drivers on personal electronic devices......seems like it might be a recipe for disaster. I was running 50-60 mph when I had a guy "split" by me on the right side so it wasn't like traffic was at a standstill.

[Trey]

Have to agree Mike... I like the lane splitting rule in traffic/intersections... But even if it comes to be legal all over, no way I trust the drivers of cages around here to split at speed.

[BlueLghtning]

I don't know if I'm sold on the safety or wisdom of lane splitting. I saw it first hand in LA 25 yrs ago on the busy San Diego Fwy(405) on a Sat afternoon. You have folks on the road like me that really don't know there way around there very well.........and these days, all the distracted drivers on personal electronic devices......seems like it might be a recipe for disaster. I was running 50-60 mph when I had a guy "split" by me on the right side so it wasn't like traffic was at a standstill.


Have to agree Mike... I like the lane splitting rule in traffic/intersections... But even if it comes to be legal all over, no way I trust the drivers of cages around here to split at speed.

Guys splitting lanes at anything over 20-25mph or going faster then 10mph faster then the traffic you are going isn't really the lane sharing or splitting that's being promoted. That is just being plain reckless and there is no way I would even try to promote that. The whole point of lane splitting is when traffic is stopped or barely moving and letting the bikes filter through at a faster pace, but not warp speed when everyone else is going down the interstate at normal speeds. Filtering also can be moving to the front of the line at a light which would help keep motorcycles out of the impact zone of being rear ended.

Having split lanes in CA, it works and even as bad a rap we give GA riders, if it truly became legal, it would eventually become "accepted" and not a big deal just like it is in CA.

[ramm]

Guys splitting lanes at anything over 20-25mph or going faster then 10mph faster then the traffic you are going isn't really the lane sharing or splitting that's being promoted. That is just being plain reckless and there is no way I would even try to promote that. The whole point of lane splitting is when traffic is stopped or barely moving and letting the bikes filter through at a faster pace, but not warp speed when everyone else is going down the interstate at normal speeds. Filtering also can be moving to the front of the line at a light which would help keep motorcycles out of the impact zone of being rear ended.

Having split lanes in CA, it works and even as bad a rap we give GA riders, if it truly became legal, it would eventually become "accepted" and not a big deal just like it is in CA.

:goodpost:

[MotoMike]

Guys splitting lanes at anything over 20-25mph or going faster then 10mph faster then the traffic you are going isn't really the lane sharing or splitting that's being promoted. That is just being plain reckless and there is no way I would even try to promote that. The whole point of lane splitting is when traffic is stopped or barely moving and letting the bikes filter through at a faster pace, but not warp speed when everyone else is going down the interstate at normal speeds. Filtering also can be moving to the front of the line at a light which would help keep motorcycles out of the impact zone of being rear ended.

Having split lanes in CA, it works and even as bad a rap we give GA riders, if it truly became legal, it would eventually become "accepted" and not a big deal just like it is in CA.

There would need to be a large education program for all drivers on what is acceptable lane splitting and dangers for bikers and cage drivers to be on guard. Would be a good time to bring in other issues pertaining to the safety of 2 wheel riders also.