Scotland Considers 50mph Limit on Single-Carriageways

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

Portugal: no mandatory technical inspection for motorcycles

On 5 December the Portuguese parliament voted against a mandatory technical inspection for motorcycles, which was to be introduced from 1 January 2025. Portuguese riders' rights organisation GAM (Grupo Acção Motociclista) said: "The decision to impose a mandatory technical inspection for motorcycles in Portugal, on 1 January 2025 is definitely buried. The wait was long, but it is here: Portugal will not introduce mandatory periodical technical inspection for motorcycles. After more than 12 years of fight, to bring awareness to the reality of the facts surrounding the subject, we finally got the Portuguese government on our side: mandatory periodical technical inspection for motorcycles was repealed yesterday by the Portuguese parliamentary majority." Source: GAM Top photograph courtesy of GAM This article is subject to FEMA’s

EU Council: ‘implement national driving disqualifications across the EU’

The European Council has adopted a negotiating position to improve road safety by addressing driving disqualifications across the EU. The proposal requires that a member state which issues a driving licence must enforce driving disqualifications imposed by another member state for serious traffic offences, improving road safety by removing dangerous drivers across the EU. The next step is negotiations with the European Parliament.The European Parliament earlier said driving disqualification should apply in all EU countries (click here for an article from 29 November 2023). Key points include: The proposal aims to ensure mutual recognition of disqualifications for non-resident drivers. Certain disqualifications (less than three months or with under a month remaining) will be excluded. Information will be exchanged digitally via the EU

Government Unveils Its Vision For A National Integrated Transport Strategy

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

Bagger Racing Coming to MotoGP?

King of the Baggers – Harley-Davidson’s race series for fully-equipped touring Harleys – could be coming to Europe after the company signed an agreement with Dorna, organiser of MotoGP. Bagger racing (somebody had to say it...) first appeared in 2020 and has been a huge success in the US as part of MotoAmerica series, with the touring bike rounds acting as support races. The sight of big twin Harleys, battling it out on track, complete with fairings and panniers, is certainly a spectacle. To publicise the agreement signed between Harley and Dorna, the Baggers made a guest appearance at Barcelona this year after the final MotoGP round of the season. It’s still not confirmed whether bagger racing will join the MotoGP schedule

Watsonian Launch Affordable Sidecar

Watsonian-Squire, the British sidecar manufacturer, unveiled a new outfit at Motorcycle Live with a very special feature – a low price of just £7,999. It’ll even be available for a limited offer at £7,499, a £500 saving. Watsonian sidecars normally cost £5-7,000, just for the chair, so this complete, ready-to-ride outfit looks like a bargain Ben Matthews, Watsonian Squire’s Managing Director, said that the new budget sidecar drew on the company’s heritage. “Back in the 1980s Squire produced hundreds of sidecars for the importers of budget Jawa and MZ motorcycles. This created fantastic economics of scale and made sidecars an affordable option for thousands of riders. We still get enquiries from customers looking to buy a complete outfit ‘off the shelf’

Government Rejects Universal Access For Motorcyclists to UK Bus Lanes

Government Rejects Universal Access For Motorcyclists to UK Bus Lanes To see Government consultation, please click here The Government has today announced that there will be no change in policy to allow universal access for motorcycles to UK bus lanes. Decisions on bus lane access for motorcycles will remain at local level with local authorities. Paul Morgan CBE BMF's Government Relations Executive said: " This is a missed opportunity to significantly improve the safety of motorcyclists across the UK's road network. The BMF will now consider the Government's decision in consultation with our key partner the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), and in liaison with other motorcycling groups, to formulate a detailed response to the Government's decision." To read full Government outcome of the consultation please click

Road markings for motorcyclists win road safety award

In Brussels the European Road Safety Charter Excellence in Road Safety Awards 2024 were presented to the winners of five different categories: Education Motorcycling Pedestrians and cyclists Technology and innovation Urban The European Road Safety Charter, led by the European Commission, is the largest civil society platform on road safety. To date, more than 4,000 public and private entities have committed to the Charter and carried out road safety actions and initiatives targeted at their members, employees and the rest of civil society. Together, these various entities form a community in which members can share their expertise and actions, inspiring and learning from each other. FEMA is a member of the European Road Safety Charter. Pedestrians and cyclists >> Alternative mobility strategy

NMC sends evidence to Parliament re state of the roads

National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) responds to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee’s Call For Evidence on the State of the Road Network The NMC has forwarded written evidence to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee highlighting the dire condition of England’s road network and calling for an effective government strategy, supported by adequate funding, to urgently resolve the current situation. NMC Chair and BMF Political and Technical Services Director, Anna Zee, said: “ The current state of the UK’s road network is a disgrace, with many roads in an unacceptable and dangerous state through lack of sufficient investment over a number of years. The scourge of potholes, in particular, represents a real danger to motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users and needs to be fixed urgently through

Gift a Life-Saving Motorcycle

Riders for Health, sister charity of the long-established Two Wheels for Life, has come up with a novel way of supporting its life-saving work – asking us to buy a motorcycle. For over 30 years, Riders for Health has been supplying healthcare workers in Africa with motorcycle transport, plus training and protective gear. It’s a model that works well, as workers on tough, basic 100 or 125cc bikes can get to remote villages which are usually difficult to access, and at far lower cost than a 4x4. Now the charity, which operates in The Gambia, Nigeria, Malawi and Lesotho, needs to replace its ageing fleet of bikes and is appealing for individuals or businesses to donate £1,400 apiece. This buys a

Royal Enfield Launches Electric Flea

Meet the Flying Flee. Royal Enfield unveiled its new electric bike brand at EICMA – like Harley-Davidson and its Livewire sub-brand, Royal Enfield has chosen to market a new range of electrics under a different name. Flying Flea, another badge plucked from the company’s bulging archive, this one evoking a lightweight 125cc two-stroke from the 1950s, originally developed as a parachute bike for airborne troops in World War II. Clearly aimed at the British-built Maeving, this 21st Century Flying Flea shouts ‘retro’, with a forged aluminium girder fork (recalling the original Flea’s ‘rubber band’ front suspension), solo seat and curved ‘fuel’ tank. The battery is hidden, Live Wire style, behind a mass of curvaceous fins. Technical details are few, but the Flying

The British Motorcyclists Federation has today joined the National Young Riders Forum

The British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) has today joined the National Young Riders Forum (NYRF); a move that will bring together the knowledge and expertise of both organisations, alongside other expert representatives from the motorcycle and road safety arenas, to improve the safety of young motorcyclists, who remain amongst the most vulnerable of UK road users. NYRF brings together members with a wealth of expertise from all corners of the road casualty reduction sector, including leading motorcyclist organisations and representatives from Local Authority Road Safety Teams, Safer Roads Partnerships, UK Police forces, Fire and Rescue and the DVSA. Anna Zee, Political and Technical Services Director of the British Motorcyclists Federation said: “ The BMF is delighted to be joining the NYRF to work

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