Unity Ride halted by new policing rules

By Rob Virtue on August 4, 2009 10:01 AM |

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An annual motorcycle ride across the capital to remember victims of the 7/7 London bombings is under threat due to a change in police legislation.

The Unity Ride has already cancelled next month's event, which was due to start at the Excel Centre, and there are fears for its future.

Traditionally the event receives a police escort, but new regulations mean officers should only be used under special circumstances or when paid for.

One of the organisers, Steve Marsh, said the team received approval from Newham Council to run the event but could not gain a police escort, so had decided to cancel.

He said: "With just four weeks to the ride we believe that we have reached a point where we must make a decision on whether to proceed with Unity IV and feel that if we went ahead at this stage, we would do the Unity Ride supporters and the motorcycle community an injustice.

"We could undertake the ride this year but to work in isolation clearly defeats the object of the Unity Ride as we would have to rigorously conform to all traffic signals, which would segment the ride, create extensive road congestion and conflict, which none of us want."

The ride has been running since the terror attack in 2005 and regularly attracts thousands of bikers. Each participant meets at the Excel Centre and pays £5 which goes to charity.

Mr Marsh has written to various political and police chiefs and is hopeful of reaching a resolution in the future.

He said: "These types of issues are invariably difficult to resolve and time consuming but we feel that must be patient if there is to be a long-term future for the Unity Ride.

"Hopefully, we can regroup and get our colleagues within the motorcycle pressure groups to make sure that this legislation does not destroy part of our motorcycle culture."