Wallingford
Police carry out checks at biker hotspot
POLICE stopped more than 100 motorcyclists near Fox's Diner at Dorchester-on-Thames after complaints from residents.
Police and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) carried out road safety checks on the A415 in Burcot and A4074 in Shillingford last night.
The check was carried out after complaints from local residents about some motorcyclists riding anti-socially and causing noise nuisance.
Police said around 400 motorcyclists were in the vicinity of Fox's Diner at Dorchester-on-Thames, which was hosting a weekly motorbike gathering.
The check focused predominately on these motorcyclists, however a number of cars were also stopped, police said.
Officers stopped 110 vehicles and 31 offences were identified and dealt with.
Eleven motorcyclists and one car driver were given prohibition notices and four motorcyclists given 14 days to rectify faults on their bikes.
One rider will be summonsed for document offences and another for anti-social riding.
Three verbal warnings were also given for exhaust defects.
Two £30 tickets were given to car drivers and passengers for not wearing a seatbelt, one received a £60 fine and three penalty points for using a mobile phone while driving and five were fined £30 for non-conforming registration plates.
One vehicle was seized for no insurance or licence.
John Tidbury, 55, of Wallingford Road in South Stoke, near Wallingford, was charged with drink driving and bailed to Didcot Magistrates Court on May 29.
Last month, rider Mark d'Ardenne, 22, of Marlow, in Bucks, was killed in a head-on crash on the A4074 Dorchester bypass after visiting Fox's Diner.
Insp Paul Winks, head of Roads Policing in Oxfordshire, said: "This is an excellent example of partnership working in support of the wishes of the local community.
"We do not want bikers to feel we are targeting them unfairly, but when such a large group of them gather on a regular basis, this can cause problems for local residents when they are ridden excessively fast and/or are fitted with noisy exhausts.
"I believe the check yesterday had a positive effect on riders and hopefully made them think about the effect their riding may have on the community and also about their own safety when riding their bikes."
Motorcycle safety advice can be found at www.thamesvalley.police.uk/roads/safer-rider/index.htm.
2:00pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mike, Wallingford on 2:48pm Tue 13 May 08
Insp Paul Winks, head of Roads Policing in Oxfordshire, said:
"I believe the check yesterday had a positive effect on riders and hopefully made them think about the effect their riding may have on the community and also about their own safety when riding their bikes."
Come on Insp Paul Wilks be honest…..do you really BELIEVE that? Because if you do then I wish to report a squadron of pigs flying to fast!
Insp Paul Winks, head of Roads Policing in Oxfordshire, said:
"I believe the check yesterday had a positive effect on riders and hopefully made them think about the effect their riding may have on the community and also about their own safety when riding their bikes."
Come on Insp Paul Wilks be honest…..do you really BELIEVE that? Because if you do then I wish to report a squadron of pigs flying to fast!
Posted by: John, Benson on 4:04pm Tue 13 May 08
Well well well….. was it not in previous comments that bikers who congregate at Fox’s Diner said they were ‘responsible’ and ‘police themselves’ regarding irresponsibility?...
...sure seems like it!
I just hope the police make these checks EVERY Monday night or better still stop this anti social behaviour for good.
Well well well….. was it not in previous comments that bikers who congregate at Fox’s Diner said they were ‘responsible’ and ‘police themselves’ regarding irresponsibility?...
...sure seems like it!
I just hope the police make these checks EVERY Monday night or better still stop this anti social behaviour for good.
Posted by: Frank Butcher, Didcot on 5:29pm Tue 13 May 08
Out of 400 people attending, 31 offences were identified. For the Motorcyclists the offences were, defective exhausts, riding anti-socially (pulling a wheelie no doubt) and a document offence. But what were the car drivers (who weren't even being targeted) charged with, Drink Driving, Using a Mobile Phone whilst driving and one car was seized for no licence and insurance.
So to put it in perspective, the most serious offences were committed by car drivers NOT motorcyclists. Yes pulling wheelies and using excessively noisy exhausts is daft and the majority of motorcyclists who attend do NOT condone or take part in this. But I'm sure that any sane person can see that the biggest threat to public safety are the 3 car drivers, drunk, no licence and insurance and an idiot on a mobile phone!
Out of 400 people attending, 31 offences were identified. For the Motorcyclists the offences were, defective exhausts, riding anti-socially (pulling a wheelie no doubt) and a document offence. But what were the car drivers (who weren't even being targeted) charged with, Drink Driving, Using a Mobile Phone whilst driving and one car was seized for no licence and insurance.
So to put it in perspective, the most serious offences were committed by car drivers NOT motorcyclists. Yes pulling wheelies and using excessively noisy exhausts is daft and the majority of motorcyclists who attend do NOT condone or take part in this. But I'm sure that any sane person can see that the biggest threat to public safety are the 3 car drivers, drunk, no licence and insurance and an idiot on a mobile phone!
Posted by: Peter, Wallingford on 6:46pm Tue 13 May 08
Shall we get this into perspective. The police were there for one reason and one reason only. Numerous complaints had been received from the general public about the behaviour and noise nuisance perpetrated by SOME bikers. This was the major problem. Arguing about numbers, severity of offences, etc is irrelevant. Until ALL bikers learn that using the Dorchester bypass as an unofficial racetrack constitutes anti social and dangerous behaviour I’m sure these checks will continue. Bikes can be ridden sensibly; I’ve seen many in this area whose road behaviour is a credit to the rider. Unfortunately, there are those who don’t care about the noise they make or how dangerous they ride and until these are curtailed the rest will be damned with them.
Shall we get this into perspective. The police were there for one reason and one reason only. Numerous complaints had been received from the general public about the behaviour and noise nuisance perpetrated by SOME bikers. This was the major problem. Arguing about numbers, severity of offences, etc is irrelevant. Until ALL bikers learn that using the Dorchester bypass as an unofficial racetrack constitutes anti social and dangerous behaviour I’m sure these checks will continue. Bikes can be ridden sensibly; I’ve seen many in this area whose road behaviour is a credit to the rider. Unfortunately, there are those who don’t care about the noise they make or how dangerous they ride and until these are curtailed the rest will be damned with them.
Posted by: anon, benson on 8:47am Wed 14 May 08
This last meet was particularly bad......the bypass around wallingford and up to benson sounded like grand prix track.
You ask for trouble....you get it.....it's amazing there are nt more accidents to be honest.
This last meet was particularly bad......the bypass around wallingford and up to benson sounded like grand prix track.
You ask for trouble....you get it.....it's amazing there are nt more accidents to be honest.
Posted by: Anonymous, Berinsfield on 9:11am Wed 14 May 08
I have to say that this has been a long time coming. I've lived in the vicinity for many years and since Fox's Diner opened it's been a living hell in this area every summer. Now I don't mind the sensible bikers, it's the ones who will insist on revving their bikes as long and loud as possible who really get my goat! There have been times when, even with all my doors and windows shut, all we can hear is bikes. We don't even bother to have the TV on because we can't hear it and sitting in the garden to enjoy the weather is virtually impossible. You can't hold a conversation because it gets interrupted by the noise coming from the bikes at the Diner.
I hate the way that they drive off late in the evening too - even though I believe the Diner only has a license to open until 9pm on a Monday night. But when they leave, whatever the time, if they go in groups the noise is positively deafening.
So, please, bikers, have some consideration for those of us who have to live in this area!
I have to say that this has been a long time coming. I've lived in the vicinity for many years and since Fox's Diner opened it's been a living hell in this area every summer. Now I don't mind the sensible bikers, it's the ones who will insist on revving their bikes as long and loud as possible who really get my goat! There have been times when, even with all my doors and windows shut, all we can hear is bikes. We don't even bother to have the TV on because we can't hear it and sitting in the garden to enjoy the weather is virtually impossible. You can't hold a conversation because it gets interrupted by the noise coming from the bikes at the Diner.
I hate the way that they drive off late in the evening too - even though I believe the Diner only has a license to open until 9pm on a Monday night. But when they leave, whatever the time, if they go in groups the noise is positively deafening.
So, please, bikers, have some consideration for those of us who have to live in this area!
Posted by: Robert, benson on 9:30am Wed 14 May 08
It’s about time the police stamped on this hard. Close the place down is the only way as it has become a social nuisance. Bikes are noisy enough on their own, hundreds of bikes are an intolerable nuisance.
It’s about time the police stamped on this hard. Close the place down is the only way as it has become a social nuisance. Bikes are noisy enough on their own, hundreds of bikes are an intolerable nuisance.
Posted by: Phil Mcracken, wallingford on 4:03pm Wed 14 May 08
Yes they should shut the place down, bikes are far too noisy, so are cars, ban them too. The boy racers with their boom boxes and drainpipe exhausts are a nightmare! Ban bikes and cars then we can all get some peace!
While we're at it, my neighbour plays their music far too loud so I'd like to ban music too. Also the drunks wandering home from the pub need sorting too. Ban pubs, better still ban alcohol, who needs to go drinking after 10pm anyway?
Also the dog walkers are an inconsiderate lot too, dog muck all over the place, it's disgusting. Plus they make a racket too, ban dogs!
Yes they should shut the place down, bikes are far too noisy, so are cars, ban them too. The boy racers with their boom boxes and drainpipe exhausts are a nightmare! Ban bikes and cars then we can all get some peace!
While we're at it, my neighbour plays their music far too loud so I'd like to ban music too. Also the drunks wandering home from the pub need sorting too. Ban pubs, better still ban alcohol, who needs to go drinking after 10pm anyway?
Also the dog walkers are an inconsiderate lot too, dog muck all over the place, it's disgusting. Plus they make a racket too, ban dogs!
Posted by: Rachel Bennett, Wallingford on 5:13pm Wed 14 May 08
Phil Mcracken is to modest to mention, and of course you would never have guessed, that he is the President of the Wallingford Branch of the Grumpy Old Men's Club
Phil Mcracken is to modest to mention, and of course you would never have guessed, that he is the President of the Wallingford Branch of the Grumpy Old Men's Club
Posted by: edd, berinsfield on 9:46pm Thu 15 May 08
i think you'll find that Mr. Mcracken's comments were sarcastic. I think that people who say it is too noisey obviously have incredibly good hearing and considering most of the people that live around here are old i would think that good hearing is not the case. i think everyone who thinks that a group of people who have an interest in the same thing and enjoy talking to others about this interest should do so. its like people going down the pub. i have never been to a pub where it is complete silence cause neighbours have complained about the nopise. stop being so bloody miserable all your lives and get over it. if it is really that bad then move but i can't imagine that this "nuisance" is sooo bad for 1 night a week. if it was every night then fair enough carry on moaning but it isn't its ONE night. And for the bloke who couldn't hear his TV over the noise, i would suggest a hearing aid or perhaps tuurning the TV up a couple notches, that is if you can get up from where your so old or too stubborn
i think you'll find that Mr. Mcracken's comments were sarcastic. I think that people who say it is too noisey obviously have incredibly good hearing and considering most of the people that live around here are old i would think that good hearing is not the case. i think everyone who thinks that a group of people who have an interest in the same thing and enjoy talking to others about this interest should do so. its like people going down the pub. i have never been to a pub where it is complete silence cause neighbours have complained about the nopise. stop being so bloody miserable all your lives and get over it. if it is really that bad then move but i can't imagine that this "nuisance" is sooo bad for 1 night a week. if it was every night then fair enough carry on moaning but it isn't its ONE night. And for the bloke who couldn't hear his TV over the noise, i would suggest a hearing aid or perhaps tuurning the TV up a couple notches, that is if you can get up from where your so old or too stubborn
Posted by: Rachel Bennett, Wallingford on 11:31pm Fri 16 May 08
Oh no! Now we have a contribution from ‘uneducated edd’. Sorry I can’t take seriously anyone who will not buy a keyboard with Capital letters with which to start his sentences. Bet ‘edd’ wears one of those special baseball caps with the peak sewn on the back as well. Sorry edd, repost in better English and Grammar and I might be bothered to read it!
Oh no! Now we have a contribution from ‘uneducated edd’. Sorry I can’t take seriously anyone who will not buy a keyboard with Capital letters with which to start his sentences. Bet ‘edd’ wears one of those special baseball caps with the peak sewn on the back as well. Sorry edd, repost in better English and Grammar and I might be bothered to read it!
Posted by: alan, Didcot on 6:25pm Sat 17 May 08
"Phil Mcracken is [italic]to[/italic] modest to mention"
People who live in grammatical glass houses should not throw stones!
"Phil Mcracken is
to modest to mention"
People who live in grammatical glass houses should not throw stones!
Posted by: Rachel Bennett, Wallingford on 7:21am Sun 18 May 08
[quote][bold]alan[/bold] wrote:
"Phil Mcracken is [italic]to[/italic] modest to mention"
People who live in grammatical glass houses should not throw stones![/quote] I can assure you it was [italic]too[/italic] when transmitted to the web page. I have taken it up with the editor as to why an [italic]‘o’[/italic] seems to have been lost in transit.
alan wrote:
"Phil Mcracken is to modest to mention"
People who live in grammatical glass houses should not throw stones!
I can assure you it was
too when transmitted to the web page. I have taken it up with the editor as to why an
‘o’ seems to have been lost in transit.
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