Mag And Fema News

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

MAG comments on Telegraph claims on 2040

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) issued a clarification on statements
made in a Telegraph article. The article titled “Sales of new petrol
motorcycles set to be banned from 2040” has generated much interest and
has been repeated by other news organisations.

The article was published on the Telegraph website at 5.21pm on 12th May
stating that the sale of new petrol motorcycles is set to be banned from
2040, under plans due to be announced by ministers as part of the
Government’s net zero crackdown. The article states that this planned
announcement is expected by “industry sources”. The article also states
that the Government insists no final decision has been taken on banning
sales of petrol motorcycles.

The article has been cited and repeated in several news outlets since
and was covered in a recent BBC Radio 4 programme which interviewed
Henry Cole on the subject. Many reports state that the Telegraph spoke
to MAG, and MAG statements are quoted in the article.

To clarify, MAG has not been approached by the Telegraph. We assume
that statements have been lifted from our materials and press releases,
but no MAG spokesperson provided information or comment specifically for
the article, nor were we asked to.

As the article states, the Government consultation, launched two years
ago, proposed the end of sales of non-zero tailpipe emission motorcycles
up to 125cc (equivalent) by 2030 and larger motorcycles by 2035. The
clear desire was for an earlier date to be achieved for larger
motorcycles. At the time the MCIA expressed disappointment that the
proposals included not just 50cc mopeds, but all learner legal 125cc
bikes in the earlier date. The MCIA prior to the consultation had
proposed 2030 for 50cc equivalent and 2040 for all bikes above 50cc.
The article states that high numbers of electric mopeds are being sold,
and that they accounted for roughly half of UK moped registrations last
year. Sales of 50cc equivalent electric mopeds were at 49.6% in 2023,
but this was a decline from 56.3% in 2022. Of more relevance is the
fact that sales of electric motorcycles equivalent of up to 125cc petrol
(including 50cc) declined from 11.7% in 2022 to 8.2% in 2023. The
proportion of electric sales equivalent to 50cc petrol was ‘roughly
half’ but that is not the specific categorisation within the Government
proposals for 2030. Of equal note is the fact that the size of the
petrol moped market contracted by 30% while the electric moped market
size contracted by 40% in 2023 compared to 2022.

Sales of electric motorcycles equivalent to 126cc and above stood at
just 0.5% in 2023, a decline from 0.8% in 2022.

For clarity, MAG opposes the entire policy proposal, regardless of date
or subcategory.

MAG opposed the MCIA proposals, and the Government proposals, and has
repeatedly made this clear in meetings with successive Department for
Transport (DfT) Ministers over the last two years. In January we were
informed by Anthony Browne MP, the current Minister with responsibility
for transport decarbonisation, that the final decision and announcement
was “imminent”. However, no indication was made as to what the decision
would be. Since January there have been no further announcements,
formally or informally.

MAG has received no indication from the Department that the 2040 date
proposed by the MCIA is under any more consideration than MAG’s calls to
scrap the entire proposed phaseout of ICE motorcycles.

MAG has asked for details of the sources of the claim that a 2040 date
is likely to be announced. The Telegraph has not responded.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Competitive Move on Motorcycling campaign will get creative.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) asks riders to get creative in the
general election campaign. As well as providing a Move on Motorcycling
template letter to get things moving, MAG is offering prizes for the
most impactful and original approach to getting motorcycling issues into
the political debate.

MAG is asking riders in the UK to get creative in their approach to
placing motorcycling in the general election discourse. The ‘Act Now’
page recently added to the MAG website offers a template letter for
riders to use when asking candidates for their views on motorcycling
issues.
https://mag-uk.org/act-now/

The template letter is designed in a way that any rider can pick which
issues are of most relevance to them as an individual, but still promote
the overall Move on Motorcycling manifesto. But MAG are stressing that
letter writing is simply the first strand of a highly creative and
varied approach to getting the country to Move on Motorcycling.
MAG is challenging riders to get creative, and relying on competitive
spirit to create impact. MAG is offering prizes for the individuals and
groups who come up with the most original lobbying activity that gets
motorcycling and politics coverage in the press and discussed by candidates.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:
“The issues we want raised in political discourse are very serious, but
we are bikers, and we know how to have fun. We urge all riders get
creative and inject some fun into the showbiz of the general election
campaign. We know most riders feel apathetic towards politics, and who
can blame them? But by taking a creative approach we can log a success
for motorcycling whilst also having some fun. MAG invented the concept
of partying with a purpose, and this is a natural extension of that
ethos. Bikers are voters: it’s time to bring some biker values to
politics.”

Slow riding leaflet distribution, CBTs for first time voters, drag races
to polling stations – we expect to see the best and most original
political stunts coming from the biking community over the next few
weeks. Visit the Act Now page for full details of the competition and
prizes.
Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Little hope for riders in general election manifestos

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has reviewed the four party general
election manifestos published this week. The conclusion is that none of
the manifestos offer motorcyclists much hope.

MAG has analysed the general election manifestos published by the
Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Green and Labour parties over the last
week. MAG has produced a scorecard for the four parties, measuring each
manifesto’s alignment with Move on Motorcycling.

The scorecards for all four manifestos fall well short of delivering a
promising future for motorcyclists. Ranging between -1 to +1, none of
the manifestos get a positive overall score.

The Liberal Democrats, Labour and Green manifestos all score -0.8. The
Conservative manifesto fairs a little better with an overall score of
-0.3. The factors pushing the Conservative score up were clear promises
to deliver universal motorcycle access in bus lanes, ban local
pay-per-mile driving schemes and a commitment to reform motorcycle
licencing.

However, none of the manifestos promise to scrap the vehicle
electrification mandate. The Green manifesto calls for ending ICE
vehicle sales in just three years’ time. Beyond this the Green Party
also wants to end use of all ICE vehicles on the road by 2035. Labour
and the Liberal Democrats want to restore the 2030 date previously
postponed to 2035 by Rishi Sunak. The Conservatives are sticking to the
2035 date and keeping the ZEV mandate which started from this year.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:
“The four manifestos are a grim prospect for riders. They clearly show
that the interests of riders are not in the heart of these four parties’
policies. There’s another three weeks to go until polling day, and MAG
will be redoubling efforts to sway the opinions of all parliamentary
candidates. Bikers are Voters – all candidates need to do to win those
votes is Move on Motorcycling.”

MAG’s individual scorecards for the four manifestos can be found here:

Liberal Democrats:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/6/65/Manifesto_Scorecard_Liberal_Democrats.pdf

Conservatives:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/7/70/Manifesto_Scorecard_Conservatives.pdf

Green: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/4/48/Manifesto_Scorecard_Green.pdf

Labour: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/a/ab/Manifesto_Scorecard_Labour.pdf

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

@Iceman Here here.

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Motorcycles should be supported by policy – husting consensus found.

At a General Election husting event organised by the Motorcycle Action
Group (MAG) candidates from three political parties agreed that
Government policy should support motorcycling. Candidates standing for
Reform UK, Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives agreed that
Government needs to do better for motorcyclists in the UK.

Cumbria MAG held a General Election husting event in Egremont on Tuesday
18th June. The event was organised to allow motorcyclists to hear from
candidates for the Whitehaven and Workington constituency.

Conservative Andrew Johnson, and Liberal Democrat Chris Wills both
attended. Reform UK candidate, David Surtees, was unable to attend for
medical reasons, but Matthew Moody (candidate for neighbouring Penrith
and Solway constituency) substituted for Reform.

Labour’s Josh MacAlister, and Jill Perry the Green candidate did not
attend.

The discussion revealed that all candidates present have a strong belief
that politicians need to learn more about motorcycling to deliver better
policies. Andrew Johnson and Chris Wills have the benefit of being
motorcyclists themselves, whilst Matthew Moody conceded he was not an
expert on motorcycles.

Conservative candidate Andrew Johnson pointed out that the Conservative
manifesto does mention motorcycling twice. He said:

“We need more people elected into parliament who understand
motorcycling, have a bike, and are willing to champion hard the issues
that we all care about, and for me that’s about backing things like
synthetic petrol production – so we get away from all this bio-ethanol
rubbish […] and we get back to proper science like synthetic petrol,
start investing more in our roads, and start treating motorcyclists like
genuine road users, as opposed to in this hierarchy of vulnerable road
users […] It’s a fantastic mode of transport, it needs support and if
elected I’m determined to keep championing the interests of not only
motorcycling from a road riding perspective, but off-road as well.
There’s big challenges facing us in the future.”

“We need all parliamentarians to understand the value of motorcycling
and what it brings to the UK economy, because it is a big component. It
employs a lot of people, brings in a lot of money, good for tourism,
good for leisure, good for commuting – all of it”

Agreeing with Johnson, Liberal Democrat Chris Wills said:
“He’s right and in the Lib Dem manifesto the word isn’t there. We’ve
been caught with our leathers down – definitely. I don’t want to make
excuses, but if I get elected there will be a Lib Dem motorcycle action
group and there’ll be a parliamentary group too. […..] I think what we
need is a reappraisal of the hierarchy in the Highway Code, I mean it’s
ridiculous. […] You have to be a motorcyclist to understand
motorcycling. There needs to be a core of people making the decisions
who actually do ride the things.”
“Don’t be anti- electric motorbikes, be anti- this ridiculous push to go
electric. […] There’s a place for electric […] but it shouldn’t be a
threat to the internal combustion engine.”


Reform’s Matthew Moody pointed out that his party would scrap all
aspects of the ban of ICE vehicles, including the sales quotas imposed
via the ZEV mandate. Commenting in the discussion on licencing, he said:

“We’ve got to the stage where it’s nanny government interfering in every
aspect of our lives. What they need to do is back off. They need to
let people who know what they are doing to consult and come up with a
new plan, a new way of doing things and let them get on with it. And
that’s what Reform is all about, getting rid of all the red tape, all of
the nonsense, getting back to basics and starting again, because it’s
just gone too far the other way.”

“I’m not an expert on motorbikes [..] but what I do know is nonsense
when I see it, and that five page flow chart that I saw about how to get
a licence – I was reading it thinking what would I need to do to get a
licence, and I just gave up after a while – it was just ridiculous – and
that’s on a Government website!”

The lack of representation from Labour left room for criticism from the
other candidates. Organiser Michael Armstrong, MAG’s national political
officer, is a Labour party member and was disappointed by the inability
to probe Labour’s attitude to motorcycling. Michael said:

“I want to encourage all motorcyclists – go to your local parliamentary
candidate for Labour and ask them ‘what are your policies on
motorcycling?’ - we won’t find out tonight, because they are not here.”

MAG will be releasing a video of the husting event soon.

MAG is also holding another husting on Monday 24th June in Edinburgh,
where again all parties are invited to face riders’ questions about the
policies that matter to them.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

First Positive Score In Manifesto Scorecard Announced By MAG

In a week with further General Election manifestos published, MAG has
announced the first party to achieve a positive score. Reform UK’s
document “Our Contract With You” achieves a score of +1.2

Last week MAG published scorecards for the General Election manifestos
of the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and Green parties. In MAG’s
analysis none of those manifestos achieved a positive score for
alignment with the Move on Motorcycling manifesto.

With the publication of the Reform UK document - billed by the party as
a contract, not a manifesto - MAG can now point to a positive outcome.
The Reform UK document achieves a score of +1.2, thanks mainly to the
party’s position on future sales of internal combustion vehicles.
MAG has also published scorecards for the Plaid Cymru, Scottish National
Party and Sinn Féin who have all published manifestos since Friday of
last week. These three parties all achieved a score of zero given that
all three are silent on the specific issues raised in Move on Motorcycling.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“The scoring system we are using only measures the alignment of the
party manifestos with the asks MAG has made in the Move on Motorcycling
manifesto. It is perhaps understandable that parties for Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland are silent on devolved issues, but there
are plenty of other areas that they could cover to show that they are
serious about delivering for motorcyclists. We are delighted to see
that there is one party with a net positive offering from a motorcycling
perspective, but I should reiterate that MAG are apolitical. We are
simply providing information to help riders make their voting choice on
4th July. Manifestos do not necessarily give a comprehensive list of
all policies of any given party, so we advise riders to continue asking
candidates for more detail from all the parties”

MAG’s individual scorecards for Reform, Plaid Cymru, SNP and Sinn Féin
can be found here:

Reform UK:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/d/d3/Manifesto_Scorecard_Reform.pdf

Plaid Cymru:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/2/29/Manifesto_Scorecard_Plaid_Cymru.pdf

Scottish National Party:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/c/c2/Manifesto_Scorecard_SNP.pdf

Sinn Féin:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/e/e9/Manifesto_Scorecard_Sinn_Fein.pdf

Last week’s scorecards remain available here:

Liberal Democrats:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/6/65/Manifesto_Scorecard_Liberal_Democrats.pdf


Conservatives:
https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/7/70/Manifesto_Scorecard_Conservatives.pdf

Green: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/4/48/Manifesto_Scorecard_Green.pdf
Labour: https://wiki.mag-uk.org/images/a/ab/Manifesto_Scorecard_Labour.pdf

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Election chequered flag falls to the sound of the MAG's lobbyist
starting gun.

The parliamentary candidates have seen their chequered flag, but the
sound of MAG’s lobbyist starting gun has already been heard. Labour now
forms the Government, and MAG’s Move on Motorcycling message to
government starts again.

Labour swept to victory last week with a majority of over 170 seats in
the House of Commons. Labour’s election manifesto had little to excite
motorcyclists. The Labour proposal for ending the sale of ICEVs is
2030. Though it does not specifically include motorcycles, Labour has
made no comment to suggest a more relaxed approach for motorcycles.

On the campaign trail Labour promised to fund repairs of up to a million
potholes a year. But Mr Pothole has pointed to data from Stan the App,
which detects and classifies potholes, suggesting that there are 11.5
million potholes on the UK road network.

Louise Haigh, now Transport Minister, promised that car insurance would
be a point of focus but failed to mention motorcycle insurance in that
conversation.

One Labour candidate defended the party’s manifesto in a MAG husting
event held in Scotland saying that Labour would under-promise but
over-deliver, adding: “but that doesn’t mean that the things that you’re
talking about, if they’re key, won’t come to the fore.”

MAG is encouraging members to write to their new MPs with the key
message of highlighting three key decisions that the new Government
needs to deliver. The processes for all three were started before the
election:
1. a decision to drop proposals on ICE motorcycle sales,
2. completion of the extended motorcycles in bus lanes consultation, and
3. sign off on launching a review of the motorcycle licence.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns and Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“The decision to call the General Election earlier than most expected
had a significant impact for the motorcycle lobby. Rishi left us
hanging on three key decisions on MAG’s campaign strands. All were very
close before the day Mr Sunak realised he had forgotten his umbrella.
The first and by far most important was a conclusion to the consultation
on ending sales of new ICE motorcycles. Despite promises from Minister
Browne in February that the decision was ‘imminent’, we are still
waiting. Secondly the bus lane consultation was hurtling towards the
logical positive outcome we have spent decades campaigning for. And
finally, the review of motorcycle licensing regime. Minister Opperman,
in May this year, suggested that the review would be announced this
summer. We need to ensure the new Government does not kick these
decisions down the road. They need to get Moving on Motorcycling.”

Speaking on the day of the election results, MAG Chair, Neil Liversidge
said:

“The General Election has returned Labour which says it will ban
internal combustion engine-powered vehicles (ICEVs) from 2030. It will
soon realise, however, that doing so risks hanging itself with a noose
resembling that which Margaret Thatcher made for herself with the Poll
Tax, because, as with the Poll Tax, the proposed ICEV ban will make a
lot more losers than winners.
In the four or five years ahead, between now and the next General
Election, we must pursue a three-pronged strategy.
Firstly, we must work to persuade Labour to change course away from
anti-motorism and forced electrification, dropping its plan to ban the
sale of ICEVs and embracing climate realism. In that effort we shall not
be without allies. Major trade unions are deeply unhappy with Labour’s
stance on fossil fuels. They recognise the risk that the Labour-Green
dogma poses to the living standards and freedoms of ordinary people,
even if Labour’s leadership does not.
Secondly, we must work to encourage the main Tory opposition to position
itself alongside Reform as the party of the motorist and climate
realism. Again, we shall not find ourselves without allies. Boris
Johnson brought forward Teresa May’s doomsday date from her plan of 2040
despite the unhappiness of many in the Tory ranks. Boris is now history,
however, and with his departure the Tories now have the opportunity to
consign his anti-motorism to the political dustbin.
Thirdly we must work to awaken the nearly 50 million full and
provisional licence-holders to the threat forced electrification,
anti-motorism, and the climate cult pose to their health, wealth, and
freedom. That cohort, the people who keep the UK moving, those who make
its wealth and deliver its services, they are the true electoral majority.
This morning, we have a newly elected government flushed with victory
and an opposition that is flat on its back and crushed. We in MAG are
neither flushed nor crushed. We are resolute. We have a plan. We have
the will to win, and we shall.”

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Silvertown and Blackwall tunnel charges: Last chance for motorcycle exemption.

Transport for London (TfL) have launched their final consultation on proposed Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnell charges. MAG urges riders to respond to the consultation in this last chance for motorcycle exemption.

Motorcyclists who live and ride in London are urged to respond to TfL’s consultation on proposed tunnel charges. The proposals include a £1.50 charge for motorcycles using either tunnel, rising to £2.50 in peak hours.

MAG has been fighting the idea of motorcycle charges for these river crossings since the Silvertown Tunnel proposals were first made in 2012. MAG points to the fact that any charge levied on motorcycles is contradictory to the aims of the Silvertown project, and to the London Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“MAG has been alive to and opposing plans to charge motorcycles for using the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels since the project launched in 2012. Many hours of work have been poured into making logical evidence-based arguments, but all to no avail. We have consistently argued that motorcycles are a transport mode that helps reduce congestion in London and thereby add to the economic health of the city. Crucially, this fact is already recognised in the exemption for motorcycles in the Congestion Charging Zone and is reflected in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy. The proposed charge for motorcycles is illogical and contradicts the established policy that recognises the value of space-efficient transport modes in London.”



Policy 5 of the Mayors Transport Strategy (MTS) states:

‘The Mayor, through TfL and the boroughs, and working with stakeholders, will prioritise space-efficient modes of transport to tackle congestion and improve the efficiency of streets for the movement of people and goods, with the aim of reducing overall traffic levels by 10-15 per cent by 2041.’

Transport for London has recently confirmed that there are no plans to revise or update the Strategy. The MTS, published in 2018, post-dates consultations on the Silvertown project held in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and the six-month public enquiry held in 2017.

MAG is urging all motorcyclists who ride in London to respond to the consultation which closes on 3rd September 2024. The Silvertown tunnel is due to open in 2025 and charges are planned to start for both tunnels at that point. This consultation will be the last opportunity to get common sense applied to this project.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Rare credit due to council for motorcycle-friendly road maintenance.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has added its thanks to Oxfordshire County Council for its motorcycle-friendly road maintenance response.

Long-standing MAG member, volunteer for the Cassington Bike Night, and local Councillor, John Broad contacted Oxfordshire County Council requesting road repairs in advance of the annual event which attracts upward of 7,000 bikes.

The large ‘trench’ in the Yarnton to Cassington road posed a significant risk to the thousands of bikers that would be attending the event

John said:

“I attended the Cassington Bike Night planning event the week before the event and, luckily, I drove there in my car as I noted a massive trench in the road that required dealing with before the thousands of bikers arrived. I mentioned this to the team, and they attempted to get it repaired using ‘FixMyStreet’. Because it worried me so much, I pulled my Councillor hat and contacted the OCC officer directly. Not only did they pull out the stops to get the hole repaired but they filled in most of the holes all the way from Yarnton Village as well.”

John went out of his way to get the repair dealt with and, importantly, to thank the Council after it completed the work. As the reply to John showed, councils rarely receive such thanks. The OCC department engagement officer wrote: “I have passed on your appreciation to our contractor; both the works manager and site gang who carried out the repairs. That’s great news they did such an excellent job and it’s a real morale boost to get such positive feedback.”

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, has written to the leader of Oxfordshire County Council and the Environment & Place (Operations) department to add MAG’s thanks for this excellent example of best practice.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, replied saying:

“OCC filled in over 30,000 potholes last year, but the work of our Highways teams often goes unrecognised, so it was great to receive a message from MAG thanking me for our quick response. I am delighted that we have been able to help to make the Bike Night a safe and successful event.”

Colin said:

“In March we launched the Great MAG Road Maintenance Treasure Hunt with a view to uncovering examples of best practice. Motorcyclists face significant risk of death and serious injury because of poorly maintained road surfaces. Seeing a Council react to concerns raised from motorcyclists in this way is the kind of thing we set out to encourage. Over 7,000 bikers attended the Cassington Bike Night, and all were safer as a result of John Broad’s efforts to ask for repairs, and the Council’s speedy and responsible actions.”

The next Cassington Bike Night will take place on 30th June 2025

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

MAG seeks clarification on the future of Bikesafe

Given increasing rumours, the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has written to the Mayor of London and the Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council seeking answers on the future of BikeSafe.
Rumours have been surfacing that the Metropolitan Police are withdrawing from delivery of BikeSafe courses. There have also been suggestions that other forces are following suit. MAG has received many requests to find out the truth, but initial enquiries have produced a lack of clarity.
MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, has now written to Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council.
In London the MET Police receive funding from Transport for London to subsidise delivery of BikeSafe courses. This is held to be a significant part of the Mayor’s Vision Zero commitment to end road casualties in the capital by 2041. Enquiries by MAG have also pointed to possible issues at a national level. This could be indirectly connected to the ignominious departure of Northamptonshire Chief Constable, Nick Adderley in June. Adderley was the NPCC lead for motorcycling.

MAG has asked both the London Mayor and the NPCC Chair to urgently make public statements confirming that the funding, resources and political support for BikeSafe are secure.
Colin Brown said:

“MAG has always been supportive of the BikeSafe programme and was involved in supporting its development and launch in around 2000. BikeSafe has been a key part of motorcycle road safety ever since and is not something we wish to see diluted, weakened or allowed to collapse. We do not need to know every confidential detail, but it is clear from the concerns raised to us that riders are deeply invested in - and supportive of - the program. We stand ready to discuss practicalities, but the motorcycling community will be angry if the funding resources or political will are dwindling. Many motorcyclists already believe that their safety is an inconvenience or secondary concern for policy makers. The diminution or even loss of BikeSafe will be seen as a massively detrimental outcome by the riding community.”

MAG has asked for an urgent response and will report on any feedback received.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Hackney motorcycle charges face crowdfunded legal challenge.

Hackney Borough Council is facing a crowdfunded legal challenge to their motorcycle parking charges. Success could have national implications.

In a demonstration of strength of opinion and determination amongst motorcyclists in London, a legal challenge has been filed against Hackney Council. Hackney Council plans parking charges for residents’ motorcycles at the same level as cars. Motorcyclists commuting to work in Hackney will face charges up to £10 per day for parking.

The Council expects the charges will reduce motorcycle commuting by 70%. Yet evidence shows that modal shift from cars to motorcycles will have significant environmental benefits.

Despite a four-year campaign that has seen admissions from the Council of errors in their reports, petitions, demonstrations, and considerable pressure from campaigners, Hackney have refused to re-consider their proposals.

MAG has been working closely with Save London Motorcycling (SLM) on this issue since proposals were first revealed in 2020. Earlier this year MAG raised the issue of inappropriate parking charges in the Move on Motorcycling manifesto. MAG is continuing to push national government to intervene with guidance for local authorities.

The attempt to challenge the Council’s actions in the courts is reliant on a JustGiving crowdfunding campaign launched by SLM. A favourable outcome in the courts could establish the principle that councils cannot set motorcycle parking charges without proof that the charges are reasonable and proportionate.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“It is shocking that motorcyclists feel the need to resort to expensive legal action on such an issue. Encouraging a shift from cars to motorcycles is a simple way to achieve the goals that all councils seek in their parking strategies. The unwillingness of councillors in Hackney to listen to reasonable, evidence-based arguments from people they are elected to represent is depressing. The need to resort to legal action is a demonstration of a breakdown in trust between motorcyclists and policymakers. It seems we have another example of decision makers incapable of reviewing evidence, or else simply biased against motorcycling. Good policymaking requires pragmatism and compromise – both qualities seem to be severely lacking in Hackney.”



MAG suggests that motorcyclists from all parts of the country consider contributing to the crowdfunding campaign. The implications of this legal challenge could extend far beyond a single London Borough.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]

The crowdfunding campaign can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/slmc

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Sign now - Hounslow motorcycle parking charges petition.

The Motorcycle Action Group is supporting a petition raised by Mark Fielder asking Hounslow Council to stop plans for motorcycle parking charges. Proposed Hounslow motorcycle parking charges are once again missing the point.



Hounslow council have proposed (in a poorly advertised parking strategy consultation) to introduce motorcycle parking charges. The consultation has closed but MAG member Mark Fielder raised a petition in the hope that the Council will be prepared to reconsider these poorly advertised plans.

Proposals will see motorcyclists charged based on CO2 emissions and, like other Councils, Hounslow plans to use DVLA data to determine motorcycle emissions. MAG has previously demonstrated the flaws in this use of DVLA data that is held for less than 10% of registered motorcycles. As Mark Fielder points out in the petition, not all trips can be replaced by walking, cycling or public transport. For trips that can't be replaced in this way, motorcycles and scooters are the best alternative to cars. Instead of seeking to unfairly punish riders, Hounslow should recognise the value of incentivising motorcycles and scooters over car use, to meet their air quality, climate change and kerbside strategy goals.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“This is another example of ill-considered policymaking for motorcycles. Communications with the Council have shown some recognition that motorcycles pollute less than cars and require less space for parking, yet still they apply a disproportionate charge based -apparently - on a need for revenue rather than evidence. MAG called for the new Government to introduce clear guidance on appropriate approaches to motorcycle parking charges in our Move on Motorcycling manifesto. Last week I wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government asking for a dialogue on this subject. We should not need to fight battles at local level to defend the common-sense logic of free motorcycle parking. We need national parking policy guidelines that recognise the value that motorcycles deliver for solving all the priorities claimed by local authorities. We need to see an end to local authorities coveting emissions-based motorcycle parking charges as a convenient route to new revenue sources.”



MAG is asking motorcyclists to sign the petition to help us open a meaningful dialogue with Hounslow’s decision-makers. Meanwhile, MAG will continue to press the Government to formulate sensible guidance that will shut down this unnecessary and growing attack on motorcyclists’ pockets.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]


The petition can be found here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petiti...cycle-and-scooter-parking-charges-in-hounslow

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Does Sadiq Khan prize revenue more than motorcyclist safety?

MAG asks whether Sadiq Khan prizes revenue more than motorcyclist safety. Silvertown tunnel charge engagement reveals TfL conducted no assessment of the safety implications of the proposed motorcycle charges

In exchanges with Transport for London’s Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnel charges consultation team, it has been revealed that no risk assessment has been caried out for riders taking long diversions to avoid the proposed tunnel charges. This admission was accompanied by claims that TfL’s models ‘don’t specifically model motorcycles.’

Within days of the consultation launch, MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement asked to be supplied with the specific modelling for varying comparative charges for motorcycles. TfL’s documentation claims that various charge levels have been modelled to determine the appropriate level. He also requested sight of the risk assessments carried out for riders who would be likely to make lengthy detours to other crossings where there are no charges. There were significant delays in the response, leading to an agreement to extend the deadline for MAG, BMF and the NMC to submit their consultation responses. The final admission that this analysis work had not been attempted came on the day before the formal consultation closed.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, said:

“I have to say that these admissions come as little surprise. But my lack of surprise should not cover my anger. MAG has been engaging with the Silvertown Tunnel project consultations for over a decade. We have repeatedly made it clear that the logical outcome is for motorcycles to be exempt from charges. There is no way that TfL can claim that they were not given time or opportunity to carry out analysis to weigh the pros and cons of our argument. To find that they have simply ignored motorcycles in their modelling is shocking. But worse is the admission that risk assessments of the obvious outcomes of introducing charges – that riders will detour to avoid them – have not been attempted. It is hard to conclude anything but that the Mayor is coveting revenue far more than his alleged concern for rider safety.”



MAG’s consultation response submitted today points to these failings. The response references TfL’s own modelling guidelines that explain how motorcycles can be modelled. It also points out that the guidelines contain an entire chapter discussing the complexities and importance of modelling pedal cycle flows, whilst ignoring the fact that motorcycle modelling is equally complex and just as vital.

MAG awaits the final decision on the charges. Colin Brown will also press for urgent meetings to discuss TfL’s apparent lack of concern for motorcyclists’ lives.

Central Office
The Motorcycle Action Group Limited
Tel: 01926 844064
Fax: 01926 844065

www.mag-uk.org

 

News from the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG)

Future of BikeSafe secure nationally but remains uncertain in London.

The future of BikeSafe is secure nationally - TfL apologises for delays and uncertainty but admits that a joint review of how BikeSafe courses should be delivered is taking place and no final decision has been made.

MAG’s Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, Colin Brown, met the new NPCC lead for motorcycling and BikeSafe, Deputy Chief Constable at Derbyshire Constabulary, Simon Blatchley, to discuss the future of BikeSafe at a national level.

DCC Blatchley confirmed that whilst individual forces make local decisions on provision of BikeSafe, there remains unwavering support for the scheme at national level. Funding and delivery models vary at force level and there will always be consideration of ways to improve and reap greater benefits from the scheme, but there is no question of waning support for BikeSafe from the NPCC.

Getting a response from the London Mayor’s Office has been more challenging. A formal statement from a TfL spokesperson received by MAG yesterday states:

Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to about the future of BikeSafe courses while we looked into the issues raised and discussed with senior officers within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). We recognise that MPS and TfL responses to your questions have caused some confusion and concern with the riding community and for this we apologise.

The MPS remains fully committed to Vision Zero and is working with us and other partners to reduce risk and harm on London’s roads. Reducing road danger is a shared responsibility across teams within the Roads and Transport Policing Command which TfL jointly funds with the MPS, as well as the wider MPS. While the Motorcycle Safety Team (MST) has an important role in improving the safety of motorcyclists, there are many other teams involved in this activity including roads policing teams and Safer Transport Teams.

The riding community’s support for police-led BikeSafe courses and strength of feeling on this issue is evident. We, along with the MPS, want to reassure you that no final decision on future delivery of BikeSafe courses has yet been made.

Due to resourcing constraints and demands on the MST, the MPS is currently only offering a limited number of these sessions in person. The MST remains focussed on motorcycle safety, but has needed to prioritise activity that is most impactful in tackling risks to powered two-wheelers and making the most effective use of warranted police resources.

Given the pressures on the MPS, we have agreed that we should undertake a joint review of how BikeSafe courses should be delivered. We will work together to explore whether there are more effective and efficient ways to deliver these workshops and make them more accessible to higher risk riders, more often. 

It is important that the review considers the views of and impacts on key stakeholder groups such as the Motorcycle Action Group. We would like to arrange a meeting with you so that MPS and TfL officers can hear your views on what is working well and areas for improvement.

When asked for an initial comment on the TfL statement, Colin Brown said:

“It is disappointing that it has taken so long to get a formal response. Disappointing also that the response has not come directly from the Mayor’s Office. Riders will not support an online only delivery model which appears to be the current offering. The fact that ‘no final decision’ has been made is not the answer we would have wanted. I can assure our members and all riders in London that we will be stating our views robustly in the meeting we have just been offered.”

The request for urgent meetings with senior officials following the Silvertown tunnel revelations has also been met with an offer of a separate strategic roundtable discussion in which MAG and other motorcycle rider representative organisations will have an opportunity to share wider concerns with senior officials. Commenting on this wider offer Colin said:

“We are not in a good place when it takes such public demands to get riders’ interests to be given any hope of taking centre stage. For too long London’s riders have been facing an increasing hostility to a legitimate transport choice, coupled with an apparent diminishing interest in their safety and welfare. It is time for cards to be placed firmly on the table and fundamental changes in attitude to happen.”

MAG will continue to report on developments.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or [email protected]