Bikers Quebec slow traffic to protest rising insurance rates

Hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts Quebec spent the weekend parked in front of the Legislative Assembly to protest against increases in the cost of registration for their vehicles. E 'was the 16th in a series of cycling events in regular and high profile held on weekends from April - dubbed Operation Snail. The mass of demonstrators reader through the streets of Quebec at a minimum speed, to protest against the increase from the board of the Quebec Automobile Insurance. But this is the first time have taken their anger on the steps of the legislature, the behavior of many hotels and camping the night before returning Sunday. The protesters argue that the province is discriminating against bikers and ask for a moratorium on rate increases for 2010. They also call for the resignation of Transport Minister Julie Boulet provincial. Registration fees for motorcycles have been achieved in recent years, some more than tripled. Running with the most powerful models were the most affected, because the annual cost of fortification of $ 667 in 2008 to $ 1030 this year and there is another increase in 2010 - up to $ 1410. Quebec Automobile Insurance Company, or saaqi, who hopes to protect the sport of cycling devotees who claim they are over-represented in accident statistics. The council said it was paying more than double for the victims of motorcycle accidents that were killed in other incidents in the Quebec public insurance system without fail. The car owners to pay about $ 260 a year for registration and pay the owners of two-wheel less powerful by about $ 518 a year. And despite the protests, the board of the insurance refuses to compromise on the new awards. In August, the Council has made a concession to the protesters, saying he would consider the fee increases in the fall, but not delete the fee increases in 2010. Chairman of the Board of Harbor Insurance saaqi John says that can not afford a rate freeze. "A moratorium is simply not possible," he said. "Physically, physically, mathematically, we can not. If the council is rolling in profits that we might consider this approach but with the current deficit - we're talking about $ 2.4 billion last year - we can not . A new analysis of accident rates will also be presented and form the basis for the restoration of scale fees. Harbor argues that the increases are necessary because drivers of two-wheeled vehicles are often more severely injured in accidents. "The risks are not the same," he said. Driver "This is not because they are poor - they simply do not have the protection." But Jean-Pierre Belmonte, president of the Foundation Promocycle dedicated to improving road safety for motorcyclists, calls "the argument nonsense. Although it agrees that motorcyclists are more vulnerable, he noted that pedestrians and cyclists are also covered by the council of insurance and pay no taxes at all. He also said that the age and experience are the most important factors in determining whether a person will be involved in a traffic accident. "We are barking at wrong tree," he said. "There are four million people who own car (province), for example. It 'hard to believe that four million people are at different levels of risk." Harbor admits the current solution is far from perfect and there is still room for improvement. However, he expressed regret that the Council is trying to recover the tax rate. "In the end it was for the benefit of motorcyclists, because we have argued for something like $ 1 billion since the Council was justified," he said.