Clampdown on Frith Street aka Soho

[Paivi]

Some of you may have noticed the dramatically reduced activity in Frith Street (aka Soho, aka Bar Italia) over the last couple of weeks. This is due to an increased presence of parking attendants and high-ranking police officers, who are removing any licence plate covers (threats of 'interfering with the course of justice' have been mentioned) and forcing bikes to move on. Those that haven't seen the police coming and moved their bikes have been issued with parking tickets.

Unfortunately, this is a result of few bikers behaving badly, resulting in complaints from local residents and businesses. We have heard reports of long term customers of restaurants now staying away due to the noise, as well as local residents not being able to sell their flats as they have to declare the regular disturbance to potential buyers.

On a London based forum, we have been in discussions with the locals to canvas their opinions, and as this has been very encouraging (if we were to cut the revving and burn-outs, we'd be welcome back, as we are a 'tourist attraction', as well as regular customers), we're hoping to arrange a meeting with representatives from Westminster and Camden councils as well as the Met to discuss what can be done to keep this venue alive.

For the meeting, we're trying to find out exactly how long the Frith Street has been a meeting place for bikers, and support this with as much documental evidence as we can find, with some anecdotes thrown in. We know it's been going on since the 50s but have no firm dates and Google hasn't yielded many fruitful results as yet. Apparently, there is "an older song" out there that mentions bikes on Frith Street, anybody know which one? Or are we all too young?

So, if you remember seeing anything about this venue somewhere, or have any suggestions as to where we could find this info, please put your thinking cap on and PM me with any links, so we can collate some documentary evidence to it's being a historic venue and can then, hopefully, save it for London and SE bikers. As it is, Chelsea Bridge is dying out, so we're hoping to save at least Soho.

Karma and cookies for any relevant replies & PMs.

[Walloper]

Well done Paivi.
I know what the residents mean.
I live next to a set of lights and I, dare I say it, hate the noise from louts with blaring shite pumping from overpowered stereos and in-effective mufflers fitted to under powered bangers.
I think the cafe thing is cool if it's responsible.
The people who use the cafe/bar/etc should think of the local community's freedom too.

But then again I'm the wrong side of eight pints of stella and a scatter of halfs.

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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[hellkat]

Fucking grow up.

A few months ago, I was coming down Frith St after visiting (another establishment) further up the road and I have to say - no matter how much I love bikes of all descriptions - it is a bloody nuisance when its cluttered up with bikes outside Bar Italia, its only a little street, FFS.

Almost all of Soho's streets really are too small to be populated with a bunch of bikes on as regular a basis as this. Its hard enough to deal with traffic already.

You cannot possibly hope to turn Frith Street into anything remotely resembling a second Chelsea Bridge.

Even 5% of the amount of bikes that turn up at Chelsea Bridge must be an infuriatingly extreme amount to turn up in Frith Street, especially if you are wheelying or burning out. Its as irresponsible a place to congregate as I can possibly think of. Even Soho Square or Leicester Square would be better, and that would be a nightmare of negotiation to get around. The council are NEVER going to love you, and Westminster is notoriously bad in terms of police/traffic wardens' dislike of bikes.

And I don't go along with the notion of it attracting tourists. To do what ... stand and gawp and hold up both foot and vehicle traffic in that tiny street? So then when one of your wheelies or burnouts goes wrong ... how many tourists/rubber-neckers are going to get hurt? There are precedents for this up north, only a couple of years ago, with a civilian being killed at a local bike "funspot". Its simply not cricket to even THINK Frith Street is a good idea. Look at the logistical nightmare that happens even at the Ace Caff on Streetfighter Days.


If you must congregate in Soho at least pick a street where there's a decent length of road to do wheelies You could move to Great Marlborough Street (at the top of Carnaby St) which is slightly larger, a decent length of road to wheely down and has several bars and/or coffee shops, its where bikers have traditionally hung out for years (couriers still use it) ... or just park up there and take a short walk down to Bar Italia if you MUST be posey.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Paivi]

[hellkat]

I understand what you are trying to achieve. I do sympathise with your points about not fitting in to the Ace Caff scene or the Chelsea Bridge Scene, cos I have to admit, I'd prefer to sit in a nice Italian caff and drink espresso myself.

Also I take in your point/s about the old dudes out of Ronnie Scotts, and the passers-by wanting to ask about the bikes etc. A friend of mine who drinks further up the road gave me bare joke when he described a situation whence he and his friends insisted on parking their (somewhat more garish and interesting) bikes outside their chosen drinking establishment. They had a similar circumstance of interested (but slightly more nervous) passers-by - and the police, after communing with the irate traffic wardens and the owners of the bikes, decided they would probably NOT move them on.

So I can see how frustrating it is for you to be getting shif for parking down the bottom there.

But it just is not possible to justify high numbers of bikes in such a small area on such a regular basis. Its a logistical nightmare for all concerned. Personally I think it would be a shame if the council and the police DID put a stop to the congregating down the bottom of Frith Street, but its becoming just TOO high volume.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[currykev]

If I were a resident of Soho,I doubt I would have a valid reason to complain about "noise"...ever...At least it's not like Elizabeth 1st times, where you were lucky not to have p*ss and sh*t on your head from above.Check the history of the area........and......................
Bikers like to REV,thats part of being a biker!!!

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

The whole idea of holding a meet of the size that get's too is absurd. The road's are too small and it's too dangerous for what goes on. Unless you can ensure that NO stunting will go on whatsoever then it is not safe to hold a bike meet there, unless as a point of which to quickly move on from.

[TOM M]

What is the "Ace scene"???
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Now owner of a 1200 Bandit

[hellkat]

Dunno.
Its just what my brain told my fingers to type at the time.
*shrugs*

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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[anders]

Last time i was there I saw some bikers doing a burn out that made all the smoke go into on of the shops, this is not a good oneto do.
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Call me Mr. Blobby