MCI BLOWS THE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MYTH IN LONDON
13 July 2004 - Motor Cycle Industry Association Ltd

The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has today moved to dispel the growing myth among road safetyorganisations, sections of the media and the public that motorcycling is getting more dangerous in London.

MCI says that Transport for London’s (TfL) figures show that:-

MOTORCYCLING IS GETTING SAFER IN LONDON

TfL’s own statistics show that in 2003 the total number of motorcycle casualties in London fell by 8.1%, with deaths falling by 5% and serious injuries by 6%. In the congestion charging zone, casualties fell by around 13%, accompanied by a 20% increase in motorcycle use -- dramatically demonstrating the road safety value of the
charging exemption that motorcyclists enjoy.

There are enduring concerns about casualty reduction progress against 2010 road safety targets and the proportion of motorcycle casualties against those of other modes but, set against this, motorcycle use has increased significantly in London since 1993, with more and more people seeing the value of motorcycling over
other modes of transport on the Capital’s congested roads. All this extra motorcycling means that the casualty rate is actually falling, with the chances of a rider having an accident falling alongside this. TfL’s statistics, showing that in 2003 the actual number of accidents is also starting to fall, are good news for motorcycle safety.

MCI believes that the improving situation is partly due to a greater awareness of motorcycling, coupled with positive traffic management policies from TfL, such as the exemption from congestion charging, the London Bikesafe programme and access to bus lanes -- all of which helps to reduce rider vulnerability.

Craig Carey-Clinch, MCI Director of Public Affairs, said; ‘Quite clearly, all this alarmist talk about bike casualties increasing is quite simply a load of rubbish, which is being perpetuated by a number of high profile safety and cycling campaigners for reasons best known to themselves. Their views are misleading, anti motorcycle and could have a negative impact on efforts to further improve motorcycle safety.

‘The last thing we need right now is climate of fear about motorcycle safety generated by people who should know better. The key to rider safety is further measures to integrate motorcycling into London’s transport infrastructure and provide for rider needs – not biker vilification and anti motorcycle ‘Bikeism’ from the so called ‘experts’.

MCI is particularly concerned about remarks from TfL’s Vice Chair, Dave Wetzel, who has questioned the value of the motorcycle exemption from the congestion charge.

‘Clearly Mr Wetzel’ views are completely wide of the mark’ said Carey-Clinch. ‘His own organisation, TfL, has produced some of the most forward thinking motorcycling initiatives in the country, which -- almost uniquely in the UK -- have led to a direct fall in rider casualties in 2003. MCI suggests that instead of releasing ill-informed comments to the media, Mr Wetzel engages with the balanced motorcycle safety agenda that TfL itself are
developing and starts dealing in a sensible way with motorcycle riders and industry. If we are to see long term improvements to rider safety, there is simply no room for this kind of negative opinion about biking.’

MCI also has a message for cycle campaigners who have jumped on the anti-motorcycle bandwagon in recent years. ‘Get off our backs and start to work with us to help improve safety’ said Carey-Clinch. ‘There are many areas where cyclists and motorcyclists share issues in common. Cyclists and motorcyclists are both vulnerable
road users with a shared agenda and we’re sick and tired of cycling representative organisations trotting out alarmist statistics and negative comment about motorcycle use. Both modes of transport have a huge amount to offer a traffic congestion reduction policy and it’s time we started working together.’

www.mcia.co.uk

More News
  For July 2004
  From Motor Cycle Industry Association Ltd
  For Associations
  Biker247.com Home Page