UPDATE *Response sent - read the full BMF response here The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has joined forces with the Motorcyclists Action Group (MAG) to fight illogical and ill-conceived proposals by the local Council to introduce emission-based parking charges for motorcycles across Bath and North East Somerset. The BMF is working closely with MAG and other interested parties, including the National Motorcyclist's Council (NMC), to fight proposals by the council that will see small mopeds charged the same to park as the average family car and motorcycles over 600cc charged the same parking fee as a 3 litre straight-six diesel Range Rover. BMF's Regional Representative Carenza Ellery has joined up with her MAG regional counterpart, Geoff Mills to put together a joint campaign to

The BMF has called on the Government to end the current inconsistent, fragmented and confusing situation on bus lane access for motorcyclists across the UK. Paul Morgan CBE, the BMF's Government Relations Executive said: "The BMF has today submitted its detailed response to the Department for Transport's Open Consultation "Motorcycles in Bus Lanes" calling on the Government to grant default access for motorcycles to bus lanes and resolve the current inconsistent and fragmented approach by local authorities that is impacting on the safety of motorcyclists and other road users. You can read the BMF's response here You can read previous BMF news articles in relation to this here and here Written by Helen Hancock Top image courtesy of Sophie Popplewell – Unsplash

BMF Get Together at The Lakeside Diner at Mallory Park Racing Circuit, Leicestershire. Come along and have a meet up in the centre of Mallory Park circuit! Whether you're a BMF member or not, we invite you to ride in and park up centre circuit, meet up and chat with fellow bikers. A place to make friends and talk all things bikes in a fabulous location. Great food and drink will be provided by our co-hosts at The Lakeside Diner and Bar. Everyone welcome: on bikes, trikes, scooters, cars or on foot! Come along and have a chilled out evening lakeside. Mallory Park Circuit Church Road Kirkby Mallory LEICESTER LE9 7QE What 3 Words ///sharpens.respects.exulted Friday 19th July 6 - 9pm Just some of the photos from the night here Motofoto 6-7, Motofoto

Honda is boosting a new safety scheme launched in Scotland – #TakeAnotherLook – focusing on the danger to bikers of road junctions and urging drivers to “stop and look again” at junctions. According to Motorcycle Law Scotland, using data from nearly 200 Scottish legal cases for biker casualties in 2022/23, 70% of deaths and injuries were attributed to “errors made by the car or motor vehicle at junctions.” The campaign was founded by three women who lost their husbands to junction collisions – Tracey Marsh, Maureen Rutherford and Jacqueline Dickson. Now Honda is planning to double the reach of the campaign, as well as using its social media channels to promote a petition led by Outlander actor Sam Heughan. This is

THIRLMERE WEST ROAD IN CUMBRIA RE-OPENS FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL LOBBYING BY THE BRITISH MOTORCYCLISTS FEDERATION  Back in September 2023 the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) submitted a robust response objecting to proposals by Cumberland Council to introduce a permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to permanently close the U7003 road along the western shore of Thirlmere. The road had been "temporarily" closed by the Council since 2021 following Storm Arwen ostensibly to carry out urgent safety repairs. However, during that time the Council had failed to reach agreement with the landowner United Utilities on the necessary repairs required or a timescale for the reopening of the road. The prolonged closure of Thirlmere West Road had resulted in motorcyclists and other road users being effectively

Election of a new Labour Government presents a real opportunity to deliver ambitious and sustainable action to secure the future of UK motorcycling. The BMF and its partners have today congratulated the Labour Party on their election victory and look forward to working with the new Government to deliver the priorities for motorcycling set out in the NMC/BMF manifesto "Motorcycling Matters" Paul Morgan CBE, BMF's Government Relations Executive said " The BMF looks forward to working closely with new Ministers to deliver a comprehensive strategy for motorcycling; one that will deliver a bright and sustainable future for the motorcycling sector with motorcycling front and centre of the UK's future transport policy ." You can read today's National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) Press Release here. Top image

Motorcycling Matters No7: Keep Historic Bikes Alive Triumph, BSA, Norton, Velocette... Britain has a proud motorcycling heritage, now added to by Japanese and European machines over 40 years old, equally part of the UK motorcycle scene. The NMC/BMF manifesto Motorcycling Matters urges that the historic motorcycle sector should be recognised for its economic contribution as well as the positive social engagement and mental health benefits to thousands of riders all over the UK. Over 400,000 historic motorcycles are registered in the UK, giving their owners hours of fun and contributing to a healthy ‘old bike’ sector with specialist companies in spare parts, restoration work and archive services. For the long-term health of the historic bike sector, there should be no time limit

Motorcycling Matters No 6: Celebrate Motorcycle Sport British motorcycle sport is a diverse and vibrant sector which needs to be encouraged, supported and celebrated. In Motorcycling Matters, the motorcycle manifesto put forward by the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) with help from the BMF, there’s a call for greater recognition of this widespread sector, which contributes £1 billion to the UK economy. Home to some world class racing teams, the UK also has a very strong grassroots motorcycle sport scene, on-road and off. Trials, enduro, grass track and sand racing; club racing on some of the world’s best-known circuits, plus road trails and road racing. From professional teams at the cutting edge of race technology, to the thousands of bikers who ride in

Motorcycling Matters No 5: Access All Areas Motorcycles must have an ‘Access All Areas’ pass to UK roads, whether these are tarmac, unsealed ‘green roads’ or bus lanes. That’s the fifth key point raised by Motorcycling Matters, the manifesto launched the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) with significant input from the BMF. The BMF and NMC are clear that unsealed roads which are currently legal for vehicle access need to be kept open for motorcycles. As for bus lane access for bikes, the policy of local authorities varies across the UK, with some allowing full access, some at restricted times and some refusing it altogether. The BMF/NMC are calling for motorcycle access to bus lanes to be made the default position across the

Motorcycling Matters No 4: A Technology Neutral Approach to Decarbonisation The BMF and National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) are calling for a pragmatic approach to the decarbonisation of powered two-wheelers. Whilst accepting the need to reach net zero in all areas of society, both organisations say that the path taken for two-wheelers must be proportionate and realistic, adding that petrol-powered motorcycles and scooters make up only 0.46% of the UK’s total domestic transport emissions. The transition of motorcycles to electric power is lagging behind that of cars, and needs extra time to catch up, with a clear and realistic deadline for the end of sales of new petrol-powered motorcycles. The BMF and NMC are also calling on all political parties to embrace a

Motorcycling Matters No 3: Make Roads Safe for Motorcyclists UK roads urgently need to be made safer for motorcyclists – that’s the third key issue highlighted in Motorcycling Matters, the manifesto launched by the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) on 17th May, with significant input from the BMF. The manifesto calls for rapid changes to roads infrastructure and a genuine attempt to tackle potholes. Current roads infrastructure guidelines do not take sufficient account of motorcycle safety and need urgent updating. Smart Motorways which were rolled out without enough regard for safety issues, are just one example – the BMF welcomes the Government’s decision to cancel any further roll out. Road surfaces need attention too, with poor maintenance leading to a rash of potholes which

New research aims to capture riders views on the subject of motorcycle and scooter theft Following on from his previously published research into the barriers to a wider use of motorcycles, independent researcher Alex Parsons-Hulse is leading this latest research project that seeks to better understand riders views and experiences of motorcycle or scooter theft. Please help with this important research by taking part in an online survey at the following link: CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY Participation is entirely voluntary and all data will be collected anonymously. The survey will close on Saturday the 29th of June. Your views and experiences are important, so please take part as soon as possible Written by Helen Hancock Top image courtesy of Alex Parsons-Hulse