After an eventful 2024 , what with the change of Government and a new array of Ministers to inform, persuade and guide about Motorcycle matters, we head into 2025. The work has already begun, with the BMF holding a Breakfast event, with our partners in the National Motorcyclists Council, at the House of Commons, attended by MPs and officials. The officials are important, as the collective memory of government, who we need to influence and guide as to what’s important to riders. We are particularly keen to agree a national motorcycle strategy, as a coherent way forward to improve rider’s environment in safety, infrastructure and sustainability as a form of transport. Let’s never forget that biking is the most environmentally sound form

Honda is in talks with Nissan and Mitsubishi about a possible merger, in a move which would create a $54 billion company, number 3 in world car sales. Honda already co-operates with Nissan on electric car technology but increasing competition from Tesla and Chinese EV manufacturers and the possible increased import duties of the incoming Trump administration, is forcing the three Japanese giants to consider a full merger. There’s no mention of motorcycles in the press coverage surrounding the announcement, which was made on 16th December. But there’s reason to believe that such a large-scale merger would be good news for Honda’s motorcycle division. Neither Nissan nor Mitsubishi currently builds powered two-wheelers (the latter offered a scooter called ‘Silver Pigeon’ in

Government Launches National Integrated Transport Strategy Consultation-Make Your Voice Heard The Government has set out its vision for a new Integrated National Transport Strategy built on a “people first” approach to transport that “seamlessly joins all modes of transport together and puts people at the heart of our transport system.” Click here for link In launching a public consultation on the new strategy, the Department for Transport has said they want everyone to be able to contribute to the new vision and to provide ideas on how the new strategy can best deliver greater opportunity, healthier communities and better lives. The new strategy will “set the framework for how they meet people’s transport needs today and in the future.” Motorcyclists have been

....Because they are! Opinion Piece - Director of political and technical Services, Anna Zee, explores the curious absence of motorcycling from planning policy. As a motorcyclist participating in discussions of road safety I am only too well aware that motorcyclists are massively over-represented in the collision statistics given that overall they are only 1% to 3% of the traffic on the road. Consequently the perception of a great many people is that motorcycles are very dangerous. In turn this perception means that many people working in local government and all the way through to national government are unwilling to do anything which they think could be classed as encouraging or promoting motorcycling. So politicians and officials do not want to seem to

Transport Scotland is proposing to reduce speed limits to 50mph on single-carriageway roads, and possibly reduce the dual-carriageway and motorway limits to 60mph for all traffic. The National Speed Management Review, which contains the proposals, could be put out for consultation. The idea behind the changes is to reduce the speed differential between different types of traffic, which Transport Scotland says would have safety benefits as well as reducing tailbacks behind slow moving trucks. So while bikes and cars would see the limit reduced from 60 to 50mph on single-carriageway roads, the limit for trucks over 7.5 tonnes would increase from 40 to 50mph. Similarly, on dual-carriageways and motorways, the speed limit for all traffic would become 60mph, with cars and bikes

The Government Unveils Its Vision For A National Integrated Transport Strategy in England In launching a new strategy for a future integrated transport model across England, the Government has called for ideas on how it can deliver on its vision. There is a real opportunity, as the new strategy is developed, for the Government to recognise motorcycling within its core transport policy and, importantly, to realise the significant benefits that motorcycling can deliver in terms of a hugely versatile, affordable, zero congesting and lower polluting transport solution. You can read further details regarding the Government’s announcement, including a statement from the BMF’s Political and Technical Services Director Anna Zee, by clicking on the following link to the National Motorcyclists Council's (NMC) Press Release

Government Rejects Universal Access For Motorcyclists to UK Bus Lanes To see Government consultation, please click here The Government has today announced that there will be no change in policy to allow universal access for motorcycles to UK bus lanes. Decisions on bus lane access for motorcycles will remain at local level with local authorities. Paul Morgan CBE BMF's Government Relations Executive said: " This is a missed opportunity to significantly improve the safety of motorcyclists across the UK's road network. The BMF will now consider the Government's decision in consultation with our key partner the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), and in liaison with other motorcycling groups, to formulate a detailed response to the Government's decision." To read full Government outcome of the consultation please click

The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has today joined the National Young Riders Forum (NYRF); a move that will bring together the knowledge and expertise of both organisations, alongside other expert representatives from the motorcycle and road safety arenas, to improve the safety of young motorcyclists, who remain amongst the most vulnerable of UK road users. NYRF brings together members with a wealth of expertise from all corners of the road casualty reduction sector, including leading motorcyclist organisations and representatives from Local Authority Road Safety Teams, Safer Roads Partnerships, UK Police forces, Fire and Rescue and the DVSA. Anna Zee, Political and Technical Services Director of the British Motorcyclists Federation said: “ The BMF is delighted to be joining the NYRF to work

VICTORY FOR THE BMF AS BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET (BANES) COUNCIL ROW BACK ON THEIR PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE EMISSION-BASED PARKING CHARGES FOR MOTORBIKES Following a coordinated campaign by the BMF, which included a joined-up campaign on the ground between BMF's Carenza Ellery and Geoff Mills and Colin Brown from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the Council has today announced that they will not now be introducing parking charges for motorbikes. After a Public Consultation was launched by BANES Council earlier this year, the BMF submitted a comprehensive and robust response setting out our objections to the Council’s original proposals to introduce parking charges for motorcycles across the Bath & North East Somerset area (you can read the BMF’s detailed response to

The Government's proposed reforms to the UK's National Planning Policy Framework have one big flaw: they fail to mention motorbikes! The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has responded to the Government's Consultation on "Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the UK planning system", which are designed to unleash significant environmental, social and economic benefits for UK plc. Unfortunately, the Government’s proposals as they stand fail to take into account the widely recognised benefits to be derived from the promotion and support of Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) as an accessible, low-cost and low-polluting solution to the UK’s future transport needs. Paul Morgan CBE, BMF’s Government Relations Executive said: “ In responding to the Government Consultation, which will form the blueprint

The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) have responded to the Transport for London (TFL) consultation on plans to charge motorcyclists to use the Silvertown and Blackwell tunnels from 2025. TfL are urged to “think again” on flawed plans that fail to take into account the positive impact of motorcycles on London's pollution and congestion levels. The BMF and NMC, in a combined response to TfL’s consultation on the proposed Charging Scheme for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels, have lodged detailed objections to the proposals to implement charges for motorcycles to use the Tunnels from 2025. Both UK motorcycling organisations have urged TfL to reconsider their proposed strategy and to exempt motorcyclists from the charges. In launching the

* 3RD OCTOBER 2024 * UPDATE * Paul Morgan CBE said: “ The BMF has forwarded a comprehensive response to the consultation recognising the need to tackle anti-social behaviour but recommending that Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council carefully considers the potential wider effect of the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order. The Council needs to ensure they avoid unintended and unexpected impacts on other legitimate and law-abiding road users, including motorcyclists engaged in legitimate motorcycle club gatherings and charity ride-outs, as well as general leisure pursuits and commuting.” You can read the full BMF response to the consultation here Original article below.... Newcastle-Under-Lyme Council Considering Imposing ‘Public Spaces Protection Order’ (PSPO) As Part of a “Car Cruising Crackdown” with Potential Adverse Implications for Motorcyclists Residents and other stakeholders are