Camden parking charges are back BMF News 16 October 202316 October 2023 Recently there have been increasing numbers of local authorities seeking to introduce motorcycle parking charges. Camden Councils proposals are the latest, with the Council proposing to scrap free motorcycle parking bays and replace them with park-to-pay facilities. This is a misguided and illogical strategy given the significant congestion and CO2 reduction benefits which motorcycles offer. Motorcycles, in addition, do not take up large amounts of road or kerb space and do not require significant and expensive parking infrastructure to accommodate them. Powered 2 wheelers offer a real alternative to both high-polluting cars and the already overburdened public transport system. Rather than demonising motorcycling, local authorities like Camden should instead be encouraging greater use of motorcycles as a means to cut emissions, to
Brief round up of BMF 2023 AGM BMF News 15 October 202326 October 2023 The BMF Annual General Meeting 2023 The British Motorcyclists Federation held its AGM on 14th October 2023, at 10.00. The event, held on Zoom, was a great success with members taking part, from both Clubs and as individuals. Regular business was dealt with briskly, before moving on to wide ranging discussions on a number of topics. The meeting heard reports from the Chair, Jim Freeman, and fellow Directors and Staff: Anna Zee, Political & Technical Services Sheonagh Ravensdale, Communications Helen Hancock, Administrator and Social Media Manager Peter Laidlaw, Membership Services Howard Anderson, Finance The meeting was run by Jim Freeman, who managed the polls and voting, with help from Helen Hancock, the BMF’s Administrator, particularly monitoring the lively chat board. Jim Freeman was re-elected as Chair with 95% of the
BMF Link Up With Motorcycle Law Scotland To Develop A Car Drivers Awareness Campaign To Improve Motorcyclists’ Safety BMF News 12 October 202312 October 2023 BMF has agreed to work with Motorcycle Law Scotland (MLS) to develop an information campaign to improve car driver awareness of motorcyclists at junctions to reduce motorcycle accidents and fatalities in Scotland. A recent article in “The Scotsman” by Thomas Mitchell, an Associate at MLS, has highlighted the continuing vulnerability of motorcyclists in road traffic accidents in Scotland with motorcycle riders often the innocent victims of poor driver behaviour. MLS argue that current safety campaign messaging in Scotland, that focuses solely on educating riders about risks and reducing the speed of motorcyclists, “demonises” motorcyclists and creates a false perception amongst other road users that the responsibility for a rider’s safety rests entirely in the hands of the rider. The figures on motorcyclist injuries/fatalities
Volunteer Anna Zee: ‘Why I give up some of my riding so you don’t have to’. BMF News 4 October 20235 October 2023 Over the last twenty years I have received a pretty extensive education in road safety matters and a good deal of technical and legislative education to do with motorcycling issues. Most of it while engaged in full-time employment in a completely unrelated area. I never intended to become a road safety expert but if I am more than halfway there it is because if you represent motorcyclists it is necessary to engage with a whole spectrum of road safety bodies. It is unfortunately the case that as a representative of motorcyclists one does encounter people who can only think of motorcycles as dangerous and noisy. With respect to noise the simple solution is to enforce the existing law so let's put that
BMF’s response to the Thirlmere West Road consultation – Cumbria BMF News 25 September 202323 October 2023 The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) Files Objections To The Proposed Permanent Closure of the U7003 along the Western Shore of Thirlmere The BMF has formally raised objections to the proposed introduction of a permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) by Cumberland Council relating to the U7003 road along the western shore of Thirlmere. To read our full response to the consultation please click here The Thirlmere West road has been closed on a "temporary" basis for almost two years following Storm Arwen in November 2021, which resulted in fallen trees, rockfall and other debris falling on the highway. A consultation recently called by Cumberland Council has sought feedback on the Council’s proposal to close the route “permanently” whilst the latest survey of the road
20mph Limit on Welsh Roads Goes Live BMF News 17 September 20234 October 2023 A new 20mph default speed limit for all urban roads in Wales came into force on Sunday 17th September 2023. Councils can exempt individual roads if they choose to and keep the previous 30mph limit. The new law affects all residential roads with street lighting, most of which already had a 30-limit, and signage will be on the same pattern as previously, the 20 (or 30) limit denoted by circular signs with a red border. National speed limits on open roads remain 60mph for single-carriageways and 70mph for duals, unless signed otherwise. The Welsh Government (which was given the power to set a nationwide speed limit in 2018) made the 20mph proposal in 2021, the aim being to reduce the number of
BMF YouTube BMF News 25 August 2023 We have our dedicated YouTube channel, where we will showcasing all sorts of bike related stories, interviews and updates on our lobbying . BMF YouTube Please like, share and SUBSCRIBE.... We need to get to 1,000 subscribers to allow the YouTube algorithm to put our channel out to more people and therefore get our voice heard by many more riders. So please be part of the change, subscribe and share with all your friends. Our voicer is stronger together, thank you.
Research into motorcycle commuting – UPDATE BMF News 10 August 202310 August 2023 Thanks for your input and here’s an update... In August of last year some of you may remember taking part in an online survey about motorcycle commuting. If you did then many thanks for helping me out and contributing to my research. BMF article here. If you didn’t then don’t worry, hopefully this article sharing some of the outcomes of that research will still be of interest. Many research projects have looked into the benefits of travelling by motorcycle. Some look at the environmental benefits of this mode of transport in comparison to the car, whilst others focus on benefits associated with mental health and wellbeing. One of the most frequently quoted studies is from 2011 and is commonly referred to as
Why the BMF are leaving FEMA BMF News 4 August 2023 The BMF Management Team and the BMF Council have jointly voted to leave Federation of European Motorcyclists' Associations (FEMA). This is how we got to make that decision. The Past For 40 years the BMF took the view that the main place for UK lobbying to be effective was in the EU. This was because most legislation that affected UK riders was formulated there. Both UK rider groups took that view, which is why we created FEMA, whose common language is English and whose Constitution is derived from the BMF’s, written by two BMF representatives to FEMA. The BMF continued to take this view, with statements to the FEMA Board to that effect, until Brexit. The BMF deliberately avoided any internal discussion of
Exciting new rally venue for 2023 – Muncaster Castle – September 8th to 10th 2023 BMF News 31 July 202325 August 2023 Exciting new rally venue for 2023 - Muncaster Castle September 8th to 10th 2023 We are keeping the laid back style for this rally, with a slight festival feel twist to it! There will be live music, fantastic food, a rally bar, traders, all in an amazing venue steeped in history and not to forget it's an excellent ride-out location to explore the fabulous Cumbrian countryside. Why The Lucky Cup Rally? - we decided to recognise the history and the tale of the drinking bowl left by Henry VI. THE LUCK of MUNCASTER In 1464 Sir John Pennington gave shelter to Henry VI, wandering after the Battle of Hexham. Many years later in 1783, John, Lord Muncaster erected the tower known as
BMF Regional Rep presents research at international conference BMF News 3 July 202323 October 2023 BMF Member and North East Regional Rep presents latest research into motorcycle commuting at international conference in Colorado Springs USA. Motorcycles and other forms of powered two-wheelers could play an important part in a more sustainable integrated transport system. BMF member Alex Parsons-Hulse will present the findings of his latest research into the barriers to commuting by motorcycle at the 10th Annual International Journal of Motorcycle Studies Conference which takes place between the 21st and 23rd of July this year at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, USA. Some members may recall taking part in this research last year when they were kind enough to respond to an online questionnaire posted on the BMF website (previous BMF article here). In fact over
National Networks National Policy Statement; Bikes get left out – AGAIN! BMF News 15 June 202316 June 2023 The BMF has submitted a response to the consultation on the revised National Networks National Policy Statement (NNNPS) NNNPS??...What's that? Guidance on evaluating major projects on the road and rail networks. Anna Zee,BMF political & Technical Services Director says " I did not feel that we were really qualified to answer the questions actually posed in the consultation, but having actually taken the trouble to read it I discovered that it contained absolutely no reference to motorcycling. It did manage to list 3 forms of 'active travel', it even mentioned horse riding but not motorcycles. This was a point I raised at the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) meeting with Minister Richard Holden last month and that's what the BMF response is about." You