5th Motorcycle Ride with Members of the European Parliament

[Eamonn Townsend]

Wednesday 4th July 2001, European Parliament Strasbourg
Biggest success ever for the Motorcycle Ride with Members of the European Parliament (MEP), who joined motorcyclists from all over Europe to take part in this unique event.

The MEP Motorcycle Ride, organised each year since 1997 by the Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA) and the Strasbourg section of its French affiliate FFMC (Fédération Française des Motards en Colère), aims at gathering motorcyclists and their elected representatives at the European level to enjoy a motorcycle ride through the splendid region of Strasbourg.

Out of the thirty MEPs who registered for the ride, the following ones have participated: Mogens Camre (Denmark), Rainer Wieland (Germany), Karsten Knolle (Germany), Horst Schnellhardt (Germany), Alexandros Alavanos (Greece), Alexander de Roo (Netherlands), Maria J. Sanders-Ten Holte (Netherlands), Elizabeth Lynne (United Kingdom), Roger Helmer (United Kingdom), Sabine Zissener (Germany), Carlos Bautista (Spain), Eija-Riita Anneli Korhola (Finland), Ari Vatanen (Finland), Hans-Peter Mayer (Germany) and Helmuth Markov (Germany). The patron of the ride was, again this year, the German MEP Bernd Lange.

The riders present were FEMA national organisations from Greece (MOTOE), Netherlands (MAG), United Kingdom (BMF, MAG), Finland (SMOTO), Sweden (SMC), Belgium (MAG), Germany (Biker Union, BVDM), Italy (Coordinamento Motociclisti), Denmark (DMC). The International Historic Vehicle Organisation (IHVO) was again supporting the event by supplying historic vehicles. Representatives of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the British motorcycle industry association (MCIA) and the European motorcycle industry association (ACEM) were also present.

Before leaving for the ride at the main entrance of the European Parliament, Bernd Lange told the participants that the European Parliament appreciated the efforts of motorcyclists in organising the event. He also said that there was a real dialogue between the motorcyclists and their elected representatives at the European level. As Rapporteur for the proposal on motorcycle emissions, he stressed the importance of making motorcycles cleaner and, though the motorcyclists' views were different on some detailed aspects of this issue, he appreciated their real concerns about the problem. This was followed by a speech from FEMA President Erwin Renette, who thanked the participants for their attendance and expressed on behalf of the motorcyclists present the pleasure they had to meet with their elected representatives. He then wished everybody an enjoyable and safe ride.

The 200 riders then departed for the ride in small groups for Plobsheim, where they have been offered an "American Independence Day" Barbecue, sponsored by Harley-Davidson Europe.

FEMA would like to particularly thank Harley-Davidson Europe as the main sponsor of the event. Warm thanks also to Lazer helmets, Hein Gericke, to BMW, Triumph, Honda, Yamaha, Voxan, Peugeot, Suzuki, Buell and Harley-Davidson for lending motorcycles and scooters for the ride, with the support of their local dealers.

The massive support from Members of the European Parliament, assistants, staff members, journalists and motorcyclists shows that the event is really appreciated and, from the feedback received after the event, everybody agrees on saying that this year's MEP Motorcycle Ride was the most successful ever. Let's make sure next year's will be even better!