We agree with wearing gloves, we don’t agree with compulsion backed by hefty fines.
The French fashion police are at it again; handing out fines to protect riders from themselves.
This time the compulsion is CE-approved motorcycle gloves, and the fine for not wearing them while riding is 68 Euros. The new law comes in from November 20th this year. French riders will also get a license penalty point if caught.
This time, I have some sympathy for what the French authorities are trying to do here. They are trying to be mother. And mum knows it makes sense to wear protective gloves every time you ride a scooter.
I’ve got vented summer gloves like these MX gloves from Alpinestars, as well as warm winter gloves. You’ll find me wearing hand protection no matter what the weather. In fact, I wear gloves even on the odd occasion that I ride down to the shop in just a t-shirt. Does that even make any sense?
There’s actually a good reason behind that. As any doctor will tell you, the hand is a pretty bloody complex piece of engineering and very hard to rebuild if you wear lumps of it away on tarmac. There aren’t many jobs you don’t use hands for, so it’s best to try and retain the original compliment, if you can.
I do wish these lads would wear gloves…
For the video above – click here
Hand over the cash…
Despite this, I still can’t support compulsion backed by fines.
Why?
Simply because all the doo-gooders in the world have forgotten what it is to be young and skint. When I was a kid I rode in gardening gloves, woolly gloves or whatever I could lay my hands on. My scooter was my only transport and if I lost a glove (as occasionally happened) or ripped a pair, that wouldn’t stop me riding. Independent transport was everything.
On top of fines for not having a hi-viz, the French authorities are really arming the police with a host of methods to empty the wallets of scooter and bike riders for relative misdemeanours.
If they don’t like you then they’ll be escorting you to a cash-point for something or other…
Is this what society really wants, or are we simply being steered in this direction by stealth legislation?
The electric push
Where previously there was no powered alternative to motorcycles, electric-assisted cycling is exploding. I don’t think it’s because of the environmental factors. Nor always is it about the cost, because some of the cooler pedalecs are very expensive. It is simply about convenience.
What is the minimum I need to ride a scooter:
- a scooter
- petrol
- MoT
- Approved helmet (compulsory)
- Approved gloves (now compulsory in France)
- A one-day test (CBT certificate)
- A fortune for insurance
- Hi-viz (now compulsory in France)
What must I have to ride a pedalec?:
- A pedalec
- Legs
If you look at it from the point of view of a lazy and economically-challenged teenager, is it any surprise that electric is taking off while moped sales have fallen through the floor.
What the French are doing is not so much reducing hand injuries amongst its riding population as increasing the cost and annoyance factors that put people off riding scooters and motorcycles to begin with.
Is this latest law simply well-intentioned nannying or is there a political motive to stop people riding petrol-powered 2-wheelers..?
Sticky
The French fashion police are at it again; handing out fines to protect riders from themselves.
This time the compulsion is CE-approved motorcycle gloves, and the fine for not wearing them while riding is 68 Euros. The new law comes in from November 20th this year. French riders will also get a license penalty point if caught.
This time, I have some sympathy for what the French authorities are trying to do here. They are trying to be mother. And mum knows it makes sense to wear protective gloves every time you ride a scooter.
I’ve got vented summer gloves like these MX gloves from Alpinestars, as well as warm winter gloves. You’ll find me wearing hand protection no matter what the weather. In fact, I wear gloves even on the odd occasion that I ride down to the shop in just a t-shirt. Does that even make any sense?
There’s actually a good reason behind that. As any doctor will tell you, the hand is a pretty bloody complex piece of engineering and very hard to rebuild if you wear lumps of it away on tarmac. There aren’t many jobs you don’t use hands for, so it’s best to try and retain the original compliment, if you can.
For the video above – click here
Hand over the cash…
Despite this, I still can’t support compulsion backed by fines.
Why?
Simply because all the doo-gooders in the world have forgotten what it is to be young and skint. When I was a kid I rode in gardening gloves, woolly gloves or whatever I could lay my hands on. My scooter was my only transport and if I lost a glove (as occasionally happened) or ripped a pair, that wouldn’t stop me riding. Independent transport was everything.
On top of fines for not having a hi-viz, the French authorities are really arming the police with a host of methods to empty the wallets of scooter and bike riders for relative misdemeanours.
If they don’t like you then they’ll be escorting you to a cash-point for something or other…
The electric push
Where previously there was no powered alternative to motorcycles, electric-assisted cycling is exploding. I don’t think it’s because of the environmental factors. Nor always is it about the cost, because some of the cooler pedalecs are very expensive. It is simply about convenience.
What is the minimum I need to ride a scooter:
- a scooter
- petrol
- MoT
- Approved helmet (compulsory)
- Approved gloves (now compulsory in France)
- A one-day test (CBT certificate)
- A fortune for insurance
- Hi-viz (now compulsory in France)
What must I have to ride a pedalec?:
- A pedalec
- Legs
If you look at it from the point of view of a lazy and economically-challenged teenager, is it any surprise that electric is taking off while moped sales have fallen through the floor.
What the French are doing is not so much reducing hand injuries amongst its riding population as increasing the cost and annoyance factors that put people off riding scooters and motorcycles to begin with.
Is this latest law simply well-intentioned nannying or is there a political motive to stop people riding petrol-powered 2-wheelers..?
Sticky
I live in France. 500m from the sea. The beach I like to use for swimming etc is about 1000m away. Yes,I could walk. But I won’t. And I won’t wear fucking gloves either. I usually wear board shorts,t shirt and usually trainers. I very rarely get in top gear,usually moving at a max of 30mph! I will not be wearing gloves. Bollocks to them. It won’t be long before its compulsory to wear armour lined jackets and trousers and God knows what else. There’ll be no fucking freedom left at all soon. Now obviously if I was riding into town on the dual carriageway, riding at 70mph I would choose to wear protective clothing. But the fact we no longer have a choice as to whether we want to wear gloves or not really pisses me. I’ll risk the fines. Fuck em
Fair play Malc. The same governments who think its so vital to cotton-wool wrap their citizens at a cost to their freedom, are the ones who decide its a great idea to overthrow dictators in other countries at a cost of many thousands of human lives and untold misery. Maybe meddling less would be better for everyone…