Infamy....

[dave the german]

but we now don't pay tolls on the Dartford Crossing. Personally, I think anyone fighting our corner deserves a listen - just my opinion

[dave the german]

And now we don't hold motorists up every day

[slparry]

but we now don't pay tolls on the Dartford Crossing. Personally, I think anyone fighting our corner deserves a listen - just my opinion

Agreed Dave, I don't particularly like MAG or the subset of "bikers" they appeal to BUT at least they're out there banging the drum and doing something as opposed to the apathy that appears to infect the rest of the UK, including the BMF.... who appear to have been little more than a cosy trade organisation for years, with their heads in the sand.

Politicians need reminding we're voters too not "just" bikers.

As for the helmet legislation, yes it makes sense but d'ya know, as an adult I'd like to make my own decision. Now in the Cote d'Azur at the Bol years ago when the police used to turn a blind eye, I rode without a lid for the novelty and a) I rode slower (apart from one blip to 75 for research... it hurts) b) it's kinda cool with the shades on but bugs don't half hurt and c) I survived, d) I rode a lot more carefully as I did feel vulnerable

Given that we've all gone many miles between incidents then we could on occasions ride without a lid and be perfectly safe. Yes IF something happens you MAY injure yourself or worse but hey we are adults who all pay into a medical system!

And anyone who hasn't felt repression against them as motorcyclists really are lucky they didn't feel the weight of Brunstroms jackboot when he was Chief Plod in North Wales

[bikesnbones]

but we now don't pay tolls on the Dartford Crossing.

Which again just serves to alienate us from the rest of the motoring population, who think why should they get away without paying.
We were only paying a fraction of what a car cost anyway.
It was never a big deal paying it.
Just common sense really.
I'd just sit the coin in the palm of my throttle hand under my glove ready to pay.

Politicians need reminding we're voters too not "just" bikers.

Bikers make up less than 1% of the overall population,
I really don't think that's enough for any Government to get too concerned over.

[Bikerhoss]

Bikers make up less than 1% of the overall population,
I really don't think that's enough for any Government to get too concerned over.

You're absolutely right.

But for me, that's all the more reason to make sure we're heard when it counts,
I concede that some direct action can piss folk off, My argument there would be look at every other minority trying to be heard and what activists sometimes have to resort to to get media/government attention.

I'm a bearded & tattooed 'subset' MAG member by the way

I also appreciate that there are other ways, equally valid, to protect our interests as motorcyclists, They might be 'namby pamby' to some, but it's pressure on unforgiving legislation none the less

[slparry]

Bikers make up less than 1% of the overall population,
I really don't think that's enough for any Government to get too concerned over.

You're absolutely right.

But for me, that's all the more reason to make sure we're heard when it counts,
I concede that some direct action can piss folk off, My argument there would be look at every other minority trying to be heard and what activists sometimes have to resort to to get media/government attention.

I'm a bearded & tattooed 'subset' MAG member by the way

I also appreciate that there are other ways, equally valid, to protect our interests as motorcyclists, They might be 'namby pamby' to some, but it's pressure on unforgiving legislation none the less

"Subset" as in a "branch" of the biking community

Whatever anyone says, and for a myriad of reasons biking is in decline, and the further that decline goes the weaker our position is, and to be honest the more vocal we need to be to get attention for any grievances we feel (either real or percieved). There are many minority groups throughout the UK, politicians have come to realise there's very little to split them on the big issues so they do actively try and mop up the 1% groups here and there as getting those 1%r's on side may tip the votes in their favour.

And actually looking at some figures

The population of the UK is 63,000,000

https://www.google.co.uk/search?site=&s ... 1-BGbFBjog


and here it says there's about 1.2 Million active riders in the UK
http://www.motorcycle.co.uk/reference/u ... ce-holders

but that there are 5 Million full licence holders which I'd think would support the "biking" cause if pressed as they have a vested interest

and according to that page we're 2.6% of the "road population" which is substantially more than "less than 1%" .... and if you add in the support of the non riding full licence holders then that may take the figures over 10% which is a decent chunk of the population

[conkerman]

And if they all voted in a 40% turnout election...

[dave the german]

but we now don't pay tolls on the Dartford Crossing.

Which again just serves to alienate us from the rest of the motoring population, who think why should they get away without paying.
We were only paying a fraction of what a car cost anyway.
It was never a big deal paying it.
Just common sense really.
I'd just sit the coin in the palm of my throttle hand under my glove ready to pay.

Politicians need reminding we're voters too not "just" bikers.

Bikers make up less than 1% of the overall population,

I don't think us not paying for the Dartford Crossing alienates us - I think having to sit behind a biker as he fumbles for cash would pi$$ motorists off more. In the distant past when I used to cross the river in the truck, I always wished they didn't have to pay and stop holding me up - but, I may have had other reasons

[slparry]

Back when I used to make the annual pilgramage to the Paul Ricard Circuit for the Bol it was great being waved through the peage for free all the way down the Autoroute d'Soliel

That many bikes travelling down at the same time would have caused chaos at the tolls hence why they let us through for nowt

[slparry]

I'm not sure I want to be in a world were Google, MS and Apple run the transportation

I totally agree there Steve, except, I am sure - very sure.

it'll be full of adverts and face recognition to target adverts specifically at you, yuck .... and that's the good parts

I have worked for both Apple and google, and I would not want either to be in charge of anything. We all like their products and they have lots of money that makes them able to invest in lots of lovely new technology and do lots of nice things for the planet but this is just surface stuff. Scratch it and you shall find megalomaniac power crazed control freaks. And worse than the regular ones; they are American ones, and dealing with them is 'very' different to anyone else in the world as by and large they are paranoid, shoot first ask questions later nut jobs. I love the States and I enjoy the company of it's people 'in America' but keep them over there and for everyone's sake 'do not' give them any more power.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23443215

[conkerman]

Must have been a slow news day.

OBD is the gateway to all of a modern vehicles sytems.

It would be scary if you could do it wirelessly, but most people will notice an OBD cable connected to a laptop.

[slparry]

Must have been a slow news day.

OBD is the gateway to all of a modern vehicles sytems.

It would be scary if you could do it wirelessly, but most people will notice an OBD cable connected to a laptop.

There are wireless/BT OBD adaptors available now, I've seen them in relation to using OBD diagnostic apps on mobile phones.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Torque-ELM-32 ... 4acc799706

Quite a few cars nowadays have BT built in, and it wouldn't surprise me if at some point in time some hacker finds a way of using that as a back door to the ECU .... maybe

[conkerman]

Indeed Steve, but you still need to insert your dongle. Ooohh Errr matron!

You are right though re blootuth though. That would be terrifying.

[slparry]

Indeed Steve, but you still need to insert your dongle. Ooohh Errr matron!

You are right though re blootuth though. That would be terrifying.

lol oooer indeed, I reckon something similar happened to Princess Di's car, I believe the cars ECU went "missing" after the incident

[bikesnbones]

I think having to sit behind a biker as he fumbles for cash would pi$$ motorists off more. In the distant past when I used to cross the river in the truck, I always wished they didn't have to pay and stop holding me up - but, I may have had other reasons

I go to loads of bike events where you have to pay to enter, and it's never a problem because most people use a bit of common sense,
If you know you're going to use a toll, just have the coin in the palm of your hand.
We probably don't bemoan bikers getting through for free, because we are riders ourselves but what about the non bikers,
Can we blame them for getting the hump,
Just like many of us might at cyclists not having to pay road tax ?