Much like in other provinces, we bikers in the Belle Province are fed up with arbitrary laws forcing us to use government-approved snow tires from Nov 15 to March 15, with the new threat from the government that this period may be stretched by an extra month at both ends, and with steep increases in registration / personal insurance fee, on its way to $1600 per year for a sport bike.

Protest groups are organizing themselves (Too slowly), and for the third time this month, an "Operation Escargot" took place in Quebec on April 25. More than 700 motorcycle riders hit the highways on the Northern side of the island of Montreal at the minimum legal speed, to show their frustration regarding the ridiculously-high registration fees.

Many have criticized these demonstrations, as in:

• "You attack the wrong people" - Yes and no; if irate car drivers complain to their MPP, so much the better.
• "You tarnish the image of motorcycling" - Come on! That can't be worse than free-flowing exhaust systems or doing wheelies at 150 km/h on the highway.
• "It's useless since the hikes are already in effect" - Probably right.

Most Quebec co-sufferers know what is going on. By not reacting immediately and forcefully before the hikes became law, these increases are now a fact of life. And need I remind you that government officials do not have an "Undo" button. I believe that this type of demonstration will have no effects whatsoever of the government's agenda in the short term, as the next provincial election is too far away (2012)... but you never know!

In the Quebec government-run insurance scheme (The soon-to-be 1600$ premium), I am convinced that the government stance is legally untenable. And if I am right, there must be a way to backtrack out of this - we Quebec riders just need to put their heads and act together, and shoot at the correct target.

If these demonstrations (And I hope there will be more throughout the summer) allow the development of a strong, united force among all Quebec riders, then I guess the multiple "Operation Escargot" will have been a success. And if success is achieved, hopefully, it will encourage similar actions in the ROC, especially in Ontario where legislators appear to be just as snake bit as in Quebec. And by the way, well done Ontario riders, with the silly ban for under-14 passengers now apparently dead!

Lucky Luc

P.S.: The heck with car drivers...


Photo Credit : Jupiter Images