Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels Consultation BMF News 26 July 2024 Do you live or travel to London? Then you need to be aware that Transport for London (TfL) has launched a consultation on a proposed "toll" to use the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels to be introduced in spring 2025, that includes a plan to also charge motorcycles using the tunnels. The current proposed charges are set out below. The fee will be the same for both tunnels, but they will vary in peak and off-peak times. As they currently stand, the plans will see motorcycles being charged a slightly reduced price to car and vans during peak times but the same as cars at off-peak time There is no justification for this. TfL say they must bring in charges to ‘manage
Camden Parking Charges – Update BMF News 26 July 2024 Save London Motorcycling has issued a "Press Release Update" regarding the proposals by Camden Council to introduce new parking charges for motorcycles in Camden (You can Read the Save London Motorcycling Press Release Here) Following opposition from riders and rider organisations, including the BMF, National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) and Save London Motorcycling, to the proposed implementation of new parking charges for motorcycles across Camden, the Council has now delayed the statutory consultation on the proposals for motorcycle parking fees until late autumn, whilst pressing ahead with their proposals for cars and other vehicles. This is a significant climb down by Camden Council but the threat to motorcyclists remains. If you live or work in Camden we need riders to email their MP
Bath and North East Somerset Parking Charges BMF News 26 July 202426 July 2024 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 fight the proposed changes which are illogical and
BMF response to Bikes in Bus Lanes consultation BMF News 19 July 202425 July 2024 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 BMF News 18 July 202425 July 2024 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 Friday 23rd August 6 - 9pm Friday 20th Sept 6 - 9pm More information
Innovative road markings for motorcyclists are successful FEMA News 12 July 2024 Taking the correct cornering line is an absolute must for motorcyclists. KFV, the Austrian Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit, investigated the effect of innovative road markings for motorcyclists in risky Tyrolean curves and provided proof of success: the white ellipses on the road resulted in motorcyclists choosing a safer through curves and a reduction in the number of motorcycle accidents by 80 percent. Taking the corner safely in the correct riding line - that's how it should be. The correct cornering line is an absolute must for motorcyclists - motorized vehicles without a crumple zone. A look at the accident statistics shows that most motorcycle accidents on Austria's roads occur in bends. The cause of many motorcycle accidents is an incorrectly chosen cornering line;
Cheap Bikes Raise Over £90,000 for Cancer Charity Other news 7 July 20244 July 2024 Thirty-five bikers, most of their machines costing no more than £600 apiece, have ridden from Lands End to John o’ Groats in a single hit, raising over £94,000 for Cancer Research UK. The Longest Day Challenge, now in its twelfth year, runs (the clue’s in the name) on the longest summer day of the year. The idea is to ride the 969 miles from end to end on a bike costing no more than £600, though exceptions are made if machine is in the spirit of the event, and this year 35 were entered. All of them made it to John ‘o Groats over 24-36 hours, and a wide range of bikes took part, one of them a 1999 Yamaha R1
Thirlmere West Road in Cumbria re-opens BMF News 5 July 20245 July 2024 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
BMF calls on Labour to take action for future of UK motorcycling BMF News 5 July 20245 July 2024 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
MotoGP Hits 75 Other news 30 June 202427 June 2024 The motorcycle world championship (it’s only been called MotoGP since 2002) has just hit its 75th birthday, with the first event held on the Isle of Man on 13th June 1949. Back then, the TT was part of the world championship, which consisted of just six rounds (compared to 20 rounds in 2024) and stretched over 11 weeks (March to November this year). It was also Europe-centred, while the 2024 season includes rounds in Qatar, Indonesia and Kazakhstan. The Island’s top race left the world championship in 1977, after it was boycotted by several top racers such as Giacomo Agostini, who argued that no rider should feel compelled to compete there. Such concerns didn’t appear to get so much attention in 1949,
London is Europe’s Most Congested City Other news 27 June 2024 London was the most traffic-choked city in Europe last year, according to transport data specialist Inrix, and it’s getting worse, with car drivers losing 99 hours of time and having to cope with an average speed of just 10mph. It’s ranked second in the world (New York City tops the congestion charts) followed by Mexico City, Paris and Chicago. Nor is it just a problem in Britain’s capital, with congestion worsening across all top ten UK cities compared to 2022, as traffic levels continued to increase post-Covid. In fact, according to these figures, congestion is now worse that it was before the pandemic, which temporarily emptied our urban roads. In terms of hours lost per driver per year, London is followed by
More action is needed to improve motorcycle safety FEMA News 25 June 2024 At a road safety conference in Brussels, where motorcycle safety was discussed, a prize for achievements in road safety was presented to Finland. Finland is the recipient of the 2024 European Transport Safety Council prize for outstanding progress in road safety. Finland reduced road deaths by 29% over the decade to 2023, while the average decline in the EU was 16%. The Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) award recognises Finland’s progress in road safety and is a testament to the country’s long-term targets and comprehensive strategy for improving the road safety of all road users. Since 2000, Finland has implemented several important measures to improve road safety. These include lower speed limits in most urban areas, construction of pedestrian and bicycle paths,