The sound system pushed to the limit, the engines roaring on the wet asphalt ... Usually, the very chic avenue Foch (16th century) is not really used to this kind of atmosphere.
But that's where the bikers' demonstration started this Saturday.
They did not take offense against the plan of the town hall of Paris to make them pay for parking.
The city has been working on this hypothesis for a long time but, municipal elections oblige, it had preferred to postpone the project until after 2020 and had undertaken to carry out a major consultation on the subject.
“Paid parking for motorized two-wheelers is a measure strongly requested in the contributions of the Estates General of Parking.
But to date, nothing has been done, the consultation must end and we are working on a fundamental reform ”, explains David Belliard, deputy (EELV) of Anne Hidalgo in charge of the transformation of public space and transport. and mobility.
"A motorcycle takes up less space than a car!"
“They want us to pay for the public space occupied by our two-wheelers, but we are freeing up space!
A motorcycle takes up less space than a car!
»Pleads Jean-Marc Belloti, president of the French Federation of angry bikers (FFMC) of Paris and its small crown.
“Bicycles also occupy public space!
And them between the facilities of cycle paths and the arches to hang their bicycles, they cost more to the city than the motorcycles which only need a brushstroke on the asphalt to delimit the spaces which would be reserved for them. parking », underlines the boss of Ile-de-France bikers angry.
"The motorbike is the only mode of travel that allows you to start from point A to arrive at point B on time in Ile-de-France!"
a student pleads.
LP / Olivier Lejeune
This Saturday, some demonstrators had come from the suburbs and even from the provinces.
Because the example of Paris could well be stain of oil.
“The motorbike is the only mode of travel that allows you to start from point A to arrive at point B on time in Ile-de-France!
»Pleads Damien, student in marketing.
"If this freedom is taken away from us, then we might as well leave the region where it is already difficult to live ..." adds Lucie, 24, who lives in Nogent in Val-de-Marne.
Some motorists also joined the demonstration to protest against the Low Emission Zones
(Editor's note: from June, vehicles that carry a Crit'Air 4 sticker will no longer be able to circulate within the perimeter of the A86)
.
“We are announcing to those who are relegated to the suburbs, that they will have to change their car for a less polluting model but much more expensive!
The authorities should be careful: it did not take much more to launch the movement of yellow vests!
»Warns Jean-Marc Belloti.
