Ride for Rights

Yesterday me and Dean rode up the M3, around the M25/M40 and pulled up at the new Wembley at about 10:30. We were there to join the Rider Connect, "Ride for Rights", a protest ride through to Whitehall with 2000 other riders. The point was to get the message into the press that bikes are one potential solution to the increasing congestion across the country and as such should be exempt from any local road pricing schemes.

The current proposal will leave the decision on who gets charged, how and how much up to the local authority. Potentially a different system in every major city, town and village. A lack of vision by the government and a wish to pass the negative feelings regarding these policies from national to local level could create a confusing pile of red tape where objections to decisions will most likely be smaller and harder to back by large organisations. Riding my bike through several towns in a day could result in having to pay congestion charges in each town I pass through, potentially having to pay in different ways, at different times with different penalties if I forget or don't realise I have "triggered" a charge. The same is true, of course, for car drivers but as it has been proven that bikes are one of the best forms of transport for reducing congestion, reducing emissions, reducing manufacturing and disposal materials and easing parking problems why shouldn't it be written into the proposal that bikes must be exempt from charges?

*off soap box

We were lead out of Wembley by a fleet of police riders and organisers. A slow ride along the A40 and Marylebone Rd through towards the Strand was a surreal experience. Riding 5/6 abreast through red lights with people waving and staring whilst all around beep their horns and smile with bikes as far as could be seen in front and behind was not an everyday occurrence. My bike didn't like all this tickover action and died on me going along the Strand. A quick bump start with a few hundred eyes on me got me going again and luckily the second necessary bump start was on the hill leading onto Whitehall. A quick round of speeches by some MPs and we headed off on a quick tour around Westminster and across Tower bridge saw us filtering out of the capital towards Dorking and Boxhill. A swift coffee and burger and we were heading along the A31 towards home barely able to see through a tinted visor in dark misty conditions. It was one of the most mentally exhausting riding days I've ever experienced. Great fun though.