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Korea: Anti-Motorcycle Politics |
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File under News Travel Protests
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
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 Motorcyclists gather in Yeouido, western Seoul yesterday, to protest the government’s 1972 ban on motorcycles on highways. By Kim Sang-seon   |
I know I moan and complain a lot about anti-motorcycle attitudes in Europe and the USA, forgetting that other countries can have as tough, if not worse, anti-motorcycle laws. South Korea is a case-in-point.
Our Korean motorcycle brothers and sisters, by law, are not allowed to use the express ways with their motorcycles. A law dating back to 1972 forbids the use of express ways by motorcycles, despite the fact that extensive studies here in Europe have proven, without any doubt, that it's far safer for a motorcycle on a motorway, than in rural or city traffic.
To make matters worse, there are several "car-only" roads and overpasses in Korea, forbidden for motorcycles!
Imagine planning a little motorcycle trip in Korea. So many roads you have to avoid, so many dangerous roads you need to take, in order to avoid the forbidden roads.... headache!! If you get caught, you face a US$ 315 fine.
Korean motorcyclists tried to gather and ride in protest of this law. Some 1,500 motorcycle riders moved towards the World Cup Stadium in Seoul for a protest rally.
However, Korean politicians are not moved by their voters' rights. Instead they got the Police to stop the bikers, and let them through, FIVE MOTORCYCLES at a time!! For 1,500 bikers, that is a very long delay. Nice way to stop a protest (I'm sure the idiot Major of Paris is paying attention).
So, instead of making life safer for Korean motorcyclists, the Korean government is making it far more dangerous.
I wonder how the Korean motorcycle manufacturers feel about this ??
Scandalous! Good luck Korea.
Click here to read more. (Thanks Ju)
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