France: Massive Motorcycle Protest Last Weekend from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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France: Massive Motorcycle Protest Last Weekend

March
2012

  File under France Protests
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

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).

Helped no doubt by fantastic riding weather, on Saturday, most big cities in France were blocked by the motorcycle parade, riding slowly through the streets. On Sunday, it was the turn of the French capital, Paris.

So many bikers had joined, that the organizers needed to split them up into three groups, each leaving from a different area, and slowing down traffic in Paris, resulting in a massive traffic jam. Despite being blocked for hours, car drivers support the movement, and cheer on the bikers.

Now, let hope that the presidential candidates have heard the message.

If you click on the Via: below, you can see more photos and a video (in French), or click on the 2nd photo for more photos from another site.

Via: Motomag