London motorcycle protest to welcome speakers including TV star Matthew Wright

Save London Motorcycling has announced a number of speakers who will be present at the upcoming protest ride on 8 October. 

There will be a total of five speakers who will address the rally before the motorcycle ride-out commences next Saturday 8 October. 

These include:

• Matthew Wright - Journalist and broadcaster; presenter of ‘The Wright Stuff’ on Channel 5 from 2000 - 2018; regular guest on ITV This Morning; former host on Radio 2, LBC & TalkRadio
• Steve Garelick - GMB London Region Regional Organiser for Transportation, Logistics, Warehouse workers, Couriers and Gig economy workers

• Jabed Hussain - Chair of Scooter Workers’ Union London; acid attack survivor; equality campaigner
• Karen Neill - Owner/director of multi award winning Zenith Motorcycles, founding member of Covid Crisis Rescue Foundation; winner of Britain’s Biking Hero; runner up National Business Women’s Awards
• Andrew Almond - Founder/owner of the Hackney-based Bolt Motorcycles

The ride-out is in protest of motorcycle parking charges proposed by Hackney Council that could cost motorcyclists £14,000 per year.

The argument of Hackney Council is that motorcycles emit carbon dioxide on an equal basis with cars, and should therefore be charged equally with cars. This argument is false. Internal combustion motorcycles burn, generally speaking, less fuel in a given distance than internal combustion cars, and therefore do not emit carbon dioxide on the same level as internal combustion engine cars.

Hackney Council’s proposal is therefore seen as a cash grab targeting motorcyclists who are unfortunate enough to live in, work in, or commute through Hackney. 

The protest will begin on Downs Park Road (E5 8JY), with the ride commencing at 12:30 on 8 October, with the guests speaking directly beforehand.

To register for the protest, check out its Facebook event page.

The Best Motorcycles for Beginners | Best bikes for new riders from 300cc to 700cc