Respect and Biker Politics

Our Opinion: Pedestrians, motorists must share the road printed in the Tallahassee Democrat Here ends with the following:
'The victims of these crashes — motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike — are evidence that mixed traffic on Tallahassee's roadways is approaching critical mass, and we need critical thinking and common respect to keep each other safe and alive during our daily commutes."
The operative word here is "RESPECT"!

We received an e-mail from Mike at GoldIron sent out to a number of individuals asking the question, "what are the politics of riding"? I replied with, need to think on that a bit. As soon as I hit send one of those brain fat bubbles burst and it hit me. Very simply, RESPECT, give it, get it.

How does that apply to those of us who ride?

That too is simple. We give much more respect than we give than we get.

By virtue of our smaller footprint and survival on the road we must constantly be on the look out for and respect those who accord us no respect.

We demonstrate our respect for human kind by our never ending responses to the endless number of charities that have discovered us as a source of income.

We demonstrate respect for the law by virtue of the fact that when advocating for or own rights and safety we, for the most part, use the legislative process despite a past history of their turning a deaf ear to our pleas. Without the help or support of the many charities we support. Without in fact, much help from ourselves.

Therein lies the problem. In our attempts to demonstrate that we are everyday people deserving of a little respect, we have lost it. Our rights are taken by the legal process we respect. Our money is taken by those we support who do not in turn support us. Our lives are taken by those who would run over us with impunity. And our self respect is evidenced by our failure to help ourselves.

Now I will pose a question: Who do you respect? The person who once knocked down lays on the ground whining about how they have been knocked down but fails to get up. Or the person who once knocked down gets back up and continues to fight for their beliefs, win or lose?

You do not get respect by begging for it.Add to Technorati Favorites

Kidnapping charges in Rachel Hoffman case not yet filed

The two defendants in the Rachel Hoffman case have been formally charged with armed robbery but not kidnapping, Assistant State Attorney Jackie Fulford said Wednesday.

Deneilo Bradshaw, 23, and Andrea Green, 25, were arrested May 8 in Orlando on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery.

Fulford said her office is holding off on filing the kidnapping charges against the two men.

"We're going to wait for the investigation to continue into the homicide and then we'll decide," she said.

Hoffman, 23, was a Florida State graduate who was killed while working as an informant for the Tallahassee Police Department during a May 7 drug sting. Hoffman became an informant after police found drugs in her apartment in April. Police say Hoffman was going to do a controlled drug buy at Forestmeadows Park that day, but that she didn't follow protocol. She followed the men to another location even though an officer told her to stay.

Read the rest of the story here: Use the search bar in upper right corner to search all posts on Rachel Hoffman.Add to Technorati Favorites

U.K. BIkers shut down traffic over gas prices

(bikers shutting down traffic in the U.K.)
From Times Online
June 5, 2008

Joanna Sugden

Hundreds of bikers were cheered on by drivers as they brought roads to a standstill in the North West today in protest against the soaring cost of fuel.

More than 500 motorbike riders revved off in convoy from a service station outside Manchester at 8am and staged a “go-slow” demonstration against escalating prices at the petrol pump. Onlookers – and even those caught in the disruption – applauded in support as they sat in the major tailbacks on the M62 and M60 around Greater Manchester caused by the protest.

The Highways Agency warned motorists to find alternative routes but most did not seem too put out by the added journey time and seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.

Roads into the city were severely jammed as a series of rolling road blocks put in place by the Highways Agency and aimed at curtailing the protest served only to lengthen the delays. One organiser said onlookers were getting out of their cars to wave and take pictures of the bikers. “They’ve embraced this traffic jam today, that’s what we wanted,” he said.

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The bikers are heading for Salford Quays. Michael Clearly, 56, a Salford garage owner, said: “I think it’s brilliant. It’s a pity they’re not blocking off Downing Street and London too.”

The demonstration was the latest in a string of fuel price protests across the country as Labour backbenchers called on Gordon Brown to scrap plans for a 2p increase in fuel duty this autumn.

One of the organisers, a 24-year-old known only as 'Maverick' said: "Too many people are happy just to sit watching the news and to accept the fact that fuel prices and taxes are going up."

With average prices for a litre of unleaded petrol and diesel now about 114p and 126p respectively motorbike clubs in the north arranged the protest via the internet and word of mouth.

"We've decided that we can make a change and that we're going to do something about it”, 'Maverick' told the Manchester Evening News, “We're going to be that voice that stands up and fights back. We'll make a difference."

The latest figures from the RAC indicate that 67.2 per cent of every litre of petrol consists of tax and VAT.

A national fuel protest is planned for June 22 when vehicles of all kinds will take to roads across the country for a “peaceful driving protest” organised via the social networking website Facebook.

Nothing changes for the good until WE THE PEOPLE change it. Two thumbs up U. K. BikersAdd to Technorati Favorites