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

A Call for Action to Riders. The forthcoming General Election is probably the most important for motorcycling for a generation. We face a situation where, like 1997, all political parties have everything to play for. With a strong likelihood of a change in Government, we now have a real opportunity to reshape the narrative and thinking around motorcycling and send a clear message to candidates about what riders need from a new government. Our aim is to repeat a successful campaign, held back in 1997, when thousands of riders contacted their candidates and awareness of biking issues and the specific needs of the motorcycling community was significantly raised, to the extent that the new post-election Government committed to developing a motorcycling strategy,

The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) Calls For Improved Motorcycle Licence Training and Testing To Make Acquiring A Licence Less Complex and Costly, Whilst Delivering Enhanced Rider Safety The BMF calls on the future Government to make the current motorcycle licensing regime easier to understand and access; removing the current complexity, repetition and high costs, while maintaining the UK’s high road safety standards in training. The BMF seeks the support and action of all riders to deliver this key priority for UK motorcycling. The BMF has been lobbying hard over a number of years for improvements to the UK’s current motorcycle licence training and testing regime in order to deliver easier access to motorcycling and improved safety outcomes for all motorcyclists. The planned

Transport Choice: Bringing motorcycling into the mainstream of transport policy The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) calls on the future Government to bring Motorcycling into the mainstream of UK transport policy and develop a comprehensive Government strategic framework for motorcycling. Our objective is to agree a new motorcycle strategy with the future government, which will see motorcycling fully mainstreamed into future UK transport policy and properly recognised and facilitated as a positive and zero polluting form of transport for commuting, logistics and leisure. Motorcycling is a sector worth over £7 billion to the UK economy, with 3.5 million licence holders, and can form a key and sustainable part of a future, diverse transport framework, contributing to cleaner, greener and more mobile towns and

The British Motorcycling Federation (BMF) is calling on all riders to act now. We need you take part in the National Motorcycling Council (NMC)/BMF’s election campaign to put motorcycling front and centre of the next government’s future transport policy so as to ensure a bright and sustainable future for UK motorcycling. Over the course of the six-week election campaign, the motorcycling community has a real opportunity to influence Prospective Parliamentary Candidates of all parties to ensure that we put motorcycling fully on the map in all parliamentary constituencies in advance of the General Election. The BMF has been working hard over many months with our key partners, including the NMC, to gear up for the General Election, engaging closely with Ministers and