Street actions of (motor)cyclists are banned in Vitsebsk

During the recent years dwellers of Vitsebsk could watch the opening of the driving seasons by the local motorcyclists. The appropriate “motorbike parade” was usually held by them on the city outskirts in the beginning of May. People used to come to the parade with their children to look at hundreds of different motorcycles and their owners, who were dressed in exotic costumes. However, this year the action was banned by the police.

At the same time, Vitsebsk cyclists wanted to gather near the city hall on 29 April and drive along Lenin Street in order to demand creation of cycleways in the city. However, the road police interfered with their plans as well and stated that in the case they started their race all together it would be considered as an unauthorized street action.

As a result, the place of the gathering was transferred to Peramoha Square, from where the cyclists  started cycling in small groups. However, in Prauda and Smalenskaya Street and in Frunze Avenue they were approached by road policemen who advised them to “draw the public attention” in the so-called “pit” - the ground with tennis courts near the Summer amphitheater.

It was almost impossible to notice the action from Lenin Street, as the ground is situated much lower than the carriage way. However, even there the road police didn't leave the people alone: in half an hour they were ordered to disperse.

“The position of the road police is rather strange, because we stand for security of the traffic – we ask the authorities to establish special cycleways so that people could cycle without creating obstacles to the traffic or pedestrians,” commented one of the action participants, Uladzimir Ramanovich.

He thinks that the struggle for the rights of cyclists should continue and therefore proposed to hold a competition of literary works on the topic My Day with Bicycle.

“Let the people write whether it is convenient to cycle around Vitsebsk, where they leave their bicycles when going to a shop or any other institution, because, unlike any European city, there are no special parkings in it. Despite the fact that the authorities seemingly promote a healthy way of life by holding senseless days of sobriety, etc., nobody cares that it is possible to keep oneself in a good physical condition and improve the ecology by refusing to use the public transport. That's why we consider our initiative as wise and useful,” summed up the activist.

Human Rights Chronicle