I WAS disappointed by the attitude expressed by Mr Laurie in the article about mini-motos that was on the front of the Broadcast on August 3. As a happy owner of a mini-moto, I feel it s a shame there isn t somewhere in Dunmow where I am able to enjoy usi

I WAS disappointed by the attitude expressed by Mr Laurie in the article about mini-motos that was on the front of the Broadcast on August 3.

As a happy owner of a mini-moto, I feel it's a shame there isn't somewhere in Dunmow where I am able to enjoy using my bike without fear of being arrested or angering residents.

I do not ride my mini-moto on the road as it is illegal to do so, and when

I do ride it I always wear a helmet.

For Mr Laurie to say riding a mini-moto "can be a very costly experience, the price being their lives" is blatant scaremongering.

Although a top-of-the-range mini-moto can reach 70mph, most of them are capable of no more than 40mph and are easy to control, with strong brakes and good balance.

The low centre of gravity means that I am less likely to fall off than I would be on a conventional motorbike or moped and because I'm much closer to the ground, if I did fall off then I would be unlikely to suffer any injuries.

On grass especially, the dangers are minimal.

I think it's a shame that people are condemning mini-moto riders; they are just the next target for people to direct their frustrations towards.

Surely the only real inconvenience caused by these fun machines is the noise that they create - if there was a designated area in or near to Dunmow where they could be ridden legally, ideally surrounded by trees or fencing, then this would not be a problem.

It would give people like myself something to do in the evenings and allow us to indulge in our enjoyable and ultimately harmless hobby without angering residents.

The police and councils need to realise that they can't simply banish mini-motos and that a far more realistic approach would be to provide areas where they can be used safely and legally.

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