Bike show axing 'discrimination'

This is a knee-jerk reaction by the police Biker Glyn Griffiths

A disabled biker hoping to attend his first Welsh National Motorcycle Show is among many who have contacted the BBC to criticise its cancellation.

Glyn Griffiths, 65, from Tre'r-ddol, near Machynlleth, Powys, had already paid £25 for a ticket and had intended to ride to the event near Builth Wells.

Police blamed the threat of violence, but Mr Griffiths, who has arthritis, said it was a family event.

Other motorcyclists said it was discrimination against bikers.

The annual Welsh National Motorcycle Show was to have taken place at the Royal Welsh showground in Llanelwedd between 23 and 26 May.

But Dyfed-Powys Police said there would be a "significant risk of violence" between rival bikers' gangs if it went ahead.

Mr Griffiths, who has been riding motorcycles for 50 years, is forced to ride a three-wheel bike, or trike, because of his disability.

Glyn Griffiths planned to ride to the show on his 1300cc trike

He said cancellation would affect not only bikers, but showground traders and local business people who run hotels, campsites and pubs.

"This is a knee-jerk reaction by the police," added Mr Griffiths.

"They have been influential in a number of bikers' events being cancelled this year.

"But where do you draw the line? There was violence after the Uefa Cup final last night in Manchester and that could have been predicted beforehand, but the match wasn't cancelled.

"There's been crime at other annual events in the past such as Notting Hill music festival, but that has never been cancelled.

"A lot of bikers feel aggrieved by this decision."

Another biker, Ezri, e-mailed the BBC News website to say it had been run peacefully for many years and was "a family event I have been attending with my son since he was a baby."

Richard Toulson, of Dumfries, who was planning to travel for six hours to the show, said he lost both legs in a motorcycle accident in 1979, and nowadays rode a trike to give him back his freedom.

"If the best way they can deal with a problem is to close events down, then they are not doing very well," he said.

Another motorcyclist from Herefordshire called it "unjust and uncalled for".

He said: "This event is a family-friendly occasion where the two 'rival' bike gangs do not attend.

"Local businesses and traders will be hit hard as they overstock for the demand at this weekend. Football matches and other mainline events such as Glastonbury and the Notting Hill carnival do not get cancelled.

"Tarring all people who choose a motorcycle as a way of transport is discrimination."