Britain's top traffic policeman warned the government on Monday that cutting state funding for speed cameras as part of new austerity measures would lead to a rise in fatal roads accidents.

The largest UK provider of motorbike insurance - Carole Nash - published a report on Wednesday, August 4th, which suggests that bike insurance premiums fell in the past 12 months.

Bikers are getting older, but riding a motorcycle is still the most dangerous way to travel on the roads, Welsh road safety statistics published yesterday revealed.

Figures released by the Assembly Government showed that the chance of being killed or seriously injured riding a motorbike during 2009 was 54 times greater than travelling by car.

Fire chiefs have unveiled their latest weapon - a £30,000 'fire bike' that is fitted with a power hose.




Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is trialling two motorbikes which will be sent out instead of fire engines if fires are not deemed a threat to people or buildings.

The new government should improve road conditions to enhance motorcyclists' safety, a new report has suggested.

A major review of motorcycle testing and training was announced this week following a searing attack on the Government's handling of the "fiasco" earlier this year.



Review aims to resolve confusion over motorcycle licences Photo: Jeff Gilbert

London Mayor Boris Johnson has been filmed approaching motorcyclist protesters in central London in behaviour they say is "threatening".

Members of the group No to the Bike Parking Tax were protesting in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday evening.

Mr Johnson was caught on film asking a protester: "Do you want to stay in the bus lanes or what? Then stop this protest."

The group said his behaviour was "disgraceful, bordering on blackmail".

Family seeks six-figure sum over 2007 road traffic collision




THE WIDOW of a motorcyclist is to sue a skateboarder for a six-figure sum, after her husband was killed trying to avoid the teenager in a road traffic collision.

MCN's exclusive road test of the first electric road-going sports bike proves the future of non-petrol motorcycles is exceptionally bright. The British-designed Mavizen TTX02 is so good it feels like a breakthrough machine.

UK Motorcycle Industry Statistics and Economic Impacts 65,530 Employees and a £6 Billion Impact
May 15, 2010 - The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA; UK) recently published a study on the economic significance of the "powered two wheel" (PTW) sector in the UK, according to ACEM, the European motorcycle industry association.

The extraordinary renaissance of Triumph has seen the iconic British manufacturer overtake Japan’s Big Four to become the UK’s biggest-selling motorcycle marque.

A father-of-two who moved his car to prevent a motorcyclist overtaking has been jailed for eight months for dangerous driving.

Motorcycle Industry publishes guidelines to spread the use of protective equipment

Brussels 31.3.2010 – Personal Protective Equipment can help motorcycle, scooter and moped riders reducing the effects of accidents. Nonetheless the benefits of good quality motorcycling clothing are still widely underestimated.

A Labour MP has urged people to tell their male loved-ones not to ride motorcycles.
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman called motorcyclists “widow makers and orphan makers” who were “disgraceful in a civilised society”.

It appears that French bikers are not the only ones to be angry, British bikers also are, but for a different reason. While French bikers demonstrated en masse all over France on 13 March 2010 (more information by clicking here ), and are prepared to bring the whole country to a standstill again should the Government stick to their proposals to make filtering through the traffic illegal, British bikers have been protesting at a parking tax imposed on them in Central London with no justification, other than that of filling up the council’s coffers.

Most older riders today would remember that free footpath parking for motorbikes in Victoria was fought hard for and won in the past by the MRA. It is still not a reality in other states. But it can be revoked at any time if a politician gets a bee in their bonnet about it as the British have found in the following article. Only last year we had another run in with a City councilor tired of tripping over inconsiderately parked Scooters in front of his office. Support the MRA to continue Free Parking!

Free Motorbike Parking Scrapped by Westminster

Leading courier insurance specialists Staveley Head are warning their clients to be wary following the decision of Westminster County Council to scrap free motorbike parking in the borough from the end of January.

A British study has found that motorcyclists are half as likely to take the risk of drinking before riding. The drink driving statistics in 2008 show that 1.4 per cent of motorcyclists failed the breath test after an accident compared to an average of 2.7 per cent for all road users.

A look at how motorcycle clothing has changed - coming more comfortable and practical - since the Eighties.



Bike gear from the 1950s, 80s and 2009 compared Photo: Patrick Gosling

Bikers' group MAG applauds Birmingham bus lane decision

MAG applauds the decision by Birmingham City Council to open its bus lanes to motorcycles. In an effort to make more effective and efficient use of its roads, Birmingham City Council recently completed an experiment allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes. The policy allows motorcyclists to see and be seen in congested traffic.

Ministers are considering a far-reaching change in the law in a bid to promote greener transport

MINISTERS are considering making motorists legally responsible for accidents involving cyclists or pedestrians, even if they are not at fault.