One of the greatest things about motorbikes is that they know no religion, race, sexual preference, politics or other hateful boundaries.
Motorbikes are about freedom, not boundaries.
I come from an era of Easy Rider, free love, John Lennon’s Imagine, The Female Eunuch and freedom of expression.
The motorbike was my symbol of peace, love, equality and freedom.
Ok, I know I sound a little bit hippy, but what’s really so wrong with that?
To me, the motorbike is the ultimate hippy machine.
Riders often speak affectionately about the innate camaraderie of riders and how we never ask another rider about their job, religion, politics, etc.
Other riders are accepted simply because they are fellow riders.
However, I sense some hypocrisy in the ranks.
Why don’t we wave to all riders, why do we argue among ourselves and why do we wear badges, patches and stickers of hate and intolerance?
Unfortunately, there are too many homophobes, racists, religious bigots and misogynists in our ranks.
Take a look at this homophobic post on Facebook by English motorcycle retailer, Superbike Factory.
It’s juvenile, unfunny and offensive to most people.
But mostly it’s offensive to riders who believe in the inclusive nature of riding motorbikes.
The post was later taken down and an apology issued.
It’s time to take down all bigoted posts, tear down the naked posters, stop calling people gay if they don’t ride as fast as you and stop flaunting symbols of hate, boundaries and segregation.
We need to be aware that riders come in all shapes, sizes, age, sex, religion, nationality, race, sexual preference, political belief …
If any group has the right and responsibility to be inclusive and tolerant of minorities, it should be motorcyclists.
After all, we’ve been society’s minority for years.