soapbox - 1st may 2003

LAYING DOWN THE GAUNTLET

Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary

Motorbikes are an important and beneficial mode of transport. They ease traffic congestion, save parking space and cause less damage to the roads than heavier vehicles. They can also play an important part in a sustainable transport system. They are almost always a significantly more environmentally friendly method of travel for an individual than a single occupied car.

I would advocate a number of measures that would encourage more people to use motorbikes, mopeds and scooters and make travel for those already using them easier, safer and less expensive.

These measures include setting Vehicle Excise Duty in accordance with CO2 emissions rather than engine size. This would reward those who drive the least polluting vehicles by reducing the rate of VED they pay. In effect this would mean that most motorbikes would be exempt from VED altogether.

Motorbikes are exempt from the congestion charge in central London. However, it is my understanding that this is a result of technological inadequacy rather than policy - as the cameras read the number plates from the front they are unable to register motorbikes.

I support giving powers to local authorities to introduce congestion charging. However, we would encourage them make a positive statement about the use of powered two-wheelers and exempt them or charge at a substantially lower rate as a matter of policy.

Motorbike theft is also something that needs to be tackled urgently. Theft is running at an average of over 20,000 machines per year and the recovery rate is estimated at no more than 28%. As a consequence insurance rates are going up - making owning a bike that much more expensive.

Motorbikes were largely absent from the Government’s 2000-2001 Vehicle Crimes Bill – something which Liberal Democrat MP’s David Chidgey and Bob Russell sought to rectify.

I believe we should help to tackle theft by ensuring parking provision for powered two wheelers in car parks through the planning process, encouraging the provision of on-street secure parking for two wheelers where there is demand, and improving safety in car parks, for example through CCTV.

Providing secure motorbike parking is particularly important for modal interchange points, as their improvement is essential to developing a truly integrated transport system.

The current Labour Government are dragging their feet over giving the support that motorcyclists deserve. Riders thought things would improve with the creation of a taskforce to look at these issues soon after Labour came to power in 1997. Yet despite the many areas where stronger Government support is needed, very little has been done, and where the Government have acted, they have been off-track.

Why is the government wasting time banning dark visors when it could be getting on with crucial measures like improving driver education and training? It's ridiculous that a pair of cheap and nasty sunglasses can be worn by a rider under a clear visor yet a positive safety aid in the form of a dark visor is illegal. And why is it that we have all sorts of misguided legislation being handed down by the EU, from power and speed restrictions to the issue of front number plates, when there are so many more important things we could be doing?

By introducing better training, the Government could make riding safer. By providing secure parking and reforming VED duty, they could make the cost of motorcycling fairer and more affordable. There are many positive measures the Government could adopt. Now they need to prove they are not just paying lip-service to the interests of motorcyclists.