The protest was on the Banyalbufar section and involved some fifty people. They held up a banner which read: World heritage for noise and road crime. The Tramuntana Mountains are a Unesco World Heritage Site.
This went on for around half an hour, during which time members of the group say they received death threats and experienced "scenes of violence".
This was intended to have been a peaceful protest, but it caused significant traffic delays. Drivers were every bit as affected as motorcyclists. One of the residents said that they were pushed and threatened with being run over.
There wasn't permission for the protest. Had there been, it would have come from the Spanish government's delegation in the Balearics. The protesters don't have much faith in the delegation. They maintain that the delegation has never shown residents support over all the years that complaints have been made.
As yet, there hasn't been any comment from the delegation and nor are there reports regarding police intervention.
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John MorrisonSorry, but the back-firing performance bikes pop-pop-poping through the gear changes echo across the valley even into the early hours. It sets my dog (and many others) off, just like fire crackers do, but then tourist renting my neighbour's ETV finca complain about the barking and want refunds, and so the neighbour storms onto my property with a shotgun, threatening to shoot my dog. Why the hell should I carry the can for others, because the guardia don't do their job?
Power to the people! I say. They police don't seem capable handling the problem. And this is a problem that effects us all in the end.
When I part- owned a finca in the mountains overlooking the road in question, it’s true the motorbikes could be quite noisy. However I have always been of the opinion it is better ‘To live and let live’. You just knew weekends were not for lounging around hoping for peace and quiet- and I was mindful of the fact that the motorcyclists were probably enjoying themselves, like I was when I had the mountain largely to myself during the weekdays. I have seen the same thing in the UK, when Ramblers become puce with rage at off- roaders legally using greenlanes, demanding that it should be for walkers only. I’m sure there is some middle ground that can be found, if the authorities are willing to engage. Live and let live, but always try to be respectful.
As somebody who cycles very regularly on the MA10 I can tell that the residents are totally right, the motorcycles are a huge problem. They are my biggest fear when I am riding. Too many of them, many if not most riding far too fast and very aggressively. Quite a few times I have ridden round a blind bend to find motorbikes coming towards me, on the WRONG side of the road having illegally crossed a solid white center line at great speed. It is very clear that they mark out a section, with spotters at either end looking for police while their mates "test themselves and their machines". I literally never see any police cars on the MA10. Never. This is strange. It is almost as though they are afraid to take on the motorbikes or they are somehow supporting the motorbikes. It would be very interesting to know hiw many speeding tickets have been issued on the MA10 in the last 12 months to motorbikes - my educated guess would be almost zero. It amazes me that more pedestrians, cyclists, drivers haven't been killed - it is only a matter of time. Good on the local residents for taking the issue seriously. I hope the authorities take notice and do something.
Sadly, good on the residents for the blockades to stop totally stupid, illegal and dangerous driving / racing. Just a pity the police can not be doing their job properly, by the looks of it if they have the resources. Just how many people have been killed or injured, and how many more by these lunatics. Just take the motorbikes away and crush them, even hire motorbikes. Finally a lengthly driving ban anywhere.