FIM touring events

The BMF is delighted to announce that we have taken over the handling of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) touring events from the Auto Cycle Union (ACU). The first event is the 39th FIM Motocamp – this one is camping only – from 8-11 June 2022. It will be held at Le Tiel in France, on the west bank of the river Rhone, 90 miles south of Lyon and just across the river from Montelimar. The venue is the local rugby club which offers good level camping in a closed, secure location, as well as toilet and shower facilities. The official dates for the rally are from 8th to 11th June, however the site will be open from midday on Monday 6th

‘Smart’ road pricing on the way, say MPs

Road pricing is likely to replace the current system of fuel duty and VED (Vehicle Excise Duty) in the not too distant future. That's according to the Transport Select Committee of MPs, which has been looking at alternatives. It addresses of what happens as petrol/diesel cars, HGVs, vans and motorcycles are gradually replaced by electric equivalents – how will they be taxed? Currently, the road system is paid for by a combination of fuel duty and VED, which together bring in about £35 billion. The RAC Foundation predicts that as the numbers of petrol/diesel vehicles drops off, this tax revenue will halve by around 2028 and fall to £9 billion by 2035. Electric vehicles (EV) do not pay VED, though this has

BMF disappointed with ‘Action Plan’ for zero emissions

The BMF will oppose any efforts to prevent the use of any internal combustion engine powered bike. The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and transport decarbonisation specialists, Zemo Partnership, were tasked in the Government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan to identify the actions needed to create new UK business and consumer opportunities for zero emission ‘powered light vehicles’ (PLVs). This includes powered two wheelers and other ‘L-Category’ vehicles, as regulation defines them. The publication of the ‘Action Plan’ shows how, working together with industry, the Government can remove barriers, which will allow zero emission PLVs to become significant modes of transport and help ensure industry and consumers are able to fully harness the opportunities they present for the environment, congestion and as affordable personal mobility

Motorcycle working group advises National Highways

National Highways has outlined a whole raft of measures to make the strategic road network safer for motorcyclists, thanks to the diligence of the Motorcycle Working Group, which was set up by the then Highways England in 2015. The specialist subgroup provided briefings on what motorcyclists needed from infrastructure and National Highways has delivered. National Highways 'Guide to Designing for Motorcyclists,' published in April 2021, is a document of best practice aimed at highways engineers, reminding them of the issues faced by motorcyclists, how to maximise their safety and to highlight several changes that have been made to the DMRB (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges), the National Highways 'bible' on road design that take into accounts the needs of motorcyclists. These include

New French experiment with ‘noise cameras’

France has announced a new experiment with ‘noise cameras’ to tackle excessive noise from moving vehicles. The experiment is aimed at testing the technological possibilities and will also need to set the legal framework necessary to use noise cameras as a legal way to ‘punish’ excessive noise. On 3 January 2022 the French government published a decree, allowing a two-year experiment with the recording of noise emission levels of moving vehicles by fixed and mobile automatic control devices. The decree also ‘adapts the regulatory part of the highway code in order to specify the constituent elements of an infringement of the regulations on the emission of noise by a moving motor vehicle and to allow its detection by an automatic control device.

Seasons Greetings from the Chair…

I’ve been asked to write a few words, as a closing comment on 2021, and looking forward to 2022. Something ‘between a Christmas card and the queen’s speech’, apparently, but knowing who said that [thanks Helen!] I’ll take that as I find it. Last year? When we discovered, still are, that Covid wasn’t going to be a ‘one hit wonder’, that we were going to have to live with it. We learnt that making plans was a chancy business, individually and as the BMF. That being careful about mundane things was going to be second nature. That’s enough gloom and doom. We also made progress, in some unlikely ways. For many people the push to get everyone to ‘walk, cycle, public transport’

2021: FEMA’s review of the year

Although physical meetings were not possible in 2021, we managed to keep advocating the interests of the European motorcyclists, in- and outside the European Union. In this article we give an overview of our activities. First, we give a summary and then you will find the more detailed actions by the four main topics. Summary of activities On the topic of the environment and the energy transition, we resist actively the present on electric vehicles. We see a future in electric motorcycles and other small (L-category) vehicles, especially in urban environments but we also want to have the opportunity to choose other low- and zero CO2-emission alternatives. At the same time, those riders who want to use electric powered two- or three-wheelers

Motorcyclists want dedicated charging infrastructure

Electric vehicles like motorcycles and mopeds offer a solution to many of the present and future challenges in urban mobility. That is why they need dedicated charging infrastructure with secure parking places. Part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package that the European Commission launched in July 2021 is a revision of the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive and it will be turned into a regulation, which is a binding legislative act. In the draft regulation the Commission proposes binding targets for electric vehicle charging points and hydrogen refuelling points, telling EU Member States they will have to provide for minimum coverage of publicly accessible refuelling and/or charging points. Motorcycle rider organisations and the industry noticed that, even though we earlier filed our views

BMF disagrees with the government’s anti-tampering views

The BMF does not accept the Government’s views on modernising vehicle standards if that means it will be come harder or even impossible to keep older bikes on the roads. The BMF has called for greater clarity on proposed anti-tampering legislation currently being considered by the Department for Transport. “The BMF disagrees with the proposals as defined because the scope appears unlimited,” said Anna Zee, the BMF's Political and Technical Services Director. “There is no indication of who will enforce the legislation or how.” The BMF has chosen to take part in the consultation but has done so under protest. With this consultation the BMF - and other motorcyclists’ organisations - are forced to answer questions and statements that should not be

DfT: “don’t fear anti-tampering”

Department for Transport officials have tried to reassure representatives of the NMC, including the BMF's Anna Zee, that motorcyclists have nothing to fear from the recent anti-tampering consultation. The original wording of the consultation – a maze of legal language – implied that any modification of a machine could be outlawed, and classed as 'tampering,' although the spirit of the wording was aimed at items which increase noise or emissions, such as aftermarket exhausts without a catalyser. Anna Zee said: “We were invited to a meeting with DfT officials on 27th October to discuss this section of the consultation. They were quick to admit this could have been worded better; it is NOT intended to prevent customisation of bikes or the fitting

Motorcycling licensing. NMC calls for change to improve road safety

The BMF, working with the other members of the NMC, are recommending comprehensive changes to the motorcycle licensing system, to enhance safety and usability. The UK’s exit from the EU provides an opportunity to revise a complex rider licensing system that has not led to road safety improvements October 12, 2021 The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) is today calling for changes to the UK’s motorcycle licence testing and training regime. In a new position paper published by the NMC (here), the Council outlines how the licensing system has evolved under the EU’s Driving Licence Directive (DLD) regime and has analysed the effect of changes to motorcycle licensing rules since 2009. Training and testing regulations need to fulfil a basic mission – to make motorcycling

Do driver support systems see motorcycles? Euro NCAP introduces tests

From 2023 Euro NCAP will start testing driver support systems in cars, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Support Systems, on their ability to look for and react to motorcyclists. Motorcycles are often not detected by the sensors of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) or the reaction of the systems is not adequate. In 2016. research by RDW (the Netherlands Vehicle Authority) showed that cars with an innovative driving system, such as an adaptive cruise control, were capable of noticing motorcycles, but when motorcycles rode at the edge of their lane, the adaptive cruise control did not respond well to them. In many tests, action had to be taken by the driver of the car to prevent a collision. RDW investigated

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