Who are these "bikies"?

**FROSTY:Me** · 1st December 2009, 08:14

An off the cuff comment by somebody recently gave me the germ of an idea.
"Bikies"--- nasty smelly fringe of society types or fat balding middle aged IT geeks .

Now what would happen if a protest "parkup" was staged and the bikers concerned were seen as being doctors, nurses fireys,mechanics,shopkeepers etc?
Same as the bikio or the mission bay event.
Getting across the message-"hey we are normal people who choose bikes as a means of transport" AND VOTE

**k2w3** · 1st December 2009, 08:18

That is a damned good idea. Lots of suits from business people and uniforms of the various services. Would be very newsworthy I think.

**DidJit** · 1st December 2009, 08:20

Some of the KB girls have already done a café ride surprising many of the public when they took their helmets off.

**Thani-B** · 1st December 2009, 08:32

Originally Posted by DidJit

Some of the KB girls have already done a café ride surprising many of the public when they took their helmets off.

Yeah was going to say we've done that, to show that we arent all the typical biker stereotype. Think we need to do it again as well.

**EgliHonda** · 1st December 2009, 09:01

Funnily enough as the Munro weekend has just passed, I heard nothng but positive comments from people on how good it was to see all the motorcycles in town. Kids loved it (constantly getting a big 'thumbs up') and so did the average mums and dads from what I experienced.

Every cafe/motel/pub had bikes parked up and I think the towns and surrounding areas enjoyed the extra business and buzz about the place as the engines throbbed around the city... Apart from some thieving scumbags ripping off some blokes Harley it was all positive news and well-behaved bikers - you can't buy that sort of PR...

**AllanB** · 1st December 2009, 09:07

I'm starting to wonder that if we were all evil bikers that we'd be noticed a lot more!

Headline:

Police Riot Squad Required at Parliament to Quell Angry Bikers ........

**PuppetMaster** · 1st December 2009, 09:22

Originally Posted by AllanB

I'm starting to wonder that if we were all evil bikers that we'd be noticed a lot more!
Headline:
Police Riot Squad Required at Parliament to Quell Angry Bikers ........

Two groups of people with helmets and protective gear in battle. Maybe we should start some training camps in the urerewa's.

**Eng_dave** · 1st December 2009, 09:31

I heard on Seven Days them taking the piss out of the Wellington ride. That the participants were criminals, gang members and IT consultants!!! If this is what the stereo type is of a biker is we got some work to do people. I knew there was a reason for my irational hatred of Dai Henwood.

**crazyhorse** · 1st December 2009, 09:35

They used to do an advert in the local paper of Rick Barker - one photo of him in his suit - and the other of him standing in his leather next to his bike - advertising that you really do not know what profession motorcyclists have and that they can come from all walks of life......

**Genestho** · 1st December 2009, 09:35

I agree, primarily bikies are solid members in our community, have solid work to do and good incomes. Firemen, doctors, nurses, police, mechanics, home owners etc etc

Pisses me off to see this continual stereotype portrayed, and every press release using the angry bikers reference.

( Apologies - I is in a bad with one D mood)

**Kiwi B** · 1st December 2009, 09:58

You are dead right, this is the core of the problem with this whole ACC protest - the general public and cage drivers in particular just see us all as a bunch of gang affiliated reckless idiots. I had an ask around the office today and the general consensus is that we deserve the ACC increase, it should have happended years ago, get us off the road and why are we funding your accidents. Gullible ill informed idiots.

Not one of them really had a clue that the majority of us are hard working honest people whom just enjoy motorcycles - some didn't even realise that I rode a motorcycle!! for fucks sake. We are all then labelled as the stereotypical 'bikie' - gang patch harely rider with a skull helmet out to rape and pillage.

I think if Mr & Mrs general public new that a lot of us were in fact 'normal' people just like them we may get a hell of a lot more support.

I think it would be a great idea to get everyone out on a protest ride but have a gathering at the end that showed off all the walks of life that are the 'bikie' - get rid of that stupid stereotype

just my 10 cents

**FROSTY:Me** · 1st December 2009, 10:07

If in agreement with the concept could this be integrated into the next organised protest.
I"m thinking perhaps either people putting on their uniform (I can understand why this might not be possible) or maybee wear some kind of "patch" saying in big words-- Doctor, lawyer,Plumber etc etc on the back of tee shirts/leather jackets.
The idea of a patch being people seem to go looking for a patch
Just throwin out ideas here