Three members and the clerk of Rye Town Council organised a ‘meet and greet’ on Sunday, September 26 to hear bikers’ thoughts on the noise and disruption that causes residents so much disturbance, especially over the summer – as well as to promote safe and responsible riding.
Alongside the Motorcycle Action Group, the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, Sussex Police bike and the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists, they engaged with a number of bikers. The overriding feeling among the mainly middle-aged riders was that they would welcome a police presence in the area to stop those who drove dangerously and noisily. They asked for more signage along the Strand to ‘leave quietly and not disturb residents’ as many where unaware that Strand Quay was housing for older residents.
Most of them came to enjoy a Sunday morning ride, meet up with old friends over a brew and a bacon sandwich, and were very interesting to listen to. None of them wanted to be tarred with the same brush as the poor riders, hence welcoming police action on illegal exhausts and careless driving. A couple were actually policemen from another area enjoying the morning off, and another group helped youngsters in Kent to drive safely and understand fully the consequences of motorbike riding.
The mayor, Rebekah Gilbert, deputy mayor, Councillor Andi Rivett, and Councillor Chris Hoggart were grateful to the town clerk for organising the morning and enjoyed chatting to the groups of two-wheeled visitors, many of whom brought family back to Rye at other times to enjoy the whole town. Rebekah said: "Everyone was very happy to chat with us, and were sympathetic to residents who are cheesed-off by antisocial riding. We saw no bad behaviour or senseless driving whilst we were there for about four or five hours, and the message was loud and clear that not all bikers are the same. The next step is how to engage with those bikers who do have illegal exhausts and ride carelessly, and we will continue to work with Sussex Police to tackle this."
