This has been a busy year for the British Motorcyclists Federation; one that saw a change of government back in July, with the need to forge new constructive relationships with new government Ministers who came into office with a revised set of priorities and policies aligned around a number of key missions designed to develop the future economy and civil society, including specific actions to deliver a better integrated transport network and related infrastructure. Initial meetings with new Ministers and officials, following the General Election, were broadly positive with a range of motorcycling issues, including road safety imperatives, discussed. In these discussions BMF and National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) have continued to press for a long overdue review of motorcycle licensing, testing and training to ensure better and safer roads for riding and to tackle the scourge of potholes, whilst also seeking to make progress on bringing motorcycling into the mainstream of future transport policy. We also continue to seek clarity on plans for motorcycle decarbonisation, where riders, the motorcycle trade and the motorcycling sector as whole need clarity on government proposals and timelines to be able to plan effectively for the future.
Key priorities during the new Government’s first few months have included the planned development of a National Integrated Transport Strategy and the delivery of a new Road Safety Strategy. Improving motorcycle access within the countryside also presents a major opportunity for the new Government, with both motorcycle sport and active recreation needing greater support and recognition of the positive contributions they make to society and the UK economy.
As we enter 2025, the BMF and NMC will continue to press the Government to deliver on outstanding work streams begun under the previous administration and to bring clarity to the future role of motorcycling in future transport and other public policy. Key to this will be the delivery of a policy pathway that fully unlocks the benefits that motorcycling can bring to a future national integrated transport solution.
Key meetings attended by BMF officials during December include:
- National Motorcyclists Council (NMC)/ National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) Parliamentary Reception Hosted by Fabian Hamilton MP.
This was an excellent event attended by MPs, motorcycle sector organisations, road safety bodies, policy makers, industry leaders and other transport interest groups, where the new NMC policy document “Motorcycling and The Future of Transport”, was launched. The document sets out priorities and key policies for motorcycling, including the need to bring motorcycling into the mainstream of future UK Government transport policy in order to both improve motorcycle safety and to ensure that motorcycling forms an integral part of the Government’s new Integrated National Transport Strategy.
The reception, held in the impressive setting of the House of Lords, was well attended with a number of key note speeches delivered that set out the importance of motorcycling as a key future transport option delivering socio-economic and environmental benefits to the UK. The event provided an excellent opportunity to network with MPs and representatives of the motorcycling sector and to discuss how motorcycling can align with government goals for decarbonisation, urban efficiency and mobility whilst cementing its role as a key part of the UK’s future transport mix.
- Meeting with the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) and the Trail Riders Federation (TRF) to discuss an Action Plan to Reduce Crime Involving Motorcycles.
The involvement of motorcycles in criminal activity and anti-social behaviour (ASB) has become an increasing concern for the police, local authorities and communities and is casting a negative light on legitimate motorcyclists.
Thousands of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds are stolen across the UK each year with many being used by criminal gangs for wider criminal activity, including theft and county lines drug activity, where illegal drugs are transported across police and local authority boundaries. Motorcycle theft has surged over the last decade, particularly in major UK cities, with motorcycles, scooters and mopeds often stolen to order to be used in criminal activity, exported overseas via UK ports or broken up as parts for re-sale.
A separate but growing phenomenon has seen high-speed electric motorbikes, which are unregistered, untaxed and uninsured terrorising neighbourhoods with anti-social and dangerous riding with young riders, who are often not wearing helmets, travelling at high speed and able to escape down alleyways and paths if pursued by the police, putting themselves and the general public at significant risk of serious injury or worse.
What has become a significant and persistent problem, requires a multi-pronged and comprehensive approach to address the issue, involving collaboration between the police and other enforcement bodies, local authorities, the motorcycle sector and legitimate riders, alongside additional regulatory measures, infrastructure improvements and the education of riders to deter and prevent thefts.
To address this issue, the BMF and TRF, as part of the National Motorcyclists Council, is seeking to develop a comprehensive plan of action to share with Ministers and officials in the New Year that will combine enforcement, infrastructure improvements, regulatory measures and education to deter anti-social behaviour and to target and counter the activity of the organised crime gangs behind motorcycle theft and related crime.
Paul Morgan CBE
Government Relations Executive
- Westminster Lecture (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety)
The title for the lecture was “The dogma ate my homework; rethinking road safety” and it was about discovering bits of received wisdom which turn out to be wrong. The speaker was Professor Tim Nutbeam, a consultant in emergency medicine. In particular it is apparently the case that slow careful extrication of crash victims is not the way to do it. If the victim can move themselves out of the car it is much faster and they get to hospital sooner.
- Lecture at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Humans and Automation – Safety by Design
A refreshing change from what sometimes seems to be uncritical enthusiasm for automation. One view given was that it will not be possible to totally withdraw humans from systems and therefore they should be built with human interaction in mind. It did nothing to increase my confidence in automated driving.
Anna Zee
Political and Technical Services Director
Useful links
