| 14 May, 2013 - Thailand: Political Protests Turn To Motorcycles | #Thailand #Political - In a country, even continent, where motorcycles are one of the main forms of transportation, it's no wonder that even political groups turn to motorcycles when organizing protests. Here's one in Thailand, called the Red Shirts, and no, it's not a motorcycle 1%-er gang (although the opposition probably thinks so).
But as biker gang/club names go, "Red Shirts" is a pretty catchy name.... just saying.
|
|
| 3 April, 2013 - Yemen: Motorcyclists Protest 5 Day Riding Ban | #Protest - Really! It really looks like politicians are dumb creatures anywhere in the world. It doesn't matter where you live, if there are politicians you know that a) your life has become complicated and b) they enrich themselves.
Why ban motorcycles for 5 days to ensure that a conference is safe? The mind boggles....
|
|
| 7 January, 2013 - France: Motorcycle Cops On "Strike" Because Of Helmets | ATGATT is not only the fact that you need to wear all your safety equipment all of the time, but also that the equipment is in good shape. And that's something that is not the case for the motorcycle gendarmes in Morbihan (in Brittany, France).
The motorcycle cops had received new helmets in 2007, and today these helmets have become unusable, the paint is flaking, the shell has deteriorated, and the helmets do no longer sit properly on their heads. Also the visors have become foggy and scratched.
The cops have been trying to get replacement helmets, but the authorities are not listening and just paying lip-service...........
...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......
|
|
| 17 December, 2012 - France: Hmmm... Nothing Left To Protest | You can clearly see that the end of the world is closing in on us rapidly. This time last year, the French motorcycle riders and their associations had a laundry list with grievances the length of the Eiffel Tower. Now, one year later, there's nothing left. What a difference one year makes..
In one year, hot protest items like mandatory high-visibility armbands for all bikers, mandatory annual technical inspections for motorcycles, mandatory alcohol breathalyzers and 100 HP power limit for motorcycles are all binned or suspended.
Two other hot subjects are about to be granted..........
...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......
|
|
| 12 December, 2012 - Poland: Naked Cyclist Flashed For Speeding | I love these kind of protests against speed radars, though it's the wrong time of year to do it. In Poland Mariusz Sztuba made a very unusual protest against the local speed radar in Bialy Bor, Poland.
Wearing nothing but his sneakers and his birthday suit, he went on his bicycle, speeding at 53 kph (33 mph) past a speed radar set for 40 kph (25 mph).
Imagine the surprise of the police officers looking at the speed radar photos of that day in October...........
...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......
|
|
| 11 December, 2012 - Egypt: Motorcycle Against Tank | Several years ago in China, we saw man against tank, now in Egypt, we see motorcycles against tanks. Scary stuff.
They don't seem to catch a break there.
|
|
| 27 November, 2012 - France: Government Suspends Mandatory Armband | According to Moto Magazine (the printed magazine of the French Federation of Angry Bikers - FFMC), after many months of protests and lobbying, the Minister of Interior has suspended today the mandatory wearing of high visibility armbands, a law that was going to be in place starting January 1st 2013...........
...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......
|
|
| 23 November, 2012 - France: French Federation of Angry Bikers Against Armbands | Since the French government has decided that for our own interest and safety they want all motorcycle riders, including foreign registered ones, to wear a high visibility armband, the French Federation of Angry Bikers (FFMC) has been strongly opposed. It's a moronic law which serves no one apart from maybe the manufacturers of the armband.
Apart from a couple of advertisements in the newspapers opposing the new law (which comes into effect January 1st, 2013), and a bunch of protest rides, the FFMC have been peppering pubic places with armbands.
Here are a few photos of statues and landmarks that have received the FFMC's "touch".
|
|
| 19 November, 2012 - French Radars Made Unusable By .... French Cops | And this is the way it should be. France's biggest TV station, TV1, showed last week that the French cops are fed up with quotas and the whole drive towards increased revenue by cops. They are fed up with radars being used to generate money, moved to strategic locations, not for safety but from more money.
So several of them have started to strike back. In the video shown on TV, a camera crew follow a couple of cops going to radars and using garbage bags and duct tape, masking off the radars, rendering them useless.
They are brave cops, since if they get caught, not only will they lose their jobs, but risk 5 years in prison...........
...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......
|
|
| 13 November, 2012 - France: The French Association Of Angry Bikers Is Losing Patience | With all the new laws and proposed changes to the motorcycle world, almost all of them bad, the French Federation of Angry Bikers (FFMC) is losing patience.
They currently got an advertisement up that reads:
Do we need to get to this point to get your attention?
|
|
| 2 November, 2012 - France: Motophobic Mayor Wants To Cut Down All Traffic In Paris | The extreme motophobic and socialist mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe, has often been heard about his views on cars and more importantly, motorcycles. He is the man that has started the rent-a-bicycle operations and now even has a rent-an-electric-car thing going in Paris. He has closed many of the lanes in Paris, dedicated them to bus (motorcycles are not allowed to take bus lanes) and he has placed an extensive tramway in the French capital, taking away more lanes in the process. There's also the eternal struggle to get parking spots, both for cars and motorcycles. There just isn't close enough to what is needed in terms of parking spots, but then it's a ticket bonanza for the city, reaping in fortunes for parking tickets. So you know why he's not creating more parking spaces.
But that's not enough for the Parisian mayor. He has now announced that he's going to go many steps further to eliminate traffic from one of world's most beautiful cities, and shortly one of world's most empty.
OLD VEHICLES WILL BE FORBIDDEN TO ENTER
Motorcycles that are 10 years old or older will not be allowed into the city...........
...........Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......
|
|
| 24 September, 2012 - European Bikers Demonstrate Against Mandatory Annual Technical Inspections | The European union, in its eternal wisdom, and greed, is planning to subject all European motorcycle riders to an annual technical inspection of our rides. It's something that is mandatory for cars, but not for motorcycles; so far. But under heavy lobbying of the main companies that do the actual inspections, and therefore the companies that make a lot of money, the European politicians think it's a great idea for motorcycles to be inspected annually.
It doesn't matter that all reports and statistics show that motorcycle accidents are very rarely caused by faulty motorcycles. So if it's got nothing to do about the technical side of motorcycles, then what has it got to do with? You've got it.... money.
The European bikers went on a protest demonstration ride last weekend in the city where these crazy laws get voted; Brussels. Bikers from the neighboring countries arrived in mass, and in the individual countries mass protest were held as well (France saw 27,000 bikers riding protests).
|
|
| 28 August, 2012 - South Korea: Violent Anti-Japan Protests - Nasty | This is nasty, if not criminal. If you've got a problem with another country and want to burn their flag, that's fine with me.
It's only a piece of cloth after all. But burning motorcycles? What have they ever done to you?
|
|
| 16 July, 2012 - Germany: Hells Angels On Strike - 12 Photos | Everyone can go on strike in Europe, everyone. Even the Hells Angels. Well, it's not a strike, more a protest run, since the local government is banning the Hells Angels from entering their city, even to have their club there.
So they organized a massive protest ride on their motorcycles into the city. 1,000 motorcycles... that must have been impressive.
|
|
| 20 April, 2012 - France: Excellent Motorcycle Protest This Important Weekend | Usually a motorcycle protest here in France, involves lots of motorcycles riding slowly through cities and motorways, blocking traffic, generating bedlam everywhere as much as possible. It usually works, and bikers, despite being a pain in the *$$ are supported by the general population.
But this weekend's protest is going to be different, very different. This Sunday is an important day for France, since it's the 1st round of the presidential elections. 10 candidates are up for the top job, and during the whole of the day, voting booths will be open all over the country.
What the French Federation of Angry Bikers (FFMC) are asking is that the bikers that are going to vote, go around 10:00 AM, and go dressed in full ATGATT gear. If enough bikers go and vote at the same time, all dressed up in full gear, it should become a clear message to the round 2 candidates:- BIKERS DO VOTE!
It's a great idea, since no one is bothered by the protest (well, maybe the old lady standing next to a big biker at the voting booth), and it does send a clear message that bikers do vote, so do not forget us in your policies.
|
|
| 4 April, 2012 - Belgium: Massive Motorcycle Protest Organized For 28 April | Motorcycle riders are not happy, and they should be happy. More and more countries are making our lives impossible, piling up regulations, repressing us on the roads, and in general make our lives miserable. Throw on top of that a bunch of technocrats in Brussels who can think of nothing better to do then make strange and often stupid laws for all of Europe, and you get anarchy.
France is known for its motorcycle protests, but now it's its neighbor, Belgium, who is taking to the roads. The Belgium Association of Angry Bikers (FBMC), with help of the French FFMC, is planning an all-out motorcycle protest ride on April 28th.
Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......
|
|
| 26 March, 2012 - France: Massive Motorcycle Protest Last Weekend | We're in the final stretch for the French presidential elections, and the French Federation of Angry Bikers (FFMC) organized massive protest ride-outs through the country.
The protest was organized to send a message to the political powers to-be, that as a motorcycle group, we should be heard. 3.5 million PTW in France should be enough to get their attention. And after this weekend, the message should be loud & clear. An estimated 80,000 motorcycle, scooters and quads took part throughout France, with some 15-20,000 in Paris alone (with many coming from all over France, Belgium and even the UK to help pass the message.
|
|
| 23 February, 2012 - France: Pre-Presidential Elections Motorcycle Protest | In about 3 months the French presidential elections are upon us. The French get a chance to elect yet another leader to ruin run the country for 5 years. And as is always the case with French elections, there are more candidates than snails.
But in the end, there are two serious candidates, both belong to the biggest political parties in the country. One, Sarkozy, is the current President and sits on the right of the political spectrum - and is pretty anti-motorcycles. On the other side of the spectrum, a Socialist, is Hollande - a biker himself.
But whoever wins, the motorcycle world will not get any better here in France. So to reenforce the message to all presidential candidates, the French Association of Angry Bikers (FFMC) is calling for a massive motorcycle protest ride on March 24 and 25th, one month before the elections.
|
|
| 18 January, 2012 - Fight SOPA! Do Your Bit Now. Here Is How | The proposed bill in the USA, called SOPA, is the biggest threat to the internet which we have seen since the internet started. SOPA will allow companies to shutdown websites, like this one, without a proper and legal due process. Targeted sites will not be able to defend themselves, and you will see many sites disappear.
You can do something about it! Whether you live in the USA, or in another country, here is how to act, and here is what you can do! #SOPASTRIKE Stop #SOPA
|
|
| 9 January, 2012 - Egypt: Bikers For Disabled Politician | Nice to see that motorcycle riders can be shown in a positive light. Here a bunch of motorcycle riders are showing support for a politician who has been disabled since birth, and is running for office, fighting to achieve equal rights for disabled people.
|
|
| 5 December, 2011 - Egypt: Family On Motorcycle At Protests - Brave | Are they brave, stupid or dedicated about their freedom... riding with so many on a motorcycle during protests can be any of these choices.
I choose for brave and dedicated.
|
|
| 1 December, 2011 - Philippines: Journalists On Motorcycles | It's not only motorcycle journalists that ride motorcycles, but also "normal" journalists.
The more the merrier...though in this case, killing journalists is not cool.
|
|
| 25 November, 2011 - Colombia: More Bikers Against Kidnapping | Last week we already showed you the motorcycles against kidnapping in Colombia, but here's another photo of a biker with a banner saying "No more FARC".
|
|
| 24 November, 2011 - Egypt: Motorcycles Back As Ambulances | Looks like things have flared up again in Cairo, Egypt, and motorcycles are pressed into service as ambulances.
It's tough out there, so hang in boys & girls. Keep it up, you know you'll win. Eventually, the military will give in.
|
|
| 23 November, 2011 - New York: Police Throw Scooters At OWS Protesters | Over the last few weeks, I've lost all respect I had for the boys in blue in New York.
Between failing to handle the OWS protests properly (a bit like what's happening in Egypt now), and the way they deal with motorcycles, it's no wonder they are as unpopular as ever before.
|
|
| 17 November, 2011 - Colombia: Bikers Against Kidnapping | We motorcycle riders are up for anything, especially protests.
We'll protest against causes that directly influence our motorcycle riding lives, but we'll also protest against other worthy reasons, like cancer, toys for kids, and now we'll even protest against kidnappings.
|
|
| 26 September, 2011 - Ireland To Go Yellow | Ireland is going for the same thing the French have been fighting against; the mandatory wearing of yellow high-visibilty (hi-vis) vests.
The Irish government wants all motorcycle riders to wear hi-vis vests starting 2014. So until then, we can expect a large number of protest rides.
The fight is on!
|
|
| 19 September, 2011 - India: That Is One Way Of Moving Your Motorcycle | For most people, moving your motorcycle forward involves turning the engine on, putting your motorcycle into 1st gear, and letting go of the clutch.
These guys in India have discovered a new way....
|
|
| 8 September, 2011 - France: Another Major Motorcycle Protest! Europe Joins In | France, but with other European countries are going on the attack again this month. Coming weekend, most big cities in France will be blocked by not only motorcycles, but all other groups of road users.
UK, Belgium and Spain are not only supporting the French movement, but organizing their own protest rides. So this month, you'll see plenty of motorcycles on the road, even if you didn't want to..
|
|
| 6 September, 2011 - France: FFMC Fed Up, And On The Attack | | The French Association of Angry Bikers are fed up with the unpopular government, and has gone on the attack. Already, we're seeing a lot of protest rides, but they have now also unleased a advertising campaign, ridiculing the government's decisions. |
|
| 23 June, 2011 - France: Score 2 For The Motorcycle Movement | After the massive motorcycle protests of last weekend concerning a series of repression laws that the unpopular French government wanted to levy on the unsuspecting French people, it would seem that they have taken note...
3 of the unpopular measures have been watered down, or all together removed.
You see, protests do work....
|
|
| 22 June, 2011 - France: Score 1 For The Motorcycle Movement | After the enormously successful motorcycle protest last Saturday, the Minister of Interior is down peddling, spin-doctoring, face-saving...
He's now claiming that he never wanted motorcycle riders to wear hi-vis vests, yellow or orange, but just reflective stripes on our jackets...
... like the French motorcycle cops... right???
|
|
| 20 June, 2011 - Anatomy Of A French Motorcycle Protest Ride | 18th of June was a national day of protests in France against the government's planned repression tactics. Usually it's motorcycles that protest, but for the first time ever, car, trucks, taxi and other road users joined forces, but led by the motorcycle associations, to protest these drastic steps the unpopular French government is undertaking.
Here is a photo article of the protest in Rouen, Normandy, with some 4-5,000 motorcycles. 40 photos and 1 video, so it'll take some time to load. |
|
| 15 June, 2011 - France: 18 June - Better Not Come To France, But If You Come... | If you're planning to visit France this weekend, 18th of June, better think again!
The 18th is when all of France will protest the French government's new traffic laws, biased heavily towards repression. As a first, it's all the road users who are joining the protest, cars, trucks and motorcycles. In short, it will be hell in all major cities.
Most neighboring countries are sending official delegations to help us fight these stupid rules. Many foreign motorcycle riders are expected, so if you're in for some fun, head over to the closest city.
|
|
| 19 May, 2011 - France: Anti-Government Swelling In The Make | As could be expected after the announcement of the new drastic measures agaisnt motorcycle riders (and cars and other vehicles) in France, a large series of protests rides have been organized, with the biggest one on June the 18th.
But the biggest one has not been organized by the motorcycle associations, but from a more unlikely corner, the Association of Manufacturers of Technology for Driving Assistance (AFFTAC), the association that looks after the makers of GPS based speed radar warning devices, of which there are some 6 million users.
They plan to bring France to a standstill on June the 2nd.
|
|
| 1 March, 2011 - Switzerland: Government Refuse To Lift Motorcycle Races Ban | A bunch of current and former Swiss motorcycle racers (and F1 racers) handed over a petition with 71,000 signatures asking the Swiss government to lift the ban for motorcycle and car races in their country.
The ban has been in place since 1958, but so far the government has cheese in its ears, and does not hear the plight of many Swiss who want to see races in their country.
And you thought your country didn't like motorcycle races?
|
|
| 24 February, 2011 - Greece: Protestors Set Motorcycle Cop On Fire | You can understand protests against the government, specially that of Greece, and you can understand the violence towards the establishment, and the police is the prime target....
But to throw a petrol bomb on a motorcycle cop who is down on the ground is criminal. Nothing different from what is happening in Libya.
|
|
| 17 June, 2010 - UK: Despite Threats To Withdraw, Motorcycles Are Allowed To Use Bus Lanes | Despite threats of stopping the motorcycles on bus lanes experiment, London Mayor, Boris Johnson, has decided to continue allowing motorcycles to ride on the red lanes.
According to the Mayor, there have been no problems with motorcycles in the bus lanes.
Fantastic. Now if other cities would take note....
|
|
| 16 June, 2010 - France: 18 June Another Day Of Motorcycle Protests | The French Federation of Angry Bikers (FFMC) is calling a massive motorcycle protest gathering on the 18 and 19th of June to protest the French government's lack of positive actions towards the motorcycle world.
One of the main points is to legalize lane splitting, something until recently tolerated, but now deemed illegal.
|
|
| 3 June, 2010 - UK: London Mayor Threatens Motorcycle Protest | The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, got caught up in the traffic jams caused by the London motorcycles against parking tax protest, and was not pleased.
He's now threatening to prevent motorcycle from using the bus lanes.
Pure blackmail, good old fashion political style.
Shame on you!
|
|
| 3 May, 2010 - Canada: Vancouver Motorcycle Parking Protest | 100's of motorcycles in Vancouver went on a protest "Parking" ride, parking their motorcycles in cars spots, one motorcycle, one spot.
They did that to show the Vancouver city council what would happen if they continued their upcoming policy to allow motorcycles only to park in legal spots, and taxing them for the privilege.
|
|
| 17 March, 2010 - UK: Ongoing Fight To Stop Paying For Motorcycle Parking Taxes -Help Needed | There's a big fight going on in London, UK. The Council there is charging a premium for motorcycle to park in special parking bays. There are not enough of them, far from it. So they fine you £120 for illegal parking if you park outside the bays.
The parking fee is supposed to be used to create more parking bays, but that is not happening. One organization has been created that actively is fighting the City. Court, Police investigations, and weekly demonstrations.
You can help... even if you live abroad.... read this...
|
|
| 9 February, 2010 - France: 13 March 2010 - Major Protest Ride Planned | The French government are looking at removing the last freedom motorcycle have in France; lane-splitting (filtering). Many years it was tolerated, now they want to make it illegal.
The French Angry Biker Association (FFMC) is planning a protest day on March the 13th. They will be asking all bikers to stay in the lane during rush hour, adding 100,000's of vehicles to the traffic jams.
That should show the authorities why it's a stupid idea...
|
|
| 8 December, 2009 - France: Paris Taxis On Strike Because Of Motorcycles | The Parisian taxis went on strike today, paralyzing the French capital with their protest.
The reason? Car taxis want motorcycle taxi to be stopped, and not allowed to use the taxi ranks at airports.
|
|
| 13 May, 2009 - The Upside Of Some French Strikes | Don't you love it when once in a while a strike in France actually benefits you.
In this case, employees of the German tire manufacturer, Continental, have stickered one of the most productive speed radars with Continental stickers, rendering the radar inoperative for 12 days.
I wonder how many motorcycle riders have been saved from getting a speeding ticket?
|
|
| 29 April, 2009 - A Strike I Do Like Here In France | The French have a love affair with going on strike. They do it so often, that its no longer fun.
But one utility company has recently started going for full strikes, and now we LOVE them. This is one strike we endorse.
Find out why.... click on the headline....
|
|
| 5 March, 2009 - France: Bikers: 1 Government: 0 | The FFMC (the French Angry Biker Association) have gained an enormous victory. After a meeting with the Ministry of Transportation, the proposed law that would make on-the-spot technical inspections possible, towing to a garage and inspections by non-trained mechanics, is off the table for motorcycles.
From now on, we'll be consulted for all new laws, and several study/working groups have been created to make recommendations about all those other pesky laws (100 HP limit, lane splitting, bus lanes, etc).
Spring is going to be nice...
|
|
| 9 February, 2009 - France: Massive Motorcycle Protest Planned For March | The French Angry Biker Association (FFMC) are organizing on 21 and 22 March a massive motorcycle protest ride.
The protest is about technical inspections, on request by LEOs without any reason, and all fees will need to be paid by you, even if your motorcycle is conform the rules.
Technical inspections will be conducted by people with no motorcycle training or knowledge, simple car mechanics.
This stinks.....
|
|
| 29 January, 2008 - Now The Dutch Want To Force DRL | The cloggy (Dutch) government wants to force cars to run their lights during daytime (DRL) in order to save 30 lives per year.
Car driver lives, not motorcycle rider lives.... how many motorcycle riders need to die before they notice the imbalance?
|
|
| 20 April, 2007 - What The French Bikers Want | The French presidential elections are this Sunday. No matter who wins, we, the bikers, are screwed.
French motorcycle magazine, Moto Journal, asked what we motorcycle riders would like to see happen. here's the list of wishes.
I honestly don't think any will see the light of day... |
|
| 8 March, 2007 - Korea: Anti-Motorcycle Politics | We're not the only ones that have problems with strange anti-motorcycle laws.
Have a look at what's happening in Korea. Not that strange North Korean, but in South Korea!
As a motorcycle rider, you're not allowed to ride on highways (express ways), car-only roads and over passes! The only roads you can take are smaller rural roads and city streets, both are far more dangerous for motorcycles. Why ? Because the Korean government, in 1972, decided it was not safe for motorcycles!
|
|
| 19 January, 2007 - Don’t Come To Paris On The 27th Jan | | Don't come to Paris on the 27 of January with a car. You're not going to be able to park. The French Angry Biker Association (FFMC) is throwing a little protest, asking all motorcycles to use up the legal parking spots of cars, thereby making it impossible for cars to park. All that because an idiot in City Hall has ordered all motorcycles to be removed from the sidewalks ! |
|
| 11 September, 2006 - Belgium and Motorcycle Greenlanes | | The Belgium motorcycle riders have their share of problems with new laws forbidding them to ride off-road. A small protest of 500 bikers ended in the Minister's garden. |
|
| 13 March, 2006 - Big Protest Planned In France - Greenlaning Issue | France, through Codever, is planning massive protest rides on the 18th of March, protesting the proposed laws forbidding any vehicle (horse, quads, bicycles, 4x4 and motorcycles) from riding off-road !
|
|
| 28 October, 2005 - Legal Motorcycle Parking | The French Angry Biker Association is planning a massive protest ride on the 5th of November protesting parking laws, while the Toronto authorities have granted free parking to motorcycles!
|
|
| 15 May, 2003 - Swiss Bikers in Trouble | The swiss want to limit all motorcycles to 80 kph by putting limiters on their bikes.
|
|
| 17 March, 2003 - Biker Protest | Here's what a motorcycle protest ride looks like taken from within the protest ride.
|
|
|
