for those bikers here
Posted by mercurior
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for those bikers here June 05, 2008 | Registered: 19 years ago Posts: 4,402 |
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1024356/Rush-hour-disruption-1-000-bikers-protest-rising-fuel-prices.html
More than 1,000 bikers caused rush-hour disruption today in a protest against rising fuel prices.
The protesters gathered at Birch services on the M62 north of Manchester before heading off in a slow-moving convoy. Police estimate up to 1,500 bikers are taking part.
The demo was organised by motorcycling groups, but they were joined by some taxi and lorry drivers.
Around 1,500 bikers are taking part in the protest, understood to be led by two protesters, known only as Maverick and Triumph Man
Revving their engines, they set off en masse at 8am from the service station and on to the motorway.
Police stopped traffic on the motorway before the bikers left the service station, bound for Salford.
The Highways Agency has employed a series of rolling roadblocks on the motorway network to ensure the protest is over as soon as possible.
Commuters faced chaos in Greater Manchester this morning as bikers led a rush-hour fuel protest along the M60 at Junction 16
But the roadblocks led to long tailbacks and jams on many roads in and around Manchester.
The protest is understood to be led by two motorcycling fuel protesters, known only as Maverick and Triumph Man.
"Maverick" told Century FM: "This has turned out better than I expected, it's absolutely fantastic.
"To be honest, I'd be happy with 10. The amount that turned out today, I can't thank those guys enough, they've really helped to get the word out today."
"Nobby", another organiser, said: "Spectators were getting out of their cars waving, taking pictures. They've embraced this traffic jam today, that's what we wanted."
The slow convoy of bikers streamed into Salford watched by applauding onlookers and were escorted by police along the M602 motorway.
Bikers set off en masse at 8am from the service station and on to the motorway
Bikers, from moped to Harley riders, waved, clapped and gave the thumbs-up sign to supporters who had gathered on bridges overlooking the road.
Onlooker Jean Redford, 42, said she has traded in her Alfa Romeo for a basic car to cut costs.
Watching the convoy with her dog Tia Maria, she said: "My kids live in Bristol, so for us to go down or for them to come up is now too expensive.
"What we're doing now is looking at trains months ahead. I've had to change the car. I used to have an Alfa Romeo and I've now got a 1.2 Fiat."
Salford garage owner Michael Cleary, 56, said: "I think it's brilliant. It's a pity they're not blocking off Downing Street and London too. It's disgusting, the price of fuel, especially taxis."
Onlookers wave their support to the protesters
He said the rising cost of fuel was having an impact on his business and on-road safety.
Mr Cleary said: "People are cutting down on servicing because they can't see what they're getting out of it.
"It affects road safety as well because they're not maintaining their vehicles because they're spending all their money on fuel."
The Highways Agency warned motorists to find alternative routes if possible.
It is the latest in a long line of fuel protests and comes as some Labour backbenchers joined a chorus of voices warning Prime Minister Gordon Brown not to go ahead with a planned 2p increase in fuel duty this autumn.
AA figures show around half of every £1.15 litre of petrol is made up of tax and VAT
(thats $2.30 a litre and thats 1 gallon [UK] = 4.546 09 liter, so thats over $10 a gallon..)
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I just post the stories, for interest.. for everyone
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act III, Scene ii
Voltaire said: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
H.L.Mencken wrote:"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.â€
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein
More than 1,000 bikers caused rush-hour disruption today in a protest against rising fuel prices.
The protesters gathered at Birch services on the M62 north of Manchester before heading off in a slow-moving convoy. Police estimate up to 1,500 bikers are taking part.
The demo was organised by motorcycling groups, but they were joined by some taxi and lorry drivers.
Around 1,500 bikers are taking part in the protest, understood to be led by two protesters, known only as Maverick and Triumph Man
Revving their engines, they set off en masse at 8am from the service station and on to the motorway.
Police stopped traffic on the motorway before the bikers left the service station, bound for Salford.
The Highways Agency has employed a series of rolling roadblocks on the motorway network to ensure the protest is over as soon as possible.
Commuters faced chaos in Greater Manchester this morning as bikers led a rush-hour fuel protest along the M60 at Junction 16
But the roadblocks led to long tailbacks and jams on many roads in and around Manchester.
The protest is understood to be led by two motorcycling fuel protesters, known only as Maverick and Triumph Man.
"Maverick" told Century FM: "This has turned out better than I expected, it's absolutely fantastic.
"To be honest, I'd be happy with 10. The amount that turned out today, I can't thank those guys enough, they've really helped to get the word out today."
"Nobby", another organiser, said: "Spectators were getting out of their cars waving, taking pictures. They've embraced this traffic jam today, that's what we wanted."
The slow convoy of bikers streamed into Salford watched by applauding onlookers and were escorted by police along the M602 motorway.
Bikers set off en masse at 8am from the service station and on to the motorway
Bikers, from moped to Harley riders, waved, clapped and gave the thumbs-up sign to supporters who had gathered on bridges overlooking the road.
Onlooker Jean Redford, 42, said she has traded in her Alfa Romeo for a basic car to cut costs.
Watching the convoy with her dog Tia Maria, she said: "My kids live in Bristol, so for us to go down or for them to come up is now too expensive.
"What we're doing now is looking at trains months ahead. I've had to change the car. I used to have an Alfa Romeo and I've now got a 1.2 Fiat."
Salford garage owner Michael Cleary, 56, said: "I think it's brilliant. It's a pity they're not blocking off Downing Street and London too. It's disgusting, the price of fuel, especially taxis."
Onlookers wave their support to the protesters
He said the rising cost of fuel was having an impact on his business and on-road safety.
Mr Cleary said: "People are cutting down on servicing because they can't see what they're getting out of it.
"It affects road safety as well because they're not maintaining their vehicles because they're spending all their money on fuel."
The Highways Agency warned motorists to find alternative routes if possible.
It is the latest in a long line of fuel protests and comes as some Labour backbenchers joined a chorus of voices warning Prime Minister Gordon Brown not to go ahead with a planned 2p increase in fuel duty this autumn.
AA figures show around half of every £1.15 litre of petrol is made up of tax and VAT
(thats $2.30 a litre and thats 1 gallon [UK] = 4.546 09 liter, so thats over $10 a gallon..)
*********************************************************************************************************************************
I just post the stories, for interest.. for everyone
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act III, Scene ii
Voltaire said: "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
H.L.Mencken wrote:"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.â€
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein
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