There’s a raft of issues emanating from Europe that will have a profound effect on riders and the motorcycle industry generally and we must stand up.
Some of them are driven by the EU Commission, like the new Type Approval and Market Surveillance Regulation that will see the introduction of compulsory ABS, the sealing of powertrains from the airbox, through the engine to the final drive (including the diameter and aspect ratio of the rear tyre), restrictions on the aftermarket industry, possible roadside checks by police or other government agencies to inspect emissions, detect owner ‘tuning’ and more.
There’s EU-funded development of electronics to control and govern speeds through warning systems or, ultimately, actual throttle control.
Ireland plans compulsory, full sleeve day-glo jackets for riders and pillions, France is debating compulsory reflective/day-glo clothing. Will UK insurance companies start saying that because we weren’t dressed in day-glo it’s our own fault that an inattentive driver drove into us? MAG says the onus should not be on the victim.
France also wants to ban bikes over 7 years old from urban areas for environmental reasons! Their congestion is already terrible and putting more riders into cars that pollute terribly when they are stationary, is bonkers.
Bikes are part of the urban transport solution, not problem.
Enough! There will be a vote by the MEP committee discussing the above Regulation in the autumn. We need them to listen. They represent us. MAG and many others in the motorcycle community are negotiating hard with our own Government and our European representatives.
Join us to keep EU Hands Off Biking, it’s time for Action now!.
On the 25th September you can make your voice heard. Starting from service areas across the country, we all ride at 1pm and vanish 20 minutes later. This is the first time.
Closer to the date, we will be listing all the actual start points here, on the ridersarevoters.org website and many other places. We’ve already got venues from Plymouth to Aberdeen on most M-ways and major trunk routes, but if you or your bike club would like to be a ‘starter’, contact us for co-ordinated action.