Category: Organisations

1. Get Greener on Two Wheels in European Mobility Week 16th - 22nd September

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 15th Sep 2009

   Riders can do their bit for greener travel and healthier cities by getting their leg over daily, according to the Motor Cycle Industry Association at the start of European Mobility Week. During the week, people across Europe come together to tackle the increase in pollution and related problems associated with transport in towns and cities. ' In Town Without My Car, ' taking place on the 22nd September, is the perfect opportunity for riders of bikes and scooters to demonstrate how powered two wheelers (PTWs) can help in the battle for less congested roads and reduced pollution.

   The green advantages of motorcycles, mopeds and scooters are clear. On CO2 emissions, the PTW fleet as a whole (at 110g/km) has already bettered the new EU targets for cars. (120g/km, to be met by 2012)(1). PTWs don't get stuck in queues, and so don't stand in traffic jams with their engines idling, which means that total Co2 emitted will always be lower for any given journey. PTWs also take on average only half as long as a car to do a similar journey in town, and take up less space when parked.

   The MCI is calling for actions and events which promote sustainable transport to recognise that in reality, walking and cycling are not always the most practical alternative to a car journey, particularly for everyday commuting and business travel. The MCI's analysis of the National Travel Survey has shown that:-

   · the average commute is 8.7 miles/27 minutes
   · the average business trip is 19.4 miles/38 minutes
   · the average bicycle trip is 2.6 miles/20.3 minutes
   · the average motorcycle trip is 9.75 miles in 23 minutes

   An average commute of almost 9 miles is over three times as long as the average bicycle ride - but the same trip would be a comfortable journey by P2W.
   This campaign that encourages sustainable travel modes must also take a realistic view of people's travel habits. The NTS analysis also revealed that one quarter of participants said they never walked for 20 minutes, and that seventy percent of people surveyed rode a bicycle less than once a year. For these people, the PTW can be the perfect halfway house between car travel and bicycling, offering personal, flexible travel at a lower environmental cost than the car, while being a more achievable alternative than walking or cycling.
   
   MCI Spokesperson, Sheila Rainger commented, "Events like European Mobility Week must not let the best be the enemy of the good. PTWs are cleaner than cars, take up less space on our congestion urban roads, and can comfortably handle journeys that would be a daunting distance for novice bicyclists.
   
   "60% of cars on the road have only one occupant. Around 80% of car commuters are travelling solo. If even a small proportion of these switched to P2Ws, rush hours would be less congested, and no additional burden would be placed on public transport systems already bursting at the seams.

   "Motorbikes, mopeds and scooters offer a practical, cost-effective alternative to the car for those who can't or won't cycle or walk. Choosing a PTW won't add to the pressures onto the public transport system, will help to reduce congestion and also offers clear environmental benefits. Now's the time for everyone who is serious about promoting sustainable travel to recognise the PTW as part of the solution."

   For more information about the event go to www.mobilityweek.eu
   or to find out more about getting on two wheels check out www.geton.co.uk

    

2. MOTORCYCLE MARKET SHRINKS IN AUGUST

   Posted on 12:00am Tuesday 8th Sep 2009

   7,020 new powered two wheelers (PTWs) were registered in August 2009, bringing the total for the first eight months of the year to 79,897. This is an 18.2 per cent fall on 2008 according to the latest figures from the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), and a fall of 30.5 per cent on August 2008.

   The Touring, Sport Tour and Naked styles recorded the strongest performances this month, suggesting continued demand for everyday, practical bikes.

   August Supersports registrations fell 37.8 per cent, to 990 registrations. However, the stronger year-to-date performance of a 14.3 per cent fall suggests that this month's change may be attributable to buyers waiting until 1 September for the most up-to-date registration plates.

   Larger capacity bikes are continuing to show more resilience than smaller machines. Registrations of mopeds fell by 39.8 per cent in August 2009 compared to August 2008, while registrations of bikes with engine sizes greater than 1000cc fell by only 13 per cent.

   The performance of learner-friendly machines remains strong. In five of the eight style categories - custom, naked, scooter, supersport and trail/enduro - the best-selling bike was a 125cc model. The best selling bike in August out of all styles was Yamaha's YZF R125.

   This evidence for the continued importance of practical motorcycling is also supported by the latest figures from the Department for Transport's National Travel Survey, which show that over half (52%) of all motorcycle trips in 2008 were made for the purpose of commuting, compared to just one-third (34%) of bicycle journeys and one-fifth (22 %) of car journeys. The National Travel Survey also found that the average motorcyclist uses their bike as their main mode of transport for over one-third of all trips, making 8 motorcycle trips a week, and travelling 80 miles.

   "While it's clear that people are being very cautious about their spending, interest in riding remains strong," commented MCIA's Sheila Rainger. "Demand for motorcycle tests is quietly rising, while five per cent of all visitors to the Get On website have booked themselves onto a taster session."

3. BMF Looking for TTXGP Glory in Isle of Man TT

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 4th Jun 2009

   The British Motorcyclists Federation will be showing its support for the world's first zero carbon, clean emission grand prix, the TTXGP -The eGrandPrix, next week, by awarding a BMF trophy to the highest place British Rider.

   The TTXGP eGrandPrix will be held on Friday 12^th June as part of the Isle of Man TT fortnight and will be run over the world famous 39.73 mile Mountain Course.

   Since the TTXGP’s inception some twelve month’s ago, the BMF have supported the race concept and the development of the road legal Marvizen TTX01 electric motorcycle and now see the awarding of a BMF trophy for this historic race as a natural progression.

   The BMF’s Chris Hodder said: “We all know that racing improves the breed and the TTxGP eGrandPrix will stimulate and provide an exciting test-bed for clean-technologies that could soon enter the mainstream market. We want motorcycling to continue without the associated environmental concerns and without dependency on limited fuel supplies, the TTXGP eGrandPrix gives clean technologies the chance to prove that they are more than pipe dreams.”

   TTXGP eGrandPrix founder and organiser, London businessman, entrepreneur and keen motorcyclist Azhar Hussain said: “This is a race designed to stretch the cutting edge of technology, married to the excitement and speed of open competition, with the ultimate goal of providing alternative, greener transport.”

   Eighteen teams from six different countries; the USA, India, Germany, Austria, UK and the Isle of Man, have entered the race to produce a unique and international grid line up.

   There are two classes within the TTXGP eGrandPrix race, the Open Class and the Pro Class 3A with the Open Class only eligible to machines that can be sold following the race for £20,000.

   The winner of the Open Class will receive the ‘TTXGP Snaefell Open Trophy 2009’  the Pro Class category champion will be awarded the ‘TTXGP Snaefell Pro Trophy 2009’ while the highest placed British rider will receive the BMF Trophy and a cheque for £250.

   Teams:

   Team name                                                    Class              Rider

   Mission Motors                                                PRO 3A           Thomas Montano

   Kingston University     (UK)                            OPEN              George Spence

   EVOdesign      (UK)                                         PRO 3A           Paul Owen

   MotoCzysz                                                      PRO 3A           Mark Miller

   KillaCycle Racing /Lightning Motorcycles       PRO 3A           Alan Connor

   eROCKIT                                                        PRO 3A           David Madsen-Mygdal

   Barefoot Motors Racing                                  PRO 3A           Chris Petty

   Imperial TTxGP           (UK)                             OPEN              Chris Palmer

   Brammo/BIKE                                                 PRO 3A           Roy Richardson

   Team Agni                                                       PRO 3A           Robert Barber

   HTBLAUVA - TGM                                           PRO 3A           Paul Dobbs

   ManTTx Racing                                               OPEN              Dan Kneen

   TORK                                                              OPEN              John Crellin

   XXL                                                                  PRO 3A           Thomas Schoenfelder

   EVOdesign                  (UK)                             PRO 3A           Olie Linsdell

   Electric Motorsport                                          OPEN              Chris Heath

   Electric Motorsport                                          PRO 3A           Roger Maher

   Peace e-rider                                                  OPEN              Antonio Maseo

   Brunel X-team             (UK)                             PRO 3A           Steve Harper

   Brammo/BIKE                                                 PRO 3A           Mark Buckley

   TTXGP website: www.ttxgp.com

   TTXGP blog: www.egrandprix.com

   TTXGP Twitter: www.twitter.com/ttxgp

   TTXGP flights

   To see the world’s first zero carbon eGrandPrix, the TTXGP is offering an exclusive one-day return flight to watch the race for an all inclusive flight package costs £399. See www.ttxgp.com/flightsfor full details.

4. BMF Calls for Bus Lane Clarity not Penalty

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 27th May 2009

    

   This year’s opening up some of London’s bus lanes to motorcycles has been a welcome development says the British Motorcyclists Federation, but experience over the first four months has shown many riders have incurred penalty notices through inadvertently using ‘closed’ bus lanes.

    

   The BMF, instrumental in persuading Mayor Boris Johnson that opening up London’s bus lanes to motorcyclists would improve safety, say that because the only bus lanes opened up are on those ‘red routes’ governed by Transport for London (TfL), this has caused confusion amongst motorcycle users, especially newcomers to the system.

    

   With the other bus lane routes under the control of London’s 33 local councils not being open to motorcyclists, bus lanes can change designation, sometimes on the same stretch of road, without riders always being aware, say the BMF.

    

   The Old Street roundabout for example, has the bus lane on one side open to motorcycles, while on the other side it is not. Also the A5 changes several times along its length, as does the Euston Road.

    

   The BMF have unsuccessfully tried to determine from the councils involved the level of infringement recorded, but from reports received from members, it is a significant problem.

    

   The BMF is now proposing that:

    

   TfL should take control of all of London’s bus lanes
   Recognise a bus lane’s strategic importance and make them all red routes
   The BMF say that this is a logical extension of TfL’s management of, and responsibility for, London’s bus service as a whole and it is therefore nonsense to split bus lane designations in this way.

    

   Note 1:In March 2007 the Government issued a new Traffic Advisory Leaflet (TAL02/07) to Local Authorities that specifically encouraged a more objective assessment to be made of bus lane use by motorcycles.

    

   Note 2: Existing Bus lane access sites: Bristol has operated a permanent bus lane access since 1996 and Reading since 1999. Other sites are in: Northern Ireland, Birmingham, Colchester, Derby, Bath, Hull, Swindon, Richmond on Thames, Newcastle on Tyne, Sunderland, Plymouth and the M4 bus lane. Still being trialled in London are the Finchley Road (A41) at St John's Wood to Hampstead, the A23 to the South and A13 to the East.