BMF UNDER DOCTOR’S ORDERS!
26 November 2004 - BMF

Leon Mannings, the newly elected chairman of the 120,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation, is now Dr Mannings. This follows the awarding this month of a PhD in Transport Policy after the successful completion of a three-year research project into the topic.

A keen motorcyclist since the 1970s, Leon, 48, is no stranger to the transport problems that beset the UK. Running a highly successful commercial photography business during the ‘90’s, Leon experienced the delays and frustrations of visiting clients across the UK when public transport was in decline and roads were increasingly jammed. He promised himself that one day he would do something about it and he has.

As he says; ‘I found it crazy that transport in one of the most advanced nations on earth was actually getting worse!’ Passionate about his motorcycling, he then became a BMF Regional Representative for London and became heavily involved in the congestion charging debate, raising bus lane access and parking issues, but most importantly, helping to get bikes exempt from those charges.

But this wasn’t enough, having earlier gained a degree in design, Leon knew that if he wanted to be taken seriously by government, meeting ‘might with right’ would not be enough. “I didn’t just want to talk the talk” said Leon, “I wanted to ensure that I really knew what I was talking about and to have an easily recognised qualification to prove it.”

Applying it to his newfound role as BMF Chairman, Dr Leon said: “My research has shown that despite the motorcycling lobby’s efforts, biking has become marginalised and I’m fed up with the culture of motorcyclists being killed, maimed and then blamed. As far as I’m concerned, the time has come for politicians to start doing something to address the issues instead of just bleating about accident statistics – after all we pay their wages just as much as other road users do!”

“Without doubt, the BMF has come a very long way since its early days” he added,

“and I have great respect for its achievements, but the thing that excites me now is what we can do in the future. I want government to give riders in Britain the positive attention and protection they deserve. They can start by improving road maintenance, letting us use bus lanes and provide far more bike parking spaces. London in particular has seen a boom in motorcycle use but no increase in parking provision. It seems that the authorities are in denial”.

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