MOTORCYCLES IN THE MAINSTREAM
22 February 2005 - BMF

The British Motorcyclists Federation has today welcomed the recognition by Government in its National Motorcycle Strategy that motorcycling should be seen as a ‘mainstream mode of transport’ and considers this a significant step in addressing the country’s transport problems.

The National Motorcycle Strategy, published today and launched by Road Safety Minister David Jamieson, is certainly a first for Europe and probably the world say the BMF, Britain’s largest rider group. It is the culmination of five years work of the Government Advisory Group on Motorcycling of which the BMF has been a member since the group’s inception.

By taking a broader view of motorcycling, the strategy moves the debate away from the blame culture that has dogged motorcycling for years say the BMF. Whilst the BMF fully accepts the strategy’s inclusion of a need for better training and the rider’s role in riding safely and responsibly, it says it is pleased that amongst its many aims, the strategy is designed to ensure that:

· Transport planning and infrastructure will now take motorcycling into account

· The attitudes of drivers and riders is focussed on looking out for each other

· Road maintenance and diesel spillage are accepted as factors in motorcycle safety

· Consideration is given to wider bus lane access and advance stop line use

· Casualty figures should be expressed by rate as well as numbers

· Vehicle design, particularly field of view obscuration by modern ‘A’ pillars, is addressed

BMF Senior Government Relations Executive Trevor Magner said: “The development of a national strategy which at long last recognises the status of the motorcycle and scooter as a mode of transport, (just as walking and cycling enjoy), is the culmination of years of lobbying by the BMF. We would of course have liked bus lane access to be promoted more strongly and more money put into training, but The National Motorcycle Strategy at least sets the framework. The BMF will now play a full part in working with fellow members of the Advisory Group and the Department for Transport to develop and deliver the strategy.”

Speaking after the launch, BMF Chairman Dr Leon Mannings paid tribute to the hard work of all those involved. “We have waited a long time for governments to recognise the role that the motorcycle can play in alleviating the UK’s transport problems and while the National Motorcycle Strategy might not give us everything we’d like, it does give us as a firm foundation. It’s now up to us all to build on this to ensure the long-term future of motorcycling in the UK.”

www.bmf.co.uk

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