Continuous Enforcement of Insurance (CEI)

Yes yet another piece of proposed legislation aimed at motorists including us bikers.
The BMF has forcibly pointed out that this proposal spells trouble.

CIE will operate by identifying those vehicles that appear to be kept uninsured from a comparison of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authoritys ("DVLA") vehicles' register and the Motor Insurance Database held by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).

Chris Hodder, the BMFs Government Relations Executive said: "Given the inaccuracy of the information already on the database, we suspect that a great deal of time and effort will be wasted enforcing the unnecessary. While supporting the need for those caught driving or riding without insurance to be prosecuted, the BMF would like to see this being done through road policing and not through an error-prone blind system such as the proposed CIE."

So for those of us who have multi-bike policies, classic bike collectors it could mean trouble or if you lent a taxed but uninsured machine to a fully insured friend, it could still result in you the owner committing an offence!

What else will they think of!!!!
The consultation document can be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/motor/

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Say "NO" to power limits

The BMF have put out a press releases today that draws attention to the proposal of draconian motorcycle power limits being imposed on motorcycles throughout the EU. You can read the full press release on www.inter-bike.co.uk here.

In a nutshell, EU type approval regulation framework, up until now only applying to cars and commercial vehicles, is being considered for motorcycles. One of the main components is to limit power to 100bhp (74Kw), whilst the proposed framework has some merits, I am sure all motorcyclist out there will not want a mandatory power cap. They have the 100 BHP limit in France now, but and has not received a road safety benefit from it.

Please lobby your MEP while you can now to stop this becoming law!
The BMF have a draft letter you can use, available at http://www.bmf.co.uk/pages/bmf_main_pages.php?main_page_id=778 and a list of MEP's at http://www.europarl.org.uk/uk_meps/MembersMain.htm

The full EU consulatation document is available at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/mcwg_meetings/27_02_2009/index.htm

Make your voice heard now, else we may well see the motorcycle power cap happening!

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Protest about motorcycle parking fees

Both the BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation) and MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) have come out in support of a protest on the 14th December against parking charges introduced for PTW (powered two wheelers) by Westminster City Council.

These charges running contrary to the Government's aim to make motorcycling mainstream and London Mayor Borris Johnson's recent decision to make London more motorcycle friendly.

Both organisations are backing the No to Bike Parking Fees Campaign (NTBPF) (notobikeparkingfees.com).

The demonstration being held at 11am on Sunday 14th December 2008 at Golden Square, London, W1.

Ride safe.

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk

Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Motorbikes in London Bus Lanes in doubt again!

Apparently following a petition from the London Cycling Campaign with over 3,500 names asking Borris Johnson to reverse his decision to allow motorcycles in London Bus Lanes, the Mayor appears to now be wobbling on his previous decision.

The BMF have now thrown their weight behind the MCN petition asking London’s Mayor Boris Johnson to honour his commitment to allow motorcycles into bus lanes.

The MCN petition has currently attracted over 3,100 signatures but more are needed if we are to influence the Mayor say the BMF.

The petition can be viewed at:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/july/14-20/jul1608-bus-lane-petition/?&R=EPI-101753 or simply signed by emailing MCN at mcn.online@motorcyclenews.com with ‘Bus Lanes’ in the subject line.

So if you want motorbikes in London bus lanes to have any chance of happening, SIGN THE PETITION NOW!

Ride safe.

Jon Booth

Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

The Shows must go on!

Both MAG and the BMF have added their voice to the growing furore over what appears to be unjustified and discriminatory cancellation of a growing number of motorcycle shows here in the UK by the police.

So far far this year the police have cancelled the following shows:-

• Driffield Bike Day and DABS Rally, Yorkshire (23 - 25 May)
• The Welsh National Motorcycle Show 23 - 26 May
• Past it MCC 13th Birthday Party 31^st May
• Stourbridge MCC's Midsummer Bash 21st June
• Rock and Blues 24^th - 27^th July
• Stourbridge MCC's Woizel Rally 8^th 9^th 10^th August
• Great Yorkshire Bike Show 15^th-16^th August
• Past It MCC's 10th Zimmer Frame Rally 22^nd - 24^th August
• Patriot Games Rock Festival, Monmouth 22^nd - 24^th August
• Isle of Anglesey Motorcycle Show 22^nd 25^th August

The British Motorcyclists Federation have written to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP, the Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy MP and the President of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Ken Jones QPM raising concern over this and have requested a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss this growing problem.

BMF Chairman Anna Zee, said: "It is extraordinary that the authorities seem to assume that a motorcycle gathering must mean trouble. The BMF runs some very large shows, with attendances of up to 85,000 with never a hint of trouble. Nor are we aware of any previous history of problems at the events cancelled this year. With so many cancellations, and the reasons for them being shrouded in mystery, we feel that motorcyclists are suffering completely unjustified discrimination."

If you want the peaceful enjoyment of motorcycling and its social scene to continue then show your support to both MAG and the BMF in getting this discriminatory policy of cancelling motorcycle shows STOPPED, before its to late. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BEFORE ITS TO LATE!!!!

Ride safe.

Jon Booth

Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk

Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/

Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Motorbikes in London Bus Lanes thanks to Borris!

The BMF have confirmed that London Mayor Boris Johnson has finally given the go ahead for motorcycles in London bus lanes. He has asked Transport for London to permit motorcycles to use London bus lanes before the end of the year.

So at last after much campaigning common sense has prevailed. London will benefit from less congestion and we motorcyclists will be safer as the statistics proved.

Thanks Boris!


Ride safe.

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

So finally the true Motorcycle VED evasion figures are out!

This week MAG , the BMF and the MCIA have all put out press releases concerning the release of the true Motorcycle Vehicle Evasion Duty evasion figures, which surprise, surprise are massively lower than the claimed 40% by the DVLA.

The actual figures from the Department of Transport into the true levels of VED indicates that motorcycle VED evasion is estimated at 6.5%.

What a climb down!! At least the truth is now out.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

BMF highlights Bus Lane Trial cover up

Last Friday the BMF put out a release hightlighting the "Bus Lane Trial Cover Up".

The British Motorcyclists Federation have accused London Mayor Ken Livingston’s office of putting motorcyclists lives at risk by failing to authorise the use of London’s bus lanes by motorcycles.

Apparently along overdue TfL (Transport for London) report has been leaked which shows that accidents were nearly halved over a three-year period on two trial routes where motorcycles were allowed into bus lanes, with a 42% reduction in the rate of collisions.

So I'm sure like me you'd have thought that would have been the green light for motorcycles to be able to use bus lanes in London. No wrong, think again. Its motorcycles scooters and mopeds we're talking about here not pedal cycles!! The anti-motorcycling attitude rears its head again.

Apparently Mayoral staff have now ordered a re-write of the report to avoid a green back-lash from the cycle lobby. Luckily for us bikers the BMF will now be making a formal complaint against the Mayor who is also Chairman of Transport for London.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Little joy on bus-lanes in Birmingham

The BMF put out a release yesterday stating that the Brimingham City Council is to extend the trial of allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes, saying the previous trial was inconclusive.

How much convincing do they really need?

As the BMF state motorcycles have operated in bus lanes - "over ten years of successful operation in Bristol and over eight years in Reading, not to mention Bath and Northern Ireland where bikes in bus lanes have been the norm for several years"

You can read the BMF's full press release on http://www.inter-bike.co.uk/ by clicking here.

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Bikes in London Bus Lanes?

Bikes In London’s Bus Lanes - still hopeful say BMF

Yesterday the BMF published a press release which suggested that not all is lost and that bikes still may be able to use London lanes.

The BMF Senior Government Relations Executive Trevor Magner said:

"we’re pleased that TfL now appears to be addressing the concerns of the motorcycling community and we hope that the review may result in a more positive outcome for motorcycling.”

Ride Safe!


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/