Bungie
FrostBack #2 - IBA # 44620
So every year Sudbury has a toy ride the weekend after the Labour Day long weekend. Right. Today. I haven't missed a Toy Ride in perhaps 10 years. Its the one ride I make absolutely sure I don't miss.
Today, is the first time I'm missing it and I feel just sick about it. Oh, I registered and made a donation, but I refuse to ride it.
See, a few years ago, we got a new Police Chief. In his very first public address he declared 'All bikers are scum'. Thats a pretty broad statement. Within a month, a police crackdown was in affect for bikes with loud pipes. It got so bad, they were even ticketing guys with unmodified STOCK pipes. Did it reduce the number of loud bikes on the road? No. Not one bit.
Fast forward a couple of years to the Toy Ride last year. After dropping off all the toys I left the site only to run a gauntlet of 4 or 5 'presences' within about 5km. Fine. Except they weren't pulling over cars. Only bikes. Not loud bikes, mom and pop who go for a ride once a year. Bone stock. I was outraged by this and let the organizers know my displeasure.
Tick the clock ahead one year. Inco Hospice Ride which raises money for Palliative Care locally. Despite having a parade license (which effectively allows you to make as much damn noise as you want), the police escort wrote tickets for loud pipes at an intermediate stop. Their was almost a riot by those in attendance. In fact, some of the police officers (their were 4 in there) refused to be part of it and sat in the car while their coworker(s) were complete ********. Much bruhahah in the media afterwards. We donate our time and money in a legal fund raiser and this happens. Ludicrous. Since then, because of the outcry the police refuse to provide any escort whatsoever. In fact, you cannot even get a parade license anymore if you so much as mention 'motorcycles'.
Flash forward to today.
Its beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, temps in the mid 70F's. Normally, the toy ride is the largest charity ride of the year, bringing somewhere in the neighbourhood of 350 - 450 bikes out. Even when its cold'n crappy. Today, perhaps 100 bikes. Before the start of the ride they addressed the participants. This is a 'Ride' not a 'Parade'. Their is no police escort. Then explained briefly why. Mr. ******* yells out, whats wrong with my pipes - then proceeds to let loose all the fury his unmuffled HD can manage. *******.
So, attendance is down to those who aren't active in the local biker community because they simply didn't know. No escort, one police officer as a presence (not officially, donated time) and a whole bunch of needy kids who'll get nothing under the tree this year.
Sickening.
Today, is the first time I'm missing it and I feel just sick about it. Oh, I registered and made a donation, but I refuse to ride it.
See, a few years ago, we got a new Police Chief. In his very first public address he declared 'All bikers are scum'. Thats a pretty broad statement. Within a month, a police crackdown was in affect for bikes with loud pipes. It got so bad, they were even ticketing guys with unmodified STOCK pipes. Did it reduce the number of loud bikes on the road? No. Not one bit.
Fast forward a couple of years to the Toy Ride last year. After dropping off all the toys I left the site only to run a gauntlet of 4 or 5 'presences' within about 5km. Fine. Except they weren't pulling over cars. Only bikes. Not loud bikes, mom and pop who go for a ride once a year. Bone stock. I was outraged by this and let the organizers know my displeasure.
Tick the clock ahead one year. Inco Hospice Ride which raises money for Palliative Care locally. Despite having a parade license (which effectively allows you to make as much damn noise as you want), the police escort wrote tickets for loud pipes at an intermediate stop. Their was almost a riot by those in attendance. In fact, some of the police officers (their were 4 in there) refused to be part of it and sat in the car while their coworker(s) were complete ********. Much bruhahah in the media afterwards. We donate our time and money in a legal fund raiser and this happens. Ludicrous. Since then, because of the outcry the police refuse to provide any escort whatsoever. In fact, you cannot even get a parade license anymore if you so much as mention 'motorcycles'.
Flash forward to today.
Its beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, temps in the mid 70F's. Normally, the toy ride is the largest charity ride of the year, bringing somewhere in the neighbourhood of 350 - 450 bikes out. Even when its cold'n crappy. Today, perhaps 100 bikes. Before the start of the ride they addressed the participants. This is a 'Ride' not a 'Parade'. Their is no police escort. Then explained briefly why. Mr. ******* yells out, whats wrong with my pipes - then proceeds to let loose all the fury his unmuffled HD can manage. *******.
So, attendance is down to those who aren't active in the local biker community because they simply didn't know. No escort, one police officer as a presence (not officially, donated time) and a whole bunch of needy kids who'll get nothing under the tree this year.
Sickening.