Councillor Fred Geldof made a motion to promote the town as biker friendly in this week’s Uralla Shire Council Corporate and Community Committee meeting.

He said he wants to see Uralla become “the biker capital of New England”. The motion seeks to promote the town to riders, modelling tourism initiatives after those used in Texas, Queensland.

Cr Geldof said there was a big difference between motorbike riders and “bikie gangs”.

“We’ve had quite a few bikers through and we’ve never had a problem with them,” Cr Geldof said. “If people take it on face value and not stereotype people with these negatives groups, I don’t think it will be a problem.”

Armidale’s highway patrol officer Sergeant Dave Bramble said as long as motorcyclists drive to conditions, he doesn’t see a problem with more bikes on local roads. “I think it’s great,” Sergeant Bramble said. 

“I would want motorcyclists to know they can handle a long drive.”

 Sergeant Bramble wants to see sensible driving on tourist routes.

“Motorcyclists know how to drive with other motorcyclists,” he said.

“If they show common courtesy and drive to conditions I don’t see a problem with it.” Cr Geldof anticipates there may be some apprehension about welcoming bikers. “You’re always going to get people who think there’s too much noise or don’t like it,” he said.

“When we have the Thunderbolts Festival we did have a lot of bikers in town and there was a bit of noise, but they also bring a lot of money to the town.

“What we’re looking it is much smaller groups more often.”

The motion will be put to Council at the next ordinary meeting on Monday.