Motorcycle Mayhem?
One of the features of early summer in Rye is the arrival of motorcycles of all shapes and sizes in the town. The Conservation Society is aware that these riders and their machines are a colourful addition to the attractions of the town and draw quite a few onlookers to the Strand Quay where many riders meet up and in normal times visit the cafes around the Strand. However there is also no doubt that some of these riders are not as considerate of local residents as we would wish and in particular some exceed both the legal speed and exhaust noise limits, disturbing the peace in and around Rye on summer Sundays.
Motorcycles on the Strand in May (not this year)
The Conservation Society wrote to the Rt Hon Grant Schapps, Minister for Transport expressing our concerns copied to local Councillors and to Sally Ann Hart and Huw Merriman, our local MPs. Our letter is available below.
We have a reply from our MP Sally-Ann Hart which I reproduce below and we will be keeping up the pressure to keep this matter on the Agenda as there is no doubt our concerns are felt widely as shown by the recent large number of letters to Rye News and elsewhere. However I am not seeking to stop motorcyclists coming to Rye, but to change the behaviour of the minority causing a nuisance or worse. Normally the May Bank Holiday would have seen a large influx of bikers but a mixture of lockdown and cold weather seems to have reduced numbers this year.
The Mayor and Town Council are organising a 'meet & greet' on Strand Quay later in the Summer to try and start a conversation between bikers and locals about perceived problems. I shall post more information in due course.
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