Parliamentary push highlights social benefits of biking

Key figures from the motorcycle industry will be joining MPs and peers from all parties this week to hear how motorcycling benefits society.



 

Motorcycling: discussion imminent

 A reception has been organised by the Associate Parliamentary Motorcycle Group to be held inside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December. It will highlight how alternative-powered motorcycles (ePTWs) and the Wheels to Work programme contribute to wider societal goals regarding the environment, social inclusion and the economy.  Wheels to Work schemes provide the loan of a motorcycle, moped, bicycle or scooter to those who otherwise would have no access to work transport.

The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) will take this opportunity to launch an update to its policy framework, a range of factsheets which illustrate how motorcycling addresses key areas of social concern, including:

    Congestion
    Economic growth
    Employment
    Equality of opportunity
    Crime prevention

In addition to MPs and peers, guests at the reception will include senior industry figures and representatives from a range of motorcycling and other organisations.
On the same day, a display of electric motorcycles will be held outside the Houses of Parliament, in Old Palace Yard. This will provide an opportunity for parliamentarians and the public to view the latest developments in alternative-powered transport technologies.
The parliamentary reception follows a safety and transport policy conference, jointly organised last month (11 November) by the MCI and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), in conjunction with the Department of Transport, which hosted the event at its offices in London.

The conference, already reported by British Dealer News, explored compelling evidence from other EU countries where there is a link between greater use of powered two-wheelers and lower casualty rates, as well as a study which showed congestion could be cut by 40% for all road users if just 10% of car drivers swapped to a motorcycle, scooter or moped.

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill, who has a motorcycle licence himself and has a son who recently passed his bike test, is particularly positive towards Wheels to Work, which he described as “a value for money way of bringing people and jobs together”. 

He added that there were safety benefits to starting a motoring career on a small powered two wheeler, which he said “can improve awareness of safety on the roads, knowledge of the highway code and road signs, which can in turn make it easier to learn to drive a car”, which would result in helping former moped riders to “be aware of other vulnerable road users, such as cyclists”.

“We will certainly continue to encourage inclusion of these schemes in the transport planning process.”

The Associate Parliamentary Motorcycle Group (APMG) draws its membership from MPs, peers and from organisations across the industry and motorcycle community. Its current Chairman is Steve Baker MP.

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