A motorcycle rally planned for the nation’s capital next weekend, which is estimated to include nearly 1,000 vehicles, has been thrown a curveball. An organizer for the event claims Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has informed them that their vehicles will not be allowed into the downtown core..“We have been working with the city and the police since day one, completely transparent of what we are planning to do with the bikes, with the route, with the men, the monument, everything,” said Neil Sheard, an organizer of Rolling Thunder Ottawa. “They say, ‘you can protest all you like, but no vehicles, period.'”.The “Rolling Thunder Ottawa” event, planned for April 29 to May 1, is estimately to involve 500 to 1,000 motorcycles and other vehicles. The event, which organizers have repeatedly said is not a protest, will come just over two months after the end of the “Freedom Convoy” protest that occupied downtown Ottawa for three and a half weeks..Rolling Thunder Ottawa’s website claims that a rally and march is scheduled for Parliament Hill at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by an after-party. Saturday’s events include a Veterans For Freedom service at the National War Memorial, a bike convoy into downtown Ottawa, a rally and march on Parliament Hill, and a bike show..Organizers for the event claim they had worked with OPS to establish a route that would loop by the Ottawa War Memorial, but not go onto Wellington Street in front of Parliament. But on Sunday night, Sheard said the organizers were informed by the city police that their bikes would not be allowed downtown at all..“Since the time of the unlawful protests, the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Police Service have maintained a posture that no vehicle-based or -supported protests, rallies, or events will be allowed in the downtown core,” said a notice from OPS posted to Rolling Thunder Ottawa’s website..“.We fully appreciate the concerns of residents and we’re working to mitigate any disruptions and maintain order. Residents and businesses are still working to heal after the impact of the unlawful protest,” the notice read..Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson claimed on Sunday night that the “posted to YouTube on Sunday night, Sheard said he is concerned that if there is not an established route downtown, there is the potential for the bikers to have a “free for all” ride throughout Ottawa..“I’ve always been about the safety of the bikes and the safety of the public, constantly. You’ve got to have a route. So if you don’t get back to us, Mr. Mayor, and try and sort this thing out, change your mind, the onus is on you,” Sheard said. “I can’t just snap my fingers and say ‘guys, go away.’ Bikers do whatever they want. They’re big boys and girls.”.The OPS will be holding a press conference at 4 p.m. on Monday to provide an update on the situation..More to come….Matthew Horwood is the Parliamentary Bureau Chief of the Western Standard.mhorwood@westernstandard.news.Twitter.com/@Matt_HorwoodWS
