The BMF have written to Justice Minister Kenneth Clarke MP, QC, after the Court of Appeal last Friday overturned a judgement that had been made in favour of a motorcyclist seriously injured in a collision with a lorry.

At a hearing at Cambridge County Court last year, motorcyclist Robert Whiteford of Soham, Cambridgeshire, who lost his right leg in the collision in April 2009, had won his case against a Lithuanian transport company, Kubas UAB, but now, despite what the BMF say is accepted as undisputed evidence that the lorry was over the central white line, the motorcyclist, while still on his side of the road, has been held to be riding ‘too close to the centre of the road’ and was therefore the one at fault.

It has also been accepted by all parties that the lorry was too wide for its side of the road and when cornering at the time of the collision was over the white centre line, but simply because motorcyclist Robert Whiteford had agreed with the defence that he should have been riding nearer the centre of his own lane (something experienced motorcyclists know is not necessarily the case), he was held to blame.

Jonathan Watt-Pringle, QC for the lorry firm, therefore argued that the judge ‘was wrong to impose so high a standard of driving on the lorry driver’ adding that: “The collision occurred for one reason and one reason only, and that is because the claimant was driving right close to the centre when he accepted that the course should have been a very different one.”

Allowing the appeal, Lord Justice Richards said of the lorry driver: “A finding of negligence in this case would, to my mind, be to impose an unacceptably high standard on the driver.”

In the letter to Mr Clarke, the BMF complains that the appeal judges in the case had decided bizarrely that the lower court was in error because it was “an unacceptably high standard” for the driver to stay on his own side of the road!

In the light of the judgement, the BMF have asked Mr Clark 'how it can possibly be right that a driver licensed to drive the largest and most dangerous vehicles on the road is not expected to stay on his own side of the road?' 

BMF spokesman Jeff Stone said: “There are far too many of these instances where justice for the motorcyclist is hard to come by. It’s a sort of bikeism where it seems merely riding a motorcycle is taken as a contributory factor! This case especially really does beggar belief.”

The report of the appeal case can be read on the Cambridge-News website:

A sleek supercharged machine designed to hit a world record-breaking 313mph has scooped the top award at Scotland’s newest motorcycle show.

Independent judges at the inaugural Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show, at the Lanark Agricultural Centre at Muirglen, Hyndford Road, Lanark, over the weekend, picked the Flower of Scotland streamliner as their best in show.

The 22ft vehicle, powered by a one litre 700bhp Kawasaki ZX-11 motorcycle engine, was among the top attractions at the show, which drew thousands of motorcycling enthusiasts from across the area.

Excellent weather, particularly on the first day of the show helped to swell the crowds beyond all expectations and at one point there were nearly 1200 motorcycles parked up at the event, presenting even the seasoned Mortons Classic Bike Shows team with a challenge. Around 6000 people attended the show over both days.

The team behind Flower of Scotland, Speed Scotland, said they were delighted to be chosen by judges and confirmed that they will be making a third attempt on the world speed record for a one litre supercharged machine at Bonneville, Utah, USA, this coming August.

The record currently stands at 312mph and for the last two years the team have suffered mechanical problems preventing them from achieving Flower of Scotland’s full potential.

Among the star guests at the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show were legendary road racers Jim Moodie, who rode for Norton in the early Nineties, then had stints with Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki, and Eighties GP ace Donnie McLeod. Stunt rider Kevin Carmichael also wowed the crowds.

Live demonstrations of motocross and trials riding proved to be extremely popular. The dozens of traders who attended the show reported a very busy weekend and there were also many motorcycle clubs in attendance.

Mortons show organiser Nick Mowbray said: “The weather was kind to us, particularly on the Saturday, and we were overwhelmed by the level of support we received from Scottish motorcycling enthusiasts.

“We knew before the show that there is a strong motorcycling community in Lanark but we were still surprised by how many people turned out and the passion of the enthusiasts in this part of the world. It’s great to know that there are so many like-minded individuals out there. We’re now looking forward to our next Lanark show later this year.”

For more show information including videos, picture galleries and results, and the Classic Bike Shows team’s other events, visit www.classicbikersclub.com

CoastaLea - Starting on the 16th June 2012, Richard and Gary are riding the coast of Great Britain in aid of the Leah Wilby Foundation.
 
The Leah Wilby Foundation (reg charity No 1146160) was set up in Leah's memory, who lost her seven year fight with Neuroblastoma on the 13th of June, 2011 at 8.25pm, just four weeks before her 16th Birthday.
 
The objectives and purposes of the charity is to provide holiday accommodation to families supporting young people in the UK suffering from childhood cancer. They have named the caravan Leah's Lounge.
 
 Leah's dad Richard and family friend Gary are starting the 14 day, 4,000 mile ride from the Haven Seashore Park, North Denes, Great Yarmouth, at 10am, where Leah's lounge is situated.
 
Heading North they will be riding as close to the coast as is possible, with no support. Just two men on two bikes, with a couple of tents, with no sense of direction and covering 4,000 miles in fourteen days... what could possibly go wrong?

The route will take them via Skegness, Scarborough, Berwick-upon-tweed, Aberdeen,  John O'Groats, Wester Ross, Portnacroish, Wigtownshire, Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Preston, Rhyl, Abersoch, Pwllheli, Tenby, Swansea, Weston-super-mare, Barnstable, Cornwall, Plymouth, Torquay, Bournemouth, Brighton, Beachy head, Dover, Ramsgate, Margate, Felixstowe, Lowerstoft and back to Great Yarmouth at Leah's Lounge on the 29th June.

For more information and details of how to donate to the Leah Wilby Foundation, www.theleahwilbyfoundation.co.uk

Richard and Gary are also looking for a company who would be willing to help with the fuel cost. Any company who can help would have their name or logo printed on the jackets and thanked on all press releases. They are also looking for normal sponsorship.
 
For more information on CoastaLeah and to Follow the ride with daily updates on facebook.

For more information contact:
 
Debbie (Leahs' mum) on 01493 309853 - 07917 163993 or email - [email protected]
 
Gary (one of the riders) after 4pm on 01604 756549 - 07776 385676

Last week apparently saw large and small manufacturers present their greenest two-wheelers and cars at Clean Week 2020 – 2012 event at the Zolder Race Circuit in Belgium.
 
The Clean Week 2020 event  also saw voting on the European e-Motorbike and e-Scooter of the Year.
 
Clean Week 2020 aims at providing an annual review of future oriented technologies in the fields of mobility and environment, blended into an appealing mix of sporty, educational, technological and recreational elements.
 
However what does this all mean for the “average” motorcyclist where is the “infernal” combustion engine heading, will we have to adapt and change in the far or near future to electric motorcycles, scooters and mopeds?
 
No matter how hard electric is pushed, will it become the norm through acceptance or simply legislated in to our daily lives?
 
In Northern Ireland an ecar project is investing over £2 million in electric vehicle infrastructure which includes up to £850,000 in funding received from OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles) in December 2010. The remainder of funds have been raised by the local consortium.
 
The ecar consortium is jointly led by the Department for Regional Development and the Department of the Environment. The consortium members are: NIE, ESB, Donnelly Motor Group, Power NI, SAP, Intel, Derry City Council, Newry and Mourne District Council, Armagh City and District Council, Fermanagh District Council, Larne Borough Council.
 
There will be public charge posts in Belfast, Londonderry, Armagh, Newry, Enniskillen and Larne. There will also be a number of rapid chargers near to major motorways.
 
Danny Kennedy Minister for Regional Development has said: “The ecar Project in Northern Ireland, jointly led by Department for Regional Development and Department of the Environment, is set to change the way we think about transport.
 
“While most drivers will recharge their ecars at home overnight, from today the first of what will become a fully integrated network of public charge points becomes available to everyone using an electric vehicle. The charge points provide a convenient facility for drivers to ‘top-up’ away from home, if necessary.
 
“Whether we use the car for personal or commercial reasons, electric vehicles, with a typical range of around 100 miles on a full charge, now offer a tangible alternative to petrol or diesel fuelled vehicle.”
 
Over 40 public ‘opportunity’ charge-points are now available in Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Armagh, Enniskillen and Larne. Over the next year this number will increase to around 140. Special rapid chargers will also be introduced close to major roads that can charge a vehicle to 80% of its capacity in just 25 minutes. Charge Points in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland are fully compatible.
 
But what about two wheeled vehicles?
 
ecar has a dedicated website within NI Direct Goverment Services and a Facebook page and Right To Rides’ Trevor Baird asked the question on the page regarding the launch of ecar.
 
ecar A very successful launch today! Thanks to everyone who attended and for all the enthusiasm and support!
 
Trevor Baird Brilliant, but what about emotorcycles?
 
ecar Trevor e-motorcycles are welcome to charge at public charge points also. All public charge points use a ‘Mennekkes’ plug (which is a 7-pin plug). I would ask your e-motorcycle manufacturer to ensure they supply you with the correct lead so you can charge at all the ecar public charge points.
 
Trevor Baird Excellent! Although I wasn’t asking for myself, I run a motorcycle website in Northern Ireland, so it was for general information for our readers. A motorcycle is a motorcycle or a Powered Two Wheeler, however the power we have concentrated on is the combustion engine. So for any electric powered two wheelers out there this is good news that maybe they were not aware of.
 
ecar Trevor, I would suggest you contact the manufacturer and check that the Mennekkes 7-pin plug can be used on the electric bikes to be sure that they are all compatible.
 
So are there any emotorcycles out there in Northern Ireland?
 
How does the infrastructure in Northern Ireland compare to that in your country?
 
Are emotorcycle a “big” deal in your country?
 
Do emotorcycles embrace motorcycling or are they a threat?
 
Read the full article and leave your comments on Right To Ride EU