DOZENS of bikers will bring the M62 to a crawl this weekend.
The bikers plan to stage a slow convoy through Huddersfield to highlight new legislation looming from the EU, which they claim will drivers motorcyclists off the roads.
The go-slow protest is expected to hold up traffic between Hartshead Moor and Scammonden on Sunday lunchtime.
But organisers insist they have picked Sunday to avoid business traffic and would like support from other motorists.
Dozens of bikers from Huddersfield and Halifax will be taking part in the nationally co-ordinated demonstration at 1pm on Sunday, September 25.
They will ride along a 20-mile stretch of the motorway in convoy. The purpose is to raise awareness and protest against EU proposals that will have a severely detrimental impact on motorcycle riders and the motorcycle industry in the UK and throughout Europe.
Riders from Huddersfield Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) will be meeting at Hartshead Moor Services on the M62 (westbound) from 12.30pm in order to set off at 1pm sharp to co-ordinate with over 70 other demonstrations across the country from various locations on motorways and main trunk roads. MAG spokesman Jo Ferguson said: “The EU proposals will hit all motorcyclists. One of the big concerns is the threat to the right of owners to modify their machines, and yet another one is the aim to harmonise trustworthiness testing, which would single-out motorcycles for regular roadside checks.
“We could understand it if they were targeting the rogue bikers but this will hit all motorcyclists.
“Sunday’s ride will mean traffic will be slowed on the M62 but we hope other road-users understand the reasons for our protest, and we will certainly not be blocking all the lanes.”
Using the inside two lanes and riding at around 45mph, the bikers will ride for about 20 miles before dispersing.
Huddersfield MAG, joined by riders from Colne Valley MAG, local business and members of other local biking groups, intends to disperse at junction 22 (Saddleworth and Ripponden) where riders will be able to join together for a ride back to the Fieldhead, Quarmby Road.
