Latest update: mass protest planned for May 4

On Saturday, May 4, over 1000 bikes will descend on London for a go-slow protest ride against the threat of legislation against motocyclists, and as organiser Chris Coleman puts it: ” Show the nation the we’re not prepared to accept the current level of anti-biker discrimination. ”

Riders are coming from all over the country to join in the go-slow and you can, too. The protest will gather at The Ace Café on the North Circular Road, London at 2.15pm. Everyone would then head for Westminster to arrive at 3pm and present a series of requests to Tony Blair or Mr Meacher.

Coleman is asking those interested in joining in to register by sending an e-mail to cn_nc@hotmail.com and in the subject line place the following: M4/County/Name/In

e.g. M4 /Hampshire/Fred Duke/In. He’s particularly keen to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer as a steward for the event.

” You can also mail me direct for more information and with suggestions, ” Coleman said.

Coleman was stunned when he saw Environment Minister Michael Meacher’s anti-bike letter to police chiefs and decided he would try and galvanise people into one concerted act of protest.

He’s since been distributing leaflets at bike meetings and drawing up a plan of action.

Coleman said: ” May 4 has been suggested as a day of peaceful protest when the biking community as a whole will show the British nation that we are not prepared to accept the current level of anti-biker legislation and discrimination any longer. ”

The points he feels the protest should address are:

Meacher’s suggestion that bikes could be banned from national parks (a suggestion Meacher has since, rather arrogantly, claimed we have all misunderstood).

Over Policing and Discrimination: Coleman says: ” The motorcycling community is frequently the target of aggressive policing designed to deter us from going about our lawful business. This is totally unacceptable. All too often, speed traps are being targeted at bikes whilst ignoring speeding motorists, riders are being prosecuted for wearing dark visors whilst car drivers with excessively tinted windows escape unimpeded. Motorcycle riders who appear in court can expect far more severe punishments for minor offences than car drivers. We do not expect leniency, what we demand is parity. ”

Misrepresentation of Bikers involved in accidents: ” All too frequently, even in cases where motorcycle riders are killed or seriously injured, the driver escapes the consequences because the courts have come to regard motorcycles as a simple menace. ”

Can Coleman’s plan work? What makes it any more likely to succeed than calls for the March 13 Go-Slow? Have your say by posting on our Talk News boards in Discussion & Chat.