Biker support!

[Rach81]

http://mmctag.webs.com/index.htm

There's a rally taking place up here on the 12th April, demonstrating against plans to move the bike test centre from Elgin to Inverness.
That is an hours drive/ride each way along a main trunk route, which is hairy enough in the car at times.
This is happening all over the country, making rural areas (like here) really suffer.

I've had 4 tests cancelled now because of the weather, I would have given up by now if this was the case!
I've met some great people through learning and getting into the biking community, it would be such a shame to lose that.

Please show your support, sign the guest book, take 5 minutes to write to your MP and if you fancy a ride up to join us there's camping, band and beer

Thanks for your attention

[Hooli]

I think its happening everywhere, there is an offroad section for the new test so they need larger centers. still not good news though.

[Rach81]

Yep, it's country wide. Not good at all, they've built a multi million pound centre in Shetland, that does 8 tests a year

[Hooli]

is shetland big enough for a road?

[black-k1]

I think that it’s to meet new European standards for testing so should be happening all across Europe. (I’d be interested to see how well it’s being implemented in rural France or if French bikers/training centres will simply ignore the requirements!)

It’s a real tragedy that rural test centres are being forced to close but I really doubt that the protest will make any difference. I’m sure one of the ‘hidden agenda’ benefits of this for the UK government is that it will reduce the number of new motorcyclists on the road (they’ve been trying to get rid of us for years), so there is unlikely to be any real support from anyone who really does have the ability to influence the decision.

Best of luck anyway.

[randlemarcus]

black-k1 said:

I think that it’s to meet new European standards for testing so should be happening all across Europe. (I’d be interested to see how well it’s being implemented in rural France or if French bikers/training centres will simply ignore the requirements!)

Nearly, but not quite.

DSA have interpreted the fact that the quite-sensible-on-the-face-of-it EU proposals to standardise bike testing requires an emergency stop from 50kph. As this converts to 31mph, obviously we need off-road test centres for everything, rather than saying to the EU "its a guideline, we're doing it from 30mph, now feck orf"

Mind you, there'll be a few jobs for civil servants out of it

[Rach81]

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22068340626

Made a FB group, stop by and say hello

[Rach81]

Just got back from the rally! There was a huge turnout, all kinds of bikes/trikes/scooters.
The DSA have stated the decision has been made, but are prepared to listen, we have the support of our local MP, fingers crossed for all the future bikers.

I'm being mocked ALOT for straightening my hair and waving at the cameras, just waiting for the local news coming on now

Im not on the news, but here's the link anyway
http://www.stv.tv/content/news/main/display.html?i...

Edited by Rach81 on Saturday 12th April 19:22