As the 30 August expansion of the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone looms, the Stop-ULEZ group is planning to ride en mass in protest.
On 20 August, scores bikers are set to take to the M25 as part of a ‘ride to freedom’. The official starting point is at the famous Ace Cafe, which will be well within the ULEZ area when it grows at the end of the month.
Participants are asked to arrive at Ace Cafe 10:00 am, with a view to depart by 11:15 am. For anyone who doesn't fancy riding over to Ace Cafe, there are other starting points at various motorway service areas, with the assembly times pegged at an hour before departure. These are Clacket Lane (11:30 departure), Cobham (12:00 pm), Heston (11:00 am), South Mimms (11:00 am) and Thurrock (11:30 am).
The intention is for all the riders to converge on the Rykas cafe in Boxhill, Surrey by around 12:30 pm. Anyone joining is urged to "ride responsibly and respectfully". The event will include "guest speakers, a bit of music, information and hopefully a great atmosphere to meet and greet people that can give you the heads up on all things ULEZ,” the organisers say.
While motorcycles don’t have to pay for the London Congestion Charge, they are not exempt from paying ULEZ. That means after the zone expands to encompass all London boroughs, anyone travelling into the capital with a non-compliant bike will need to pay a daily fee of £12.50.
It’s generally pre-Euro3 motorcycles which aren’t compliant, which means bikes registered before 2007, which means the redrawn ULEZ boundaries are set to affect a huge number of riders.
Will you be joining the ride out on 20 August?
