PILLION BIDING

Shannon News, 8 July 1927, Page 3

PILLION BIDING

rillion riding is often described as • >ein- dangerous and even suicidal, rul it is significicnt that these bold assertions have never been backed by my valid statistics. The fact that ■illion riders are involved in a minute percentage of - the total numbei of motoring accidents cannot be accept'd as an indication that the sport is perilous, or as a sound reason why it should be made illegal.

With a view of providing some tangible proof that there is little clement of danger in this, the cheapest form of transport for two, an English club recently held a reliability trial for solo machines carrying pillion passengers. The route contained several sections of greater severity than the average rider would be liable to encounter under normal touring conditions, and, in spite of this fact, about 93 per cut of the starters, who totalled over 100, completed the course. One of the regulations for the trial concerned pillion equipment, and this was very strictly enforced. It provided that every competing " machine should be fitted with a pair of footboards or foot-rests within easy reach of the passenger, and that machines should be equipped with a pillion seat, sprung or unsprung, securely fixed to the frame. A further requirement was that all passengers must ride astride.

These regulations are all excellent and should be followed by every tourist who desirqs to take a passenger on the carrier.