BMF submits response to Gov consultation on Autonomous Vehicles

The BMF has this week submitted its response to the Government's Consultation on the Statement of Safety Principles For Autonomous Vehicle (AVs). You can read the full response here The original Automated Vehicles Act 2024 received Royal Assent on 20 May 2024 and provides a framework for the safe integration of AVs into UK society over the next few years. The Act introduces an authorisation process for self-driving vehicles with AVs required to undergo a self-driving test to ensure agreed safety benchmarks are met. These are outlined in the Secretary of State's Statement on Safety Principles which will inform the regulatory framework around the introduction of AVs on UK roads, provide guidance on safety assessments and ensure AV deployment doesn't negatively impact

Surrey Police Stop Over 400 in Anti-Noise Campaign

Surrey Police have stopped 407 motorcyclists during Operation Downsway, an annual summer campaign across Surrey and Sussex to cut down on illegal riding and driving. Although it’s not just about noise, the bikers were said to have been stopped for issues including loud pipes and speeding. We don’t know whether they were prosecuted or just cautioned, but it’s still a pretty big number. Surrey Police Chief Inspector Karen Coyne told BBC South East: “We want to stop these riders and actually speak to them. Officers enjoy doing it because it’s a chance for them to be really proactive.” She added that 394 car drivers had also been stopped as part of Operation Downsway, which targets five main offences: excess speed, not

Hackney – Latest Update

Latest update from Save London Motorcycling (SLM) Our case against Hackney will finally be heard in the High Court – on 14th and 15th October. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for - but we still need your help. It's taken a long time to get here after the proceedings were adjourned earlier this year, but now Hackney will have to face London bikers in court. This delay has unfortunately cost both us and Hackney money but while they can use taxpayers' money, we have to cover it ourselves and rely on the generosity of our supporters. So we’re asking you one more time to please give what you can to help us win this fight. Please give what you can - click here If

Riding for Connection, Confidence & Community with the Bike & Brew Passport

It all started with a message from Paul Sims and what began as a simple invitation has since turned into one of the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences of my life. When Paul asked me to become involved with MARK (Motorbikers Acts of Random Kindness) as one of his volunteers for the brand-new Bike & Brew Passport initiative, I could feel it straight away that something special was brewing. It wasn’t just about getting out on your motorcycle, it was getting out riding with a purpose, connection and for great mental health wellbeing. As someone who finds clarity, freedom and peace each time I release the clutch and take to the road on my trusty Suzuki, the event’s ethos “Release the Clutch,

Emergency Alert Test

On Sunday, September 7 at 3.00pm, the Government will be carrying out a national test of the Emergency Alerts System, used in emergency situations to warn the general public if there is a danger to life, including from extreme weather. Compatible mobile phones and tablets will receive an automatic alert, make a loud siren-like sound and vibrate, even if they are set to “silent.” This will last for approximately 10 seconds. If you receive the alert whilst driving or riding, you must not pick up your phone. It is illegal to do so. If you need to look at your phone, pull over somewhere safe and legal first. Further details of the Emergency Alerts System can be found  here including instructions on how

Ride4Brendan: A Night to Remember, A Cause That Continues

MJ's Version of the story... In May 2025, I received a random message from Bryan Cox, a complete stranger at the time, asking if I could do him a favour in helping organise something special. He was heading off on a pre-booked holiday and wondered if I could pull together a motorcycle escort for Brendan, his disabled son’s best mate, in giving him a grand entrance at his school prom. Brendan is an extraordinary young man living with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and scoliosis, needing 24-hour care but despite the challenges, his energy, warmth and resilience are nothing short of inspiring. From One Facebook Post to a Full-Scale Convoy What began as a single social media post quickly snowballed. Thanks to the power of the

Welsh Electric Motocross Centre to Go Ahead

A £1.5 million off-road riding centre in Powys has finally got the go ahead, after two planning permission refusals and a six-year battle which was finally settled by public enquiry. “This is a win not just for our business, but for Powys,” said Phil Wilding of Nightfly Limited, which is the developer behind the scheme. But one thing sets this off-road centre apart from the others – it is designed primarily around electric off-road bikes. It’ll also include a purpose-built motocross centre, seven holiday log cabins and upgraded site infrastructure. The site – Rhydblawd Farm, near Builth Wells – has been hosting motocross for over 30 years, but the new centre represents a significant change, and a shift to electric power. After

Crated, Unused Yamaha XT500 Goes to Auction

We all have dreams of finding an old bike with very few miles – or even zero miles – on the clock, but what about a 40-year-old Yamaha XT500, still in its crate with all the original wrapping and padding intact? That’s what RM Sotheby’s is offering at auction on 18th October in Munich, Germany – they’re expecting it to fetch around 25,000 euro (£21,500). The XT is a 1986 model originally built for the French market and was supplied to Leuridan Motos et Cycles, a dealer in Paris. It’s a late example of the 500cc single – the XT was first launched in 1975 and production ended only three years after the crated bike was made – but it’s become

Riding Into Representation: My Reflections on Women in Moto 2025

Each year Women in Moto becomes more than just a date in the biking calendar, it becomes a milestone. A marker of just how far the female motorcycling community has come and how much momentum we continue to build. This year’s event in August, the fifth annual Women in Moto and the third hosted at Uttoxeter Racecourse was a glowing reflection of that growth. It wasn’t just bigger in scale; it was deeper in spirit and as someone who’s followed this event since its early days at Tutbury Castle, I can say without hesitation: this is a movement that’s only getting stronger. What stood out most wasn’t just the electric atmosphere, the buzzing demo rides or the headline speakers, it was the

DVLA Updates Policies for the Registration of Repaired, Modified and Restored Motorcycles

Government moves to clarify rules for when riders need to notify DVLA of any changes to their motorcycles The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) has today (26th August) issued new guidance to some of its vehicle registration policies, making the rules around the notification of modifications to already registered motorcycles old and new more straightforward. These changes follow a call for evidence which National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) member, the Vintage Motor Cycle Club (VMCC) responded to with the support of the NMC. Organisations in the four-wheeled historic vehicle sector also responded. As a result, the DVLA is replacing its existing policies on rebuilt and radically altered vehicles with three new sets of guidance that will apply to all vehicles, regardless of

Pothole Partnership Raise Fresh Concerns

Pothole Partnership Raise Fresh Concerns as Summer Heat Fuels Pothole Problem The Partnership calls for urgent action amid rising incidents - A shock increase in pothole-related breakdowns attended by the AA last month has raised concerns for summer motorcycling Motorcyclists face an even bumpier ride this summer, according to The Pothole Partnership. July’s AA Pothole Index reveals a clear spike in incidents the AA was called out to caused by potholes, compared to the same period last year. While earlier in the year callouts for pothole damage to members’ cars had reduced, offering hope that the UK was turning a corner, the latest figures signal an unwelcome reversal, with a 2% rise over July 2024 figures (50,091 incidents compared to 49,081). Earlier optimism was

Highlights from BMF Connected 2025 by MJ

Community, Conversation and Motorcycling: Highlights from BMF Connected 2025 From Friday afternoon, 11th July through to Sunday 13th, Mallory Park Race Circuit hosted the first-ever BMF Connected event, a weekend-long motorcycling event that brought together riders, campers, families & exhibitors for a true celebration of biking culture. While the summer heat was intense and a few local events clashed, attendance wasn’t at full capacity, but what it lacked in crowd size it made up with a genuine powerful sense of community. Spread across the expansive venue the event made full use of Mallory Park’s unique layout. The centre circuit hardstanding housed a selection of stands and exhibitors ranging from motorcycle-themed art, clothing & jewellery, to tyres & motorcycle accessories, have a go

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