Calais. Any problems from immigrants to car drivers?

shortcuts

It is clear from the news reports that lorry drivers are getting a hard time from potential illegal immigrants as they use the port of Calais to return to Dover.
Anybody aware of similar problems facing car drivers?
I will be using the route soon by car with two bicycles mounted on the roof. Are they only targeting lorry drivers or are all vehicles seen to be fair game?

cc78

make sure you remove any saddlebags or bidons, those pesky illegals will try and stow away in anything

Matthewfalle

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19634667#p19634667]cc78[/url] wrote:

make sure you remove any saddlebags or bidons, those pesky illegals will try and stow away in anything

Yup - I found two in an inner tube ther day and saw a third one climbing into someone's hollow tech bottom bracket.

just out of interest, has anyone conducted any studies into the perceived value of bicycles mounted on top of cars attracting illegal immigrants against the attraction of, say, a supermarket brand bicycle attracting refugees?

Would someone fleeing somewhere such as, say, Aleppo, be attracted to a Pinarello over say, a Chinarello?

dabber

Makes you nervous doesn't it. From the various news reports from earlier this week I got the impression that cars were being hassled a bit. It wasn't clear but being stuck/slow moving surrounded by the illegals can't have been comfortable.
We are heading out to France via Calais on Sunday with 2 bikes on a towbar rack and hope that there will no problems traveling in that direction. When we return mid-August... who knows.

shortcuts

LMAO I wasn't concerned re stowaways but damage to the car, theft of or damage to the bikes or the bikes on the roof attracting added attention. My bad for choosing a Friday to pose the question but it is a genuine question.

bernithebiker

Try not to stop.....

greasedscotsman

I came back through Calais in April without any problems. Although maybe not the best example as it was on a Monday morning, very quiet with very little traffic. If you are worried, maybe go through the town and avoid the section of the A216 adjacent to the camp.

shortcuts

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19634695#p19634695]greasedscotsman[/url] wrote:

I came back through Calais in April without any problems. Although maybe not the best example as it was on a Monday morning, very quiet with very little traffic. If you are worried, maybe go through the town and avoid the section of the A216 adjacent to the camp.

Thank you. Good advice.

sloppyschleckonds

Have you asked the same question on Mumsnet or the Daily Mail websites?

You may get some more sensible replies.

HTH

rafletcher

Provided the roads are blocked by striking Frenchmen there are zero issues getting in and out of the port or Eurotunnel terminal.

shortcuts

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19634719#p19634719]SloppySchleckonds[/url] wrote:

Have you asked the same question on Mumsnet or the Daily Mail websites?

You may get some more sensible replies.

HTH

Probably more sensible than this one
No I haven't.

bernithebiker

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19634735#p19634735]rafletcher[/url] wrote:

Provided the roads are blocked by striking Frenchmen there are zero issues getting in and out of the port or Eurotunnel terminal.

Indeed - this is more of a worry IMO. Massive strikes and blockades in all of France yesterday, but notably in Paris by the taxi drivers angry at Uber. They will be out again today and next week, 3rd July.

This in conjunction with the highly predictable French air traffic controllers strike the 2nd and 3rd July.

And when they finish, tag team strikers will be lining up to take over; in no particular order;

Air France pilots and cabin crew
SNCF train crew
farmers
doctors
lawyers (yes!)
etc. etc.

djhermer

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19634754#p19634754]bernithebiker[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19634735#p19634735]rafletcher[/url] wrote:

Provided the roads are blocked by striking Frenchmen there are zero issues getting in and out of the port or Eurotunnel terminal.

Indeed - this is more of a worry IMO. Massive strikes and blockades in all of France yesterday, but notably in Paris by the taxi drivers angry at Uber. They will be out again today and next week, 3rd July.

This in conjunction with the highly predictable French air traffic controllers strike the 2nd and 3rd July.

And when they finish, tag team strikers will be lining up to take over; in no particular order;

Air France pilots and cabin crew
SNCF train crew
farmers
doctors
lawyers (yes!)
etc. etc.

Frickin' socialist ba5tards

Druidor

Watch out they will be hiding in your jersey pockets next, eating you gels to keep themselves going on the long journey.

shortcuts

As I have said, I am not concerned re stowaways. However, to those that laugh:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11075845/Illegal-immigrant-travels-from-France-to-Kent-hidden-in-a-Fiat-Panda.html

orraloon

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19635245#p19635245]shortcuts[/url] wrote:

As I have said, I am not concerned re stowaways. However, to those that laugh:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11075845/Illegal-immigrant-travels-from-France-to-Kent-hidden-in-a-Fiat-Panda.html

Aye, right. She drives from Calais to UK in a Fiat Panda with 2 dogs, spaniels yet, in the back and she doesn't realise there's some bloke in the car as well? Hmm. Nowt to do with £500 in folding stuff in her purse then?

sniper68

We were stuck in very slow moving traffic into the port last summer.It was a Saturday evening and the jam started 6km away from the port not long after we left the Motorway.There were people everywhere 100s of them.By the time we got about 2km away the traffic was stop start and there were now a couple of thousand at least.We had the car doors locked but noone tried them anyway.They were however trying to get in every lorry and caravan.
Some Lorries had a 2nd driver walking behind them to stop them getting in the back doors.

nicklouse

Love the way it has only now been show on the news. It is nothing new and has been going on for years.

The only thing that made it news was the strike.

Just keep calm and carry on.

Ps why would they want to steal something? They want to get into the UK not nick bikes or bike parts.

Ben6899

They're refugees; not thieves.