200-plus bikers protest at bay

More than 200 motorcyclists and their supporters converged on Mission Bay in Auckland yesterday morning to protest at the proposed increases in ACC levies on motorcyclists.

To illustrate the impact of the increased levies each rider took over a parking space in front of the popular Sunday morning brunch spot. Organisers were trying to highlight the possible impact of increasing the number of cars on the road if motorcycles are no longer affordable.

Protest organiser Anne James said the gathering was about fighting for equity for all road users. She called for ACC to return to its roots. "It's about equity and no-fault insurance," she said. "ACC is not broken - this is an artificially engendered crisis to set the ground for increase in levies and privatisation. Everybody should be asking questions. It's not just about the motorcyclists."