Tag Archives: pollution

Council anti-motorcycle bias slammed

A UK council’s claims that “motorcyclists are a danger to themselves” and “environmentally unsound, not sustainable, and contribute to air pollution” have been slammed as extreme anti-motorcycle bias.

The anti-motorcycle claims are made in the Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals for its Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.

The British Motorcyclists Federation and Oxfordshire councillor John Broad have complained about the “sweeping and not justified comments” as extreme anti-motorcycle bias.

The inflammatory comments are:

  • “Statistical evidence suggests motorcyclists are a danger to themselves”; and
  • “Motorbikes are mostly still using fossil fuels to run, meaning they are environmentally unsound, not sustainable, and contribute to air pollution”.

Cr Broad says motorcycles are not part of the problem, but part of the solution to traffic and pollution concerns, especially with the coming wave of electric motorcycles.

Anti-motorcycle bias

Melbourne's Elizabeth St motorcycle district discussion paperMelbourne’s Elizabeth St motorcycle district (File photo)

Victorian motorcyclist advocate and Motorcycle Safety Consultant John Nelson says anti-motorcycle bias is not exclusive to the UK county council.

“We have a similar situation here with our City of Melbourne and the footpath parking issue,” he says.

“Also our Elizabeth St motorcycle retail precinct has all but collapsed. Many bike shops have moved to the suburbs or just closed down.

(Yamaha City is the latest to leave, heading for Port Melbourne.)

The City of Melbourne has planned a pedestrian and cyclist heaven without the consideration for the 110 year history of the precinct.”

Elizabeth St biasElizabeth St history

John is working with the council to recognise the history and erect a memorial with work due to start in 2023.

“By then, I expect to have a final presentation of the recognition/information piece to recognise the precinct for its heritage and contribution to the motorcycle community and our culture,” he says.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Britain to ban all fossil fuel vehicles

In 15 years, Brits will no longer be able to buy fossil-fuelled motorcycles or other vehicles, only those that run on hydrogen or electricity … or whatever other fuel source is available in 2035.

It follows the recent announcement that Sweden will ban internal-combustion-engine (ICE) vehicles by 2030, while many capitals around the world are banning them from their CBDs.

In Australia, the Greens want a similar ban, the ALP wants 50% of new vehicles to be electric by 2030 and the Coalition projects 25-50% will be electric.

No matter what we decide, the matter would be out of our hands if the world stops making ICE products.

The writing seems to be on the wall … our beloved bikes are heading for extinction!

In fact, the British plan also suggests getting rid of all petrol and diesel transport from their roads by 2050.

Such a move is disturbingly presented in the dystopian film, The World’s Last Motorcycle, which depicts a future dominated by autonomous vehicles where motorcycles are banned not only because of pollution, but because of safety.

Vehicles banned

The British 2035 ban on new fossil-fuelled vehicles was expected to be 2040 with green groups wanting 2030 and the automotive industry going for 2050.

There is no exception for motorcycles and scooters, despite them being a minuscule contributor to emissions.

The BBC reports that the main contributors to CO2 emissions is air travel, followed by cars wth one passenger, buses.

Motorcycles aren’t even mentioned.

As for roadside nitrogen levels, motorcycles are included in “other” at about 1%.British ban

Meanwhile, London has launched a car and motorcycle scrappage scheme to help low-income and disabled people move to “cleaner vehicles” and “greener forms of transport”.

Riders will get a £1000 grant to scrap their old motorcycle and £2000 to scrap their old car.

What a tragedy if old motorcycles and cars go on the scrap heap or in static museums instead of being preserved in working order for our future generations.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com