Rift between police and scooter community?
This disclosure was made to her at a Youth Symposium and Safety Awareness Scooter show at the Purcell Community Center, which was held on Saturday December 10, 2011.
“Sources close to the scooter riding community claim that they are physically harassed by the police while riding their scooters, and I am not at liberty to say at this point if the allegations are true or false. However, the law provides mechanisms for which offenders can be charged. Therefore, Police breach of human rights principles should not be condoned or tolerated,” Hodge said.
“Neither should it be tolerated to have unlicensed, uninsured scooter bikes and riders circumventing the law and causing distress to other motorists and pedestrians in the community through accidents that cause injury or damages to people and/or their property. The issue has to be addressed from all angles, and corrective measures put in place to reduce the current statistics of reported incidents involving scooters,” the Director of Related by Humanity further stated.
Presentations were made by Youth Development Advocate Henderson Tittle; Police Constable (PC) Wendell Anthony, and Chris Ghiorse, director of the Bsafe programme.
It was suggested by Ghoirse that proper riding instructions should be provided for scooter riders similar to how drivers are prepared before going on a road test to obtain a driver’s license. He also noted that the Legislation on biking needs to be modernized, and described the current law that govern cycling and motor biking as “impractical and oppressive”.
Meanwhile, PC Anthony stated that the relevant authorities may need to redesign major highways to provide special lanes for scooters/motorbikes. He addressed the issue of peer pressure and ‘showing off’.
Asked what her thought on the symposium was, Hodge revealed that the inclement weather and uninsured and unlicensed scooter owners were factors for the small turnout. However, she added that the interactive session was well received.
Hodge was also disappointed that the feature activity of the scooter show did not take place but hopes that during the next BMSA car and bike show, it will be included.
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