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Demo Starts from the “Old Hare and Hounds” Rednal
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30th BRUM DEMO Report
Bikers rev up in green tax demo
July 9th 2007
By James Cartledge, Birmingham Mail
Original Source Here
HUNDREDS of bikers from across Britain converged on Birmingham at the weekend to say no to congestion charging.
Up to 400 motorcyclists organised a show of unity with a protest ride from Longbridge to Centenary Square on Saturday.
It was staged over concerns about the threat to include bikers in new congestion charging schemes which could spring up across the country.
Motorcycle Action Group event spokesman Trevor Baird said bikes were exempted from the scheme in London and the move had proved successful.
"We are part of the overall transport solution," he added.
"Bikes are congestion friendly because they take up less road space than cars and environmentally friendly, if used in a responsible way.
"We are against road pricing and exempting bikes in London has led to more riders and f
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Sisters Nina and Debbie Hett of Northfield
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ewer accidents."
The protest was held in Birmingham to mark the regional action group's 30th year of campaigning.
The leather-clad bikers drew crowds of onlookers as they arrived in the city centre. Shoppers waved as the riders passed beneath the Centenary Way bridge as they prepared to park near Centenary Square.
They were flanked by marshals and police in a bid to minimise traffic problems during the ride.
The event also raised cash for the John Taylor Hospice at Erdington through a collection carried out before the protest began.
London-style congestion charging has been ruled out by council leaders in the West Midlands, who favour satellite tracking.
Drivers could be charged on the time, length and destination of journeys instead.
The idea, revealed in May, emerged from the seven West Midlands district councils and passenger transport authority Centro.
More of this years Demo Here
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