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Motorbike protesters hold anti-contrôle technique demo in Paris
The motorbikes riders took to the streets after the Conseil d’Etat ruled that the check will likely be required for the vehicles, in contrast to the government’s previous decision
Motorbike riders have held a demonstration in Paris against the latest legal ruling that found that two-wheeled vehicles will very likely require a contrôle technique (CT).
It comes after the Conseil d’Etat, on October 31, reinstated the requirement that CTs will be needed for two-wheeler vehicles, just a few months after the French government stated that they would not.
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The ruling was controversial among riders, as it was the latest twist in a long-running saga on the issue. Over the past few months, the French government has clashed with the Conseil d’Etat over the implementation of an EU directive on CTs for two- and three-wheelers.
Environmental associations have welcomed the latest decision, but motorbike lobby groups have contested the change.
Groups from both sides held what they termed a “constructive” meeting with the Transport Minister yesterday (November 5), including environmental campaigners Ras le scoot, Respite, and La Ligue Contre la Violence Routière.
The latter groups have called for “a quick implementation” of the new rule.
They said: “We are very happy to see dialogue finally beginning.” In a statement, the ministry said: “At this stage, consultations are underway, and decisions will be announced when this is finished.”
It added that “we will be vigilant in the contents [of the decision]”, in reference to the fact that the European directive includes a nine-point checklist, including on vehicle ID, lights, sound, brakes, and emissions. The cost and timing of the rule will also be discussed.
CTs ‘wouldn’t achieve anything’
However, the motorbike protest group La Fédération des Motards en Colère still took to the streets yesterday, protesting against the proposed CT and the fact that since September, they now have to pay for parking in the capital.
Avenue Foch cet après-midi, des centaines de motards venus manifester contre le contrôle technique obligatoire. Beaucoup parlent de « racket ». pic.twitter.com/bsGFUmOUZL
— Rémi Sanlis (@SanlisRemi) November 5, 2022
Hundreds of protesters showed up, and called the plans “a racket”. Jean-Marc Belotti, Paris coordinator of the group, said: “We are better in terms of transport and pollution in large towns, compared to cars.”
He added that a CT for motorbikes “wouldn’t achieve anything”, in contrast to a car, because, he said, “we can easily see at a glance if the safety parts of a motorbike are faulty”. He also said that mechanical faults on motorbikes are very rarely the cause of accidents.
He said that motorbikes on average only drive “3,000 km per year”.
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