PARLIAMENTARIANS SAY ‘BIKING IS GOOD FOR BRIT
10 January 2005 - Motor Cycle Industry Association Ltd

In the wake of adverse and often unfair publicity about motorcycling in 2004, the All Party Parliamentary Motorcycle Group (APG) has today called for a fairer deal for motorcycling in the UK and will be spreading the message in 2005 that ‘Biking is Good for Britain.’

Lembit Öpik MP, chair of the All Party Motorcycle Group , said “As Britain moves into 2005, it is clear that despite all the negative publicity - and often alarmist and inaccurate media coverage of motorcycle safety - motorcycling is offering more benefits than ever to people in the UK. This is clearly being demonstrated by ordinary people ‘voting with their wheels’ and switching from four to two for commuting journeys.”

“After all consider this:

Biking offers freedom to travel without getting stuck in congested traffic, freedom to enjoy the countryside and freedom from the restrictions of unreliable public transport like trains.
Biking is fun and exciting and caters for many tastes, offering a way to escape the stresses of a work day through the simple act of riding home
Biking reduces traffic congestion and reduced journey times for everyone. It means less city pollution and more capacity for everyone and more parking capacity
Biking Isn’t getting more dangerous – despite the media hype about the rise in casualty numbers in rural areas, motorcycle casualty rates per mile travelled are the lowest for over 10 years -- and falling.

“Adding it up, it’s obvious that biking needs to be included as a serous and major part of the Government’s approach to congestion and pollution. 2005 can be the year that Ministers live up to Labour’s promise to put motorcycles at the heart of the transport strategy. And we in Parliament will be doing all we can to get this message across to colleagues and to the public in the year ahead.”

Notes

More motorcycling has led to safer motorcycling per mile travelled. Biking casualty numbers in London are down -- despite huge increases in use. Motorcycles aren’t dangerous, but users are vulnerable to bad car driving. More motorcycling means more awareness of bikes among non riders and fewer accidents.

Over 150,000 Powered Two Wheelers (PTW) of all kinds were sold new in 2004. If second-hand sales are included in this total, over 500,000 motorcycles changed hands in 2004.

Despite an increase in KSI numbers in 2003, motorcycle casualty rates (the real chance of a crash) continue to fall year on year per mile travelled. In addition, early casualty number returns for 2004 indicate a significant fall in both killed and seriously injured riders during a year where indications are that motorcycle mileages continued to rise. In North Yorkshire, a key ‘high-risk’ area for motorcyclists, rider deaths fell by almost 50% compared to 2003. The All Party Group has campaigned to highlight the fact that motorbikes are at the forefront in terms of pollution and offering a viable alternative to the car for commuting and leisure journeys.

The APG has nearly 50 members from the Lords and commons. The current Chairman is Lembit Opik MP (LD) and its vice chairs are Lord Jopling (Con) and Stephen pound MP (Lab). It is calling for:

Government support and funding for road safety programmes such as Bikesafe
Motorcycles to be allowed access to bus lanes
More secure motorcycle parking
Better policies from Government which increases opportunities for motorcycling – including publication of the long-awaited National Motorcycle Strategy
Local authorities to include pro motorcycle policies in their new Local Transport Plans (LTP)
Young people to be taught about safe vehicle use as part of the core schools curriculum
Better work place facilities for motorcyclists
Better car driving standards and car drivers to be more bike aware
Licensing and training legislation which doesn’t discriminate against motorcycle use
Access to motorcycles to remain for 17 yr olds – the same as the access age for a car
A proper national network of off road riding areas and opportunities for off-road motorcycle use
An end to anti motorcycle ‘Bikeism’ from some policy makers and some lobby groups

www.mcia.co.uk

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