1%ers sell out while others get a hard time

According to an article in the Vancouver Sun's Real Scoop section, reporter Kim Bolan talked to a police expert on One Percent Bikers: Det. Sgt. Len Isnor, of the Ontario Provincial Police Biker Enforcement Unit, there is a trend in One Percenter Clubs selling of their property.

According to him, the fact that the Nomads have sold their clubhouse in Burnaby BC for over 2 million dollars is exactly what other chapters across the country are doing, selling their clubhouses.

Tired of having their property seized, they are beginning to sell their clubhouses and are going back to renting.

In Australia it is the every day rider who is affected more by the VLAD (Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act) laws there.

While the 1%ers are selling out, others are getting a hard time...

In a recent article from the Fraser Coast Chronicles, non riders have begun shunning those in leather and donations to charity events are way down.

Begin Quote: Although he has not been intercepted by the police, he said it was the public discrimination that was the thorn in his side.
"My wife and I walked into Maccas. There was a lady standing in line. I asked if she's been served. She looked us up and down like we were criminals, ignored us and walked off," he said.

Bikers such as Lizzie Walker, the public relations officer for the recently formed Independent Riders group, said she had noticed a big change in the public's attitude toward them since the VLAD laws were introduced.

It's scaring a lot of people who once donated goods for our raffles and charities.
"When I ask businesses for sponsorship they back off and say: 'no, the rules have changed now.'"
She said by this time of the year she usually had $2000 worth of goods to raffle, but would be lucky if there was $300 in the kitty. End Quote

I can only imagine how frustrating and sad it is for the riders of Australia.

Then we skip over the UK where a man on a trendy mobility scooter has been having his own challenges with the law!

Photo from the article in Western Morning News

He's been given a hard time because he rides his scooter on the sidewalk, that is until police offers get an up close look at it.

Begin Quote: Geoff got the scooter last summer after he was diagnosed with HSP - a condition which means his nerves are dying off, leaving him unable to control his legs.
But he was horrified by the thought of getting an "old fashioned" scooter for OAPs and approached his local retailer to ask if they could source something different.

Photo from the article in Western Morning News

The Sport Rider model features chrome-style forks and handlebars and a large central headlight like a motorbike. However, his unusual mode of transport quickly attracted the attention of the local police. End Quote

So it seems, even as we age, if we want to look cool, we might still get a hard time!



There are lots of other news items over at www.beltdrivebetty.com that might be of interest to you, and I encourage you to check them out.

Have a fabulous Wednesday everyone and if you are fortunate enough to be riding today, please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider