Insurance premiums continue to rise… BMF News 25 April 202425 April 2024 Motorcyclists feel the pinch as insurance premiums continue to rise A rise in insurance premiums across the motor industry, which has seen the overall cost of motor insurance increase by 43% over the past 12 months, is posing a real challenge for motorcyclists and car drivers alike as insurers hike their prices higher in the face of rising repair costs, higher wage bills and the continuing high level of motor thefts, in part driven by the ongoing cost of living crisis with a clear link between the cost of living crisis and a corresponding increase in crime rates. Motorcycles thefts across the UK remain disproportionately high. 2023 saw 23,963 total bike thefts which was only slightly down on 2022 figures. The
New partnership with Fletchers Solicitors BMF News 17 April 2024 Fletchers Solicitors provide BMF members with dedicated legal line. We have entered into a partnership with Fletchers Solicitors and the firm will now be providing a legal line available to all of BMF members. Fletchers is a Top 100 law firm who are recognised as leaders in the field by the independent legal directories such as Legal 500 & Chambers and Partners. BMF members receive special rates from the firm. Having a specialist team on your side if you have had an accident can make all the difference. Fletchers Solicitors has a strong heritage of working with motorcyclists, motorcycle groups and organisations, and the new legal line will ensure more motorcyclists have access to the assistance they need when they need it most. If
BMF supports the AA’s “Think Bikes” Campaign BMF News 8 April 20248 April 2024 On the 10th anniversary of the original campaign, the AA's message remains as relevant as ever with 350 motorcyclists and 91 cyclists alone killed on UK roads in 2022. It is important that we continue to increase motorists' awareness of those on 2 wheels to reduce the continuing high number of collisions and fatalities caused by a failure to see them on time. Government road traffic statistics show that cycles and motorcycles make up just 2.75% of miles travelled compared to cars but account for more than one quarter of road deaths. This is completely unacceptable and highlights the importance for all drivers to look out for vulnerable road users and to always think bikes when out on the road. 10th
The NMC Reinforces Calls for a Fundamental Review of the Motorcycle Licensing Regime BMF News NMC News 20 March 202420 March 2024 BMF SAYS... The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has today issued a second edition of its 2022 position on motorcycle licensing, testing and training which sets out updated proposals for a change to the current regime. The BMF has been a key contributor to the document, working closely with our partner NMC to set out the need for a regime that is easier to understand and access, with reduced cost, bureaucracy and repetition, whilst maintaining high training standards. In particular, the document calls for government to undertake a fundamental review of the current regime to create a training and testing regime that is fit for the 21st century; a regime which allows riders to progress more efficiently through relevant motorcycle licensing stages to
Motorcycle Advert BMF News 20 March 202422 March 2024 The BMF has called out the recent JD Sports advert depicting the inappropriate riding of motorcycles by young riders wearing casual shoes whilst performing stunts and wheelies against an urban backdrop. The advert is completely irresponsible and encourages behaviour that could result in serious injury, not only to riders but to other road users. Effective safety gear for motorcyclists, that provides adequate protection from impact and abrasion, is vital and can make the difference between riders suffering minor injuries or much more serious ones when involved in accidents. Casual shoes and trainers will always be entirely inappropriate for riding motorcycles as they are likely to shred or slip off in the event of an accident causing significant injury to the rider. You can read
Hackney Bike Parking Charges BMF News 19 March 2024 Hackney Council To Go Ahead with The Introduction of New Motorcycle Parking Charges Despite Strong Opposition From The UK Motorcycling Lobby Despite sustained objections from the BMF, other motorcycling organisations, and thousands of individual riders against the proposal by Hackney Council to introduce new motorcycle charges within Hackney, we have been advised by the Council that they have decided to "overrule all objections received" and introduce new parking charges and restrictions regardless. Hackney Council plan to charge motorcycle parking rates 10-20 times higher than anywhere else in the UK, anticipating that this will reduce motorcycle parking in the Borough by 70%. The Council claims its priority is to "reclaim the kerbside space" used by motorcycles, despite only 0.2% of parking space in
Motorcycles in Bus Lanes BMF News 18 March 202418 March 2024 Government launches consultation on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default. Responses required by 9 June 2024. The Government has launched its much anticipated consultation on whether motorcycles should be allowed access to bus lanes by default, as part of its commitment set out in the Plan For Drivers published on 2 October 2023. The BMF has pushed for many years for motorcyclists to be allowed default access to bus lanes, predominantly on safety grounds by removing potential conflicts with other road traffic. There are also wider benefits in terms of reducing traffic congestion and journey times for motorcyclists. Although some local authorities have allowed motorcyclists to use some bus lanes, current access is neither universal nor consistent across local authorities. The
BMF Head Office move to Mallory Park BMF News 2 February 202421 February 2024 BMF on the Move... Mallory Park beckons as the BMF team prepare to pack up and move to new offices at this iconic and historic racetrack. The move will take place over an extended weekend beginning this Friday the 2nd of February, with everything back up and running, and business as usual, from Tuesday the 6th of February. The office phone number and PO Box postal address will remain unchanged following the move. Originally built as a grass oval circuit for pony trotting, motorcycles first took to the circuit for grass track race meetings in 1948. These popular events continued until 1955, when the Mallory estate was sold. The new owner, Clive Wormleighton, known as the true father of Mallory Park, went on
The BMF launches its 2024 Rally Season BMF News 1 February 202428 March 2024 This year will see the BMF once again host three rallies, the Crunchy Sleeping Bag, Dambuster and the Lucky Cup, each with its own unique character and location. As well as being enjoyable events in themselves and a fantastic way to meet with fellow bikers, the rallies are a vital part of the BMF’s fundraising efforts. Any money made supports the lobbying work done by the BMF in its determination to show the importance of motorcycling in the UK and to ensure riders don’t face discrimination based on their chosen mode of transport. The BMF’s Events Director, Peter Laidlaw had this to say about the forthcoming season: “I’m really looking forward to this year’s rallies. There is a lot of challenging
Commute by Motorcycle Despite the Weather BMF News 26 January 2024 Why I Still Commute by Motorcycle Despite the Weather January and it was barely light as I left home. By the time I arrived at work the leaden sky had lightened, but there was still no sign of the sun. Balancing carefully and feathering the rear brake, I drifted slowly down the ramp to the basement carpark. Ducking under the slowly rising shutter door, I made my way across between the cars, to the narrow walkway in front of a white nondescript door. The only place set aside for parking motorcycles. I was alone. In the summer months there are often three of us commuting by motorcycle, but in the winter, it is just me. I put the side stand down and
Government Listens to Riders and Drivers on the future of the MoT Test BMF News 25 January 202428 March 2024 The Government has responded to the MoT Consultation and announced today that there will be no change to the current MoT testing period for cars, motorbikes and vans, with the first MOT remaining at three years from registration. Subsequent MOTs will also continue to be taken once every year. Paul Morgan CBE BMF's Government Relations Executive said " This is an excellent result which comes on the back of proactive lobbying by National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and IAM RoadSmart along with our key partners and will ensure the continued safety of riders on UK roads." You can read more here ............. Government committed to MOT modernisation as consultation concludes First MOT test to remain three years after
BMF joins JCB, AA and others to launch National Pothole Partnership BMF News 15 January 2024 To launch National Pothole Day and the start of the new National Pothole partnership, Paul Morgan from BMF attended a media event earlier this morning in Staffordshire alongside representatives from JCB, the AA and Staffordshire County Council. Today's event was held to highlight the new Pothole Partnership between Road User organisations, including the British Motorcyclists Federation, the National Motorcyclists Council and to provide a demonstration of the capabilities of JCB's new "Pothole Pro" machine that can repair a pothole in only 8 minutes to provide a permanent and effective repair rather than the temporary "patch and dash" approach that has often been employed by local authorities. The aim of the new partnership is to bring together the key players in one