NEWS: Saddling Up To Cut Fuel Prices

MARK McLAUGHLIN
Evening News (Edinburgh)
September 22, 2010, Wednesday

UP to 700 bikers are expected to ride a "rolling roadblock" into Edinburgh this weekend in protest at the spiralling cost of fuel.

The fuel protest, organised by the Fife Bikers club, is due to leave from Kinross and arrive at the Capital's Kings Stables Road by around 1pm on Saturday.

The protest is a repeat of a similar stunt conducted in 2008, where around 350 bikers blocked both carriageways along sections of the A90 for around an hour.

Protest co-ordinator Stephen Forsyth, 45, of Fife Bikers, said: "We received quite a bit of attention the last time we did this, and this time we expect it to be even bigger.

"We honestly don't expect it to make a blind bit of difference because we received little response from MSPs, who said fuel taxation was a matter for Westminster, while most of the MPs couldn't care less.

"However, we received a very favourable response from the public, who were supportive of what we were trying to achieve.

"We're trying to minimise the disruption to the public. We actually wanted to do it last weekend but the police said no because of the Pope's visit, and they didn't want to have another major event in the city, so we changed it to this weekend.

"Police will be escorting us in a rolling road block, so only the sections of the road with motorcycles will be closed. We will be driving at a steady 30mph or so, so delays should be minimal."

The government plans to add 1p to petrol and diesel prices from 1 October, at a time when the cost of petrol and diesel is already likely to rise because of increasing crude oil prices and weaker sterling.

Mr Forsyth added: "It always seems to be the motorist that's hit the hardest. We are the easiest target because the Government knows we need fuel, and it's not just commuters but delivery drivers who rely on their vehicles for work.

"Many of our members use their motorcycles to commute into Edinburgh for work. There's a large number of motorcycle-only spaces in the city, and they're usually all full.

"Many people think that motorcycles are more of a recreational hobby but for many it's their main form of travel."

A Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman said the force would be working with the organisers to facilitate the protest and will make all efforts to reduce the impact on the travelling public.

She added: "The route, which includes the A90 southwards from Kinross across the Forth Road Bridge then along the A90 into Central Edinburgh, may result in some delays for motorists. Police would encourage other road users who will be travelling on these roads from noon until 1.30pm on Saturday to consider revising their route or altering their travelling time.

"King's Stables Road is the only route that will be closed, all others will be on a traffic hold basis only."