‘Motorcycling Matters’. NMC Launches Manifesto for the General Election NMC News 17 May 202417 May 2024 All riders are asked to take part in the campaign and contact their election candidates The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has today launched an important campaign which aims to put motorcycling on the map in parliamentary constituencies in advance of the General Election. A ‘Motorcycling Matters’ manifesto and campaign website has been created by the NMC’s members, which sets out in simple terms what motorcyclists need the post-election Government to deliver for motorcycling. It presents a manifesto for a positive vision for the future of transport and the role of motorcycling within this. There are seven key themes: 1. Transport Choice: Bringing motorcycling into the mainstream of transport policy 2. The introduction of improved and simplified licensing, training and testing 3. Safer roads for riding,
BMF Launches Manifesto for Motorcycling BMF News 17 May 202420 May 2024 The BMF, in partnership with the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), has launched a Manifesto for Motorcycling which lays out the priorities for a future government on motorcycle policy and sets out a compelling strategy to fully unlock the benefits that motorcycling can bring to the future of transport. Crucial input from BMF representatives Anna Zee and Paul Morgan helped develop the policy from an early stage. “As a General Election looms closer, it’s important that we make clear exactly what UK motorcycling needs from government, whichever party is in power. Motorcycling needs to be recognised as a key part of the solution to achieving Net Zero targets and be facilitated as a positive low and zero polluting form of transport for
BUS LANES – Don’t miss out. Your voice needs to be heard! BMF News 13 May 202416 May 2024 The current Government Consultation on allowing default access for all motorcycles to bus lanes is closing on the 9 June 2024. The consultation published on 17 March 2024 and closing on 9 June 2024 concerns making access to bus lanes for motorcycles the default position for all Local Authorities. Access for motorcycles at present is neither universal nor consistent across Local Authority boundaries creating confusion for riders and other road users which impacts on the overall safety of riders. We are calling for default access for motorcyclists to all bus lanes. See the BMF Position Paper Motorcycles in Bus Lanes, which sets out the benefits that will derive from default access being granted. Don't miss out. Your voice needs to be heard. A link
Smart Motorways Update BMF News 11 May 202417 May 2024 The BMF has been updated on progress to make smart motorways safer, by the Department for Transport. Anna Zee (Political and Technical Services Director) attended a Transport Focus Road User Panel meeting and was told that the retro-fit of additional Emergency Areas is intended to be completed by March 2025 – they should then mostly be about 1km apart. All Lane Running (ALR) ‘smart’ motorways replace the conventional hard shoulder with a live traffic lane, which is closed to traffic via overhead signs if a vehicle breaks down and is stationary in the lane. However, a series of collisions, some resulting in fatalities, have led to criticism of the whole concept of smart motorways, with a BBC Panorama programme highlighting faulty
Riders and manufacturers agree on historic joint motorcycling manifesto FEMA News 7 May 20247 May 2024 The main organisations representing both the riders and the motorcycle industry (ACEM, FEMA, FIM) jointly celebrate the Day of Europe by launching a manifesto addressed to European leaders, ahead of the European elections. We call on the European Institutions to actively incorporate motorcycling into the policy priorities for the 2024-2029 political mandate that will kick off with the coming European elections on 5-9 June. Our sector positively contributes to the European economy, social inclusion and territorial cohesion with around €21.4 billion to European GDP and 389.000 jobs. Only in Europe, there are almost 40 million motorcycles, mopeds, tricycles and quadricycles to support a clean, efficient, practical and enjoyable alternative for moving people and goods in cities and rural areas. Motorcycling fully aligns with
BMF have responded to the DfT Consultation BMF News 1 May 20241 May 2024 The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has responded to Government proposals to increase the legal power of e-bikes; opposing the proposals and commenting that rather than the piecemeal approach proposed, any changes to the power capacity of e-bikes should be considered as part of a wider and comprehensive regulatory review into ultra light electric Powered Two Wheelers (PTW) and micromobility regulations. The BMF has responded to the DfT Consultation Smarter Regulation: Proposed Changes to the Regulations on Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPC). The Government has proposed to amend the legal definition of how EAPCs are classified so that the maximum continuous rated power of the electric motor must not exceed 500 watts instead of 250 watts as set out in the current regulations. The
The NMC has responded to the DfT Consultation Smarter Regulation on EAPC NMC News 1 May 2024 Proposals to increase the legal power of eBikes should be considered as part of a wider regulatory review into ultra light electric Powered Two Wheelers (PTW) and micromobility regulations. The National Motorcyclists Council has responded to the Department for Transport Consultation Smarter Regulation: Proposed Changes to the Regulations on Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPC). The Government has proposed to amend the legal definition of how EAPCs are classified so that the maximum continuous rated power of the electric motor must not exceed 500 watts instead of 250 watts as set out in the current regulations. The NMC is not opposed to the evolution of eBike regulations if these are carefully considered and we envisage positives which could result from what is being proposed,
BMF Get Together at The Lakeside BMF News 30 April 202417 May 2024 Friday 19th April saw the inaugural BMF Get Together at The Lakeside, held in the centre of the circuit at Mallory Park, Leicestershire. Despite the torrential rain and high winds for most of the day, as late afternoon approached the weather finally calmed and the sun even made a brief appearance during the evening! Over 70 bikes and a dozen cars joined us at the BMF HQ location for an evening of good food, drinks, great live music and a good old natter about bikes! BMF Staff, Helen and Net were supported by a crew of volunteer marshals and all proved worth their weight in gold, all enthusiastically took to their new roles with big smiles. Food and drinks were served in the Lakeside
Insurance premiums continue to rise… BMF News 25 April 202425 April 2024 Motorcyclists feel the pinch as insurance premiums continue to rise A rise in insurance premiums across the motor industry, which has seen the overall cost of motor insurance increase by 43% over the past 12 months, is posing a real challenge for motorcyclists and car drivers alike as insurers hike their prices higher in the face of rising repair costs, higher wage bills and the continuing high level of motor thefts, in part driven by the ongoing cost of living crisis with a clear link between the cost of living crisis and a corresponding increase in crime rates. Motorcycles thefts across the UK remain disproportionately high. 2023 saw 23,963 total bike thefts which was only slightly down on 2022 figures. The
Colorado Makes Filtering Legal – and Complicated Other news 23 April 202417 May 2024 Filtering...we all do it, and according to the Highway Code, common sense rules apply – there is no legal right to filter in the UK, nor is it specifically outlawed, but riders are expected to exercise caution. Now the North American state of Colorado has made filtering legal but hedged it about with several restrictions. First off, the vehicles being passed must be stationary – if they start moving, riders have to slip back into the traffic stream. Only two-wheelers are allowed to filter (which presumably means Yamaha Tricity and Piaggio MP3 riders can’t) and at no more than 15mph. Actually, not many in the UK would disagree with the 15mph limit, but the ultimate restriction for urban riding is that
Crawler Motorcycle to Launch in Latvia Other news 20 April 202416 May 2024 Ever wondered what a motorcycle with caterpillar tracks might be like to ride? You might get your chance in 2025, as Latvian company Oruga is developing just such a beast, designed to replace the typical quad bike with a motorcycle which can tackle the worst rough terrain. The Oruga Unitrack is described as, “the world’s first all-terrain electric monotrack vehicle for use in a variety of terrains, seasons and operations.” Previous attempts at an all-terrain utility bike have included the Rokon (two-wheel drive) and the EcoRider (big balloon tyres). The Unitrack has its two wheels mounted inside a crawler track to spread its weight over a wider area – it also has a third idler wheel mounted higher up at the
Bajaj Working on CNG Motorcycle Other news 18 April 202416 May 2024 Indian giant Bajaj, which builds Triumph’s Speed 400, will soon launch a motorcycle powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), according to a report by Cycle World magazine. Two concepts are currently being developed, one of which should be on sale on the Indian home market in June. Bajaj has form with CNG vehicles, being a well-established maker of CNG-powered autorickshaws, increasingly favoured in Indian cities thanks to their lower emissions. CNG is a fossil fuel, but emits fewer emissions than equivalent petrol or diesel engines. It’s also a cheaper fuel, and is more widely available in India than in many other countries. The downside of CNG is that it’s less dense than petrol or diesel, so needs a bigger tank, which must