BIKERS DEFY BAD WEATHER TO ATTEND PROTEST RALLY
Bikers were undeterred by the bad weather when they turned out in large numbers at the Topaz Filling Station, Coolshannagh, Monaghan on Sunday last to protest againt proposed new legislation to be voted on next month concerning motorbikes and their riders.
Motorcyclists claim that these proposals, should they become law, would be “hugely damaging” to the motorcycling industry and motorcyclists’ freedoms.
The protest ride started at the Topaz Filling Station, Coolshannagh at 1pm before going on to Cavan via Clones. The bikers ultimately joined fellow protestors from around the country at a meeting in Athlone later on Sundayt evening.
The proposed new laws would make high visibility jackets mandatory for bike riders, and there would be an emissions system on bikes that could be checked by gardai, who would also be able to determine the speed the rider had been travelling at.
In addition, all modifications to bikes would be banned, a move that would have major implications for customising machines, which generates a lot of trade in itself.
Most controversially ABS brake systems would become mandatory on bikes, even though the majority of bike users view this as potentially “lethal” in bad weather.
The new regulations, which will be voted on by the European Parliament on 5th October will see machines aged over seven years prohibited from entering urban areas.
Petitions that have been gathered around the country will be sent to the Department of Transport, while a copy of these are also to be forwarded to the EU offices in Brussels.
At the Coolshannagh protest, spokesperson and protest organiser Brenda Brennan presented a petition to Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, which Deputy Ó Caoláin undertook to present to Transport Minister Loe Varadkar this week.