fuel price protest in manchester on thursday
Discussion
Bikers plan city fuel protest
Dean Kirby
31/ 5/2008
A MASSIVE 'go-slow' protest against high fuel prices is set to bring roads across Greater Manchester to a standstill.
More than a thousand bikers are expected to join forces to cause havoc on motorways and major routes into the city centre to demonstrate their anger at the soaring cost of petrol.
Motorbike club members from across Britain are expected to link up with local riders for the rush-hour gathering on Thursday.
Commuters are being warned to expect delays on the M60 and the M62, as well as on major roads into Manchester and Salford.
Fighting back
A 24-year-old rider known as `Maverick', one of the protest's organisers, said: "Too many people are happy just to sit watching the news and to accept the fact that fuel prices and taxes are going up.
"But we've decided that we can make a change and that we're going to do something about it. We're going to be that voice that stands up and fights back. We'll make a difference."
Motorists in Britain pay the highest fuel tax in Europe - 68p per litre of unleaded, compared with the equivalent of 35p in Ireland and 31p in Spain.
The average Briton pays almost £900 in petrol taxes annually.
Dozens of lorry drivers caused chaos when they held a fuel protest in London earlier this week.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has suggested a 2p rise in fuel duty, due in October, would be postponed.
Wildfire
Maverick added: "If 60 lorry drivers can do something, then 1,000 riders can do a lot more.
"On Thursday, I would seriously expect a traffic slowdown on the M60 and possibly the M62, and on roads into Manchester."
Independent bikers from Rochdale began organising the protest less than 48 hours ago and word spread like wildfire on networking websites and via e-mails.
They say the heavy fuel tax makes it difficult for bikers to take part in regular charity rides.
More than 200 riders were set to gather in Rochdale last night to plan their protest route.
Greater Manchester Police, meanwhile, said it was unaware a protest was due to take place.
Concerned
The riders are expected to gather at Birch services on the M62 near Middleton before starting their protest at 8am.
They expect to be joined by a fleet of lorries and taxis, whose drivers are also concerned about the fuel tax.
The cavalcade will head down the motorway to Salford Quays, but some of the riders will head down major roads into Manchester.
One 46-year-old rider, nicknamed `Triumph Man', said: "Manchester United were denied a victory parade through the city after they returned from the Champions League final.
"But our protest is going to be even more spectacular. There will be a real carnival atmosphere and we will ask police to be there to keep it safe.
"All we want is for a small percentage taken off fuel tax."
Dean Kirby
31/ 5/2008
A MASSIVE 'go-slow' protest against high fuel prices is set to bring roads across Greater Manchester to a standstill.
More than a thousand bikers are expected to join forces to cause havoc on motorways and major routes into the city centre to demonstrate their anger at the soaring cost of petrol.
Motorbike club members from across Britain are expected to link up with local riders for the rush-hour gathering on Thursday.
Commuters are being warned to expect delays on the M60 and the M62, as well as on major roads into Manchester and Salford.
Fighting back
A 24-year-old rider known as `Maverick', one of the protest's organisers, said: "Too many people are happy just to sit watching the news and to accept the fact that fuel prices and taxes are going up.
"But we've decided that we can make a change and that we're going to do something about it. We're going to be that voice that stands up and fights back. We'll make a difference."
Motorists in Britain pay the highest fuel tax in Europe - 68p per litre of unleaded, compared with the equivalent of 35p in Ireland and 31p in Spain.
The average Briton pays almost £900 in petrol taxes annually.
Dozens of lorry drivers caused chaos when they held a fuel protest in London earlier this week.
Chancellor Alistair Darling has suggested a 2p rise in fuel duty, due in October, would be postponed.
Wildfire
Maverick added: "If 60 lorry drivers can do something, then 1,000 riders can do a lot more.
"On Thursday, I would seriously expect a traffic slowdown on the M60 and possibly the M62, and on roads into Manchester."
Independent bikers from Rochdale began organising the protest less than 48 hours ago and word spread like wildfire on networking websites and via e-mails.
They say the heavy fuel tax makes it difficult for bikers to take part in regular charity rides.
More than 200 riders were set to gather in Rochdale last night to plan their protest route.
Greater Manchester Police, meanwhile, said it was unaware a protest was due to take place.
Concerned
The riders are expected to gather at Birch services on the M62 near Middleton before starting their protest at 8am.
They expect to be joined by a fleet of lorries and taxis, whose drivers are also concerned about the fuel tax.
The cavalcade will head down the motorway to Salford Quays, but some of the riders will head down major roads into Manchester.
One 46-year-old rider, nicknamed `Triumph Man', said: "Manchester United were denied a victory parade through the city after they returned from the Champions League final.
"But our protest is going to be even more spectacular. There will be a real carnival atmosphere and we will ask police to be there to keep it safe.
"All we want is for a small percentage taken off fuel tax."
I hope the protest makes a difference.. somehow I doubt it.. each and every other protest has failed.
We just had the trucks protest in London recently.. that got national news coverage and messed up traffic for a while. Thats about all it did, oh apart from the gov talking to the oil producers about increasing supply to reduce the cost, nothing appeard to happen with regard to this either.
We just had the trucks protest in London recently.. that got national news coverage and messed up traffic for a while. Thats about all it did, oh apart from the gov talking to the oil producers about increasing supply to reduce the cost, nothing appeard to happen with regard to this either.
sjtscott said:
I hope the protest makes a difference.. somehow I doubt it.. each and every other protest has failed.
We just had the trucks protest in London recently.. that got national news coverage and messed up traffic for a while. Thats about all it did, oh apart from the gov talking to the oil producers about increasing supply to reduce the cost, nothing appeard to happen with regard to this either.
That's the point though, because we're all too arsed to do something ourselves and mock those who try. We should ALL be up there! I hope it takes off and causes 'copycat' protests nationwide, we need to bring the country to a bloody standstill. Or we could of course sit back and wait for the £10 gallon that we'll deserve. [diesel around my way is now £5.80 a gallon!!!!!!] We just had the trucks protest in London recently.. that got national news coverage and messed up traffic for a while. Thats about all it did, oh apart from the gov talking to the oil producers about increasing supply to reduce the cost, nothing appeard to happen with regard to this either.
macdeb said:
sjtscott said:
I hope the protest makes a difference.. somehow I doubt it.. each and every other protest has failed.
We just had the trucks protest in London recently.. that got national news coverage and messed up traffic for a while. Thats about all it did, oh apart from the gov talking to the oil producers about increasing supply to reduce the cost, nothing appeard to happen with regard to this either.
That's the point though, because we're all too arsed to do something ourselves and mock those who try. We should ALL be up there! I hope it takes off and causes 'copycat' protests nationwide, we need to bring the country to a bloody standstill. Or we could of course sit back and wait for the £10 gallon that we'll deserve. [diesel around my way is now £5.80 a gallon!!!!!!] We just had the trucks protest in London recently.. that got national news coverage and messed up traffic for a while. Thats about all it did, oh apart from the gov talking to the oil producers about increasing supply to reduce the cost, nothing appeard to happen with regard to this either.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_fuel_protest
Good effort indeed! 400-500 taking part, police are estimating
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7437...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7437...
Chris_R said:
How do you find out about these things before the actual day?
I would have loved to have gone and supported this but without knowing that they are doing it how do you take part if you are "not in the club". I would most certainly be up for similar locally too if one is in future.
Errr I would have loved to have gone and supported this but without knowing that they are doing it how do you take part if you are "not in the club". I would most certainly be up for similar locally too if one is in future.
.... this thread was started on Tuesday!!black-k1 said:
Chris_R said:
How do you find out about these things before the actual day?
I would have loved to have gone and supported this but without knowing that they are doing it how do you take part if you are "not in the club". I would most certainly be up for similar locally too if one is in future.
Errr I would have loved to have gone and supported this but without knowing that they are doing it how do you take part if you are "not in the club". I would most certainly be up for similar locally too if one is in future.
.... this thread was started on Tuesday!!The only reason I read this original post was AFTER seeing it on the news on Sky earlier
Chris_R said:
black-k1 said:
Chris_R said:
How do you find out about these things before the actual day?
I would have loved to have gone and supported this but without knowing that they are doing it how do you take part if you are "not in the club". I would most certainly be up for similar locally too if one is in future.
Errr I would have loved to have gone and supported this but without knowing that they are doing it how do you take part if you are "not in the club". I would most certainly be up for similar locally too if one is in future.
.... this thread was started on Tuesday!!The only reason I read this original post was AFTER seeing it on the news on Sky earlier
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