Honda is in talks with Nissan and Mitsubishi about a possible merger, in a move which would create a $54 billion company, number 3 in world car sales. Honda already co-operates with Nissan on electric car technology but increasing competition from Tesla and Chinese EV manufacturers and the possible increased import duties of the incoming Trump administration, is forcing the three Japanese giants to consider a full merger. There’s no mention of motorcycles in the press coverage surrounding the announcement, which was made on 16th December. But there’s reason to believe that such a large-scale merger would be good news for Honda’s motorcycle division. Neither Nissan nor Mitsubishi currently builds powered two-wheelers (the latter offered a scooter called ‘Silver Pigeon’ in

Government Launches National Integrated Transport Strategy Consultation-Make Your Voice Heard The Government has set out its vision for a new Integrated National Transport Strategy built on a “people first” approach to transport that “seamlessly joins all modes of transport together and puts people at the heart of our transport system.” Click here for link In launching a public consultation on the new strategy, the Department for Transport has said they want everyone to be able to contribute to the new vision and to provide ideas on how the new strategy can best deliver greater opportunity, healthier communities and better lives. The new strategy will “set the framework for how they meet people’s transport needs today and in the future.” Motorcyclists have been

....Because they are! Opinion Piece - Director of political and technical Services, Anna Zee, explores the curious absence of motorcycling from planning policy. As a motorcyclist participating in discussions of road safety I am only too well aware that motorcyclists are massively over-represented in the collision statistics given that overall they are only 1% to 3% of the traffic on the road. Consequently the perception of a great many people is that motorcycles are very dangerous. In turn this perception means that many people working in local government and all the way through to national government are unwilling to do anything which they think could be classed as encouraging or promoting motorcycling. So politicians and officials do not want to seem to

Transport Scotland is proposing to reduce speed limits to 50mph on single-carriageway roads, and possibly reduce the dual-carriageway and motorway limits to 60mph for all traffic. The National Speed Management Review, which contains the proposals, could be put out for consultation. The idea behind the changes is to reduce the speed differential between different types of traffic, which Transport Scotland says would have safety benefits as well as reducing tailbacks behind slow moving trucks. So while bikes and cars would see the limit reduced from 60 to 50mph on single-carriageway roads, the limit for trucks over 7.5 tonnes would increase from 40 to 50mph. Similarly, on dual-carriageways and motorways, the speed limit for all traffic would become 60mph, with cars and bikes

The Government Unveils Its Vision For A National Integrated Transport Strategy in England In launching a new strategy for a future integrated transport model across England, the Government has called for ideas on how it can deliver on its vision. There is a real opportunity, as the new strategy is developed, for the Government to recognise motorcycling within its core transport policy and, importantly, to realise the significant benefits that motorcycling can deliver in terms of a hugely versatile, affordable, zero congesting and lower polluting transport solution. You can read further details regarding the Government’s announcement, including a statement from the BMF’s Political and Technical Services Director Anna Zee, by clicking on the following link to the National Motorcyclists Council's (NMC) Press Release