Motorcyclists protest 'motophobia'

Motorcyclists gathered across the country yesterday to protest what they see as harassment by public officials, with more protests possible today.

The Fédération Française de Motards en Colère (FFMC) - the French federation of angry motorcyclists - called for direct action in numerous French cities against what it is calling ‘motophobia’.

In particular motorcyclists are protesting the increase in laws and “groundless measures which aim to make a profit rather than to protect and inform”, according to the FFMC website.

The FFMC said in a press release: “For the last few years, any pretext will do for the government to use motorcyclists as a way of filling state coffers, under the guise of safety, like having to have the approved gloves or the right sized number plates".

There were numerous demonstrations yesterday. In Reims and Lille there were 700 and 600 protesters respectively on the streets, according to authorities.

In Marseille, about 200 motorcyclists marched on Place Castellane at midday, according to organisers.

Bourg-en-Bresse saw 650 motorcyclists from Lyon and also Dole, Lons-le-Saunier, Frangy, Bourg-lès-Valence and Sevrey, march through the streets to the prefecture.

Several other marches took place across France, such as at Montargis and Orléans where there were 70 and 350-400 protesters respectively. Hundreds of motorcyclists demonstrated at Ariège, between Pamiers and Tarascon-sur-Ariège, said the gendarmerie.

In the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, motorcyclists are particularly concerned with the "terrible state of the roads", Philippe Stoppacher, FFMC coordinator, told France 3.

“Roads in the city and in the department have been totally neglected, to the point where we have to look for non-hazardous places”, he added.