| In this last week on the roads I do most of my riding on there has been 3 bike fatalities that I know of. With this kind of thing going on you really cannot expect the police to not be out in force. They have to do something or at least be seen to be doing something. The area of Devils Bridge, Settle, Hawes etc is full of bikes at the weekend and some of the behaviour from a good proportion of these bikers is dodgy to say the least.
Recently at weekends I have had groups of bikes overtaking me through 30 and 40 limits with their noisy cans blaring away etc. Also almost had a bloke on a Mille R hit me head on, in fact if I had not slowed to half the speed I normally do that bit of road on to let a friend catch up I would not be writing this now. I am fortunate in that working for myself I can get out pretty much when I want during the week and this is what I have been doing. I come across people I know on my mid week runs out that I would never see at the weekend as they just will not venture out when the idiots are on the road.
I agree that doing people for small plates etc is hardly a safety issue in the same way people with race cans on are not any more dangerous. But what can you expect the police to do? They must get a fair few complaints from the residents on many biking routes about the noise and anti social riding from many of the bikers during the summer months. Also the police are in the unenviable position of having to attend the scenes of fatalities and such.
I have been done myself in the past for small plates and termis etc and had to take it on the chin because its the law. However I was almost arrested one time as I was getting a ticket for the termis as a couple of nights earlier I had disturbed two intruders in my house and chased them away (I was well prepared lets just leave it at that!) The police took an hour to come and phoned back for directions twice! I only live less than a mile from the police station. I argued with the 5! police men stopping bikes for small plates etc about where were you when I had 2 men breaking into my house etc etc and was warned I would be arrested if I continued in such a manner. Not good public relations?
Except for the termis on the 996r I keep both my bikes as standard as possible these days as I can do without any unwanted attention.  |