Whitehall to be bike-only zone

An MCN-backed ride against road pricing for motorcycles will make history as Whitehall in London is closed to all traffic except motorcycles for the first time.

The famous street leading from Parliament Square is set to be designated a motorcycle-only zone when riders gather there at the end of the ride on October 20.

Despite a petition signed by thousands of riders, Government has yet to offer any assurance that motorcyclists will not be included in road pricing plans aimed at tackling congestion.

Manchester and Cambridgeshire have already revealed draft road pricing plans with no exemption for motorcycles. Eight other regions have received Government funding to develop plans, and Government has said it wants all the schemes to be compatible, which means if one charges us, they all could.  

MCN and rider’s rights group RiderConnect are calling on you to join the Ride for Rights to celebrate motorcycling and help voice our opposition to the plans.

RiderConnect director Simon Wilkinson-Blake said: “With Whitehall a car free zone for the afternoon, the Ride for Rights is a must-attend event for motorcyclists. We are taking our political message to the heart of the capital.”

Tickets cost £5 per rider and proceeds will be split between charity and organisation costs.

Riders for Health and UK Air Ambulance charities will get £1 each from every ticket sold and the other £3 will pay costs such as venue hire and marshalling.

MCN makes no money from ticket sales.

Tickets will be available on the day but buying in advance is recommended to avoid queues.

For more details and ticket sales go to www.rider-connect.com/rideforrights2007
To see which MPs are backing the Ride, get MCN, on sale Wednesday, October 10, 2007.