Ministers face a full agenda of biking issues after Government reshuffle. Riders need certainty in several key areas Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle of both cabinet and departmental ministers has seen several changes in the Government, not least the Department for Transport (DfT) where two ministers directly involved in motorcycling matters, Richard Holden and Jesse Norman, have moved on. DEFRA has a new Secretary of State, Steve Barclay. Trudy Harrison has also departed from her ministerial post in the Department. As this is likely to be the last major change in ministers before the General Election, new ministers are entering office with a large backlog of issues that affect motorcycling. The NMC is calling for the Government to finally bring certainty and

National Motorcycling Council calls on the Government to adopt the NMC’s approach to motorcycle decarbonisation – plus deliver in other policy areas. News that Prime Minister Sunak is set to announce a revision of net-zero targets has been today welcomed by the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC). The Council has from the start advocated an approach to decarbonisation which follows international product, technical and market developments in this area, rather than imposing arbitrary UK-only targets based around just one type of technology – battery electric. Government must take a genuinely technology neutral approach to decarbonisation and support wider choice than just battery electric motorcycles alone – including supporting the ongoing development of clean fuel technology for internal combustion engines. Security of fuel

Work by the Trail Riders Fellowship and the Green Lane Association regains motorised access to Wrexham rural green road. The National Motorcyclists Council have welcomed a High Court decision to revoke a traffic regulation order which had removed vehicular access rights on a green road in Wrexham The unclassified county road known as “Whitestones”, in Llansanffraid Glyn Ceiriog, Wrexham County Borough, is a popular route among ‘green laners’ and other types of recreational users. However, Users have encountered problems on the route from at least 2016 when obstructions and blockages started appearing in an attempt to discourage public use. In May 2021 the Green Lane Association (GLASS), a member of the NMC’s partner organisation, the Land Access and Recreation Association, served notice

NMC joins Transport for London, the Motor Cycle Industry Association and a range of public authorities and safety organisations in a partnership to call for long overdue changes to Motorcycle Compulsory Basic Training (CBT). The National Motorcyclists Council has joined forces with Transport for London, the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) and a range of road safety charities and other transport authorities to call on the Government to make positive changes to improve CBT for motorcyclists. The organisations have signed a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, to emphasise the critical role these changes can play in enhancing road safety across the UK. Several changes to CBT were agreed by the Department for Transport after a consultation in

National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) holds positive meeting on a range of motorcycling matters with Transport Minister Richard Holden. During a wide ranging meeting on motorcycling policy issues between the National Motorcyclists Council and Transport Minister, Richard Holden MP, Mr Holden revealed that he is open to developing better policies for motorcycling as part of the Department for Transport’s approach to overall transport matters and the future of transport. Acknowledging that there was much he needed to learn about motorcycling, Mr Holden agreed that further work on rider licensing, safety and various areas of regulation is needed and accepted that the practice overlooking or ignoring motorcycling in various policy initiatives deserves reconsideration. The contribution of motorcycling to transport and society was discussed, and

Promises to reconsider parking charges scheme broken by the London Borough Hackney Borough Council in London have broken their promise to commuters, carers and residents who ride motorcycles for work and essential services. It has signalled intent to press on with an exorbitant and regressive motorcycle parking charge which stands to plunge many of those who ride into transport poverty. On March 27th Hackney Council Cabinet will meet to consider a new policy on powered two wheeler (PTW) parking charges which motorcycling organisations, the motorcycle trade and trade unionists have dubbed a “poverty tax”. In October Hackney Council promised they would work with riders to make changes to the charges. They have since set aside this promise, and have made no meaningful changes

National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) have confirmed that Classic motorcycles in the Historic Vehicle registration class are not subject to the Congestion Charge After concerns raised by riders of motorcycles which have been registered in the Historic Vehicle class of vehicle by the DVSA, the National Motorcyclists Council has received confirmation from Transport for London (TfL) that motorcycles of all ages are not subject to the Congestion Charge. Concerns were raised by members of the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) who were worried that the charge can be levied if riding into the Congestion Charge Zone. This is because the Historic Vehicle class is not exempt from the charge. This raises an anomalous scenario where pre Euro 3 emissions motorcycles would, on the

EU safety policy deficiencies offers the UK Government an opportunity to go further In a busy week for road safety policy in the EU, the European Commission launched its Road Safety Package. Presented yesterday in Brussels by Commissioner Adina Valean, the Package focuses on changes to the EU driving licence regime. These include digital driving licences, more focus on risk factors and hazard perception, limited changes to licence categories, enforcement and advanced vehicle technologies. Updated testing rules will take account of the transition to zero emission vehicles and teaching novice drivers about how driving styles impact on emissions. Although the Commission state that the proposed rules will; ‘prepare drivers better for … driving on city roads, alongside more bicycles and two-wheelers …’

Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) deliver key messages to Parliament on decarbonisation Recognising the needs of both industry and users, plus the need to take a technology neutral approach to decarbonisation, were among the key messages delivered to Parliament on Tuesday 7th February 2023 as part of a joint Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) briefing to MPs, Peers and Government representatives. Read the briefing here -  Motorcycling and the Future of Transport With the Government yet to announce policy after its summer 2022 consultation on decarbonising L-Category vehicles (two, three and light four-wheeled vehicles), the MCIA and NMC took the key messages for the sector to parliamentarians at a well-attended briefing which was followed by

The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) welcomes new Government focus on motorcycling in transport policy. The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has strongly welcomed the announcement of a new Government strategic group that brings together several strands of policy activity relating to motorcycling. The Motorcycle Strategic Focus Group, which will be managed by DfT and DVSA, will consider a range of issues affecting motorcyclists. For the first time since the Government Advisory Group for Motorcycling was convened in the early 2000s, the new Group will be looking at motorcycling in the context of wider policy. These include areas such as technology and future connectivity advances and how Government embeds motorcycling more effectively in future policies and road safety strategies. It will also consider motorcycling

Extraordinary decision by Hackney Councillors to not review flawed justification for parking charges needs to be reversed. Motorcyclists are campaigning against a decision that will damage the contribution which motorcycling is making to cutting urban traffic congestion and pollution. The National Motorcyclists' Council (NMC) is calling for councillors in the London Borough of Hackney to reconsider their decision of November 23rd to refuse to review the evidence that was put forward to support proposed new parking charges in the Borough. The NMC has lent its support to the existing campaign against parking charges that is being run by Save London Motorcycling (SLM) and the London branch of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG). NMC member, the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) has

Procedures and options for taking bikes in vans and on trailers across the border made clearer after the NMC and the UK Government work together on developing solutions. The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has published general advice for riders who wish to take their bikes across the EU border in a van, motorhome, or on a trailer. This advice provides information about procedures and paperwork which should be considered for border crossings. It became necessary to develop the advice after the Council received reports from riders and commercial operators who had experienced problems at the border, with in some cases costly ATA Carnets demanded. On a handful of occasions, riders were even turned back until they could secure a carnet. It