Oxford English Dictionary has dropped its definition of bikers as ‘long-haired in dirty denims’ after outrage from British motorcyclists who claimed the description was outdated.Oxford University Press (OUP), which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary, bowed to the pressure from Britain's two-wheeled community.
The online version of the dictionary previously defined biker as: ‘A motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang: a long-haired biker in dirty denims.’
Figures, however, show that far from the ‘long-haired and dirty denim’ stereotype, fewer than one in 10 male bikers now has long hair (9 per cent), The Telegraph reported.
Also, almost half of UK bikers (42 per cent) are totally free of tattoos, piercings, facial hair or gang markings. OUP has now changed the Oxford Dictionary's online definition of biker to: ‘A motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang or group: a biker was involved in a collision with a car.’
Almost 74 per cent people believe the old definition was inaccurate, with 21 per cent saying they are ‘outraged and offended’ by it, a study by insurance firm Bennetts found. As many as 65 per cent of motorcyclists spend the majority of their time riding alone - and not as a ‘member of a gang’.
The online version of the dictionary previously defined biker as: ‘A motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang: a long-haired biker in dirty denims.’
Figures, however, show that far from the ‘long-haired and dirty denim’ stereotype, fewer than one in 10 male bikers now has long hair (9 per cent), The Telegraph reported.
Also, almost half of UK bikers (42 per cent) are totally free of tattoos, piercings, facial hair or gang markings. OUP has now changed the Oxford Dictionary's online definition of biker to: ‘A motorcyclist, especially one who is a member of a gang or group: a biker was involved in a collision with a car.’
Almost 74 per cent people believe the old definition was inaccurate, with 21 per cent saying they are ‘outraged and offended’ by it, a study by insurance firm Bennetts found. As many as 65 per cent of motorcyclists spend the majority of their time riding alone - and not as a ‘member of a gang’.