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
