Loud pipes, saves lives. I read it here.
The folk of a Belgian valley and some Alpine burgers, might well say: “Loud pipes, blight lives” and it seems they wear the trousers and presumably pay local taxes.
Road closed to motorcyclists east of Bouillon - N865 between Douhan and Mortehan
- Thread starter J biker
- Start date
Loud pipes, saves lives. I read it here.
The folk of a Belgian valley and some Alpine burgers, might well say: “Loud pipes, blight lives” and it seems they wear the trousers and presumably pay local taxes.
No news from the agency.
That said, Monday was a holiday here and in Belgium, so I’ll give them a chase on Tuesday of next week, if I have heard nothing.
I remember supping bière
on the outside area of th'Otel de la Poste contemplating the trip around th'Alps and the day's ride thru't th'Ardennes whilst over looking the bridge and thinking, what a load of cnuts the Belgians are for closing roads.
on the outside area of th'Otel de la Poste contemplating the trip around th'Alps and the day's ride thru't th'Ardennes whilst over looking the bridge and thinking, what a load of cnuts the Belgians are for closing roads.
I expect it must be a new thing, these loud pipes, and motorcycles have never used these roads before so it’s a shock to the people who moved there before motorbikes were invented.Loud pipes, saves lives. I read it here.
The folk of a Belgian valley and some Alpine burgers, might well say: “Loud pipes, blight lives” and it seems they wear the trousers and presumably pay local taxes.
Similar to the people in my village that moved into a house next the the pub which has played live music for the last 40 years and were understandably upset to find they could hear it, them being about 50 metres away.
Naturally they’ve complained to the council and asked that the club has its music licence removed, and quite right too. Last thing we want is people enjoying themselves.
I suspect it’s the more linked to the rise in motorcycles, as people adopted them as a lifestyle choice and sales rocketed. That lifestyle often involves making a noise, by choice. The consequence, is that restrictions and - in rare, but increasing circumstances - outright bans during pre-set periods come in and / or other policed enforcement.
I was as guilty as the next man of many of the crimes, including being fined in Austria for an illegal exhaust on my F800R, along with several speeding tickets in France. Looking back, was it clever? No, I don’t think so and, in a way, I have played my part in what we see today. Too late, the genie is out of the bottle and it won’t go back in any time soon.
Motorcycle sales are down, along with tolerance!I suspect it’s the more linked to the rise in motorcycles, as people adopted them as a lifestyle choice and sales rocketed. That lifestyle often involves making a noise, by choice. The consequence, is that restrictions and - in rare, but increasing circumstances - outright bans during pre-set periods come in and / or other policed enforcement.
I was as guilty as the next man of many of the crimes, including being fined in Austria for an illegal exhaust on my F800R, along with several speeding tickets in France. Looking back, was it clever? No, I don’t think so and, in a way, I have played my part in what we see today. Too late, the genie is out of the bottle and it won’t go back in any time soon.
Indeed, the bubble has burst, as Europe slides into virtual recesssion and / or consumer confidence falls. But, too late, the damage has been done.
J biker
Registered user
Well, we went through Bouillon anyway, on the way to the Vosges.
Of note, on the way back up to Calais, via Luxembourg I noticed most speed cameras have been adjusted. They are now pointing at the sky! Oh dear..what a shame.
France also had the usual ‘route fermé’ without further explanation or even a useful diversion sign. 2 out of 3 roads were though passable without issue.(?)
Of note, on the way back up to Calais, via Luxembourg I noticed most speed cameras have been adjusted. They are now pointing at the sky! Oh dear..what a shame.
France also had the usual ‘route fermé’ without further explanation or even a useful diversion sign. 2 out of 3 roads were though passable without issue.(?)
My route to the Dolomites in September is through there, staying in Montherme, never been to either before hence, didn't realise it was such a popular biking route.
Near enough the whole of the Belgian Ardennes (basically, anything south of a horizontal line, drawn across the middle of the country) is popular with motorcyclists and other regular tourists / visitors. In other words, the area coloured orange:
Some roads though attract more than others. The section in question is just such a road. A decent Michelin map shows why.
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It's called humour and is very welcome.
The agency has replied:
I guess the lesson is: If you take the piss too often, then there are plenty around who can (and now will) take action to set the matter straight. It’s probably a loud warning shot as much as anything else, that roads can be closed.
There are 3 possibilities I see here;
1) Bikermates trailer loud-exhaust 200kmh machines specifically to this road, hoon along annoying the locals, then put their bikes back on the trailer and go home.
2) The hooligan bikermates from 1) ride like old ladies everywhere in the region except this road, where they suddenly try to loudly emulate Micheal Dunlop, until they reach the end of the road and take off their leery leathers and ride at no more than 1500rpm and once more obeying all the traffic rules everywhere else in the region.
Or
3) There are one or more influential people, for example a local mayor, who live on this road, who hate motorbikes and would like to ban them all. While that can’t be achieved they can ban bikes on this stretch of road, citing noise, hooliganism and 200kmh, even if none of those things are true. Or happened once.
Lesson: if someone who hates bikes has the power to ban bikes they will do so anyway.
It will be fun when the open piped Dodge Viper club turn up for a long weekend;
It was only in 1977 that a compulsory driving test was introduced to Belgium. My parents lived in the Netherlands in the 1970's, it was always fun driving around Belgium... anything could happen! Explains a lot, especially in Limburg/Ardenne, generally seen as rural and not terribly bright
Problems are generally caused by excessive noise , excessive ,speed ,excessive accidents , excessive serious injuries and deaths and basically motorcyclists being an utter PITA .
Posted one last year from an Austrian news website where a group of Brits were convicted at speeds in excess of 90/100 mph in a posted 30 mph limit , numerous roads in the Alps now have speed cameras , large proportion of Alpine villages in Bavaria have 30 kmph limits and speed cameras , Harz mountains have gone in 5 or 6 years from NO speed cameras and very few lowered limits in rural areas to numerous rural roads having 50 kmph posted limits and cameras. The B500 is no longer an enjoyable drive with lowered speed limits and numerous cameras .
Just got a notice from Austrian news feed of restrictions being put on roads near Maria Alm of bans on bikes at certain times due to noise ,accidents and deaths .
Unfortunately due to a minority of persistent "offenders" everyone will suffer .
Annually stop for a couple of weeks not far from the Grossglockner and near the local trauma hospital and on a weekend there is the constant wail of sirens from ambulances and police attending accidents and regular visits of the air ambulances running into the Hospital with casualties from the Glockner and surrounding roads . Unfortunately a large proportion of the accidents involve bikes and so far it has led to cameras on the Grossglockner and increased police presence on the the access roads from the North and South
Posted one last year from an Austrian news website where a group of Brits were convicted at speeds in excess of 90/100 mph in a posted 30 mph limit , numerous roads in the Alps now have speed cameras , large proportion of Alpine villages in Bavaria have 30 kmph limits and speed cameras , Harz mountains have gone in 5 or 6 years from NO speed cameras and very few lowered limits in rural areas to numerous rural roads having 50 kmph posted limits and cameras. The B500 is no longer an enjoyable drive with lowered speed limits and numerous cameras .
Just got a notice from Austrian news feed of restrictions being put on roads near Maria Alm of bans on bikes at certain times due to noise ,accidents and deaths .
Unfortunately due to a minority of persistent "offenders" everyone will suffer .
Annually stop for a couple of weeks not far from the Grossglockner and near the local trauma hospital and on a weekend there is the constant wail of sirens from ambulances and police attending accidents and regular visits of the air ambulances running into the Hospital with casualties from the Glockner and surrounding roads . Unfortunately a large proportion of the accidents involve bikes and so far it has led to cameras on the Grossglockner and increased police presence on the the access roads from the North and South
Har har har… that’ll be us West Country boysWhat’s the English equivalent?
… now where’s me cider 
