A demonstration of bikers opposed to technical inspection, avenue Foch in Paris, April 13, 2024 (AFP/STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN)
Thousands of angry bikers, 10,000 according to the organizers, backfired in Paris on Saturday afternoon calling for a boycott of the compulsory technical inspection for motorcycles, scooters and other quads which comes into force on Monday in France.
In the west of Paris, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Porte Dauphine, the entire avenue Foch was filled with bikers at the beginning of the afternoon, coming from all over Ile de France and neighboring regions, who were gathered before setting off around 3:45 p.m. on a journey through buzzing Paris towards the east of the capital, AFP noted. <
“There are at least 10,000 of us,” said Jean-Marc Belotti, coordinator of the French Federation of Angry Bikers for Paris and Ile de France just before the start of the procession.
“It’s pure and simple racketeering,” says Isabelle Lebret, member of the FFMC, arguing that several other European countries have not adopted technical inspections for two-wheelers, “like Ireland, the low and Denmark”.
The demonstrators are calling for a “total boycott” of the new technical inspection, insisted Jean-Marc Belotti.
“We already pay for the servicing of our motorcycles every year because we know that we are vulnerable and that we look at the safety problems. Why should we do it again and pay again, especially since the technical inspection centers do not are responsible for anything in the event of an accident?” asked Luc, a motorcycle protester who requested anonymity, an administrative executive living in Les Ulys, who travels to the capital every day.
An “Angry Bikers” flag during a demonstration of bikers opposed to technical inspection, avenue Foch in Paris, April 13, 2024 (AFP/STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN)
Eric de Caumond, road law lawyer and member of the FMMC for several decades, told the demonstrators that they risked nothing by boycotting this technical inspection.
“It’s called civil disobedience,” Mr. Belotti said.
© 2024 AFP
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