Rising tensions between loud french bikers and residents of Mountain Valley – “Authorities must act before a tragedy. There are messages from locals saying they consider setting up traps to kill them”

2 comments

1. It is beyond me how one can simply put their pleasure/hobby before the well-being of others.

   It reminds me of the smokers in public places: I enjoy smoking a cigarette during dinner, too bad for the others getting cancer or simply having to eat their food with the taste of cigarette.

2. In the Chevreuse Valley, in the South-West of Paris, many bikers come to have fun. Up to 600 bikes a day go through the roads known as the “17 rounds”. Anne Grignon, the President of local communities say people are complaining more and more.

   *”They have understood it’s not about confort, it’s also about public health. We have residents threatening to use violence, putting ropes in the middle of the road, putting nails on the road”*

   In the Vosges Region, Dominique Humbert, an environmentalist, runs the Save Vosgnes Mountains NGO. He says there is an insurection athmosphere with people threatening to throw rocks on bikers. Local authorities he says are guilty of complicity. In 2013, they considered banning bikers during the week-end but it led to major drama, angry bikers, and the idea was cancelled after only 9 days.

   Local politicians are against taking measures in this region that depends on tourism. *« We can’t ensure this place is a safe bubble for you »* says Jean-Philippe Maurer, vice-président of the Region in charge of transport.

   Jean-Philippe Maurer says people who don’t like bikers should step away from roads and go deep inside the valley. Many restaurant owners like the fact boomer bikers have very fat wallets. In Auberge Schlucht, where the specialty is fruit cakes, the bikers make up nearly 30% of sales. However, nobody knows how much people are now avoiding this region because of the motor noises.