tax………..all these issues and more
seem rudderless in the biking world.
On a Mid-summer Madness ride I was
reminded of our attitude to public
perception of motorcycling when
following other riders behind cars. In
France most drivers draw to the right to
let bikes pass from behind. I think it’s
probably due to many drivers having
been moped riders in their youth; it’s
certainly true that French drivers are
more aware of bikes! But I noticed our
riders, in anticipation of overtaking,
being in close order with cars. The cars
moved right. The bikes didn’t overtake.
The cars moved into the gutter kicking
up dust. The bikes still didn’t overtake.
The bikes were failing to recognise they
were ‘pressing’ an invitation to overtake
and were thus the cause of frustration to
the drivers in not doing so! The bikes
needed to back off if they weren’t
immediately going to overtake and
release the frustrated drivers from their
helpful endeavours. The point is we
must protect and develop, not frustrate
the favourable perception that drivers
could have of bikers and I see little in
our wider brotherhood that nurtures
that.
So are biker’s views too disparate?
Should I be happy that my views are
adequately represented by a strong
lobby? Am I able to agree over the
important issues with others? Why do I
feel that nothing of any consequence is
being done to construct the ultimate
defence that we will soon need to
defend our corner? Why is it that we’re
perceived as a ‘leisure’ interest only and
consequently will loose big time when
the fight for safe road space gets dirty?
Shouldn’t the initiative be grabbed so
that a strong lobby be constructed
instead of the likes of
federations/groups arguing over who
the directors should be or who had the
bus lane idea first?
So, dear Mr Chairman, why does the
committee not hold a proper debate
upon whom we should throw our
lobbying lot in with? BMF, MAG, IAM? I
don’t think sending the odd email loving
bus lanes will amount to a ‘tour de
force’, nor will ignoring the fact that
EKAM, ESAM and KAMG members
belong to varied support groups, or
allowing speaker visits to curry favour
and subs if we don’t agree with their
performance! Our first passion is riding
and everything to do with it, and our
close second endeavour should be the
preservation of our first passion!
Ask not what biking can do for you, but,
what you can do for biking.
I stole that line dontcha’ know.
JUNE SUNDAY RIDEOUT
by Charles Tassell
About seven bikes left the Ashford starting
point. We had a good, back lane ride, to
meet up with the M2 starters, plus a few
more, at the Gouldhurst converging point. In
the end there were about 10 to 12 bikes.
When we left Ashford, we left Paul Ritchely
and three other members there, who were
checking out the route for Paul's July
rideout. Who would have thought that later
when we crossed the A21 near Lamberhurst
we would meet the intrepid four coming the
other way. Obviously the 'Long way round'
is a correct description for next month's
ride.
I can't tell you much more about the ride to
the Steam engine from Lamberhurst, as I
got lost during the 'drop off' phase, and
ended up GPS'ing my way there on my
own. I had a great ride round country lanes
I'd not seen before. From all reports the rest
had a good ride as well.
The Steam Engine pumping station was
great. A massive four level steam engine
and water pump, which ran for half an hour
a couple of times while we were there,
running under steam generated on-site by a
modern boiler. All the helpers are
volunteers, with great enthusiasm. It only
runs once a month March to November, for
open days.
